In no way do I wish to downplay the horror that occurred on the Virginia Tech campus two days ago where a gunman killed 33 people and injured 15 more. This is was the worst mass shooting in US history, and has rightfully shocked and outraged the whole nation. As individuals, most all of us can empathize with the inexplicable loss experienced by the families of the slain. And many of us now fear for the safety of our own children, brothers, sisters, parents, and friends who go to school or work each day in what should be a safe environment. The emotional healing required to move on from an event like this is only begun.

But here’s a sobering thought. While this one event on a campus far from where most of us live has rocked our entire nation. Events like this, racking up similar body counts of innocents, are occurring in the city of Baghdad several times a week – and have been doing so for years now. Can you even remotely imagine what it would be like to live there? To watch your loved ones leave the house in the morning and rationally wonder if you’ll ever see them again?

Here in the US, Virgina Tech was an historic tragedy. In Iraq, it was just Monday…