General Stuff...
General stuff…
The Price of Freedom and Value of Human Life.
It is in the papers today. So this man is convicted of culpable homicide and is sentenced to ten and a half years in jail (the half years for escaping while still under custody) and a generous few stokes of the cane.
Why was he guilty? Because he had stabbed a man a couple of times which resulted in the latter’s death from multiple injuries.
Why did he stab the man? Because he(the criminal) felt that he should not be paying eighty bucks for his massage which lasted less than the stipulated two hours. And he was then taunted for not having the money to pay up.
Sad.
Of course, the human interactions and dynamics going on under such a situation are far more complex, but consider the following two questions which are founded on the indirect implications of the case.
First, it makes me wonder about the monetary worth and value of a human life. In this case, it is a mere eighty dollars. This meagre sum of money is the invisible thin line that separates between life and death of this particular man. And that is probably not even a fraction of the allowance many of us get each week.
Next, what is the price of taking the life of another man? A fair proposition after looking at this case is it is a ten year jail term and some physical pain from caning. Human life becomes quite a cheap commodity because considering that the average age is 65; it is only an inhibition of freedom for one-fifth of the offender’s life.
Arguably, if we equated eighty dollars with ten years in jail as the implicit value and price of a human life, then for the accused, one year of his freedom is only worth eight dollars. Which means even the poorest of paupers like me have enough savings to buy a lifetime of freedom.
For a person who thinks that both human life and freedom are invaluable and priceless (albeit intangible), this is a rather sad revelation. Yes, I am genuinely sad.
Bad State…
Please forgive the pun, but this isn’t about anything negative in our country state nor is it about anti-nationalist sentiments. It is about the state of things in my life now.
For one, my health is gone. Failed the physical proficiency test recently, and that is evidence enough of my lack of fitness. Then the asthma attacks are becoming more and more frequent such that I more or less feel like a Ventolin addict. The solution is rather simple, kick the bloody smoke habit and things ought to improve. Yes…before any permanent long-term effects set in. But it is easier said than done.
Reason being, stress levels are rising. And I suppose I don’t have to on elaborate the directly proportionate relationship that stress and smoking levels have. Why are stress levels rising? Paradoxically, it is because I’m beginning to worry about my health and fitness levels. That’s how circular it is gets. That’s how bad it gets.
But that aside, everything seems to be rather smooth sailing including my relationship with my pseudo-sister. We have reached a compromise of sorts.
Studies wise, I’ve got two more major essays coming up before the exams proper but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Shucks…i sound like one confident bastard. Brothers, especially those from the other university, do start studying real hard. And please don’t go for massage.
The Price of Freedom and Value of Human Life.
It is in the papers today. So this man is convicted of culpable homicide and is sentenced to ten and a half years in jail (the half years for escaping while still under custody) and a generous few stokes of the cane.
Why was he guilty? Because he had stabbed a man a couple of times which resulted in the latter’s death from multiple injuries.
Why did he stab the man? Because he(the criminal) felt that he should not be paying eighty bucks for his massage which lasted less than the stipulated two hours. And he was then taunted for not having the money to pay up.
Sad.
Of course, the human interactions and dynamics going on under such a situation are far more complex, but consider the following two questions which are founded on the indirect implications of the case.
First, it makes me wonder about the monetary worth and value of a human life. In this case, it is a mere eighty dollars. This meagre sum of money is the invisible thin line that separates between life and death of this particular man. And that is probably not even a fraction of the allowance many of us get each week.
Next, what is the price of taking the life of another man? A fair proposition after looking at this case is it is a ten year jail term and some physical pain from caning. Human life becomes quite a cheap commodity because considering that the average age is 65; it is only an inhibition of freedom for one-fifth of the offender’s life.
Arguably, if we equated eighty dollars with ten years in jail as the implicit value and price of a human life, then for the accused, one year of his freedom is only worth eight dollars. Which means even the poorest of paupers like me have enough savings to buy a lifetime of freedom.
For a person who thinks that both human life and freedom are invaluable and priceless (albeit intangible), this is a rather sad revelation. Yes, I am genuinely sad.
Bad State…
Please forgive the pun, but this isn’t about anything negative in our country state nor is it about anti-nationalist sentiments. It is about the state of things in my life now.
For one, my health is gone. Failed the physical proficiency test recently, and that is evidence enough of my lack of fitness. Then the asthma attacks are becoming more and more frequent such that I more or less feel like a Ventolin addict. The solution is rather simple, kick the bloody smoke habit and things ought to improve. Yes…before any permanent long-term effects set in. But it is easier said than done.
Reason being, stress levels are rising. And I suppose I don’t have to on elaborate the directly proportionate relationship that stress and smoking levels have. Why are stress levels rising? Paradoxically, it is because I’m beginning to worry about my health and fitness levels. That’s how circular it is gets. That’s how bad it gets.
But that aside, everything seems to be rather smooth sailing including my relationship with my pseudo-sister. We have reached a compromise of sorts.
Studies wise, I’ve got two more major essays coming up before the exams proper but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Shucks…i sound like one confident bastard. Brothers, especially those from the other university, do start studying real hard. And please don’t go for massage.
posted by sUmmEr heAt at 12:16 AM
2 Comments:
*ming*
siala bung! y no massage sia???
massage massage massage...thats all u think about all your life.
haha...what if u stab the person over 'unsatisfactory service'? Don't wanna see u in jail n let the whole world know u go to massage parlours.
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