We are in a time of cultural division. A day of drawing sides, establishing positions and rallying sympathizers. Some preach civility and tolerance, others enjoin backbone and principles. At the crux of this societal seesaw is the struggle over the hilt of the sword of the state. Some desire to use the sword to impose civility and tolerance of a certain kind, perpetually, on every citizen. Others prefer the sword’s use to be safe, legal and rare.
Sitting on the Judiciary Committee this past session, I saw that one thing unified everyone: a yearning for justice. But justice according to whose definition?
Justice is the punishment of wrong, and rewarding of right. This is enforced by the sword of the state, based on the state’s definition of right and wrong. Aiming the sword of the state is that which drew each person before the committee. Any legislation passed out of the session declares, “Montana says this is right and the opposite wrong.” Vital then, in wielding the sword, is a proper knowledge of right from wrong.
