Subtlety is often lost on me. Maybe it’s because attention to detail isn’t my strongest suit, but I find it helpful when things are pointed out bluntly.
Even though I’ve noticed many of the recent attempts at language reform (it’s hard not to; some of them are pretty silly and ham-fisted), I hadn’t noticed the campaign to replace “criminal justice system” with “criminal legal system.”
The reason why someone might embrace the swap is obvious: they don’t believe our current system achieves or produces “justice.” And “legal” is an accurate description of many of the processes, so it seems a practical and benign substitute.
Even if I had caught the subtle replacement, I might not have immediately picked up on the cynicism that undergirds it. (I prefer clues that are “Tommy Boy” obvious.)
That’s why I’m glad I read this short essay by Greg Berman in Vital City, arguing why we should try to limit the spread of this attempted rebrand.
Once something is pointed out to you, it becomes obvious the next time you see it. That’s good because when I do, now I’ll be prepared to say (in the way they do where I come from): I’m agin’ it. (For those not familiar.)
For all the faults in our system, and even if it can only ever be an aspirational goal if never a truly attainable one, I still believe in the pursuit of justice. I think it’s worth keeping that guiding principle explicit in the system.