Save a Life
I believe in morality. There is an innate sense in all
of us that separates right from wrong, good from bad. There is a moral code
that we all should follow, a moral code that may even trump the law.
In 10th grade English, my teacher asked
the class to read a story about morality versus the law. In the story a man had
a very sick wife who would die unless given a miracle drug. The drug was very
expensive, though, and the man did not have enough money for an upfront
payment. He asked the doctor to give him the drug in return for a down payment
and a promise to pay in full as soon as possible. The doctor rejected the man’s
offer, however, saying that by law the man must have all the money upfront. With
his wife holding on by a thread, the man stole the drug and in its place left
as much money as he possibly could. The man’s wife survived, but only in time
for her husband to be sent to jail.
The man broke the
law in order to save a life; he could not simply sit around and let the love of
his life die when her cure was available, just not attainable. Had the doctor
allowed the man to pay him back in due time the whole situation could have been
avoided. We have laws to keep order, to
protect the innocent, to defend our rights, but we have morals in order to do
what is right versus what is wrong, what is just versus what is unfair.
Is it fair to let
someone pass away simply because money is tight? Is it just to let economic
circumstances decide who lives and who dies? Do we incarcerate someone who
risked their own life to save another’s?
My class was in agreement, the doctor should have given
the man the drug. The man should not have been jailed for his actions. Morality
is necessary to remain truly just and fair. It should be basis of all laws and
of all actions. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Honesty is the
best policy. United we stand divided we fall. No one is too small to help
someone bigger. Morality I believe makes
us human. Morality I believe helps saves lives.
