{"id":13661,"date":"2023-11-18T09:17:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T09:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=13661"},"modified":"2023-11-18T09:35:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T09:35:57","slug":"a-life-is-a-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/sociocultural-issues\/a-life-is-a-life","title":{"rendered":"A Life is a Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether an American, a European, or an African life, a Russian or a Ukrainian life, a Palestinian or an Israeli life \u2014 any life.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This assertion is so logically obvious and, at the same time, so emotionally contentious. Yet, especially every world leader should take it at heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Beyond small-circle empathy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting beyond this is challenging for many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This used to be unproblematic in the past, with little means of knowing what was going on in the wider world. Meanwhile, it has become more problematic because of the tremendously enhanced means to know better. To say \u201cwe didn\u2019t know<\/a>,\u201c is no longer appropriate. Almost always, we can know if we care \u2014 huge difference! This way, small-circle vs. large-circle empathy has become a choice and a responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ignorance may not only lie in a factual not-knowing. It may also lie in not grasping the facts at a deeper level. One example is not validating a life as what it really is \u2014 objectifying some lives as insignificant pieces in a global puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One may value a life as to how deeply one feels personally related. This makes no sense except for small-circle empathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every life is a life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has nothing to do with how one emotionally feels about it \u2014 in principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then again, it has, for being the only decent way to think about it. No culture makes any life less worthy, nor any status or amount of money, nor any clothing or book, nor any age, illness, or addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor the life of a loved one versus another<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is somewhat more challenging, of course. By the way, the \u2018loved ones\u2019 include yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a choice, choose love. Love has no price. Still, this doesn\u2019t mean any life is worth less or more. A life still is a life. The only reason for your choice is your love \u2014 no other distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes love additionally special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor the life of an enemy versus no-enemy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may be even more challenging to some, of course \u2015 especially in wartime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to hate the enemy to do the right thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to devalue his life to do the right thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to see the enemy as your enemy to do the right thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it happens, soldiers from \u2018the wrong side\u2019 may encounter each other after the war and become good friends. In such cases, the lack of logic is not in the friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about quality of life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That should be decided only by the person himself. Even so, proper coaching can dramatically change the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tempting to reduce ethical questions to numbers: X x Y = Z. In matters of life, this doesn\u2019t fit for the following reason:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infinitely worthy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You too \u2014 are worth an infinity \u2014 as a total being \u2014 every minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mere-ego that takes possession of this is prone to immense hubris and resulting mayhem. This has played a role in many worldly affairs \u2013 starting wars, etc. \u2013 usually ending in a fall as steep as the hubris itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, please consider that the \u2018infinitely worthy\u2019 idea is a challenging one. Nevertheless, it\u2019s the only viable one, the one also of self-Compassion (in empathy beyond<\/a>) and, eventually, global Compassion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life is a beautiful thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life.<\/p>\n

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Whether an American, a European, or an African life, a Russian or a Ukrainian life, a Palestinian or an Israeli life \u2014 any life. This assertion is so logically obvious and, at the same time, so emotionally contentious. Yet, especially every world leader should take it at heart. Beyond small-circle empathy Getting beyond this is Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n

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