by Enoch Fong

Created on: August 28, 2007

A lot of people believe in an equal system and also a fair system. But what does equal and fair mean? To many, equal means the treatment of one person is equivocally the same as the treatment of another person. Fair can easily mean equal because we can all say that it wouldn't be fair for one child to have 3 Popsicles and another to have only one. The other child would obviously want to have 3 Popsicles too. (there are exceptions to this but generally it is in humanity's nature to do so)

Now, mathematically, I can argue that -1 (a wrong) + -1(another wrong) = -2 (a worse wrong). This mathematically would make the situation worse.

Logically however, we can say that doing a wrong to someone if they did a wrong to us is fair.

I argue against that, I would say that doing a wrong to someone after they have done something wrong to you would only make the situation even worse. (mathematically it is shown)

For instance, someone steals from my house and gets away from it. I in turn kill him or imprison him unnecessarily. I mean he has fundamentally wronged me.

Now I will apply the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.
I mean if I were to do the same, would I not expect the same punishment. Most of the time, it happens. but, I implore everyone to do something else.

The next time someone wrongs you, talk to the wrong and ask him/her why they did so. There is always a reason why people wrong others. Examples such as jealousy, hate, ignorance and envy are possible reasons. If he/she refuses to amend his/her fault, then this is the time where justice comes in.

We all know when someone wrongs you, there is an apology and/or a punishment for it. Violating (i.e. rape) someone is definitely a punishable offense since it fundamentally takes away something that cannot be amended. Stealing from someone is also a punishable offense however many times people steal out of discontent, envy, greed and/or hate. All of those are somewhat impulsive. In this case, it can be amended. They can repay their crime by working for you, or even a fine would help rid of the lost business.

Finally, if you treat someone nicely and without spite, you generally have a positive effect on the person. They would generally not offend or violate you unless they are spiteful, hateful, ignorant, envious or anything similar.

So I can tell you based on the principal that we are good and not evil, we should be more forgiving but at the same time zealously careful about how we treat one another. Remember, if you have a positive impact (i.e. happy, forgiving and assertive) you will have an impact on others. If you show spite, hate, or envy, you generally negatively impact others.

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