  I think this comment of mine is deserving of its own post: All life is valuable.... So, does a gnat have the same value as a human? A dog? Even an ugly possum? What about plants? Is the life of a plant equal to that of other life forms? If so, how can we eat... knowing that no matter what we eat, plant or animal, it is like we are consuming part of ourselves? Bacteria, viruses, and even itty bitty prions... there is open question whether some of these can even be considered living. But if they are, can they also be considered as valuable as we are? If not all life is considered equal, how do we proportion value amongst such diverse forms of existence?
By default, we are programmed at the genetic level to value like creatures more than those different. It is a form of protectionism, ensuring that in the grand scheme of evolution, it is our gene sequences that will ultimately survive. It is not a matter of being shallow or not, we all have and can choose to draw the dividing line wherever we wish... and, ultimately, we make our choice based on the degree of suffering we wish to endure for the sake of others. One cannot really mean it to say that all life is equal and still choose to live. Every moment we exist, we are causing the death and suffering of untold millions of living things.
Therefore, we remain alive (like it or not) because ultimately we believe ourselves to be above some of these other forms of life. Some will say that the moral path is to prevent needless suffering and death, to restrict it as much as possible. But what is the definition of needless? As mentioned above, the only way to eliminate the pain you cause is to not be.
Obviously, keeping yourself alive is necessary (afterall, your own life is of value)... but living without pain is not necessary (nor even possible). So, does that mean preventing needless pain is to suffer as much as possible while keeping yourself alive - is this what is required to be moral? No, the reality is there is no moral answer here - to live is to be immoral. Accept it, and move on. 
