Bloody Week in Texas: 105 More Dead

It was another bloody week on Texas highways as 105 people, including a family of eight traveling in a recreational vehicle, were killed in a series of devastating accidents. The Kilkearney family of Lubbock, on an Easter holiday trip, were killed when their Winnebago RV crossed the center-line and was crushed by a tractor-trailer. The driver of that vehicle was not injured. Last year alone, more than 4,000 Texans died on the highways, an increase of 7% over the prior year.

What if domestic news outlets continually fed American readers headlines like: "Bloody Week on U.S. Highways: Some 700 Killed," or "More Than 900 Americans Die Weekly from Obesity-Related Diseases"? Both of these headlines might be true statistically, but do they really represent accurate pictures of the situations? What if you combined all of the negatives to be found in the state of Texas and used them as an indicator of the quality of life for all Texans? Imagine the headlines: "Anti-law Enforcement Elements Spread Robbery, Rape and Murder through Texas Cities." For all intents and purposes, this statement is true for any day of any year in any state. True -- yes, accurate -- yes, but in context with the greater good taking place -- no! After a year or two of headlines like these, more than a few folks back in Texas and the rest of the U.S. probably would be ready to jump off of a building and end it all. So, imagine being an American in Iraq right now...

Lt. Col. Tim Ryan (BlackFive): Aiding and Abetting