Issue 303 Devalued life March 31, 2014

Can we all agree that life is a precious thing? I thought we all could, but it seems even in the modern era (can we call ourselves that) that life is as cheap as it always has been. Here are my reasons why.

Life is cheap: Did you know that in Belgium you can kill a mentally disabled child under a certain age? There reasoning is that you are doing the child a favor by ending their "suffering" early. How about the way we treated Edward Snowden as he was forced to run to countries that would normally be considered advisories to protect him from the United States government. In North Korea, the current leader is killing members of his own family because they made slights against him. The Middle East and Africa have entire villages being wiped out in wars of ethnic, racial and religious genocide. How about Ukraine, which was almost in civil war as the Prime Minister before fleeing tried to suppress his people by using the police? By suppress, I mean shooting them and beating them to death. And you know what? Something similar is happening in Venezuela right now as well. These are just some small examples of the carnage that we are bringing upon our fellow human beings.

I am disturbed: I fear for the people of this world. Why is it that we seek to self cull our own species in our lust for power or our fatal compassion? We kill the unborn, and some even wish to kill the born under a certain age out of compassion of the mother or the hard life we think these children may lead. The killing in other countries is just nonsensical. People in power really are desperate enough to end another's life to keep their position. Or how about the more common method of destroying a persons reputation through various propaganda to ruin the opposition (a life ruined may also equal a life taken as well). Arrogance, fear and compassion seem to be the driving force behind these atrocious actions. But how can they be stopped?

Conclusion: I really hate to say it, but the way to stop these acts of tyranny is through education and fear. For education, we must face our history and learn every reason why wars, gang violence and other forms of fighting, killing and discrimination take place. We must understand that stereotypes were originally used to disenfranchise select groups of people with ways to make such words and rumors powerless. It is a must that our future generations understand how to use logic and discussion first and foremost in the fight against the tyranny of their fellow man. The other half is fear and it must come in the form of a deterrent. People armed with the knowledge of how and when to fight are a threat to keep both government and criminals at bay. I say this from the unique perspective of being an American citizen who grew up around people who where in law enforcement, military and recreational shooters. In short I grew up around the gun and learned proper fear and respect for it. Armed societies do not fear their governments. Armed societies fear no other man. We were created equal, but the gun keeps us that way, for it is power over yourself and others. Don't like guns, then how about a hatchet, a kitchen knife, a bully club, or just your bare knuckles. You must defend yourself and others from the evils of this world for we have lost the respect for life itself. These are my thoughts on this matter and I hope you find a better answer than mine.