Justice vs. Mercy: Which Side Are You On?

For the past few days, the conflict between justice and thoughts has haunted me. This is probably due to my addiction to National Public Radio, where stories about violence, retribution and peace permeates their programs. And also the fact that in my literature class, I am currently teaching The Merchant of Venice where mercy and justice take center stage. My view on this topic is pretty clear. If a situation arises where I need to choose between being just or being merciful, I would lean heavily on being merciful.

With this in mind, I wanted to find out if I have transferred this belief to my children. Since she has no problem verbalizing what she thinks and she could give me an honest response, I asked the Family Genius.

“Family Genius, in my college literature class, I’m teaching The Merchant of Venice and one of the themes in that play is the issue of justice versus mercy.” Without elaborating any further, I asked, “So what do you think? Would you want someone to be more just or merciful?”

Without batting an eyelash, she said confidently, “Merciful.”

“Why would you want someone to be more merciful over being more just?” I asked.

She replied, “Some people mistake revenge and vengeance as justice.”

“You’re right,” I said. “Shakespeare also said ‘that in the course of justice, none of us/ Should see salvation’.” I added.

The Family Genius looked at me and I didn’t know if she wanted further elaboration or if she agreed. However since I have seen this look before from my students, I expounded on my Shakespearean quote.

“What this means is that if we want justice, God will grant us justice. Which also means that our acts will also merit justice from God, therefore since most of us have done injustice we will never be saved because our salvation depends on God’s act of mercy and not act of justice.” I explained.

She nodded her head and continued playing with her younger siblings. Satisfied with the moral and intellectual exchange, I retired from the conversation feeling good about my long tiring day.

Posted May 15, 2008 by Wat Da Daddy | Digg | Stumble | 12 Wat Da Comments

  1. Vered Said,

    May I also add, that since we all makes mistakes, and often, we should be forgiving of other people’s mistakes. I choose merciful too.

  1. Marelisa Said,

    I don’t think that justice necessarily means revenge, it can also mean restitution (put the victim or the aggrieved person in the same position–or as close as possible–as he/she would have been had it not been for the transgression). I also don’t think that you have to choose between justice and mercy as if they were mutually exclusive: you can find the just and merciful solution to a problem. I agree that these are issues we should ponder.

  1. CJ Said,

    Burn the Witch!

  1. Kyddryn Said,

    I’d like to see Justice tempered with Mercy, but if I must choose only the one - Mercy. Justice is a cold, hard thing, a stone in the soul, or perhaps a callous or canker. Mercy is a small thing, fluttering wings and feathers, quiet, soft, sweet, and so often left unseen in a corner alongside her sister Hope. Cries for Justice are so often strident, where cries for Mercy are pitiful to hear. To be merciful is to forgive, at least in part, isn’t it? Or at least, to let it go? I understand letting go…

    Perhaps it’s simply too late an hour for me to be thinking of anything but fluff with any coherence. G’night, and thanks for the thoughts.

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

  1. Chris Austria Said,

    @Vered–This is perhaps the difficult thing to do, to forgive and be merciful because if this were easy, we would have a more peaceful world.

    @Marilesa–Great Point! Perhaps justice can be attained and simultaneously give mercy to the accused. However, in the eyes of the victim, would the merciful penalty be just? Like everything in life, the line between justice and mercy is often blurred.

    @Kyddryn–You’ve articulated yourself very well here…While I choose to be merciful, the choice is never easy. My mind always calls for justice but my heart yearns for mercy.

    @Everyone–The Prodigal Son is posing as CJ. This is my son who has a very kind heart but hides it under sarcasm and apathy.

  1. Kyddryn Said,

    I’d rather not be burned…couldn’t I be stewed instead? Or perhaps toasted lightly to a golden brown and served with those crispy little onion strings and some broccoli? And a nice apple crisp for afters?? Burning seems so wastful of a perfectly good witch. :-) Plus, we don’t burn very well - not much light or heat produced on our own and it takes an awful lot of fule to get us going…and do you really want to be responsible for putting all those carbons in the air?

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K (insert cackle here)

  1. Vered Said,

    “The Prodigal Son is posing as CJ. This is my son who has a very kind heart but hides it under sarcasm and apathy.”

    I enjoy sarcasm… and it takes intelligence to be sarcastic. :)

  1. Chris Austria Said,

    @Kyddryn–We love witches too and ghosts and goblins…You’re too much on a Friday! You would fit right in the family.

    @Vered–Please do not encourage him…LOL

  1. Madame x Said,

    going to have to have a lot of drinks and think about this……

    found you from….? somebody…..Foolery? oh well

  1. Kelly@SHE-POWER Said,

    I am a seeker of justice, but not so much in burning witches for their crimes, but in the sense of striving to find fairness, balance and equity for all. I’m trying hard to remember the Merchant of Venice but all I can recall is the pound of flesh and not the context. In matters of criminal justice I definitely lean to merciful, but like most people my feeling varies depending on the crime. I have been a victim myself of violent crime myself and I know well the desire for vengeance and justice and how interlinked the two can be. But in the end, this is what can hold you in the place of victim and not allow you to move forward. Coming to a place where you realize everyone sins and it is not my right to sit in judgment is a long road, but I really do believe in second chances so I believe Mercy is God’s Way, the Right Way.

    Good question.
    Kelly

  1. Chris Austria Said,

    @Kelly–You are dead on…Moving forward is most of the time forgiving or being merciful. I truly believe that peace, especially in the Middled East, can be achieved if one party turns the other cheek. But of course, it is easier said than done but again, it’s possible, Martin Luther King and Gandhi has proven it so.

  1. Sarah Said,

    so justice vs mercy in the ‘Merchant of venice’, what does Shakespear show us?

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