NY isn't the only place to suffer
On October 27, 1998, Hurricane Mitch ripped out the heart of Honduras, resulting in 5,657 deaths twice that of September 11.
Last month, millions of Chinese people faced death when the Yangtze river threatened to flood. There was barely a media whisper.
The silence is similarly deafening in southern Africa , where 14 million people face famine . That's 5,000 potential victims for every single New York victim and 5,000 sad African stories for every single sad New York story.
As we prepare to indulge in September 11 euphoria , we should ask why the people of Honduras, China and southern Africa are so less worthy of our concern? As in the case of Princess Diana and Soham, is it merely because human misery has been compiled in glossy, consumer-friendly packages?
The reality of human death isn't meant to entertain or be manipulated for financial gain. If we are truly saddened and abhorred by an event involving human suffering, let's prove it by sending aid to prevent the next one.
Seamus Lynch,
1 Seaview Park,
Portrane,
Co Dublin.
