who died

Last week's murder of Swedish Foreign Minister, Anna Lindh, in a sad event that has seen a significant outpouring of grief, has resulted in a fair amount of online chatter about how we value each human life on rather relative terms; being devasted when a famous person dies, but only expressing a fleeting sorrow toward the passing of people we just didn't know.

I found myself feeling that same dread when I saw the headline "Williams Sister Shot Dead" on the BBC this evening, only to feel relief when I investigated and found that it was neither Venus, nor Serena that was involved. That sensational title has since been altered, and the fact remains that their family has lost a loved one under awful circumstances. Whereas their pain is undoubtedly profound, the sadness that I might have felt is diminished, much as I regret their loss.

I realise that the psychology behind this mentality is very well documented, but it feels no less crummy to have to acknowledge this capriciousness in whom we're each willing to mourn for.