The hoopla over “values” is deceptive rationalization. Values in the headlines seldom express self-evident truths. The value of human life, though universally self-evident in its purest terms, requires elaborate ratiocination with respect to its myriad ramifications. Throughout history, some lives were set at higher value than others who were nondescript, slaves and men sent into war. Expendable were children and virgins sacrificed to appease the gods.

The value of a woman was not equal to that of a man, and somehow was deemed a mere basket of fruit that carried the seeds of the man child to continue the flow of rule over Eve. The value of those in distant lands were not equal in value to those of one’s native land — except when it applied to the American Indian. Society continues unabashedly to lionize heroes of past and present while ignoring the sacrifices and dedication of their followers that made it possible for them to be recorded in history books and worshiped in contemporary ambience. There exist as much literature of Caesar, Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan than that of Jesus and Gandhi.

The proclamation to value a fetus as the miracle of life is blasphemed at the moment of its first breath when born into poverty and disease; the product of this miracle is further violated in the hard calculation of lesser value in its maturation within an unspeakable environment. Regardless of wretched circumstances that render a young woman helpless, she is nevertheless expected to muster the courage of ordinary women who bring pregnancy to fruition.

The pretext of equality in order to set values in concrete is oblivious to the afflicted mentally or bodily, the poor, the disadvantaged, the cesspool cleaner, the lower half of the hospital staff, the checker at the super market, the single mother on welfare, ad nauseam. Somehow when the ambitious — the luck of the draw never noticed — are lauded, half the goof offs consider themselves as one of them or will eventuate a miraculous transformation. If the white teenager has the fortitude to work after school, how is it the black kid can’t? — as if exists a level playing field. A white girl from a good neighborhood nonetheless gets pregnant, her abortion is necessary to preserve her reputation and her family’s values. A white or black girl in a poor neighborhood is a slut and must suffer pregnancy to the end and stand on the scaffold of shame. The option for a kid in a ghetto is athletics or McDonald’s; the option for a middle class kid is skilled trade, or a profession.

The value of religion, no matter how far it strays from its teachings, is a blessing that should govern all perceptions and actions. If a Muslim fails to appropriately press his nose to the carpet in prayer he is unworthy of Allah even though he steadfastly believes prayer is to the spirit of non-violence; the Christian who fails to bless himself or bow his head when uttering the name of Jesus is flawed, though he is a man of goodwill. Notwithstanding homosexuality being an unspoken attribute throughout civilization — and proportionately religious — suddenly has become threatening to the sanctity of marriage between a man a woman. The quality of a politician is measured by the frequency of visits to a place of worship. An atheist, who nevertheless believes in the mystery of another within his being, is incapable of right action. The agnostic who innocently claims he or she simply doesn’t know is perceived as a chameleon in matters that are absolute. Strangely, one must believe in the laws of God or be destined to crime of all sorts, though he believes in the laws of a sound constitution. Yet when one becomes successful in business through intellect, no one cares if the heart is stone.

Aside from the indisputable belief that this planet is indeed miraculous — whether by divine law or by unique natural causes — and therefore highly valued and that life itself is an inexplicable phenomenon demanding the highest respect, all other values are matters of the heart and subject to ambiguity and ultimate exploration.

Copyright © 2004 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: July, 19, 2004.