Soups Up
Envision a black cauldron simmering over an open flame. Our recipe calls for a diverse group of ingredients for delivery of an awesome product. Unequal measures of hurt, anger, anxiety, pain, betrayal, bitterness, hate, love, loneliness, pride, greed or jealousy can be stirred into the pot. The steam rises as the ingredients begin a rapid boil. Threatening to overflow the sides of the cauldron, we realize soup is up! Revenge is ready to be served.
From the beginning of time, man has had an appetite to inflict punishment on perceived personal injuries, insults or betrayals. In Biblical times, Jewish law was given with authority to extricate an "eye for an eye, tooth for tooth" as punishment for crimes. This quote from Exodus 21:24, became a popular rhetorical comeback for those seeking justification and recompense. Seeking equality with revengeful acts was deemed justice.
Victims often blur the lines between revenge and justice.
Smallville
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
English: Starfleet uniform on display at Star Trek...Often spoken conjoined, these forms of retribution are unrelated to each other. Revenge differs in that it is an emotional act, simmered and stewed upon. It is thought out, often carefully planned, and executed to inflict the most suffering on the victim, with immediate gratification sought by the perpetrator. Destruction of one's personal property or libeling of one's reputation are favorite forms of retribution. A betrayed spouse often feels justified to evoke revengeful acts upon their significant other, applying whatever means necessary to bring about the desired promise of euphoria revenge is thought to bring.
Administration of consequences for unlawful acts with impartiality is justice. In the United States laws have been put in place to render an impartial judgment through the judicial system, providing just consequences for infractions of the law. Emotional justice is much harder to achieve and gratification harder to embrace. Time and forgiveness...