The Value of Human Life

What is the value of human life?

We all have within us a well established concept of the importance and the value of human life. Science tells us that the drive to protect others, especially women and children, is genetic. Survival of the species. Many religions tell us it is part of the commandment from God. In any case it is ingrained into our very soul. Our literature, our history, our religions and even our myths are all filled with stories of heroic efforts to save the lives of innocents.

Perhaps our greatest recent example of heroic actions to save innocent lives are the bravery of the police, the firemen and ordinary people on 9-11.

Throughout our history such stories are legion. The preservation of innocent life, especially the lives of children, is an integral part of our culture. We simply can't imagine any other view point.

Most of the world shares these values, too. That's why there is such outrage over the bombing this morning of Qana, Lebanon. At least 56 people, 34 of them children, were killed during the air strike.

The world is demanding an immediate cease fire. Israel and the United States seem to be the lone holdouts against this move.

Picow blogs on OneJerusalem.com,

"As the bodies were continuously pulled out of the rubble, the angry outcry has resulted in a cancellation of a planned visit to Beirut by U.S. Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice. Though Israeli military authorities reported that Qana had been used to launch Katyusha rockets into Israel, the resulting death and injury and of innocent civilians has created such a strong backlash against Israel that an immediate and unconditional ceasefire is now being demanded by world leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah, who called the attack “an ugly crime”."

OneJerusalem.com STORY LINK: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile the Associated Press reports on the implications the attack had on US peacmeking efforts:

"Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Sunday she is "deeply saddened by the terrible loss of innocent life" from Israel's attack on a Lebanese village, but she held firm to the internationally unpopular position that a quick cease-fire won't solve the crisis."

"She said she is working with all parties to try to stop the violence. "Too many innocent people — Lebanese and Israeli — have suffered," Rice said. "Too many people have lost their lives. Too many families are homeless. And too many children have been killed, injured or are living in fear for their lives." "

" "Emotions are understandably running high on all sides," she said."

"Hoping to get Rice's message out to the Arab world, the State Department made an unusual request and asked NBC to share its video of Rice's press conference to Arab television stations."

ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS STORY LINK: CLICK HERE

However, Hezbollah has learned a different lesson about the value of human life. It's not the lesson the rest of us share.

Instead Hezbollah has learned that innocent people, especially children are a great asset in war. Innocents can be used as human shields to protect against raids and bombing.

Innocents provide camouflage to hide terrorists and militants. They blend in easily, becoming almost impossible to find.

Innocents are especially valuable when killed. They become both martyrs to the cause of Holy War and they become a mighty propaganda tool to use against the west.

In other words, Hezbollah exploits our own morality and uses it to both weaken our resolve and gain sympathy.

If Hezbollahah hadn't used Qana as a staging ground for their attacks on Israel AND if Hezbollah hadn't used children and innocents as a shield, they could never have gained the huge propaganda victory they had today.

And, perhaps most important of all, Hezbollah has sent Israel and the west a strong message. If you want to root out the Hezbollah fighters you're going to be forced to kill thousands of innocent civilians, mostly children.

A tip of the Wizard's pointy cap to Michelle Malkin who posted the above cartoon on her web site a few days ago. Michelle writes, "One more image, kind of apropos of this report on Hezbollah refusing to allow civilians to leave their village and using mosques in their ambush on IDF soldiers at Bint Jbeil Wednesday."

LINK TO MICHELLE MALKIN'S ARTICLE: CLICK HERE

Doug Mataconis writing in Below the Beltway has links to more compelling evidence of the Hezbollah Human Shield strategy. LINK TO DOUG'S ARTICLE HERE: CLICK HERE

TECHNORATI TAGS: ISRAEL HEZBOLLAH ISLAM MUSLIM RELIGION HUMAN LIFE CONDOLEEZA RICE

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