Anthrax: I am the Law

“I Am the Law” is a single by thrash metal band Anthrax, from their 1987 album Among the Living, tells the story of a character named Judge Dredd or Judge Joseph Dredd from a comic book action fantasy set in a future where a judge acts as police, prosecutor, jury and executioner all in one person.

The Origin of Judge Dredd

Carlos Ezquierra and John Wagner co-created Judge Dredd, with Carlos designing the concept of Judge Joseph Dredd and John coming up with the story.

Carlos began his career as a comic artist in his native Barcelona, ​​Spain, before moving to the UK and working with 2000 AD. He based Judge Dredd on the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, and the social conditions he encountered while living in Croydon, England, during the 1970s and 1980s, when the punk movement was taking hold in England, as well as the image of the police using force to suppress workers who were frequently on strike due to the Economic Depression.

John Wagner has said that when he first saw the original Judge Dredd design, he thought he looked like a “Spanish pirate.” So, unlike previous comic book heroes, he’s sometimes a hero, sometimes a tyrant.

I Am The Law

I am the Law

Fifteen years in the academy
He was like no cadet they'd ever seen
A man so hard, his veins bleed ice
And when he speaks he never says it twice
They call him Judge, his last name is Dredd
So break the law, and you may wind up dead
Truth and justice are what he's fighting for
Judge Dredd the man, he is the law
Drokk it

Judge Joseph Dredd is the iconic character from the Judge Dredd comic series, which is set in a dystopian future where “Judges” or “Street Judges” serve as the ultimate enforcers of law and order. In this world, Judges have the authority to apprehend, convict, and sentence criminals on the spot, often delivering lethal justice without any form of trial or appeal. 

Joseph Dredd’s life began as a clone. He and his twin brother, Rico Dredd, were both created from the DNA of Chief Judge Fargo, who is regarded as the founder of the Judge System.

This system places an extreme emphasis on discipline, justice, and unyielding law enforcement. Fargo’s DNA was specifically chosen to produce Judges of exceptional physical and mental capability, prepared to meet the rigorous demands of a Judge’s life. Rico and Joe (Joseph) Dredd completed their training at the Academy of Law, an institution known for its grueling and lengthy preparation process, typically 15 years. However, the Dredd brothers’ skills and abilities were exceptional, so they graduated after only 13 years.

Judge Dredd’s defining traits are strictness and a relentless sense of justice. He operates under the principle that the law is absolute and unyielding, and he embodies this in his duties. If he catches someone breaking the law, they face immediate punishment, often death, with no opportunity to appeal, as he is the law. This makes him both respected and feared within Mega-City One, where citizens know his presence often spells immediate and severe consequences for any transgressions.

Dictatorship

The world in Judge Dredd’s time was the United States in a post-apocalyptic world, where only three mega-cities survived. The rest became the “Cursed Earth”, The governance in Judge Dredd resembles a form of authoritarian dictatorship, where citizens of Mega-City One live under an oppressive regime with the Judges as supreme authorities. In this society, citizens lack basic democratic rights, such as the ability to appeal judicial decisions or have legal representation, as Judges like Dredd act as judge, jury, and executioner. 

This authoritarian system, which grants Judges absolute power over life and death, operates without checks and balances, and therefore denies the populace any real voice in their governance. The people of Mega-City One may be resigned to this form of rule or even accept it, but ultimately, their rights and freedoms are sharply curtailed.

The comic’s portrayal of Mega-City One softens the harsh reality of this fascist rule. While it acknowledges the Judge system as authoritarian, it does not cast it as overtly villainous. This “softened” depiction can mask the ethical issues of such a regime.

However, even if the system seems benign in its intent to maintain order and security, granting absolute power to any individual or group is inherently dangerous. History shows that well-intentioned authoritarian rule, no matter how idealistic at first, often devolves into oppression.

Idealism of I Am The Law

Comparisons to socialist ideologies, such as those of Karl Marx, underscore the potential pitfalls of idealistic visions for society. Marx’s utopian vision of a classless, possession-free society appeals to ideals of equality and peace, but it also assumes an inherently cooperative human nature, which history shows is often contradicted by a desire for personal ownership and power.

Furthermore, Marx’s notion of achieving such a state through class struggle and revolution laid the groundwork for the rise of various authoritarian regimes that, under the guise of achieving utopia, imposed harsh restrictions on freedom and individual rights. While the core ideals in Marx’s vision aim for harmony, implementing such ideals has proven unachievable, largely because human societies resist absolutes—especially those imposed through violent or authoritarian means.

