Welcome to NEIPJC’s New Blogger, Jerry Jones! Over the course of several weeks, Jerry will be creating content focusing on peace and justice in connection with the minority experience in Decorah, IA. Jerry will be interviewing local residents, busting stereotypes, and offering tips to challenge the reader to implement in their daily lives.
“A Call to Action”
What is peace? What is justice? In contemporary society, these couple of words are thrown around frequently. Their repeated occurrence and over-usage have caused the words to lose value. In fact, what do peace and justice even look like? The definition of peace in a broad sense is “a state of tranquility or quiet” but in the typical connotation peace aspires for “freedom from civil disturbance”. Yet, peace in contemporary society has been oxymoronic, given that to achieve peace there must first be a civil disturbance. Civil disturbance does not necessarily entail violence rather it is an action that is attempting to overcome the status quo. A status quo that is arguably discriminating against a minority. The definition of justice in the judicial system is “the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals” but more importantly, justice should be known in the broader sense. Justice in the broader context should serve as “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair”. Most importantly, peace and justice are not simply broad definitions; they are words that are meant to provoke action.
How is it possible to achieve peace and justice? Well, peace and justice should be viewed on a spectrum. Never will there exist such a thing as true peace and justice rather it is all relative. Peace and justice can always make progress and requires constant effort. Constantly, there exist marginalized individuals in society that need peace and justice brought to them. The world is ever-changing and thus the concept of peace and justice changes. Perfection concerning peace and justice may not be attainable but it is vital to strive for it.
When can peace and justice be accomplished? There is no specific timeline for peace and justice to be accomplished. Ironically, if one waits for the perfect time to strive towards peace and justice, that time will never come. Therefore, peace and justice are a constant working motion that progresses with the people that are actively involved. This is why the concept of peace and justice intertwined with a grassroots mentality is a necessity. Peace and justice progress are only as strong as the grassroots ideology it incorporates. This is why organizations such as the NEIPJC are vital to the progression of society.
Where are peace and justice found? Peace and justice can be found everywhere. The concept of peace and justice comes in many forms and experiences. It is my hope that this series of blogs I am creating will embody peace and justice. Furthermore, I hope to create more transparency around a minority experience in Decorah. In society, it is vital to understand the minority experience which is why I want to give it a voice.
The Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center states that it is “a 501c3 non-profit, helps incubate new ideas, offers resources, and serves as a catalyst for action in Northeast Iowa. We create initiatives to promote peace, human rights, local resilience, and social and environmental justice.” In essence, the NEIPJC relies on YOU! The supporter is vital to this cause. The 501c3 non-profit status is an admirable one, it requires a group effort to make a change. Community support is vital because a 501c3 non-profit life is supported by individual donations, small grants, and the hours YOU put in. Furthermore, the changes and the injustices YOU value can be influenced by your participation.
Meet the Blogger: Jerry Jones is currently a senior at Luther College. Jerry is triple majoring in English, Philosophy, and Political Science, alongside a History minor. Despite being a first-generation minority, Jerry has continued to overcome obstacles that have propelled his success in education. Jerry’s hobbies include bodybuilding, non-fiction reading, & being a podcast junkie. At Luther, Jerry was a member of the football team which taught him some of the most influential life lessons. The one Jerry admires the most is the fortitude that the sport instilled into him. After Jerry’s time at Luther, he will pursue Law School. Jerry plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School to pursue Corporate Law.
Enter the dialogue or send feedback to blog@neipjc.org.
