More focus needs to be placed on news from home
COMMENTARY
Emilee Baker

I’m confused. Tuesday (www.cnn.com), the main page had two articles, side by side, one regarding Kuwait and the murder of a U.S. Marine, the other concerning the sniper that has been wreaking havoc in Maryland and Washington.

The problem is that Kuwait, its government specifically, has apparently deemed the murder of the marine a “terrorist act.” Two Kuwaiti nationals opened fire on U.S. Marines during a training session and managed to kill a serviceman before they could return fire. This is a tragedy, but my main concern lies with the sniper.

The sniper, as of this point in time, has managed to kill six people and wound two others, the most recent victim being a 13-year-old boy making his way into his school.

The sniper’s identity remains a mystery to the general public. All that is known is that the sniper only needs one shot, and is using either a hunting or military gun. The victims are currently believed to be shot at random.

My problem is this: On the main Web page, the articles are massively different in appearance. The report on Kuwait’s terrorist act comes with a blown up map of Kuwait, and takes up approximately one-fourth of the page. The article concerning how Washington has been reacting to the sniper, and the schools’ actions, is directly under an advertisement for “Connie Chung Tonight.”

Why is a devastating crime committed on our own soil not given more importance? I, personally, am more interested in what the people in Washington are doing to protect themselves and to discover the sniper’s identity. Kuwait’s government claims terrorism is important, yes, but this does not quite concern me as much.

The U.S. Marines that were attacked are on the Failaka Island, where CNN notes that civilians are not allowed to trespass. Only our servicemen and civilians working there with permission are on the island. The working civilians are of many different nationalities. The report said it is unknown whether the nationalists were a part of that group.

I may be very wrong in saying this, but the two Kuwaiti nationalists who killed our serviceman are dead. This sniper is not. The Marines were immediately removed from the island, and the civilians there were detained as witnesses. In Maryland and Washington, while they are adding security in schools, there is little that is being done. Everyone is trying to maintain a sense of “normalcy.”

This is happening in our own home. Why is it not treated as equally, if not more importantly, than a predictable response from Kuwait’s government?

This terrorism and “war” concept has once again displaced the focus away from our nation’s own misfortunes and faults toward the actions and faults of other countries. We do not need to dismiss the tragedies and responses within our own country.

Emilee Baker is a senior anthropology and sociology major from Sheridan, Ark.