On July 14th 2015 we, the people, learnt the answer to a long asked question. Just how much, exactly, is a life worth?
One human life. Somebodies mother, father, brother, sister, aunt or uncle. Somebodies best friend, mentor or significant other. Somebodies husband, wife, or child.
The answer- $5.9 million US dollars.
On July 14th, New York City agreed to pay the family of Eric Garner, the man choked to death one year ago by a NYC police officer, 5.9 million dollars to settle their wrongful death lawsuit. The settlement, however, does not require the city to admit liability for Garner's death.
Let me repeat that. The city does not admit liability for the death of a man who was killed in an illegal chokehold (while screaming that he couldn’t breathe) as a punishment for the heinous crimes of selling individual cigarettes and breaking up street fights. The city also, apparently, believes in keeping videotaped killers on its payroll since the officer responsible never faced any disciplinary measures.
My heart drops and my stomach churns when I read news like this. How can we, as fellow human beings, agree that a mans life can be quantified down to $5.9 million? Does the money bring the man back? Does it give his children a chance to have a father again - even for one last day? Does it bring back his mothers son or his wife’s husband? No. No it doesn’t.
Now of course there is something to be said in favor of monetary settlements, namely that it allows the living to continue living and attempt to recoup some sense of normalcy. No matter how much we deny it without money the world is not an easy place to inhabit and the money of course helps the family move forward and heal without economic hardships. But money also brings no justice to the dead.
For justice to be realized the killer (yes; killer) must face trial for his actions AND changes must be initiated so that people will never again be in a similar situation as the one who died. Eric Garner did not, in my opinion, receive justice last week. His family received a settlement in the form of monetary compensation but nothing in terms of what they really wanted: change.
We must recognize that there is a flaw in the system. We must take measures to correct this flaw and see that those who are in the wrong are punished for their actions. Till then I do not believe Eric Garner, or the countless others like him, will ever receive justice.
After all, this is America - One Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I think it’s just about time we started realizing that pledge.
