Reply #19: Some people have less limited capacity for concern than that.

[jobycom]

Some of us can care about Barbaro and about other stories of importance, too.

If you must, frame this in your mind as a human interest story. There are often stories in the news about difficult animal rescues, or about arrests for animal cruelty. People generally understand that a society is more noteworthy if it concerns itself with the well-being of animals as well as people.

Or maybe try this: A story that invokes compassion and concern for a living thing may lead to a greater level of compassion and concern for all living things in people. Maybe even concern for humans in other countries.

Or maybe a more pragmatic approach: Many people had and still have livelihoods tied up in this horse. Vets, stable hands, trainers, and expanding to the broader picture of horse racing, racetrack employees, businesses involved in racing, etc. Barbaro isn't just a horse, he's a division of an American industry that employs and affects a lot of people.

Obviously people care about this story. To criticize people who do care for doing so seems inappropriate, to me. There are more important stories, no one denies. But that doesn't mean this isn't a story of interest to many.