A legal word used to hear on the news when I was growing up , especially connected to racial matters of racial discrimination was "de facto". I have no legal training, but The American Heritage Dictionary says this:
de facto /dĭ făk′tō, dā/
adjective
Existing in actuality, especially when contrary to or not established by law.
"de facto segregation; a de facto government."
In fact or in practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status. (Often opposed to de jure.).
Existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not.
"a de facto state of war"
I have always presumed that "de facto" means "What's real".
Reality is where we live, so it counts. The law once claimed that women are inferior and subservient to men. It was a lie. The law, and in fact the Supreme Court of the US declared that black people had no natural rights. They also lied. When the law is at odds with reality, any honest sense of justice demands that the law be changed. When the law is deliberately misapplied, there is no less injustice. The Orwellian pretenses of this regime are blatantly untrue and blatantly evil. Rule of law is necessary, but justice is possible only when provable big lies and corruption are resisted. De facto injustice stinks just as badly no matter how it is labeled.
The weird part is that the MAGA judges expect us ignore epic, deliberate, institutionalized racism as practiced by the current (anti-republic) "Republican Party", so long as the rights of black and other voters are diluted only for "partizan purposes" (of a party which happen to be demonstrably blatantly racist). Like a bribe is not a bribe without the issue of an itemized invoice? "Equal Justice Under Law"? It's what is written on the Supreme Court building. Reality, whether we grasp it or not, is what actually happens.
Saying we don’t have a problem with racial equality is like saying we don’t have food insecurity or barriers to health care. “Color blind” redistricting is the lie that obscures the injustice.
Thanks for bringing us these perspectives from other countries, such good reporting! Makes me want to subscribe to the Guardian if I had more time to spend reading
Excellent written and referenced. Thank you!
Thank you Francine. 🙏
Great piece. It’s one I will save as a reference.
A legal word used to hear on the news when I was growing up , especially connected to racial matters of racial discrimination was "de facto". I have no legal training, but The American Heritage Dictionary says this:
de facto /dĭ făk′tō, dā/
adjective
Existing in actuality, especially when contrary to or not established by law.
"de facto segregation; a de facto government."
In fact or in practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status. (Often opposed to de jure.).
Existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not.
"a de facto state of war"
I have always presumed that "de facto" means "What's real".
Reality is where we live, so it counts. The law once claimed that women are inferior and subservient to men. It was a lie. The law, and in fact the Supreme Court of the US declared that black people had no natural rights. They also lied. When the law is at odds with reality, any honest sense of justice demands that the law be changed. When the law is deliberately misapplied, there is no less injustice. The Orwellian pretenses of this regime are blatantly untrue and blatantly evil. Rule of law is necessary, but justice is possible only when provable big lies and corruption are resisted. De facto injustice stinks just as badly no matter how it is labeled.
The weird part is that the MAGA judges expect us ignore epic, deliberate, institutionalized racism as practiced by the current (anti-republic) "Republican Party", so long as the rights of black and other voters are diluted only for "partizan purposes" (of a party which happen to be demonstrably blatantly racist). Like a bribe is not a bribe without the issue of an itemized invoice? "Equal Justice Under Law"? It's what is written on the Supreme Court building. Reality, whether we grasp it or not, is what actually happens.
I think X brings compelling pieces.
Saying we don’t have a problem with racial equality is like saying we don’t have food insecurity or barriers to health care. “Color blind” redistricting is the lie that obscures the injustice.
So interesting to read what other countries’ news outlets are reporting. Thanks.
I call it the second Reconstruction.
Thanks for bringing us these perspectives from other countries, such good reporting! Makes me want to subscribe to the Guardian if I had more time to spend reading