Dear Editor:

Life and liberty are the first two descriptors in our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and Bill of Rights – an integral part of the Charters of Freedom. All of these documents contain words full of respect and compassion.

Yet, the message we often hear is that life is not valued in the United States as some leaders deny life-saving drugs because the medical-pharmaceutical communities have unexpectedly created a large painkiller addicted group whose lives are deemed “not of value to save.” Other signs that reflect devaluation of life, include denial to medical access even when the premeditated denier is aware lives will be and have been lost without access. What happened to the life, liberty and compassion embedded in the Charters of Freedom?

There is nothing in our Constitution that has devalued life in the United States, but we hear it loudly proclaimed that we are not of value if “you don’t agree with” a politician.

We are not as valued if we are of color, female, or some religion other than Christianity. Liberty is under attack as rights to privacy have been eviscerated, and the right to religious freedom to worship is being stretched to mean the right to discriminate when you are open for public business. Empathy and compassion – conjoined twins – have been ripped out of the meaning of governance.

Historically life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were achieved within the context of community and compassion. Compassionate economics caused our country to rise in the eyes of the world. Today, compassion is choking from disrespect and hate. Even rats have empathy and compassion. Compassion is essential to survival of humanity. When we feel compassion, our heart rate slows down and we secrete a “bonding hormone,” oxytocin. Science can measure the joy experienced when the brain is linked to empathy and compassion. If government feels no compassion for its citizens, then we can no longer survive as members of the animal kingdom. We would have lost our humanity and the will to save lives.

Life and liberty rely on compassion for governments and people to survive. How do we insure that the government carries compassion in its veins?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb