That said, I hope Americans can use these feelings brought on by Virginia Tech- the compassion for the victim’s families and friends, the resolution to do what we can to prevent such events in the future- to enhance rather than replace similar feelings for worldwide tragedies.

You reminded me of a certain other peculiarity in the way casualty reporting is done – for years now I have been wondering how is it that we hear reports of ’57 people killed and two american lives lost’ or the like. The very format makes it sound as if the american lives are more important than the non-american ones – which is quite the way things are today. its not just american lives, its all westrn lives.

We have been hearing reports of hundreds of people getting killed on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan – how come no-one seems to be telling us how many Iraqi and Afghani lives were lost on the day? How come no-one seems to be keeping track of the ever rising total?

I refrain from blaming the axis of evil (America-UK-Australia) for the misfotunes of the muslim world though. The tyrant knows little but tyranny. Those content to stay oppressed will stay oppressed.

Iqbal said it decades ago – Hai jurm-e-zaeefi kee saza marg-e-mafajat – “the punishment for the crime of being weak is sudden death”. It applied to us then, it applies to us today. We will continue to be hunted and killed like we are today until we unite and fight back -until the loss of every Muslim life is reported with as much newsworthiness as the loss of a western life is today. But it is up to us to put a premium on our lives.

It is not that one does not feel sympathy for those who suffered the loss of their loved ones but we are confronted by a reality where people are selectively indifferent about the loss of life. All human life is precious so it is upto us to be open to feel the pain and suffering of others no matter who they are.

I do mean to provoke, that’s a very old fault of mine I’m afraid.

And I’m afraid that I’m not always factual and I’m quite happy to stand corrected, however, although I took liberties, I didn’t actually say that this sad loser was a white racist fanatic, just that there have been a lot of them. The particulars of the case are not as important to me as the disparity in news reporting.

Of course what happened is very sad, that’s not even up for debate really…

I just point that out to be factual. I personally don’t give a damn what race anyone is as long as he’s not doing harm.

Sorry again about getting the name wrong, Shahid. Shouldn’t be posting so late but I couldn’t get off to sleep for worrying about all the threats to Western civilisation. B^)

Thanks for the welcome back; that’s very courteous of you. I have been reading the whole time. You just haven’t ticked me off for a while.

I dont usually comment but this kind of language is appauling! Factually inaccurate statements like “With terror reigning in American schools and universities” used to try and link the, admittedly frequent violence in American schools to the SHOCKING, daily violence that we seen in Iraq from real terrorists. Trying to link the actions of an unhinged schoolboy from the US to the organised reign of terror being played out on a almost hourly basis in Iraq

I think you’re missing the point Tom. It’s not the deaths, it’s the reporting and the response of President Bush and other senior figures. It’s the complete lack of perspective. It’s the language. There is a lot more depth to this than your cursory judgement implies.

I also mentioned the thousands of children who deserve more media attention, but whose lives are not worth a damn. They’re in Africa by the way, and mostly not Muslims either.

Oh and by the way, welcome back Tom.

Of course, that wouldn’t be reasonable at all. Think, Jamal. This post is pure, irrational hatred and almost designed to demonise Muslims. Is that what you want?