America needs to learn to mourn more than just their own

[Rocknrule]

By no means am I trying to diminish the VaTech losses. This was one of the worst man-made tragedies in the US, surpassed only by Waco, Bath, OKC, and 9/11. And as horrible as it was, it was not the worst school shooting in world history. Most of you probably remember the Beslan massacre in Russia a couple years ago, where 300 kids were killed. It was the worst school massacre ever and the worst terrorist attack next to 9/11, but it received far less coverage in the American media. In addition, I remember people (mostly RWers of course) arguing that we shouldn't send tsunami relief to east Indian nations because they didn't send us money after 9/11. This kind of selfish attitude, I believe, is a great deal of the reason why so much of the world hates us now. To regain international respect, I believe we need to show concern when things like this happen anywhere in the world, not just here.

[quinnox]

1. Indeed

In Iraq they just had close to 200 people killed in truck bombing, why not wall to wall coverage of that? America needs to show more compassion for non-Americans and value all human life around the world.

[bryant69]

2. I think they hate us more because of what we do, not what we fail to do

That said, I agree that this would be a good step.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[aikoaiko]

3. I rememeber Beslan as being everywhere.

[Rocknrule]

4. You have a better memory than I do

[uppityperson]

6. Me too. Now individual bombings/killings/murders in Iraq, even group ones?

I remember few of those as individual events, most people probably fall into this category also. I remember Iraq mass murders by where they were, but most just blur together.

[pampango]

5. I've noticed the same tendency in the outsourcing topic at DU.

Unfortunately, I think the answer is that Americans care more about Americans than they do about citizens of other countries. Perhaps people in every country care more about their fellow citizens than about those in other countries, I don't know.

You seem to be saying that there should be a moral equivalence when Iraqi civilians, Russian school children, and American civilians die in senseless acts of intentional violence. I agree with you. There is a moral equivalence and the violent deaths in Iraq, Russia and Iraq, or anywhere else, should carry the same weight on our consciouses. When American jobs and incomes are hurt by outsourcing, the overwhelming sentiment at DU is harsh, even if Chinese and Indian jobs and income are helped. Americans count for more with Americans.

[Rocknrule]

7. Also, what happens in America tends to have more of an impact

on the rest of the world than vice versa