It is written that people are created “Imago Dei”; in the image of God and in His likeness. This fact alone inherently establishes value and rights for every human being. The foundational Declaration of Independence of the United States declares “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights which 48 nations have agreed to states its recognition of the “inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.” 6 of the 10 Biblical Commandments deal with how we demonstrate love towards or violate other people. Jesus said that all the laws and the message of the prophets hung on the two basic commandments; to love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). Any violation of these rights and value, or any failure to correct the violation when able is an injustice.

Despite a seeming dominant world view that humans have value and rights that cannot be separated from them, that shouldn’t be taken away from them, but rather should be provided for and protected; the reality is that injustice is an accepted social norm. It is proudly proclaimed that people should get (what we think) they deserve and if they are subject to undesireable situations and conditions, they likely earned their way there. Popular culture inserts that if someone isn’t experiencing the benefits of their rights or if they are suffering in some way; it’s likely their fault, their choice, or conveniently “not my problem or responsibility”. A huge problem with this is that this determination of what someone else deserves or doesn’t deserve ignores the basic rights and value principles and replaces them with unstable standards, rooted in subjective morality and compass-less ethics.