The De-Valuation of Human Life

September 6th, 2007 | by Craig |

So you say that we haven’t de-valued human life, huh?

Then, please explain to me how a middle school principal can get off scot free for letting her toddler bake in a car, yet we crucify Michael Vick for killing dogs?

Not that killing dogs is right, mind you. I just find the juxtaposition telling.

  1. 11 Responses to “The De-Valuation of Human Life”

  2. By ResurrectionSong on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply

    Question: Read it here in reference to this story. Answer: Good question. I would suggest that it has something to do with intent--Vick intended to kill dogs in a brutal manner, but Nesselroad-Slaby had a tragic lapse that ended in the death of her baby. It doesn't set well with me, though, that there would be no consequence (besides the obvious) to Nesselroad-Slaby's horrifically irresponsible behavior. Parenthood is a responsibility that goes beyond understandable lapses…

  3. By Teresa on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply

    I have been wracking my brain trying to remember which actor it was… back in the 30’s or 40’s (it was either Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart). Anyhow, “he” (whichever it was) was making a movie and the script called for him to kick a dog. He refused outright and made them change it.

    The reason was along these lines… Americans will tolerate just about anything in movies - including hitting women and children, but they won’t tolerate abuse of a dog! He said, if he kicked a dog, he might as well kiss his movie career goodbye because everyone in America would hate him.

    I see that not much has changed in all these years. *sigh*

  4. By Courtney on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

    I’m not sure which excuse I like better: “My boobs, I will show them to you,” or, “Sorry officer, I had to buy doughnuts.”

  5. By Chad on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

    I’m sort of with Teresa on this one. I can’t think of any time I can point to where I can say that human life was valued. Maybe I’m just not thinking hard enough, but I’m drawing a blank there.

  6. By Auntie Lib on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

    I don’t think the “juxtaposition” here is either fair or accurate. Vick’s treatment of those dogs was conscious and deliberate. The poor woman who left her daughter in the car certainly had no intention to harm her child. As a mother, the horror of that tragedy is incomprehensible. The prosecutor pretty much summed it up about right - there is no punishment that society can impose on the mother that can be even a fraction of what she is putting herself through. I can’t even imagine her pain and guilt - it is beyond comprehension.

  7. By Craig on Sep 8, 2007 | Reply

    Did you catch the interrogation video?

    She kept saying over and over “What am I going to do?” It was all about “Me, me, me, me.”

    I just can’t muster all that much pity for her.

  8. By Cammy on Sep 8, 2007 | Reply

    This isn’t the first time she’s left the child in the [car](http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070907/NEWS01/709070318/1002/rss01) either. So it’s not like she hasn’t been warned.

    *A woman whose 2-year-old daughter died in an overheated car last month had left the girl unattended in the vehicle twice in the two days before the death and had earlier been warned about the danger that created, according to a police report.*

  9. By Steve T. on Sep 8, 2007 | Reply

    Woohoo! It’s time for yet another lessonh in Craigsian logic! It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to play this game- I missed it terribly.

    Via Craig:

    Location A: Virginia

    Example A: Michael Vick bankrolls a lucrative dog-fighting industry, in which people can bet on a single dog fight more than most of us have made in the last year.

    Result A: He pleas out to get a lighter sentence, and will go to jail for a while.

    Location B: Ohio

    Example B: Principal leaves daughter in car, daughter dies from heat.

    Result B: Mother not prosecuted.

    Conclusion: All Liberals are hypocrites.

    God dammit this is easy.

  10. By Craig on Sep 8, 2007 | Reply

    You got all of that out of this tiny post?

    I’m pretty sure that I didn’t say anything about liberals and hypocrisy.

    Let me look again.

    Nope, not seeing it.

    But, please go ahead and put words in my mouth. It’s the in thing to do as of late.

  11. By Nathan on Sep 9, 2007 | Reply

    It’s not so much about the devaluation of human life vs dog’s life.

    The principal not being charged is a similar case to the lady who could think of no other way to get out of an unhappy marriage than to shoot him in the back with a shotgun while he was sleeping.

    Our society is currently too willing to make excuses for women, to not make them face the consequences of their choices.

    It is quite condescending to women, actually. But I guess if you are facing a possible murder charge, you’ll take what you can get.

    And the old, “there is no punishment that can be as bad as what she is feeling…”
    That’s b.s. for 3 reasons.
    First, how does anyone know what she is feeling? Some people are cold-blooded, and mother’s have been known to kill, abuse, torture, even poison their own kids. She might be upset, or maybe she’s just upset she got caught. You can’t tell.
    Second, if punishing a person for doing wrong was the only reason for punishment, a truly heartfelt sorry and a huge fine would be enough for any crime. Or why can’t I not pay my speeding tickets because I’m more distraught about it than any mere cash fine? Part of punishment is to deter others. This offers no deterrence.
    Third, killing your child and then asking to not be convicted/sentenced because you are upset at the loss of your child is exactly like killing your parents and then pleading for clemency on the basis of being an orphan.

  12. By Kirk Dooley on Sep 9, 2007 | Reply

    The big too-do here in AZ is in regards to a Chandler Police officer, who left his K-9 partner (named “Bandit”) in a squad car at his home for 12 hours. After an investigation by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (the “World’s Toughest Sheriff,” by his own admission) the cop is facing felony animal abuse charges. Meanwhile, everybody seems to have forgotten a two-year-old girl who’s father left her in her car seat in the back of their mini-van at around the same time (and, unfortunately, with the same fatal result; Dad thought that Mom had taken the kid to the day-care).

    For more, read this column from Sunday’s Arizona Republic:

    http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0909Montini0909.html

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