What Is The Value Of A Human Life?

Where has the value of a human life gone? Why do we as a society no longer feel the pain of a loss, no matter whose life has been extinguished? Why do some lives have more value than others?

I’m not alone in asking these questions. Again this week I have heard of a local mother who is grieving the loss of a child, a child who took his own life because of bullying. Although I do not know her personally, this woman has mutual friends. That puts her in my circle too.

What’s even more sad than the fact that her son was bullied into thinking his life didn’t matter is the reaction of others of the same age after it happened. Peers in the same school have said such things as “[x] pumped himself,” or “[x] head blew up like a paint can.” Imagine how the family feels hearing these words!

We say that children can be so cruel, and it is true. BUT, who allows them to be cruel? Who teaches them that cruelty? How do they learn such disrespect for the loss of a life?

We’ve seen similar reactions in the nation over the past few months. High-profile deaths have been mocked instead of mourned. No matter who died, it was still the loss of a precious life.

Our children learn from us. They learn from the things we put inside of their heads, or that we allow them to see and hear. We now live in a society where life is expendable. Where one person can be replaced with another.

It makes it worse that people are not held accountable anymore for things that are clearly wrong. Bullying is not “just a joke.” “I was joking” isn’t a good reason to make fun of another human being.

We often associate bullies with schools, and it’s true that this is a place where bullying often takes place. But those schoolyard bullies grow up and now live in a society where it seems to be OK to taunt another human. To “joke” in a way that makes others uncomfortable or feel unworthy.

What we teach our children, they will carry into adulthood. But some kids aren’t even making it to adulthood now. The pre-teen and teenage years are hard enough for a child without the added stress of bullying. I don’t have numbers to back this up, but I would bet if you could measure the self-esteem of our children, you would find it at all time lows.

I think this is significant in the grand scheme of things. If we can’t find the value in our own life, how can we value the life of another? I have often seen people who feel unworthy put down others to make themselves feel better. It doesn’t work the magic they think it will, and the damage is done to another life.

Human life is fragile. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, we are fragile beings. We can’t see the hidden wounds of mental and emotional damage, but it does appear in our physical body sooner or later.

While the death of a child prompted this post, there are so many other instances of bullying and resulting damages that I have heard of in my personal life alone. A dear friend was bullied to the point of physical harm to her body at the workplace. Previously, there was another local boy who was bullied to the point of no return.

Words hurt! We feel free to say anything that wants to come out of our mouths (and we have the right to do so), but there needs to be consequences to face if our words cause physical or mental harm to other human beings. Society has to start being held accountable for its words and actions.

Mostly, we need to start to value human life again. Not just our own life, or the lives of those we love, but all lives. No matter the skin color, the political belief, or any other dividing label we put on people, we need to see every other human as a brother or a sister and treat them as such.

Instead of seeing life as expendable, we need to hold it precious again, and mourn every loss no matter who it is.

My heart goes out to Evan’s mom, who now deals with an unimaginable loss that was preventable. And who now has to deal with the thoughtless aftermath of cruel words and actions. It goes out to my friend Julie, who has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever met, yet who was treated unfairly to the point of being injured. And to Dracen’s (DJ) mom, who lost her son, who was just eleven years old.

And to all those who are being treated unkindly or being bullied and who are feeling very alone.

You are not alone. You matter. If this is you, please reach out for help. Talk to someone. Don’t hide it inside. You have nothing to hide from. The bullies are the ones who should hide their heads in shame for treating another human so indifferently.

Call or text 988 if you are feeling that your life doesn’t matter. Please reach out to someone around you. You will find that you are loved more than you know if you only reach out.

If you want to share your story with someone, feel free to email me. Shell @ Thewriteempath.com I will listen. I care.