Life Has no Value on the Gallows

The planned execution of the convicted Australian drug trafficker Tuong Van Nguyen in Singapore has reminded me that life, i.e. human life, often has little worth. Ngyuen's motives were not even considered in the decision to go ahead with the cruel, inhumane and inappropriate punishment. Despite helping the Australian police, he received no clemency from Singapore's cold judicial system. Instead his mother received a letter informing her of his son's execution much like a tenent receiving a notice that the phone line will be cut due to failure to pay the bills, only more cruel, of course.