A matter of perspective

Isn't it funny how things are perceived? I read an article this morning that claims the lone gunman captured following the three day rampage in Mumbai, India participated because his family would receive less than $1500 dollars if he was martyred during the attack. He and his partner during the attack are attributed with killing 54 individuals. In return for the death of 54 innocent people and his own death his family would received $1250.

To me $1250 is mortgage, HOA fee, and utilities for a month. It is a few months student loan payments. It's a semester's worth of books for Chris. It's less than two weeks work. In the scheme of our expenses, it is nothing.

But to this man and the nine others that died carrying out the attack it was worth It was worth inciting terror for. It was worth killing for. It was worth dying for.

I wonder what this amount of money would have meant to his family. Would it have been life changing or a quick fix? It must be a large sum or it wouldn't be worth it, right? I know that I am blessed to live in a largely prosperous country. Even in the middle of one of the greatest economic declines in modern history we are still a prosperous country. But I cannot wrap my head around the idea that this act of terror and violence was committed over such a small some. How tragic for the victims. How tragic for the gunman's family to live in an area where this act could be considered an opportunity. How tragic for the gunman to feel so helpless that this was the best option to help his family. How tragic that after all of this his family will likely not receive their prize because their son was captured, not killed. In the end his actions did not benefit him or his family. It was all in vain.