Right To Life

THE RIGHT TO LIFE CARRIES WITH IT THE RIGHT TO DIE
According to Yuri Kochiyama “Life is not what you alone make it. Life
is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that
entered it. We are all part of one another.” This line inspires me to begin
this writing regarding thE given topic.
Every person has this indispensable right to life. The moment we

were born in this world, such right has already been accorded to us being
one of our human rights. Evidence which would support the earlier
contention is that anyone who curtails the life – even the life still at a
conception- can be held criminally liable for the offense committed. So,
when it comes to life, every system of the world – the government, the non-
governmental institutions, volunteers, individuals and other organizations-
is of the common stand to respect and protect the right to life.
The reason for this is obvious. The time we do not respect the right to
life; we are already curtailing the rights of others to be happy or to enjoy
every moment and everything that can be found in this world.
The right to life needs utmost consideration because the same is on

the top of everything. I fervently believe that if the right to life won’t be given
utmost consideration, then the existence of everything in this world would
be useless. The world in this setting would be unimaginable. Maybe killing
would be everywhere. Thus, would result to abuse, violence and war. I
could not even to think of it. The same would be so detrimental to the
humankind.
Going back to the line of Kochiyama, it can be clearly gleaned that his
phrasing emphasized respect as a key tool towards the full enjoyment of
the right to life. Respect in the sense that in its absence, there can be no
understanding amongst the individual in the world. Hence, there would no
be better relationship between us.
In this connection, Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsym, in his book entitled,

“Rebuilding Russia: Reflections and Tentative Proposals”, emphasized that
“Human Rights are fine thing, but how can we make ourselves sure that our
rights do not expand at the expense of the rights of others. A society with
unlimited rights is incapable of standing to adversity. If we do not wish to be
ruled by a coercive authority, then each of us must rein himself in. A stable
society is achieved not by balancing opposing forces but by conscious self-
limitation: by the principle that we are always duty-bound to defer to the
sense of moral justice.”
His contention is true enough. The enjoyment of individual right to life

must also be accorded with limitations. I am then reminded by the line of
the Supreme Court that our rights cease when the rights of others begin.
Therefore, in the exercise of our own right, we should be mindful of the
rights of others. This is to ensure that we do not overstep in their rights.
With this, our government tried to regulate the exercise of our individual
rights by setting parameters that would guarantee equality amongst us.
In view of the initiatives of the government, we us citizens, have the

counter-part, and that is our obligation to obey, observe those parameters
and regulations set forth by the government so that we could attain respect
for everyone. It is only when we duly recognized those regulations by the
Government and performed our respective obligations that we could totally
attain protection and respect towards the right to life.
If we fail to practice the required conduct which this right so demands,

chances are more and more cases involving killing and similar incidents
would be present in our society from time to time. As correctly pointed out
by Aung San Suu Kyi, wherein she averred that, “Within a system which
denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of
the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear torture, fear of death, fear of losing
friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of
isolation and fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which
masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish,
reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to
preserve man’s self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a
people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is
right to enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state
machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural
state of civilized man.” A closer look in her statement would reveal that
disrespect to human rights specifically the right to life becomes a great
source of fear. This leaves those who are NOT in power defenseless and
are under the mercy and might of those who are on the seat of power. Of
course, the same is not normal as it brings chaos and disorder towards
human life.
On the other hand, as the title connotes, the right to life carries with it
the right to die. What does it mean? Of course, this does not mean that
anybody can just kill another because he has a right to die. Yes, all people
would die but the most natural way is preferred.
In our present time, especially in our country, killing is everywhere. It

only goes to show that many at the present moment are being misled by
the power, poverty, crab mentality and abuse of authority. News is
everywhere which presents almost the same pattern on killing. However,
not everybody has the guts of giving his point of view given that the matter
is a hot issue nowadays. If we come to think of it deeper, I believe it is just
so safe for us to jump into conclusion that what is happening now reveal
that there is no parallelism between the right to life and the right to die.
Our situation calls for an immediate action. I am in the position that

we need to work hand-in-hand in order to solve this problem. On the part of
the government, it needs to re-orient the persons to whom authority is
delegated so that they can be re-educated of their mandate rather leaving
in their discretion as to whom they would attack especially those that are at
grudge with them. It is also not safe to say that everybody is doing the
same because we cannot also deny the fact that there are those who are
faithfully performing their respective duties according to their mandate.
On the part of the citizens, people should understand that there are
limitations on the exercise of their rights and demands to the government.
Moving on, I would like to cite some ideologies as enunciated in the

Qur’an, as an Islamic believer. Islam removes all the obstacles that may
hinder the process of its implementation. Discrimination, in terms of color,
race, place, or language, is not allowed in Islam. The same should not be a
basis towards treating others in the Islamic Community. This is being
imposed in order to prevent disarray amongst the Islamic believer.
Islam protects and respects the right to life. As evidence, it reminds

its followers that the humankind came from one race without any
categorization. Islam does not permit any claim by Muslims that they are
above anyone in view of their race or cultural background, status in the
community, wealth and the likes.
Islam has an equal perception on Muslims and Non-Muslims. Verily, it

prohibits anyone from possessing any property which does not lawfully
belong to him.
Having said all of these, it is my position that right to life should

always be respected. And it should not be equated to the taking of human
life. Yes, the right to life carries with it the right to die. However, the latter
should always and must always be predicated by its proper and most
natural way. God is the only powerful and authorized to take human life and
no one else. With that, people should always remember the reason why we
are here in this world - to live happily. So, let us not curtail others from
enjoying their right to live peacefully and happily because it is a sin in the
eyes of the law and in the eyes of the Almighty God.
To this end, there are three (3) powerful words which we all must
possess: RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE!

Right To Life

Uploaded by

Right To Life

Uploaded by

THE RIGHT TO LIFE CARRIES WITH IT THE RIGHT TO DIE

Every person has this indispensable right to life. The moment we

The right to life needs utmost consideration because the same is on

In this connection, Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsym, in his book entitled,

His contention is true enough. The enjoyment of individual right to life

In view of the initiatives of the government, we us citizens, have the

If we fail to practice the required conduct which this right so demands,

In our present time, especially in our country, killing is everywhere. It

Our situation calls for an immediate action. I am in the position that

Moving on, I would like to cite some ideologies as enunciated in the

Islam protects and respects the right to life. As evidence, it reminds

Islam has an equal perception on Muslims and Non-Muslims. Verily, it

Having said all of these, it is my position that right to life should

You might also like