I guess it had to be asked - are some lives worth more than others?

[LostOne4Ever]

54. Please don't misunderstand me

I am not saying the value of their characters are the same, but that I feel the value of lives are the same. These are not the same thing to me and that is not what I am trying to arguing.

That said, valuing the lives of one's own family over others has allowed people to ruin the lives of complete strangers for their families comfort. Fear that something might jeopardize the lifestyle of one's family can and probably has convinced many people to support unjust wars.

I love my family dearly, but as a person of conscience I can not say that their lives are more valuable than someone I don't know. What if the family I just doomed to death was one that spent every waking moment helping others? Caring for the disabled and poor?

Even the life of that terrorist, what if he repented and went on to lead to the end of Al Queda and saved thousands upon thousands? What if that 5 year old would have gone on to be a serial killer? While the 90 year old would have inspired one of his/her grandchildren to become a scientist who cures cancer? Odds are that the child would help more people, but we don't know. Also, I think that one must also consider the people who the 90 year old has influenced over their long life and who care about him/her

Above you said you value the lives of your family more than strangers. What if the 90 year old was a direct family member you loved deeply? A mother or grandfather or sibling. Would you still value the 5 year old more? Or would you now value the 90 year old more? Seems like the answer could easily change depending on the who and when.

I don't know the future, and I am not saying that one should not be responsible for their actions. But I do know that many people have been unjustly murdered because someone did not value the life of others. As I said in my previous post, I believe that once someone is dead that is that. You will never see them again. Because of that the life of all people is very very precious to me. That is part of the reason I oppose the death penalty and feel war should be a very last resort.

I am sorry you find my views offensive. I know you and Nuclear Unicorn are very intelligent posters and are trying to show the error in my type of thinking and are offended by the thought that I am saying a criminal should be considered equal to doctor. I hear what you are saying, but respectfully disagree. I am not saying their characters are equal, just that the value of them being living entities is equal. I also feel that once society says one life if more valuable than another it put in place the circumstances needed to commit horrible horrible tragedies and I reject that.

Again, my apologies for offending you.