In today’s society, the worth of an individual extends beyond financial value. While monetary wealth undeniably grants privilege and influence, there exists a hierarchy in which some individuals are deemed more significant than others. This hierarchy manifests in various ways, including the legal system, social recognition, and the application of fundamental rights. In many cases, certain individuals are protected and prioritised, while others are marginalised and disregarded.
Take my own experiences as an example. Certain people have the privilege to claim that my words have caused them alarm, distress, and fear. Their complaints are taken with such severity that the full force of the law is brought down upon me. I have been forcefully removed from my home, detained for an undisclosed period with no explanation of the circumstances, and subjected to an invasive ransacking of my personal space. My belongings—including my phone, computers, diaries, and journals—have been seized, stripping me not just of my possessions but also my personal thoughts and reflections.
Yet, when the tables are turned—when I experience alarm, distress, and fear at the hands of these same individuals—there is no equivalent response. My concerns are dismissed, my distress overlooked, and my fear deemed inconsequential. The disparity in treatment suggests that my rights and feelings hold less value than theirs. This selective application of justice and protection illustrates a harsh reality: some people are simply worth more than others in the eyes of society.
The notion that all individuals are equal under the law is an ideal rather than a reality. In practice, social standing, influence, and the perception of moral superiority dictate whose voices are heard and whose suffering is acknowledged. This creates an environment where certain individuals can weaponise legal and social systems against those deemed lesser, reinforcing a power imbalance that strips people like myself of dignity, respect, and basic human rights.
The result is a dehumanisation of those who do not fit into the privileged category. I am treated as less than a fourth-class citizen—an entity unworthy of humane treatment. My feelings, aspirations, and fundamental rights are deemed irrelevant in comparison to those who have the privilege of societal validation. This inequality fosters resentment and disillusionment, as those who find themselves on the lower rungs of the social hierarchy realise they are at the mercy of a system that does not recognise their worth.
This issue extends far beyond my own experiences. Across the world, marginalised groups—whether due to political beliefs, social status, or perceived deviance from the norm—face systemic discrimination that diminishes their worth. Whether through legal persecution, media vilification, or social ostracisation, these individuals are relegated to a status where their suffering is ignored or even justified.
Ultimately, this disparity raises crucial questions about the fairness of our societal structures. If equality is truly a guiding principle, then why do some individuals wield disproportionate influence over legal and social institutions? Why do protections and rights apply selectively? And most importantly, what can be done to rectify this imbalance?
Until these questions are addressed, the reality remains stark: in today’s society, some people are simply worth more than others. The challenge is to demand a system where justice, dignity, and respect are not luxuries reserved for the privileged, but fundamental rights granted to all.
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