Compare the tragedy

Today we collectively mourn the loss of life at an Amish school in Pennsylvania. 5 girls killed. At least 5 others wounded. Tragic by any definition.

In Iraq today, at least 113 bodies were found in Baghdad, Kut, and elsewhere. 113 people kidnaped, tortured, and executed. 80 people were killed yesterday in the sectarian violence- approximately 60 execution style and the others in bombings and other violence.

I report these side by side not to diminish the events in Pennsylvania in any way. In the last week we have had three incidents in schools in the US in which people have died. We are properly focused on the tragedy of those events and how to prevent them.

Think of how people in Iraq must feel. They hurt when people die just as we do. They feel the pain, and the fear, created by violence.

We must figure out what to do about that violence as well.

GP