The Judges’ dictatorship in Judge Dredd serves as a stark reminder that even the most well-meaning governance structures, when built on ideals of absolute power, frequently end in oppression and disillusionment. The comic, intentionally or not, reflects the historical lesson that any governance based on unchecked authority is prone to corruption, regardless of its initial idealism.

With his gun and bike he rules the streets
And every perp he meets will taste defeat
Not even Death can overcome his might
Cause Dredd and Anderson, they won the fight

Judge Dredd, armed with a gun, a “Lawgiver”, a pistol programmed to recognize only his palm-print and capable of firing six types of ammunition. He rides a large “Lawmaster” motorcycle equipped with machine-guns, a powerful laser cannon, and full artificial intelligence capable of responding to orders from the Judge and operating itself.

Anyone who breaks the law will be immediately punished. Even the evil Judge Death (a spirit that can possess corpses or people) was defeated with the help of Judge Cassandra Anderson. 

I Am The Law

When the Sov's started the Apocalypse war
And Mega-city was bombed to the floor
Dredd resisted, and the judges fought back
And crushed the Sov's with their counter-attack
Drokk it

Judge Dredd embodies a complex character who, in different circumstances, can be both a hero and a tyrant. As a Judge in Mega-City One, Dredd is often seen as a symbol of law and order in a chaotic world, delivering immediate justice and restoring peace in an environment overrun with crime. However, his unwavering dedication to enforcing the law and maintaining control also makes him capable of extreme and authoritarian actions that blur the line between heroism and tyranny.

One of the most controversial instances of Dredd’s moral ambiguity is illustrated in the Apocalypse War storyline from 1982. When Mega-City One is devastated by a Soviet attack that leaves half the city in ruins, Dredd leads a counter-attack to the heart of the Soviet base. Upon reaching their command centre, he faces a pivotal choice: exact retribution on a massive scale or choose restraint. 

Judge Dredd,

The Soviet officers beg for mercy, but Dredd dismisses their pleas, coldly declaring, “Half my city has been reduced to ashes…and you still ask for mercy? Request Denied!”  He proceeds to detonate a warhead, annihilating half a billion people in retaliation.

This decision reflects Dredd’s uncompromising, authoritarian nature. Where other heroes like Batman or Superman would likely find a way to avoid civilian casualties, Dredd’s response is rooted in vengeance and his unwavering belief in strict justice. 

Authoritarianism

His action raises profound ethical questions, as it sacrifices countless lives and contradicts the moral compass traditionally associated with heroism. Dredd’s sense of justice, while often effective at curbing crime, reveals the dangerous extremes of authoritarian rule—particularly when he alone defines what is just and necessary.

This approach highlights the worst facets of authoritarianism. Dredd’s absolute power, intended to protect the city, often leaves no room for mercy, forgiveness, or alternative solutions. 

In situations where other heroes would hesitate or seek paths that protect innocents, Dredd exemplifies the brutality that can result when one individual or institution wields unchecked power. His actions serve as a reminder of the peril in entrusting any single figure with unmitigated control; even well-intentioned authoritarianism can devolve into tyranny and vengeance, leading to dire, irreversible consequences.

Protector and a Tyrant.

Through Dredd, Judge Dredd exposes the paradox of authoritarian rule: a figure who upholds law and order to the extreme often becomes a force of oppression himself, undermining the very ideals of justice and protection he claims to defend. His complex persona reflects the inherent danger in systems where authority becomes absolute, pushing the boundaries of what society deems heroic or villainous and reminding us of the thin line between a protector and a tyrant.

In the cursed earth where mutants dwell
There is no law, it's just a living hell
Anarchy and chaos as the blood runs red
But this would change if it was up to Dredd
The book of law is the bible to him
And any crime committed is a sin
He keeps the peace with his law-giver
Judge, jury, and executioner
Drokk it

Judge Dredd’s character offers a striking parallel to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, particularly its famous line, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” In Orwell’s allegory, the original intent of the animal revolution was to create a society of equality and fairness. However, as the pigs consolidate power, they begin to privilege themselves, betraying the principles of equality and justice they once championed. This power shift illustrates how the very ideals that inspire revolutions can be distorted when authority is concentrated in the hands of a few.

Similarly, Judge Dredd’s society in Mega-City One started as a reaction to social breakdown, aiming to enforce law and order amid widespread chaos. Yet over time, the Judges became not just enforcers of the law but absolute rulers, with Dredd himself as the embodiment of “justice.” Just as the pigs in Animal Farm assume privileges and adopt oppressive behaviors, the Judges become increasingly authoritarian, justifying their actions as necessary for society’s protection. They no longer see citizens as equal under the law but as subjects to control, mirroring how revolutionary ideals can be subverted by those in power.

