The value of life should be taken seriously
There was recently a huge uproar overseas when a Danish radio station killed a baby rabbit live on air.
The DJ said he bashed the rabbit to death with a bicycle pump to ”highlight the hypocrisy” of animal rights campaigners who eat meat.
It was reported that the DJ said that thousands of animals die each day so that people can eat them, including animals dying that have been killed under the same controlled conditions as the rabbit in the studio.
No matter the point the DJ was trying to make (heaven forbid if something like this happened in South Africa), it makes one think about how flippant society has become when it comes to the value of life.
We are, thus, not debating the validity of eating meat, but rather the shocking reality that in this world a life of any kind does not mean much anymore.
To kill a rabbit on air in such a cold-hearted manner is indicative of society’s fall from civility.
The other day, as a family, we visited a pet store looking for the company of a kitten, for which we paid R100.
After gathering all the necessary accessories to make the kitten feel at home, I began to ponder how easy it was to purchase a life.
After all, we were not asked why we wanted the kitten. For all that the shop knew we were a couple of psychos intended to eat the poor thing for lunch.
Think about it – a R100 note for a life. That’s about the same price you pay for two large pizzas that you devour within 10 minutes. A cat, however, stays with you for at least 15 years if all goes well.
A cat holds the prospect of years of memories, fun times, laughter and enjoyment. We cannot say the same for a pizza (it only promises cholesterol).
And then, of course, you can purchase other forms of life, such as pot belly pigs or even bunnies for less than a R100. The price of a decent burger.
Is this the value we place on life? Some will say it is merely a kitten, but we are talking here about a breathing species that has every right to enjoy life – humanely – for many years to come.
Let’s be honest, these days animals are bought for all kinds of crazy reasons – to be eaten, to behave as mere guardians of a territory (with no rights), or even to act as someone’s punching bag.
Animal cruelty occurs worldwide, along with the decimation of all kinds of species for man’s pleasure (whales, rhinos).
At the end of the day, the lack of value we place on life that belongs to the animal kingdom eventually filters down to a point where we live in a world where respect for human life is barely a reality.
Take for example the other day, when the local child (5) was stabbed multiple times during a hijacking, and also the family attacked in Boksburg South, suffering harm at the hands of a selfish intruder.
And then you have the mother who dumped her newborn baby – wrapped in a plastic bag – in the middle of the street.
Dear parent, that child has the right to enjoy years – hopefully at least 70 of them – on Earth to experience love, happiness, and yes, even pain and sadness.
You do not have the right to take such a life – you are not a god.
And this applies to each and every person who thinks they have the right to simply snuff out life because of their selfish motives. There is no excuse for such cruel behaviour.
Daily the world bears witness how human life is discarded – murder, torture, killings (in and out of war) and cruel violence is rife, where it seems a person’s life is worth only a pair of shoes. It is sad and shocking.
As one considers the history of mankind, the pattern repeats itself and the value of life is reduced to barely anything. You would think mankind would have grown up, learned from its mistakes and realised life should be cherished.
Yet, it remains clear that, in the midst of all the advancement in technology and scientific breakthroughs, mankind remains humanely impoverished, crawling around in the muck of indecency and barbarism.
It is time that we take a long, hard look in the mirror and question our immoral behaviour, as we daily play the role of mindless gods and monsters.
