Le Weird Life of Le Lupin (UTF-8)

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

"The Death of One Man is a Tragedy; The Death of millions is a statistic."

Blinky Mummy have this second part of the quote as her Blog Title.

Though this quote from Joseph Stalin sound very morbid to me, it's suddenly dawns to me, that man, we living in a world that revolves around this quote.

So I decide to take an in-depth look on this quote.

This quote is said in response to Winston Churchill comment on the Death Toll of people during Stalin's rule.

What this quote means as I understand is that when the quantity of any death reach a value that is beyond any (numeric) figure, it lost it's significant value but start to form a numerical non-significant figure. How sad. How sad indeed.

This quote in terms de-value the true meaning of life and it's important no matter how important or non-important it is.

How true indeed as it apply to our post-911 world. Everyone living in fear from one event (Madrid Bombing) to another (Bali Bombing) to another (London Bombing). The quote itself form two part. The former and the later.

Let's look at the former "The Death of One Man is a Tragedy"

This sentance hold the truth to those who lost their love ones in any events. They break down upon learning the truth, cursing and swearing at the evil doers, praying hard for any hope they holds in the return of their love ones no matter how small it is.

And the latter "The Death of millions is a statistic" applies to the general masses unaffected directly.

They will pity those that are affected, praying hard that it will not happen to them, but yet in the end, the death are just numeric value to them no matter how big or small it is.

I sincerely hope that as and when we continue with our life, whenever such a tragic events occur, we will appreciate life more.

Ciao.
Lupin

Being Weird On|11:57 AM| "The Death of One Man is a Tragedy; The Death of millions is a statistic."
4 Comment De Le Vous?

+ + + + +

Comments:

Nice analysis. :-)

Small qn. How does one appreciate life when one is too busy to smell the roses?

# posted by

Paperman : 12:30 AM

vandice ==> Thanks for dropping by.

A small step to take is to realise there are roses by the side in the first place.

We will not be able to appreciate life if we fails to acknowlege it's existance. Same applies to family and friends.

Let uses the Roses metaphor.

1. Some People fail to know of it's existance and when it's gone, they feel nothing.

2. Some People know it's existance but fail to appreciate it, when it's gone, they have some regret

3. Some People know it's existance and appreciate it that even when it's gone they will have no regrets.

Kudos.

# posted by

Lupin Tan : 9:48 AM

Champion Lupin.

I've been lurking ard your blog since the day you started replying to all the comments in BM's blog...

# posted by

Paperman : 9:34 AM

Vandice ==> I try to blog more, and try to comment less nonsensical thing at BM blog. Gena scolding already. haha.

# posted by

Lupin Tan : 12:46 PM