The Principles of Equality

This transformation reflects the psychological effects of power—how it can corrupt and lead individuals down dangerous paths. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power serves as a historical example of this shift. His patriotism and resentment over Germany’s defeat in World War I fueled his determination to restore Germany’s status, “Make Germany Great Again!”, a goal that resonated deeply with the public. Initially, his motives could be viewed as rooted in a form of national pride, yet as he amassed power, his sense of mission twisted into a justification for oppressive and brutal policies. His vision of “doing good for Germany” ultimately devolved into a catastrophic reign of tyranny and destruction.

Orwell’s critique in Animal Farm, as well as the authoritarian character of Judge Dredd, reminds us of the dangers when any single person or group is convinced of their unique “goodness” or superiority. In real life and in fiction, this often escalates from simply believing one’s choices or views are best to enforcing them upon others, dismissing differing perspectives as inferior or even dangerous. This tendency can manifest even in smaller, everyday ways—like assuming a particular lifestyle, opinion, or taste in music is “right” and everything else is wrong.

Wirathu: The Face of Buddhist Terror

Such thinking can fragment societies, creating divides where everyone believes they represent “goodness,” disregarding or even demonizing others who differ. This divisive mindset fuels intolerance, as people become unwilling to consider that different perspectives might also hold value. Orwell’s Animal Farm, Judge Dredd, and historical figures like Hitler all illustrate a critical lesson: unchecked belief in one’s righteousness, especially when coupled with power, often turns ideals into oppressive dogmas. True justice and equality require humility and a recognition that no one person or group has a monopoly on the “right” way to live or govern.

The idea that “being a good person is good, but thinking you are a good person leads to deterioration” captures the dangers of self-righteousness—a mentality that Judge Dredd embodies to an extreme. Believing oneself inherently good often clouds one’s judgment, leading to rigid moral superiority.

When a person is convinced that their thoughts and actions are always “right,” they may ignore or even suppress the perspectives of others. Those who disagree with them become “wrong,” “misguided,” or even “bad.” This mentality often escalates, creating divisions and, in severe cases, justifying acts of ridicule, censorship, or even violence against those who hold different views.

History shows us how power, when combined with self-righteousness, can lead to destructive outcomes. The Burmese monk who incited violence against Muslims, featured on the cover of Time magazine as “The Face of Buddhist Terror,” exemplifies how self-righteous belief, even within a religious context, can spiral into intolerance and aggression. 

The monk’s conviction that he was defending his faith led him to actions that, tragically, contradicted the principles of Buddhism itself. Similarly, in Thailand, certain monks have gained notoriety for promoting ideas that diverge sharply from traditional Buddhist teachings, demonstrating how those who consider themselves moral leaders are not immune to becoming deluded by their power and belief in their “goodness.”

In Judge Dredd, this pattern is taken to its extreme. Dredd’s famous declaration, “I Am The Law,” showcases an absolute conviction that his actions are infallible and just. In his world, he is the standard by which all others are measured. 

I am right, and therefore others are wrong

His rigid sense of justice leaves no room for nuance, compassion, or different perspectives—qualities that are essential in any real-world society that values empathy and fairness. Dredd’s authority, while effective in maintaining order, comes at the cost of oppressive control, as he sees any deviation from his judgment as inherently wrong. If Dredd were just an ordinary person, his inflexible nature might isolate him or prevent him from seeing his own biases. 

However, as a figure of nearly unchecked power, his self-righteousness and inability to consider other perspectives translate into authoritarianism. This problem is not exclusive to fictional characters like Judge Dredd. In real life, the mentality of “I am right, and therefore others are wrong” erodes empathy and humility. 

When individuals or leaders adopt a “my way or the highway” stance, they risk alienating others, fostering resentment, or even inciting conflict. To truly be good means recognizing the limits of one’s understanding and the possibility of being wrong, which allows for growth, collaboration, and the embracing of diverse perspectives.

Instead of adopting an “I Am The Law” mindset, as Dredd does, real-world wisdom lies in adopting a more open, flexible perspective. Letting go of absolute self-assurance in one’s “rightness” can prevent the erosion of one’s character and promote genuine connection with others.

Imagining oneself as “I Am The Eggman,” “I Am The Walrus,” or “I Am A Table” is a whimsical way of saying that humility and a willingness to listen to others can prevent the self-righteous rigidity that isolates people. Being open to different viewpoints, rather than assuming the position of an unquestionable authority, leads to a more fulfilling and cooperative society—one in which true goodness is not about control or judgment, but about respect, compassion, and mutual understanding.

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