The Façade of Civilization

~Something a bit darker than usual for today, I'm afraid. Ever since I saw this picture a few days ago, I've been mentally debating whether or not to post it. Anyway, here it is:

July 21, 2005 | A security guard’s daughter screamed after her father, Jalil Shaalan, was shot by gunmen outside a Baghdad school compound yesterday. (Photo: Hadi Mizban / AP)

Mr. Shaalan was a security guard employed to protect a school in Baghdad. He was gunned down by unknown assailants right in front of the school; that's the rest of his family on the right crying over his body.

Outside of the heavily-fortified Green Zone, Baghdad continues to suffer from extreme violence that has, if anything, become even worse since this picture was taken almost two years ago. Ever since the U.S. invasion, the city has been in chaos, and I doubt a "surge" is going to fix much.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that you probably haven't seen pictures like this from Iraq. But you should. Because as a tax-paying, voting citizen of the coalition, you are a part of this, whether you want to be or not.

I work at a school. I have a lot of students who are about her age. Form your own conclusion. ~Oyasumi.