Justice for all! What does that really mean?

Tales from the Neflental: justice for all at the peak of splendour

Everyone in Neflental celebrated the glorious high. The sun shone golden yellow and sent golden and amber-coloured rays across the wide plateau. Colourful lanterns floated in the sky, the rivers sparkled in sapphire blue and the forests glowed a vibrant emerald green. The peoples gathered at the Flamebush Grove, whose bushes already had a red-golden glow in summer. The Buchians, Flossians, Bergsteins and the white elves came together. Campfires crackled all around the banks of the small lakes and everyone sang soft songs.

Pink evergreen and the big race

On this day, everyone wanted to take part in a race. Whoever was the first to run from the Flammenbusch grove to the highest point of the Glanzhoch plateau would receive a golden branch. Rosa Periwinkle was looking forward to it, but some of the other children were worried. The nimble Flossian frog Jubelbamm could swim very well, but he ran slowly up the steep slope. The Buchian Linde had short legs, but her friend was sparkling with anticipation.

"Is that fair?" asked Linde. "Not everyone is equally good in the race. Will there be justice for everyone?" The children looked at each other questioningly.

Justice for all in the Neflental

Rosa laughed. "What does justice really mean?" she pondered aloud. "It's not enough for everyone to run the same way. It's fairer if everyone has the same chance to take part and win."

She suggested that everyone choose a route that suited them. The Flossians could swim a section of the river. The Buchians were to dash through the fern forest and the Bergsteins could climb over rocks. Part of the race also led across the sparkling meadows, which were open to all. Those who completed all the tasks celebrated at the finish line.

The white elves helped to mark the paths. They fluttered over the paths and scattered glass flowers so that no one got lost. This created a fair task for everyone. Everyone contributed their own strengths, but everyone had fun together.

A festival of diversity in the Flammenbusch grove

In the late afternoon, everyone reached the campfire at the Flammenbusch grove. The bushes shimmered like flames in the last rays of the sun. The children proudly crossed the finish line one after the other and were greeted by cheers and music. No one won alone. They held the golden branch in the air together and the light was reflected in their smiling faces.

Linde smiled at the Flossian frog. "Today I learnt: justice for all doesn't mean that everyone does the same thing. It means that everyone can be different and still belong." The others nodded and laughed happily. The fire was warm, the lanterns lit up and the valley felt like one big family.

What do we learn from this?

In Neflental, they experienced at the Glanzhoch festival that truly fair coexistence means more than just the same rules for everyone. It's about everyone being able to participate just as they are. Life together in the Neflental is most enjoyable when everyone recognises each other and no one is excluded. Justice for all means helping each other - and valuing everyone, no matter how different they are.

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