Equal treatment for the Innocent

Friends,
Perhaps shock isn't the right word to describe the recent shootings at Virginia Tech. But what is the response that we should give in this day and age? Today, the BBC reports that 170 were killed in car bombs in Iraq and I am appauled only because the number is higher than most days. Can innocent victims be mourned equally to those who die for a cause or in large groups? How do reponses differ between those killed who are rich and poor? We will have ribbons, grave sites, commemorations, and scholarships for the innocent, but more often only if they were rich to begin with.
Thinking objectively, this all makes sense. Compassionately, which is often less objective by its emotional nature, leaves us torn and biased. The patterns of this are evident with many peace activists who will give more attention and grace to Palestinian families who have lost a loved one than an Israeli victim of a suicide bomb. Even to the point of justifying their actions will some overidentify with the innocent to raise their fists in anger against the oppressor. What can be learned from car bombs and school shootings? I am not the one to answer this. Ask the victim's families. It is important not to overidentify on one hand and on the other, not to under identify with the suffering and reality of every human, good or bad, rich or poor.
How does news like this also rob us of our own innocense? It seems that the more we know about the world chaos and news atrocities, the more active we are, the more we care, the more aligned with suffering we are. If I watch more movies and documentaries about suffering people, I will some how be more compassionate? Because I watch movies about them? This is a silly idea but I can't deny that I identify more with the poor lately more so because I can speak up for them, write about them, and watch movies about them. Realistically though, I am often occupied with the needs of American college students. I don't care about the poor during my free time. In overidentifying with the Palestinians, I have found it very empowering because not only can I stand up for the poor, I can also raise a fist against the IDF and the world's fourth largest army? Why don't I stand up against the Canadian army or the injustices made by the army of Greenland? (they have an army right?) Because it doesn't matter! It doesn't make me look better and more courageous at this point in history.
Americans love to cheer for the underdog. I think also that we align ourselves with the poorest of the poor, sometimes not because we actually care about really truly helping them and their situation but becasue my compassion for them will empower my own "compassionate" worldview. This seems sick but I am writing in honesty about myself so I hope this is a helpful reflection for us all. I hope that I have not be inconsiderate to the news lately but it seems a good time to reflect when something hits so close to home. How to respond constructively is the challenge to any conflict.

If there are any "mrents" to this, please add on, I would love to hear some thoughts.
Steve

P.S. Does anyone still want to live together? I thought I would add a dream to my anguishes above. Check out www.jubileepartner.org for a sweet community.