The massacre at Virginia Tech is like a mini-911 in terms of media coverage. Katie Curic extends the half-hour evening news to a full hour on both Monday and Tuesday. There is talk everywhere of this terrible event, the worse massacre in American history.

Yet, ten times more people were killed on 911. Think of that. But does that help the Virginia Tech victims’ families feel any better? Doubtful.

And Charles Pierce asks on the Altercation by Eric Alterman, “Is it gauche of me to point out that, actually, the worst ‘mass shooting in the history of the United States’ took place at Wounded Knee?”. Well, maybe not gauche, but does it make the Virginia Tech victims’ families feel any better? Again, doubtful.

Juan Cole points out that Iraq has two Virginia Techs every single day. That’s only 64 people a day which in actual fact is probably small compared to the most likely number, namely 500 people a day being killed one way or another in Iraq. Still, it’s doubtful that this helps the Virginia Tech victims’ families in their grieving.

But it does put the thing in perspective.

However, there is a move afoot to have a One-Day Blog Silence in honor of the victims at Virginia Tech. This would be on April 30th. They also point out that This day can be a symbol of support to all the victims of our world! Good idea. Thanks for letting me know about this new movement Barbara. Let’s champion it!