Not a Dry Eye

Trey Smith

It seems to be a common human tendency to become upset -- even distraught -- when we learn that children have been senselessly killed. Generally speaking, the cause of their deaths isn't that important. People become overcome with emotion when children die from natural disasters as much as they do when children die at the hands of a fellow human being.

It is easy to understand why. Children represent the innocence in us all -- untarnished potential. When that innocent potential is rubbed out before it can be realized, it touches a nerve deep inside. It's like an arrow shot straight through the heart.

It's quite understandable why the tragedy in Connecticut has touched Americans and many throughout the world.

But I bet there are families in various corners of this planet that are a bit resentful of all the attention being heaped upon the suffering families in Newtown. It's not that they wish those who have lost loved ones ANY ill will. It's not that they don't understand the horrible heartache that feels as if it will never go away. They DO understand because they feel that same heartache too.

I'm talking about the families who have watched their children die due to drone strikes, civil war, treatable disease, unbearable poverty and unspeakable malnutrition. In most of these cases, the deaths were caused by callous human beings. In fact, some families may view it as something akin to seeing their children die at the hands of crazed gunman.

While I in no way begrudge my fellow American citizens for their outpouring of compassion and condolences to those suffering from the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I'm still left to wonder why these same outpourings aren't directed towards Afghan, Libyan or Palestinian families who have watched their children die senselessly.

Dead children are dead children, regardless of one's race, ethnicity, nation, political system or religion. If we will only cry for those in our tribe, what does that say about our society? If we can only care about those who look, act or think like us, what does that say about our compassion?