How Death came calling elsewhere on November 26th, 2008

During the two days of violence in Mumbai, 6.1 billion of the world's estimated 6,602,224,175 citizens did not commit violence against anyone else, and instead went about trying to improve their own lives and the lives of their children.

Although 217 people per day in the United States are killed, injured or commit suicide with the deliberate use of firearms, the coverage of the Mumbai attack far outweighs the coverage of firearm deaths in the US -- by a ratio of nearly 100% to 0%.

The World Heath Organization reports that during 48 hours of violence in Mumbai, more than 50,000 people --including 36,000 children -- have starved to death elsewhere in the world.

Asked why the network didn't report this death toll with as much Breaking News urgency, a CNN spokesman told the AP,

"That would just make the viewer feel bad and guilty, and might even make them think about having some sort of personal responsibility in resolving the situation -- in which case, they wouldn't watch. Our viewers prefer to meditate on subjects which bring about the emotions of anger at someone else's misdeeds, and which can be easily resolved -- at least theoretically and in movies -- by dropping bombs or killing someone."

The motives of the Mumbai terrorist cells is reportedly a desire for the democratic governments of India and the United States to respond by crushing the liberties of their citizens, making it easier for the terrorist groups to stir discontent and recruit eager followers. The two governments have responded swiftly, issuing terror alerts, increasing fruitless searches, and generally trying to accommodate the terrorist's wishes.