If we don’t end the fear of others who are different, we’ll never be able to live in an environment where mutual respect exists. The recent tragedy in Paris is heart-wrenching and devastating; but we failed to even acknowledge the events in other countries that happened just days before Paris.

Not only did ISIS target Paris, Lebanon also suffered from a massacre. In Beirut, Lebanon the death toll is currently 43 innocents with 239 injured. Among those killed was a man named Ali Awad whose act of bravery has gone unnoticed besides a mention in an article on “New York Times.” The man tackled the second bomber near a coffee stand. A 14-year old boy lost his life while chopping vegetables nearby. A registered nurse on his way to a teaching hospital also lost his life. All three carrying on their daily schedule when terror struck.

These people were victims of the same organization along with hundreds of others, yet this tragedy still goes largely unnoticed. A doctor, Elie Fares was quoted on his blog: “When my people died, no country bothered to light up its landmarks in the colors of their flag. When my people died, they did not send the world into mourning. Their death was but an irrelevant fleck along the international news cycle, something that happens in those parts of the world.”

As people, we should not be blind to others’ suffering while we sit in the comfort of our homes or schools. When we discuss the tragedies in Paris, we should also consider the other countries plagued with violence. Rest in peace Ali Awad, Adel Tormous, and Khodr Alaa Deen.