How Much is a Life Worth?

Earlier this year one of our favourite celebrities, Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin met an untimely and tragic death. There was widespread mourning and I, like many, was surprised and saddened. I loved him; thought he was an inspiration and a great role model.

I spoke to people who were absolutely shattered by the passing of the 'wildlife warrior'. People who had never met the man were crying and his death dominated the news in Australia for weeks. We were a nation in shock; one of our favourite sons had 'died before his time'.
It wasn't fair.

In the same week I read the following:

"According to UNICEF, over 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death."

Isn't it pathetic that we live in a world which seems to value some lives more because they are prettier, funnier, wealthier, more talented, more influential or more visible.
One of our favourite celebrities die, and we fall apart.
30,000 kids die daily and we change the channel because 'those' ads make us uncomfortable.
Especially those kids with flies on their face.
Tasteless.
We don't need to see that.

30,000 kids die and we don't bat an eyelid because we don't know them.
They're statistics.
They're meaningless numbers in a foreign land.
It's not real to us.
Imagine if those little black faces were white.
I wonder if we'd be more concerned?

Don't misinterpret what I'm saying; I'm not suggesting that the Croc Hunter's death was anything other than tragic...it was.

But what I am saying is that all lives are sacred, and of equal value; no matter who they are, the colour of their skin, or their country of origin.

The three year-old who quietly dies from starvation today in the Sudan (and he will) is just as important as the millionaire, celebrity who kills him or herself with drugs.... or the high-profile philanthropist who gave away millions and died of old age.

In fact, to me, the three year-old is more tragic and significant because he never even had a chance. He couldn't waste his life like so many of us do... because he never had a life to waste.

I often talk about the quality of our life being dependant on the decisions we do and don't make. Well, I've been negligent because I haven't really discussed the fact that so many people (millions) have their destiny decided for them because of the situation they are born into.

For some people, decisions don't really come into it.

About four billion people (over half of the world's population) live on less than $2 per day.
That's not you or me.

We're blessed.
Let's act like it.
Let's complain less and appreciate more.

Let's value all lives.
Even the one's we can't see.
In the time it took me to write this post, over one thousand children have died as a result of their living conditions.

Imagine if everyone who could do something (anything), did it.

'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing'.
Philosopher, Edmund Burke

Are you are good man / woman?