Fairness is having the same opportunities and rights as other people, and a sense of being valued and loved for being the people we are.
Justice - Freedom from oppression
When people treat each other without discrimination or prejudice
Unfairness is when these opportunities are taken away or prevented for some reason, and when there is dishonesty and people are not valued.
Examples of unfairness in society are
1 Treating people with discrimination
2 Ignoring human rights
3 Unfair action or treatment
4 Actions based on dishonest personal gain
5 Decisions of politicians and government.
Prejudice is
* the holding of opinions that are formed beforehand without sufficient knowledge
* an unfounded hatred, fear or mistrust of a person or group, especially one of a particular religion, ethnicity nationality or social status.
Discrimination is
* unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnic group, age group, religion or gender
* failing to treat people as human beings.
Stereotyping is
* an oversimplified standardised image or idea held by one personor group of another.
Justice is
* fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made.
Injustice is
* unfair or unjust treatment of somebody, or an example of this.
People are prejudiced and people discriminate because
* They do not understand the other point of view
* There is a lack of knowledge
* There is fear about the future or the purposes of others
* People learned prejudice within the family or from their peers
* Through anger over an event thought to be the fault of a particular group of people.
An example of someone who fought for justice is Rosa Parks.
Mrs. Parks was a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama when, in December of 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger. Rosa Parks was physically tired, but no more than you or I after a long day's work. In fact, under other circumstances, she would have probably given up her seat willingly to a child or elderly person. But this time Parks was tired of the treatment she and other African Americans received every day of their lives, what with the racism, segregation, and laws of the time.
"Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it," writes Parks in her recent book, Quiet Strength, (ZondervanPublishingHouse, 1994). "I kept thinking about my mother and my grandparents, and how strong they were. I knew there was a possibility of being mistreated, but an opportunity was being given to me to do what I had asked of others."
The rest of Parks' story is American history...her arrest and trial, a 381-day Montgomery bus boycott, and, finally, the Supreme Court's ruling in November 1956 that segregation on transportation is unconstitutional.
Why Rosa Parks is an inspiration to believers - she became famous for refusing to obey racist regulations. Her individual action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation. In addition, this launched Martin Luther King, Jr., who was involved with the boycott, to prominence in the civil rights movement.
Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government or of an occupying power without resorting to physical violence.
Some other ways of protesting against injustices are to form groups of like-minded people to put pressure on other people or law makers to change what is perceived to be unjust, be seen to be supporting victims of injustice and teaching others about what is happening.
All religions encourage people to speak out against injustice and to carry out their responsibilities (including tasks given to a person by God or a higher power or being).
Christians believe that showing concern and helping others is a religious duty; failing to do it is failing God. They believe that God