Does a life of privilege begat a life of injustice?

Ah Joran, how I despise thee. Let me count the ways. I am speaking of course of young Joran Andreas Petrus van der Sloot, my favorite misaligned misogynist. Here’s to hoping his life of privilege has run its course.


He once again graces the pages of news as a Peruvian panel is deciding whether or not to uphold the confession of Joran in the accused killing of 21 year old Stefany Flores. Strange note here is that the murdered Flores was found exactly on the 5th anniversary of Natalee Holloways disappearance? Coincidence? Karma? I find that interesting. Just sayin’…

Joran believes his confession is no longer valid due to the fact there wasn’t an “official” translator at the time and his state appointed attorney did not have a document accrediting her as an attorney. He claims his attorney was imposed upon him as well as being involved with a police officer. Oh, and also his laptop was improperly searched. I love hearing how his constitutional rights were violated. <cough>

You either have to love this guy because he has managed to use his knowledge of law (and his father’s) to get himself out of “sticky” situations or dislike him (I don’t use the word hate) for the same reason. His own mother stated he had a problem lying as a child. Here is a man that basically has led a life of gambling and partying whenever and wherever he choses. No responsibilities. No regard for his own actions. Must be nice....or is it?

And now to my point.

Joran is really just another example (albeit worst case) lately of what I fear to be some kind of societal change. It’s nothing more than a massive sense of over entitlement. Where is the accountability for ones actions? Why is there no responsibility tied to reward? Why do we believe everything is “owed” to us? And God forbid that anyone should try and hold us accountable for our actions or deny our instant gratification, for that triggers the inevitable call of injustice itself. My rights have been violated!

I am not conferring guilt to Joran nor am I saying he has no right to a fair trial. What I AM pointing out is that through his life of privilege he has formed some sense that he is “owed” everything and responsible for nothing. I used to think that this was only a problem with the younger generation but I do not hold true to that line of thought anymore. It truly is a much broader problem.

Even our own nation’s leaders have issue with it. Example. We’ve “successfully” deposed a leader in a country that was oppositional to ours (and possibly dangerous). I will not go into whether the war in Iraq was justified or not. I will however ask that why is the removal of our troops the end? Why do we not have a sense of responsibility to the people of Iraq to help them rebuild what we tore down? Are we entitled to overthrow a government and not responsible to help build a new one? How is that not an injustice based on our own sense of being “right”?

Plato stated he did not know what Justice was but he DID know what it was not.

It is my belief that any attitude that promotes a sense of self importance or self morality, that does nothing to further the better good, is an injustice. To negatively judge others based solely on the fact that they differ from you, is an injustice. To try and impose how you live your life on others because it is the “right” way to live, is an injustice. We DO have a responsibility as human kind to think how our actions and judgments affect one another. Somehow it’s getting lost in the confusion of what we believe is rightfully ours. We all live very privileged lives in one way or another. Life itself is precious. I believe we should try and use our lives in a way that truly “justifies” our existence. Make it count.

Seriously.