Value of human life [Archives:2005/902/Viewpoint]

Editor
A driver of a public transport bus was shot dead last Friday because of a traffic violation and ignoring the traffic officer. Eyewitnesses said that a patrolling police car chased after the bus driver, asked him to pull over and shot him dead after a heated argument. This is not the only time something like this happens in Yemen. Sometimes it is armed citizens killing police officers and sometimes it is the other way round. On several occasions such as the “Jaki case” in 1992 an army officer shot down a traffic policeman after a similar argument. The bottom line is that killing has become so easy in Yemen because of the wide spread of weapons in absence of law enforcement. Corruption and the degrading of respect to human life and moral values have lead to sad experiences. Incidents show that if the murderer has some influential person to back him up then no penalty is enforced, except for an amount of money paid to the family of the deceased just to finish off the issue. “Take it or leave it”, the murderer would say, and grudgingly the victimized family would yield and drop the case, if at all there was one.

As such, Yemen is not a dangerous place to live in. Especially for foreigners and submissive Yemenis. A peaceful person who is not inclined to arguing and causing trouble could live easily without having a single encounter with the police or the bullies of the area. However the price a person would have to pay in order to live a peaceful life in Yemen is his dignity. If you want to live a serene life in Yemen, don't talk about your right to enjoy a decent neighborhood. Or if a government employee, don't claim your right in getting your full salary at the end of the month. Convince yourself that it is ok to turn a deaf ear on someone who has taken your parking slot, your seat in the bus, your turn in the queue etc. Don't argue when you realize that your colleague doesn't even come to work and he is nominated the best employee of the month. Don't be upset when you ask your child how school was and realize that the teacher has not been coming for the last two months and that all the kids do is mess around and fight.

Above all, when an armed person – with authority or without – looks at you in the eyes and says you are wrong, whatever you do don't argue just say yes.
——
[archive-e:902-v:14-y:2005-d:2005-12-12-p:view]