justice in the making

My theories of justice class has been going really well. Stimulating readings, and great discussion. We started class yesterday with this poem from Judy Chicago. We were talking about tradition, gender and religion as sources for theorising about justice. Marcia's term is 'leaning into justice' - it is a place we will never really arrive at, but we need to lean into it without quick reconciliation that hurries over the many differences and injustices. The poem has Isaiah-type languages, and is filled with seemingly irreconcilable opposites.

“Untitled Poem from ‘The Dinner Party’”
Judy Chicago

And then all that has divided us will merge
And then compassion will be wedded to power
And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind
And then both men and women will be gentle
And then both women and men will be strong
And then no person will be subject to another’s will
And then all will be rich and free and varied
And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many
And then all will share equally in the Earth’s abundance
And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old
And then all will nourish the young
And then all will cherish life’s creatures
And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth
And then everywhere will be called Eden once again

As reprinted in Cries of the Spirit edited by Marilyn Sewell
Beacon Press (1991)