The Yardstick of Life
How much does a human life cost? Difficult to quantify right.. I would have to say, it all depends....
Let me quote an e.g., Baby LOVED - born with multiple disabilities to a set of parents Bob n Jane, already tied down by mounting housing loans, credit card bills n loans from meeting everyday basic needs. The medical bills to be incurred for treating Baby LOVED, or just to extend his life for maybe a couple of years, perhaps just months or days meant that the family would be thrown into a spiraling whirlpool of financial distress. But never for a second did Bob n Jane stop to contemplate the course of action they should take. For them, it's a simple decision - No matter what they have to give up, they were willing to go forward, even if it meant that Baby LOVED could have just 1 more day left, they would make it the happiest day for him, whatever the cost. Baby LOVED died soon after, because Bob n Jane couldn't afford to send him to a better medical facility.
Just 2 streets down the road, in a pristine district where every household was guarded by high walls n stringent security, Baby Posh, born to Charles n Chloe, was given the best the moment she entered this world - clothing from the likes of LV, Ralph Lauren etc., Nursery decorated n furnished with the softest of silk.... but Daddy n Mummy were hardly at home. Well, Baby Posh had an entire cohort of servants, nannies to serve her, so it didn't matter. Once, Baby Posh fell n to the horror of her care takers, it left a scar on her pretty chin. When Charles n Chloe were informed of the mishap, they swiftly dialled the number of their trusted Aesthetic Surgeon. Within a couple of weeks, Baby Posh couldn't be any prettier than before.
Why, Baby LOVED's life is worth so little, some may say. It's just his "luck" to be born to parents like Bob n Jane. While Baby Posh, the princess of Charles n Chloe, with just a tinkle n her skin is bright as porcelain again.
How can we compare the value of one whose life is worth ALL the love of his parents to one whose just worth whatever money could buy? I know many beg to differ...
Ultimately, how much is my life worth?? For some, perhaps as much as the air we breathe (I certainly hope so) or for others, less than the few shillings in their pockets lying in a stash of notes???
