How does one value a life?

I sense Americans are shocked over the execution-style murder of 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children, by a U.S. Army sergeant. But maybe not as outraged as they'd be if the situation was reversed. The killer being an Afghan and the victims being Americans. And why is that? My guess is that Americans generally think of American lives as more valuable than Afghan lives. Foreigners don't count as much as real Americans. Gotta admit. That ain't saying much for Americans. Seems to me that human beings are human beings. And we've got to start thinking of them as sort of equal in value, no matter their ethnicity. After all, we all share the same planet. Maybe my grief over the loss of 16 innocent lives should be equal, whether they be Afghans or Americans. --Jim Broede