Conflict of Interest?

The recent situation in Iran was initially the center of much international media coverage. Most explicitly, the video coverage of Neda Agha-Soltan, the 26-year-old Iranian philosophy student who was viciously gunned down during a protest of the state's recent election. Many are claiming that the election was fixed--the protesters have taken to the street demanding their right to free and fair elections. This woman boldly told her friend, "Its only one bullet," when asked if she was afraid to die. She then paid the price for her bravery with her life. It was broadcast on Youtube and covered by some of the major networks.

Members of the British embassy were arrested over the weekend because the Iranian government believes they've been instrumental in the latest protests.

And then Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays died. Obama's latest speech was interrupted by a rude cell phone. California is being forced to issue IOU's because they can't pay their bills right now. How quickly we forget that there is an entire world with bigger issues than our latest celebrity funeral.

Where is the outcry? Where is the indignation? Where is the strong message from the leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world regarding the safety of these protesters or the fundamental human rights that America was founded on: freedom of speech, expression, and assembly? He proudly declared that his administration had pushed the Middle East in the direction of democracy when he gave his speech in Egypt a few months ago. Then he realized that the election was a sham and we've heard very little from him since.

Its disconcerting.

Moreso, is the absolute lack of interest from the public. There has been some modicum of outcry, yes, but the overall media coverage is reduced to a tiny "Special Features" link at the bottom of major news websites. Michael Jackson's untimely and unfortunate death, however, recieves three links at the top of the page. Sometimes, with a picture.

When did we stop giving a damn? When did the VERY public, VERY exposed, VERY brutal death of young women in the streets stop bothering us?

Is it just because we feel our own financial, political, fill-in-you-blank-here needs are not being met?

When did freedom become the birthright of a small few--taken completely for granted and hardly extended?