So I was just thinking about ... justice vs. fairness

Fair: free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

Just: acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good

In our efforts to find "equality" we tend to ignore a very basic fact — causation ("causal relationship between conduct and result"). As unfortunate or "unfair" as it may seem, the decisions and choices of those who we are in relationship with affect us (either positively or negatively). Even though our small worlds may seem isolated we are constantly bumping into each other in way and large ways, sometime significantly altering the paths of those we run into.

In the same way that free will is never as limitlessly free as we think, fairness is never as unbiased and selfless as we think. Whether a husdand and father decides to cheat on his wife, causing their marriage to fall into ruins ending in divorce leaving their kids without a father and homeless on the streets; or when a nation votes for a government that in turn becomes corrupt, starves its people, depleats the land, and kills thousands; or if a corporate mismanages its funds, its resources and becomes blindly greedy forcing itself to lay off employees and eventually close down; all of these are just results from actions (which in turn affect others). All of these are unfair indirectly but intertwined with the action to do one thing; trust in mankind.

The sins of our father(s) are passed down. Those we're associated with, when they fall, often we are drug down too. In the narrowness of our immediate perspective these things are unfair. When someone seemingly innocent is unduly punished for the actions of someone else, we seek justice and fairness. Sadly our idea of justice is limited, and our desire for fairness is really only a desire for equality. The just results of our sins often affect others.

Life is unfair. Life is hard. Life is full of selfish and sinful people. The poor will always be with us. War will always be one moment away. No better reason for mercy found in someone who offers hope beyond the limits of sinful man.