To the Editor:
If a minute of silence is appropriate for Venezuelan earthquake victims, as has been done before World Cup soccer matches in the United States, it is also morally appropriate for civilians killed or wounded in Iran by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Human suffering should not be acknowledged selectively or only when it is politically convenient.
As Stanley Cohen observed in his book States of Denial, societies often look away from suffering that is uncomfortable to confront. A minute of silence is not an endorsement of any government or military. It is a simple act of respect for ordinary people who have lost their lives, homes, and loved ones.
If we can pause for victims of a natural disaster, we can surely pause for civilians harmed by war. Moral consistency requires us to mourn civilian suffering wherever it occurs.
Terry Hansen
Grafton, Wisconsin