to notice that the killings in the USA

[butisthismyname]

Are HUGE NEWS, but the children who are being shot and killed every day in syria, the children who live on the streets and die every day in south america and the children who are dying in third world countries are 'part of the furniture'? I know what has just happened is horrific and sad and awful, but it's just so fucking unfair. It's like the twin towers - OMG the USA is in trouble, lets be outraged ( not negating that but just an example) When will we be as understanding and sympathetic and make what is happening everywhere else in the world as important and newsworthy as this?

thank you,thats exactly what i was thinking.apparently american lives are more worthy then everyone else's

Lovely comment in the DM, from Les, in Thailand

Mindless shooting of 26 people today in America, 22 were children, the Pres wept. And im thinking, you pay Americans every day to dole out this kind of misery elsewhere in the world

I dunno, I guess when you look at the actions of just one person, slaying 22 children in one swoop, compared to that of a 'war'...just a bit more shocking I guess.

All of it is unfair, grossly unfair

Why do these threads always pop up when something awful happens in America?

I find it really distasteful.

Agree Pickled

Me too, Pickled.

It's a perfectly valid discussion to have, but I wish these threads would just wait a little bit and not pop up in the immediate aftermath when, rightly or wrongly depending on your view, people are still hugely shocked.

Also agree with Pickled. Could you not wait a bit before you politicise an awful tragedy?

Absolutely right Pickled. One tragedy does not invalidate another. And to use one as a political bandwagon is pretty poor form IMO.

Why do these threads always pop up when something awful happens in America

Probably because it a forum where people discuss things, not all of them fluffy.

People are concerned that we might have imbalanced press coverage, something that if ignored causes serious problems worldwide as people frustrations at perceived lack of empathy cause violent unrest.

Another question might be, why are people uncomfortable when the subject comes up ?

Because it is too soon, and disrespectful, QuoteUnQuote.

And also because this kind of thread only happens when bad things happen in America. I have a feeling that, had this happened in Australia, this post would never have been started.

They are all horrible.
But I think if it had happened in a different country, or in the ones mentioned by the op, it would still make the news.

I also think that English speaking countries may get more press coverage, by the very fact that they are English speaking.

Australia is marching into other countries shooting and bombing people including children.

That was meant to be ironic!

America wages war on other countries and it supports Israel in it's mission to wipe out Palastinians.

America is so keen to export it's own special kind of freedoms to the rest of world. They are on a mission to export "democracy" look how empowered and happy their own citizens are

Agreed Howdo. I always feel there's an element of 'Well, it's not undeserved' with these types of reaction. I am no fan of America's foreign policy either.

But when you send your children to school, in a country where you would expect them to be safe and you hear about something as tragic like this, yes it will cause a huge reaction. It is a situation we can both imagine being in and yet cannot imagine the horror of simultaneously.

It evokes more empathy, no it isn't right, but it is human nature to be more horrified by a situation that could have affected you IYSWIM. I remember hearing about a young woman (24) who died of cervical cancer, she left a young boy. I know cervical cancer is horrific, but as a young mother with a son of a similar age I felt this 'more' in a way. I don't believe her death was more 'worthy' of my sympathy than any other woman, it just struck a little closer to home.

You really should have a word with yourself for starting a thread like this.

In the last 10 years,America has become a lot more like Russia is or used to be.

Excuse me - what exactly are the Americans "doling out" in Syria?

Aren't they being encouraged to intervene in Syria? That's until they do, it goes tits up, then people forget and blame America all over again.

Was this really your first thought when you read this story? Really?

Mini, lot of guff right there in your post. Why the murders lead to guff about America's foreign policy - well it's hard to imagine the thought process.

And for the millionth fucking time on MN, I will point out that it is possible to be shocked/angry/outraged about more than one thing at a time.

It is if you have half a fucking brain anyway.

Speechless. Was there any need to start this thread today?

Mini, you can't say that, because of one psychopathic nutter, America's citizens are unempowered and unhappy, and their "brand of democracy" is to blame! Every country has psychopaths!

This thread is a little bit shit really.

Because like it or not, we instantly relate to incidents like this.

These are comfortably of "1st World" DCs and their parents, we instantly see ourselves in their position.

The fact that all the interviews and local coverage is in English just magnifies this.

Their DCs could be our DCs.

Yes, Syria is very upsetting, but our DCs are not going to get shelled by our government. it doesn't touch the same instinct to protect our own children.