Rumors kill

From early in our lives, we are told not to tell or spread rumors because they can be hurtful to someone. In Iraq last week, a little rumor proved deadly. Over 1,000 Iraqis died after word spread of a suicide bomber in the crowd. Crossing a bridge at the time, everyone panicked and stampeded toward safety. Some jumped in the Tigris River; others ran down the road without concern for those in the way. When the crowd calmed down, bloody bodies were strewn across the bridge. It is difficult to place blame on any individual for starting this rumor, but the results may have been more deadly than if a bomber had been in the mass and ignited his explosives. The worst part about this incident is that it was a large group of pilgrims on a religious procession to the shrine of Imam al-Kazim, one of Shiite Islam's most holy figures.