Promoting The Culture Of Life As Against The Culture Of Death -By Odogo David Adejo

It is of no doubt that the 21^st century is marked by an increasing and persistent spread of the culture of death. By culture of death here I mean any law, means or ways which aim at terminating life either directly or indirectly; it does not enhance life, rather, it seeks to destroy it. In the modern world one is tempted to ask the question of where lies the value of life. Is it something so cheap that should not be valued? Is it something that can be taken at ease without considering its sacredness and priceless worth? By culture here, we mean a way of life, a pattern which someone has adopted to be his or her modus operandi. Thus, gradually the culture of death is having a strong hold as laws are passed which do not respect the value of life. Acts such as abortion, murder, banditry, kidnapping are now seen as  normal and are not appropriately frowned at.

The culture of life is gradually fading away and the human capacity to live life to the fullest is brought to naught. As a result, the human person is now reduced to the level of a thing which can be terminated at will as long as it suits the will, intention and benefit of the executioner. Hence, people take the lives of others at ease as long as it will satisfy their selfish and immediate need. The act of killing others in order to be rich, the gruesome act of murder for the sake of promoting one’s affiliation either to a religion, political party or other groups and institutions is now rampart in our modern world. All these has kept the world in a state of quagmire which has contributed to the wide spread of the culture of death, thus, destroying and suppressing the culture of life.

There is a clarion call to return to the drawing board and see how important it is to respect life. There is no price attached to life that is worth destroying anyone’s life. Life is a priceless jewel that no one is able to buy. It therefore means that serious care should be taken in order to protect and safeguard life in every circumstance. Laws that promote the culture of death must be discouraged in every ramification; conflict which could lead to the culture of death must be resolved through dialogue and understanding. Religion, politics or institutions that promote the culture of death in one way or the other must be frown at by all. By so doing, we will be able to promote the culture of life as an antidote against the varied of the culture of death.