The Price of a Life

How much does a life cost? Apparently to one specific restaurant owner in Guaruja Brazil( A beach city in São Paulo) , it costs $7,00 Reais ( around $3.50 dollars yes, three dollars and fifty cents).

A twenty-eight- year-old university student was stabbed to death after he complained at a restaurant that they were overcharging him and his friends for their dinner meal on the December 31^st. According to police, the victim was dining at the restaurant, which is in the Cove neighborhood, around 7:30 pm Monday, with a group of friends and girlfriend. The confusion started when he was paying the bill. According to the record of the police report, the student refused to pay the amount of $ 19.99 Reais, claiming that the amount disclosed in the doorway and also within the trade was $ 12.99 Reais.

The cashier called the manager of the restaurant and they began arguing. Then the owner of the restaurant, who is the manager's father, said he accepted the value of $ 12.99 Reais. But even according to police, the manager went on to threaten the young man, saying he would wait outside to fight. According to the record of the occurrence, the owner of the restaurant slapped the student in the face.

After that, the tourist called the Military Police still inside the restaurant and this time; he was attacked by waiters and manager with several punches. According to police, as he saw the fight, the owner of the restaurant went to the kitchen to get a knife and stabbed the student three times in the back. Rescue was called, but the victim died at the scene by the time they arrived.

All the people involved in the crime have fled the city and the knife was not found by the police.

So to this killer a person’s life is worth $ 7 Reais (three dollars and fifty cents). When I heard this on today’s news I was appalled. What is the matter with some people? Have they no love and compassion? So much greed and lack of love in this act. A life was taken because of money. A family was ruined. Hopes and dreams died along with this young man. Was it going to make a difference to the restaurant owner? It wasn’t three thousand, or three million dollars, it was simply three dollars and fifty cents. Not that if it were more it would make any difference to me, but then at least it would be more understandable but not justifiable. Mind you, it wouldn’t make any sense to me at all. The fact that people treasure money over another person’s life makes me sick to my stomach. The owner should have let the police arrive and settle the argument in a civilized way.

I was discussing this over coffee with a friend who happened to mention the victim could have just paid the $7 Reais and end of story. He could have made a scandal against the restaurant on the web or even local newspaper.

All these facts are true, however, how could he have imagined that he would have lost his life over a complaint, in which case he was right. How could he have imagined that he would not live to see 2013?

It seems like life is so unfair. Now the killers are free and the victim’s family and friends are grieving.

This world needs love. People have to stop giving money such a prioritized position in life. When we die, we do not take anything with us. I realize that we need money to survive in this world, however, it should be something that helps us and not something that kills us.

What do you think?

Google Images

(Written January 2, 2103)
copyright ©2013 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.