Ah Equestria, a perfect Utopian society full of magic, fun, and reform. Ever wonder why everypony seems so quick to forgive? The whole society seems to unquestionably agree with the overwhelming level of reform.
So why it is understood that a pony who vandalizes, kidnaps, or creates general mayhem can be arrested, but treason, assault, and world domination can get a pass?
In other words, what is Justice in Equestria?
As villains continue to be reformed and we press even further into the season, I think all of us have given pause to wonder why so many baddies are reformed. It feels like, short of murder, a pony can get away with almost anything so long as they ‘reformed’ afterward.
But maybe asking "Why so many reformations?" is the wrong question and we should focus more on whether or not Equestria has a justice system that requires reform.
Before diving into ponies, let’s all agree that, for the sake of this editorial, Justice is a process toward Fairness. That is to say, ponies seek justice to restore what is fair to those who have been wronged but also to all of society. Let us also agree that Crime is established by laws. If there doesn’t exist a law against an action, then that action is not a crime even if it’s bad.
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| We’ve all had the police called on us for disturbing the peace, right? Right!? |
Now we don’t spend much time in Equestrian prisons or trials outside of the mane 6 deliberating Starlight's fate back in The Cutie Re-Mark, but I want to theorize Equestria’s reforms are a direct result of the justice they've developed due to history.
Let’s start with Equestria’s interesting government.
Originally Equestria was the combination of three different tribes coming together to form one nation. We had a monarchy (where one leader makes the laws), a democracy/republic (where elections help determine rules and leadership), and a militant government (where members of the military run things).
Imagine how crazy things were that first year!
Add to the fact that all the groups must work together to get the sun/moon, plants/earth and weather to all work in harmony. Any disharmony would wreak their new nation, but that didn't mean residual feelings didn't linger into the forming of the cities and towns.
I think it’s safe to say most cities in Equestria were made up of predominately one pony type and each group implemented rules more in alignment with their favored form of government.
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| The Princess seems able to delegate land to traveling groups, but that's about it. |
There are always exceptions, but mayors, council members, detectives, etc... remain in the nation because of the lingering influences of those original tribes. They make local rules to keep things fair.
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| Equestria's greatest supervisor right here! |
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| A whole town isolated from society and never subject to taxes, safety checks, or school regulations. |
Each town has their own legal bearings to decided how to handle minor laws and crimes so long as the safety of all of Equestria isn’t at stake.
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| Amethyst Star looks too happy about punishment time. |
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| I wonder if Trouble Shoes put those marks on the wall or was it the pony before him. |
Okay, here’s the theory:
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| If this threat didn't condition ponies toward harmony, the heating bills certainly did. |
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| To be a hero in this magical land you must have good morals or at least hang out with the right friend group. |
It became common knowledge that if a creature had the potential for change, they must be offered reform, otherwise, banishment was the only other option. They couldn't even be sent to jail as bitterness might build and thus bring back the Windigos.
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With the Elements of Harmony and Princess Celestia, ponies could always trust that any major threat to their safety would be subdued without them having to be directly involved. So long as Celestia was able to forgive, no disharmony would build (This might be why the pillar's spell banished them with the Pony of Shadows since they couldn't forgive Stygian). Courts weren't needed to know these big bads were deserving of banishment.
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| We need only imagine a changeling can change to exonerate Thorax of his involvement in attacking the Crystal Empire. |
Interestingly, anytime a pony acts out but learns a lesson from the experience, they are forgiven the offense. Equestrian law (though never stated in the show) would seem to protect the rights of self-discovery to extensive lengths.
Honestly, all the characters have done something that in our world would merit some charges (or at least a Baker Act here in Florida). But that never happens because everypony around them knows they are still learning to be the best version of themselves they can be.
Punishing a pony who has learned the lesson already will only stand to increase discontent and bitterness in the offender.
Whether you like it or not, Equestria's default ‘punishment’ is to welcome the offender back into society equipped with the new knowledge they’ve gained from their unfavorable behavior. To ponies, the only just action is to reform remorseful villains and forgive anypony willing to learn from their past. It's Fair because it spares Equestria from facing the Windigos again.
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| Twilight could see Starlight wanted friendship, so the whole fighting thing stopped and reform was offered. |
What do you think? Are ponies conditioned to forgive, forced to do so by Windigos, a bit of both? Or do you think something else? Let’s talk Pony Justice!
