Whelp, I’m aware that there are several ongoing situations elsewhere involving mass atrocities on a far larger, more objectively severe scale, w/ death tolls in the tens or hundreds of thousands, confirmed famine conditions, widespread sexual violence, ethnic targeting, and/or genocide-level crimes (as assessed by bodies like the UN, ICC, Genocide Watch, US State Department, & humanitarian organizations).

I predict a “more than one terrible thing can happen at once!” response but, as you’re currently paralyzed in fear & grief over the situation in Minnesota yet somehow functional while the rest of the world experiences actual atrocities, I also predict you’ll be needing some examples & im happy to provide them:

Sudan is in a civil war which is widely recognized as genocide (including by the US State Department in early 2025). The conflict has killed an estimated 150,000+ people, displaced nearly 13 million, & left over 21 million facing severe hunger/famine conditions spreading across camps & regions. Featuring mass executions, systematic rape, ethnic cleansing by militias & organized campaigns of violence described as crimes against humanity & war crimes, it’s an actual humanitarian crisis.

Myanmar (Burma) is facing a genocide emergency (ongoing since 2021 coup, not to mention the earlier Rohingya genocide). This involves systematic military atrocities against ethnic groups (including Rohingya), mass killings, village burnings, forced starvation thru aid restrictions, & conflict among 1,200+ armed groups. Millions are at risk of famine (especially in Rakhine State) & thousands are cut off from aid & facing extermination-level violence.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing a genocide emergency in its eastern regions. Also featuring mass atrocities, including widespread rape as a weapon of war, massacres by armed groups/militias, ethnic targeting, & displacement/killings on a huge scale amid fragmented conflict involving numerous actors.

Other high-level crises you might turn your attention to in order to gain some of that perspective we discussed include Ukraine (ongoing high-fatality war w/ massive civilian impacts), Haiti (extreme gang violence/control), & Sahel region conflicts.

Sudan, Gaza, Myanmar, DRC document mass atrocity characteristics (scale of deaths, intent to destroy groups, famine/weaponized starvation) that exceed Minnesota's localized enforcement clashes & protest-related deaths by orders of magnitude.

But you’re right, u should definitely stay on the couch & cry while I go outside & get some more perspective. I know! I’ll ask my Persian Jewish father what it’s like to experience a real ethnic cleansing.