Audrey Hinchcliffe, Contributor

Audrey Hinchcliffe

It is often said that every one has a price. The question is, who determines what goes on that price tag?

The only tag placed on us is at birth, and only if you are born in an institution. It is carefully crafted to ensure your identity. It is very temporary, since it is usually removed upon discharge, although someone may want to keep it as a souvenir. But upon close examination, it bears no price, neither per pound - your birth weight, or would you have been priced based on your looks, since it is said that all babies are born good looking.

If this is so, then we would all bear the same price. Perhaps this is what is meant by the hymn 'Blessed Assurance', where in the first verse it tells us we are "Heir of salvation, purchase of God". It does not go on to suggest what your price should be.

Draw the line

Our price is based on our sense of values; hence, we cannot allow ourselves to be used in order to be accepted. It cannot be acceptance at any cost; hence, we exert no self-discipline. Simply, we cease to be parents and, instead, choose to be a friend to our children. We are who we are as parents, but friends come in all sizes, often wearing masks. Our children must know who we are, what is our sense of values, so they can "log on to them and not even try to negotiate your values."

We were not intended to be commodities on which prices fluctuate. We often see in a store window "Sale On" or an object 'For Sale', we see signs which say 'Open for Business', we see signs which say 'Closed'. However, we may hear or read about a bankruptcy, but more direct, we see signs blaring 'Must Sell, Going out of Business', but silently screams 'Bankruptcy'. We rarely see a sign which says 'Not for Sale'. We see signs which say 'For Rent' or signs 'For Lease'. Have we ever seen a sign which says 'At Any Price' or 'Valueless'?

No price tag

I would like to think that the price of a human being went out with the abolition of the slave trade. Although we still hear of children and women being sold, this is not the norm. It is the sale of bodies, not values, for some of those sold have maintained their sense of values and become world-class role models. So, this business of everyone having a price is to be rendered closed, and out of business, but never bankrupt. Instead, let us put up a gigantic sign which says 'Not for sale, rent, lease, lend, non-negotiable.' Let our sense of values certify our price tag, or simply remain priceless.

M. Audrey Hinchcliffe, C.D., M.Sc., B.A. is chief executive officer of Manpower and Maintenance Services Ltd.; and president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation. Email: mash59@yahoo.com.