The flag outside my office is still flying at half staff for the unspeakable tragedy that took place last week at Virginia Tech.

We lower our flags to mourn the loss of one person. Or two or three. Or thirty-two. Or 2,996.

But what about 119? What about 46? According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data on MADD’s web site, 43,443 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2005. Of these, 16,885 were alcohol-related crashes. That works out to 119 people dying every single day on America’s roads, and 46 because somebody was drinking.

We pick and choose what we care about in this country. If it’s not sensational, it doesn’t make headlines. If it’s not on the evening news or ticking across the bottom of our TV screens, it’s not part of our national consciousness.

Every single time somebody, anybody dies, there is a family with one less plate on the dinner table. Every single death is a devastating tragedy to somebody. And it’s just plain sad that the rest of us just don’t give a damn.