Baghdad Massacre Largely Ignored in Favor of Western Tragedies

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Jul 15, 2016

Baghdad Massacre Largely Ignored in Favor of Western Tragedies

A suicide bombing in Baghdad, Iraq killed over 200 people on July 2, but the deadly attack did not get the press coverage that other terrorist attacks got. Kim Hunt recently wrote an article titled “The Massacre the World Ignored” for RelevantMagazine.com, in which she questions why this was the case.

The world has experienced one tragedy after another in the past month or so. There was the shooting in the Orlando nightclub that took the lives of 49 people, the police shootings of Alton Sterling and then Philando Castile. Then there was the shooting of five Dallas police officers. And just last night, another deadly terrorist attack occurred in France, while a crowd was gathered to celebrate Bastille Day in the city of Nice.

The Baghadad attack, however, was largely left out of this narrative, despite the fact that it was the worst attack in Baghdad in years. News outlets did not give it as much press time, and people did not talk about it much on social media.

Hunt suggests that this reveals our America-centric viewpoint. We will understandably feel the tragedies which happen on American soil or in France, which is an American ally, to a greater extent than a tragedy that happens in the Middle East, but this may suggest that we need to adjust our viewpoint. 

“The thing is, we are called to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15)—whoever or wherever they may be. Not just in our backyard, but around the world,” writes Hunt.

She then provides a few practical steps for Christians to take in order to extend compassion and care to all who are suffering, whether in America or anywhere in the world.

Firstly, it is best to look beyond social media as a news source. Secondly, take time to pray for those who are suffering all over the world; get to know their struggles and what they need. Thirdly, start a conversation about the things that are happening not only in America, but around the world. You can be the one who begins these discussions even if many people are initially ignoring them.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: July 15, 2016



Baghdad Massacre Largely Ignored in Favor of Western Tragedies