I once read a comment on World War 2: it gave man the licence to kill and so life has become cheap.

In Genesis 2: 16, God does not permit humans to eat meat. This rule was revoked after the Great Flood.

Though we are in the midst of wanton destruction, I still believe that human life and life in general should be treated with respect and protected since it is fragile. (The Pale Blue Dot, Carl Sagan)

Today we humans have the tools to destroy life as we know it from Earth. It is as if mankind's mindset is bent on making whole ecosystems whether it is the oceans or tropical forests collapse. It is as if we on the road to hell, like Chris Rea says.

We have come to accept the putting down of a beloved pet if it is suffering. And the dog or cat is considered as one of the family. So I don't find it strange that many people don't find anything wrong in euthanasia for people. Some people with degrees don't transfer their skills when doing judgements on morality. Many are being taught catechism till only 11 years of age when many moral issues need a more mature audience. Sometimes people use principles to the letter while other principles are bent at will.

We have become desensitised to suffering because we are being bombarded daily by horrific images. Refugees are fleeing away because this is the only way they can survive and set on perilous journeys and legitimate governments do pushbacks, pay others to do the dirty work and do not uphold their human rights.
The war in Gaza is normalising acts of war which before were deemed as war-crimes: the bombing of hospitals, using and siege as a weapon of war, moving people forcibly many times from one corner to another like dirty water slopping in a  pail.

But I still reiterate that we do not have the licence to kill other humans. We should be intelligent to create goodness and be peace builders (Matthew 5: 9).  Even when dealing with our Mother Earth, we should tread carefully and leave the smallest footprint possible (Genesis 1: 31). An old carob tree and an old mulberry tree should be treated with dignity and should not never be cut down mercilessly.                                                               

Joe Portelli

Nadur