when will our consciences grow so tender

that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
-eleanor roosevelt  [the princess' namesake]

people made quite a large fuss about the execution of a possibly innocent man the other night [although sadly, according to facebook, people were more worked up about a barely noticeable facebook layout change]. it [the execution] was indeed an unfortunate miscarriage of justice. however, i wonder what would happen if instead of making a fuss about this one instance, we used our collective voices to protest the execution of anyone, anytime, anywhere? or to protest the fact that people die every day of preventable causes due to an inability to procure care? or that fetuses are aborted every day simply for being conceived to careless parents? or that cute kittens and doggies are euthanized because there isn't funding and foresight to spay and neuter? these are everyday tragedies that are largely ignored because facing the truth is too hard for the average american. so yes, i am sad for mr. davis. but i am equally sad for the millions of nameless lives lost who will never have celebrity sponsors or widespread public outcries.

and i don't apologize for sounding like such a bleeding heart.