As I was flipping through the channels on TV the other night, I came across live coverage of the war in Iraq. I was repelled by the fact that this war, which has claimed so many innocent lives, was being shown live for people to see as though it was some spin-off of the reality shows that dominate TV today.

Even more horrifying was the way some newscasters were so flippant about all that was happening. Disrespecting the lives of these innocent people who are getting killed everyday is despicable. After Sept. 11, the loss of innocent lives is precisely what should be avoided, but since this is unavoidable in a conflict of such magnitude, the least that a humane society can do is show some compassion.

Instead, the death of innocents is being sensationalized and trivialized at the same time. There might be many justifications for this kind of live coverage, but nothing justifies the kind of journalism where lives lost are but figures to be quoted. That is the least we should have learned from Sept. 11.