carnage - significant only when it happens to some but not others?

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recently, there were shootings in virginia tech university. it shocked the world and round the clock coverage was given by CNN and other american news agencies. Those who died numbered less than 50. Almost weekly, hundreds of Iraqis in baghdad fall victim to yet another bomb attack. In contrast, there is usually only one column on that, almost as a footnote. are 100 Iraqi lives of less worth than 30 college undergraduates? I can understand that the numbness comes in part due to the frequency of deaths in war torn areas. But surely more effort can be put into finding a solution to war than ad nauseum debates and disproportionate airtime covering incidents such as Virginia Tech (including interviews with any and everyone connected with the perished)?