Recently my youth group hosted the church service for my church, Tibbetts United Methodist. I was unable to attend the actual service, but it was requested that I be one of three people to write a five-minute reflection on "Peace with Justice." I agreed.

However, when I finally laid my fingers on the keyboard and tried to pin down just what I was supposed to write, I began to understand that neither peace nor justice are - and have not been for a long time - absolute in that they cannot be laid down in concrete terms. There is a great difference between preaching philosophy and being able to apply it practically. I didn't want to come across as a preacher, which I am not, nor did I want to pretend that I knew exactly what I was talking about, which I do not. Most certainly I wanted to stay away from directly addressing anything as "sinful."

I wanted to present a simple, realistic concept that could warp itself around modern events unhindered by ever-changing social standards.

My pondering brought me to notice that both peace and justice have now become public jokes, centers of ridicule and hypocrisy.

In the movie "Miss Congeniality," the concept of "World Peace" is denounced as being a naive and idealistic phrase only utterable by bikini-clad, air headed bimbos. In "Equilibrium" and "Aeon Flux," peace is only attained when a single, overwhelmingly powerful group of ambitious and greedy people subjugates everyone else to one set of absolute rules. The protagonists in all three cases are the rebellious heroes and heroines willing to stand up against the system - against the peace. It is even mentioned in the "Matrix" trilogy that when the original cyber world created to subdue, occupy and entertain the human brains was a perfect world without crime, hate, or violence, the human minds within it rebelled, unconvinced of its reality.

Next, I posed, "What is Justice?" Are not the police and courts of this world supposed to represent our modern justice system? Is following the rules the same as complying with justice? If so, then good versus evil takes on an entirely different meaning: bosses would be always right, dirty cops would be the law, and minorities would be constant victims of prejudice and wrongdoing. Perhaps, then, Justice is our own personal moral codes based on our consciences. No, that's not it either. Anything can be justified if the right person is asked to explain it. Parents excuse their children, wives excuse their husbands, friends excuse their friends all the time. That does not make anything right.

I concluded that "Peace with Justice" was to apply the abstract concept that is Peace through means of a humanized Justice (to treat others as you would want to be treated, often better than you treat yourself).

Take a moment to reflect on that then, for now, put it aside. Focus on the "why?" Why have the images of Peace and Justice been so thoroughly soiled by the media industry (for example)?

A large aspect of the American dream is to fight the good fight. It stems from honor and pride, not abusing those unable to defend themselves, letting the women and children escape first, and so on. But nowadays the glamour lies not with Captain America, but with those rebelling against the system all dressed in black with guns blazing. Don't get me wrong, who am I to deny the influences of modern media and culture on my easily swayed young mind? I'm right in there with my leather trench coat too.

I'm not accusing anyone, especially those like myself who just love looking cool in their bad girl/bad boy attire. I am pointing the finger at those people who think its cool to be on the dark side.

It seems like all that's important now is to fight the fun fight.

Kyra-lin Hom can be reached at kl_hom@yahoo.com