The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has dominated the news over the last few days and rightfully so. She was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life – and ultimately lost her life – to restoring democracy in Pakistan. As a news junkie, I have been watching footage around the clock since the assassination occurred. CNN has done a great job weaving new threads of news into the story as they become unearthed. As I type this, I am watching the grainy footage of Bhutto getting shot and collapsing into the sunroof of her vehicle. People around the world can get an overwhelming sense of how distraught and outraged many Pakistanis are over the assassination. The CNN video footage of men, women and children whaling, hitting themselves and falling to the ground makes it impossible for a viewer not to feel their pain and suffering.

However, there is an important thread to the story that CNN has missed – and that’s America’s reaction to the assassination. Everyone I have spoken to about the Bhutto assassination is deeply upset and consumed with tremendous empathy for the Pakistani people and Bhutto’s family. We feel this anguish because as human beings we empathize with their sense of loss of their hopes and dreams for a better world for themselves, as well as their children. Many of us have shed tears, not for the impact to America, but for the impact to the Pakistani families who saw Bhutto as the catalyst for a better life and future. Yet for all the footage CNN has run, the sentiment of the American people has not emerged. Even worse, the only footage representing America’s reaction to the situation are the insincere, photo opp pictures of Condoleezza Rice making an appearance at the Pakistani embassy and signing a condolence book. Or, the scramble of Presidential candidates to outdue one another with their knowledge of foreign affairs or connections to the Pakastani government. Is it any wonder why the rest of the world hates us? Rice’s gesture lacks true emotion and empathy. It’s this a-la-carte, iconic misrepresentation of Americans that has bred such hatred of our country and our people. Bush, Cheney, and Rice do not reflect and represent the vast majority of Americans. Yet as icons for our country they continue to misrepresent us all and they’re directly responsible for the inaccurate perception that exists.

CNN has added to this negative perception by not reporting on America’s human reaction but only focusing on the political reaction. It is one thing when WHDH in Boston misses America’s human element, but when CNN, the eyes/ears/voice of the world misses it, the negative impact to Americans is tragic and irreversible.

What are your thoughts?