The Irony of ‘Just Cause’

The Phrase; Just Cause has some intrinsic irony with it’s modern interpretation.

I find it ironic and funny, that the term ‘Just Cause’ used to represent a justification for action or a cause or reason. Like a Casus Belli. When nations or people with power and clout performed actions or movements, they had to justify them, to give their action for war or for resources or aide as some form of justice in the world to make things ‘just’.

In modern times, when interrogated by the secret police or public police, we have to show our alibi’s and corroborate our stories to give a motive for not committing a crime, as well as they (the police) have to provide a motive for why someone capable would commit a crime. Point is, everyone operates with either conscious intent or subconscious autonomy utilizing a just cause (even if it’s not very just).

There’s a reason for doing things, and that is our justification for doing it. We drink water because we’re thirsty. A Cause and effect, a driving force and will. To set the world right is to bring things to just or justice, to justify things as a justification. Hence, Just Cause.

However, as the word has evolved linguistically over the years and time. It appears the phrase ‘just cause’ has been stretched to mean ‘because I can’.

Ultimately, there’s a good (public) reason to do things, and there’s a real reason to do things. Whatever the consequences of the actions are or what the intent behind the actions were, is something that is post-humusly dissected and argued long after the dust has settled (or even during the settling of the dust).

Regardless of outcomes, the action is done, and the justification for the action or act or cause, is something that is scrutinized.

Ultimately, people and nations do things because they can.

So if you were to look at what is possible, you must look at what is physically possible and whom has the capabilities to execute the task. The World’s narratives starts revealing itself slowly when you start piecing together different opinions and probabilities.

Epilogue

This article or thought was inspired by the idea of the ‘Just Cause’ video game series which is related to Operation Just Cause regarding US involvement in Panama. The world is very connected by phrases.

It’s funny and charming that a cause for justice ends up being a recursive and self-reflective circle jerk to justify it’s own causes. A Cause for justice, in turn, justice to do the cause- It’s a loop.

Phrases and such are a thing worth noting as they are larger than typical words or compound words but have unique meanings. If I start quoting specific people, those quotes, when recognized, gives it a whole new level of meaning then just the words themselves. Context matters, justification is the story we weave to justify things.

Hence,

Words Mean Things