Growing lack of apathy

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The general apathy by many Western nations towards the mass starvation and slaughter of helpless Palestinians will undoubtedly only fuel the fire of the long-held Middle Eastern anger towards us.

Some countries’ provision of highly effective weapons used in Israel’s onslaught will likely turn that anger into lasting hatred, always seeking eye-for-an-eye redress.

With each news report of the daily Palestinian death toll from unrelenting Israeli bombardment, I feel a slightly greater desensitisation and resignation. I’ve noticed this disturbing effect ever since I began regularly consuming news in 1988. And I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this, or that it’s wilfully callous.

It has long seemed to me that the value of a life abroad is typically perceived according to the abundance of protracted conditions under which it suffers, especially during wartime, and that this effect can be exacerbated when there’s also racial contrast. Therefore, when that life is lost, even violently, it usually receives lesser coverage.

FRANK STERLE JR