The death toll in the school hostage situation in Russia is now at 322, as well as all 26 militants who seized the school.
For once, I am speechless. I look at my beautiful children, and I cannot even begin to conceive of what a hateful, horrible heart one must have to consider them to be targets to make a political point. Frankly, I cannot see murdering to make a political point to begin with, let alone murdering innocent children.
Perhaps the most horribly wretched part of this is, after the mounring period, the fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins of those killed will most likely try to take justice in their own hands. Even though their grief and reactions are understandable, such a response is likely to only escalate bloodshed in the area, and in this kind of furor, innocents often die because they are mistaken for the enemy.
I just hope Russia doesn't have a Michael Moore to criticize Russian president Putin for pursuing the terrorists.
respectfully submitted,
Gideon MacLeish