Morality/Ethical question...all life equal??

SpiceItUp

When the shuttle broke apart in the sky over Texas the whole world stopped. I just came from our lunch break room where the tv was turned to the channel (maybe all have it on) covering the memorial service of the astronauts that died.
I thought back to a conversation I had with my mother the other day. She made the point that we all stopped our lives a bit by this disaster whereas the 7-100 (at least) people that die in traffic accidents etc on a daily basis are no more mourned than maybe with a blip in the newspaper and the close family and friends.
The I thought back to "The Practice" that I watched last night. It was one concerning over-turning the death penalty to a paranoid-skitsophrenic. She killed two children when unmedicated. They ordered that if she stayed off the meds (legally insane) she could live but if she went back on the meds (an entirely different person that was making a difference in the lives of teens) she would be punished to death. (That wasn't the end but I won't give away the ending)

My question is how do we decide who deserves to be mourned longer or bigger? Are the ones that contribute to the many more important to the ones that contribute to the few? Is the life of the crazy and insane less worthy than the doctors, scientists etc of our time? Who are we to choose? But we do. I think its human nature to give more value to those that contribute more to our world than those that are the drug dealers and sociopaths. But isn't all life just as important?

Any thoughts on this?!?

SixofNine

uh, lessee; on the one hand, we have people who contribute to society, and on the other we have people who make it a practice to harm society. Are all lives just as important? That's a pretty easy one for me.

Shutterbug

how do we decide who deserves to be mourned longer or bigger?

No one is forced to mourn anyone, that is an individual choice. As far as to how long, also your own personal choice. Personally, I will mourn someone I have a connection with, family, friends, and even one of the persons aboard Columbia, Rick Husband by name a lot longer than I would a stranger. Colonel Husband grew up in Amarillo, some fifty miles from where we currently live and by all accounts, was a very fine fellow. Bug

LyinEyes

I am overly sensitive about any life cut short,,,,,,my husband ran over a cat on our way to go out one night and it bothered me . I see any dead animal on the street it bothers me, it is just strange how something has life and then just ceases to exsist anymore.
When it comes to people you can imagine it is much worse. I drive by the local funeral home and feel a pain of saddness for the grief of the families gathered there in sorrow. I mean it bothers me greatly. I guess because I can put myself in their shoes.

It is always worse when someone dies young, by sickness, auto accident, murdered, suicide, whatever. When an old person dies, it is sad too, but it doesnt disturb me nearly as much,,,,, I guess I always think about my own experience with people dying too young,and that is where the memories surface.

I do mourn for the people who die on the news, it is sickening to see bodies just lying in the ditch, with no one to claim them, for I know they belong to someone, and they were important.

I cried alot when 9-11 happened and even a year later felt the need to watch the memorial services for all those who died. It was painful to watch the grief of the families, but it was something I just wanted to be a part of by just watching it.

I really wish so much didnt bother me,,,,,,,The things that God must see ever second of the days that go by,,,,,, the terrible things ,,,,,,,, that makes me wonder why he doesnt stop it. If we are hurt by the loss of life, the child abuse , the suffering of others, then it would seem that our Loving Father would be broken in heart too. Maybe he is,,,,,, maybe we die and go to heaven and that is some kind of reward for all the crap humans have to endure here on earth. I just don't understand .

Blueblades

LYING EYES, I feel the same way you do. And ask the same questions about God.I question the phrase LOVING FATHER,for no loving father would allow his children to suffer so much.Then again like JOB I have to put my hand over my mouth and say to God I spoke without understanding.And for that I get to grow old and die and whose knows where I end up.I speak not only of myself but all the others who feel likewise.

Hanging death over our heads in all its horrible forms is what I just can't understand, as something a LOVING FATHER would do to his children.

As I write this I have one hand over my mouth because I'm afraid the God of Life will put me to death before old age does me in.Its so frustrating,there is no recourse!

Blueblades

Big Tex

We each grieve a loss in our own way for as long as we feel the need. I don't think it's about one life having more value than another. Rather I think it has more to do with the impact of the death. Feelings aren't right or wrong.

Warrigal

.....every mans death diminishes me for I am involved in mankind. Therefore do not send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee. John Donne

SpiceItUp

Very interesting thoughts. I think that maybe much of this also has to do with the passing of my beloved pet. Some might even say that his life wasn't as important as that of a human but I would have to differ. In my life he meant more to me than I may stake on a few humans I have known.

In the end I guess we all do make our own decisions. I think this has been an overwhelming couple of weeks. Mourn the losses but cherish your life and those you do have. I thank the powers that be for those I "do" have in my life.

Hugs to everyone.

Carol

RAYZORBLADE

Excellent question SpiceItUp.

My experience as of the last year. My father passed away. I did not mourn him.

One month ago, a very dear friend of mine, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm: I was devastated.

It's not the same comparison by a long shot, but on a personal level, it's interesting how I have placed importance upon those whom I held dear, and those that I did not, nor cannot.

People die everyday...every second.

When I think of what happened with the Shuttle astronauts, I think of the benefits that we've received, as a world overall from these missions. They've been helpful in helping us understand the planet better. The shuttle and its astronauts, delivered satelittes and other important instruments above the earth: Weather satelittes, communication devices, and telescopes as well as a variety of other beneficial instruments to help us (down here) live better. Not to mention, countless experiments related to: medicine, botany to name a couple.

These were experts in a field, whom we placed a great deal of our hopes and dreams upon internationally.

These were peaceful missions.

People from a variety of countries.

With the United States and its vast contributions to the international space program, I can see why it moved people the way it did.

I like to think that these astronauts, in the bigger picture, were investing efforts towards equality of life for all of Earth's denizens.

Edited by - RAYZORBLADE on 4 February 2003 22:40:22

Morality/Ethical question...all life equal??

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