知念里奈 [796723395]

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https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160729/p2a/00m/0na/006000c

Editorial: Deadly stabbing rampage a reminder that all lives are precious

There are no worthless lives on this planet. It is essential to think about the preciousness of life for the sake of the victims of a stabbing rampage at a care facility for the disabled in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 26, which left 19 people dead, as well as their families and survivors.
"All individual disabled people value their lives and try hard at life. Each and every life lost in the incident in a cruel way was precious," reads a statement that Zenkoku Te o Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengokai, an organization of the parents of handicapped people, released in response to the incident. Empathy with the statement is gradually spreading among the families and supporters of disabled people.

A feeling of happiness depends on each individual's sense of value. One cannot judge whether other people are happy in light of their own personal thoughts. Those who believe that seriously handicapped people are unhappy apparently lack understanding about the dignity of individuals.

Satoshi Uematsu, 26, the suspect in the stabbing spree, was quoted as telling investigators, "I targeted bedridden people." It goes without saying, however, that seriously handicapped people who are bedridden are trying to enjoy their own lives just like other people. They enjoy interacting with their friends and supporters, listening to music and eating delicious food. They also feel happy when they are in contact with nature, such as feeling sunlight and the wind. They can find happiness in their humble daily lives.

Moreover, seriously disabled people have families who love them. Since police have withheld the identities of the victims, the public has no way to know how they were loved and how they lived.

Unfortunately, Uematsu's self-centered and wrong assertion that "disabled people can only cause society unhappiness" is spreading. There are numerous people who feel sad about such a situation.

By saying "disabled people only cause society unhappiness," Uematsu may mean that care for handicapped people costs the government a massive amount of money and places a heavy burden on their families who look after them. However, this would be an extremely one-sided view.

True, many families of disabled people are exhausted from looking after their daily lives and are worried about their future. However, this is because the families of disabled people are forced to shoulder a heavy burden due to a lack of understanding and prejudice in society as well as a shortage of social welfare services.

Parents shower their handicapped children with love regardless of their disabilities. There are parents and their handicapped children who deeply love each other all the more because of their handicap. The public should keep in mind that many families gain happiness thanks to their seriously handicapped members.

Society as a whole should reconfirm that all life shines.