The recent anniversary of that dark day in history now widely known at 9/11 has reminded me of a question I’ve often wondered since that day.  3000 people died from the cowardice events of that day.  The country mourned for days, weeks, months, years, over the lives that were tragically lost.  It’s been 7 years now, and we are still honoring those that died.  Countless hours and dollars have been spent since that day, trying to figure out how to prevent it from ever happening again.  3000 senseless deaths.

But what most people don’t realize is that those were not the only senseless deaths that occurred on that day, September 11, 2001.  Did you know that 35,000 thousand other people died that day… all tragic senseless deaths.  And 30,000 of those were children under the age of 6.  I have a 5 year old and a 6-month old.  Yet these children did not die from terrorist attacks.  Maybe that’s why these children’s deaths did not make the evening news on September 11, 2001.  The 30,000 children died of starvation on that day.  Were you aware that somebody starves to death in the world every 2.5 seconds.  So if it takes you 1 minute to read this blog entry, 24 people will have starved to death by the time you finish reading this.  I don’t think many of us in America can even imagine starving to death.  It’s a slow painful death.  At least most of the 9/11 victims died quickly.

Of course the question I often wonder is, “What’s the difference?”  Aside from the fact that 10 times as many children died that day compared to the 3000 9/11 fatalities.  Why are the lives of those victims of terrorism so much more important than the 30,000 children’s lives?  Why did the 9/11 deaths bring so many tears to our eyes, while we never even give a 2nd though to all the children?  Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that the starving children were not just limited to September 11, 2001.  The sad truth is that 30,000 children starve to death every day, Monday-Sunday.  And I have a pantry full of food, with probably a third of it past the expiration date.

My intent is not to try to make everybody feel guilty for having food to eat, but rather I am really interested in why we put so much value on some lives and so little value on others.  Most of us did not know the 9/11 victims personally, so we can’t use that as the reason.  Is it because the children are not Americans?  are not white?  I would hate to think that, being caucasion myself.  But I’m having trouble coming up with better reasons.  Is it because starvation is just not an interesting way to die?  Do we need spectacular deaths, like terrorist attacks, or hurricanes, or space shuttle explosions to make us care if somebody dies?  Honestly, I don’t have any better ideas.  Does anybody else have any?