While the deaths of significant cultural figures fill the news with easy-to-sell headlines, there are still stories of life-changing news bellow the fold and aired during the non-peak hours. And, those hidden stories reflect a trend that is difficult to ignore: Unrest. 

It seems that the world is changing more quickly than ever, especially as more and more of the West's attention  is directed homeward with the hope of overcoming economic trouble. In the past months, we have seen people in some of the most government-controlled societies break out of the mold and speak out for change. In Iran, the election was nearly overturned, and still (you'll see it in the B-section news) there is discontent with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remaining in command. In the weeks after the election, the Iranian people seemed to find the ferocity and strength of their ancestors once again, and made their voices heard. The coup in Honduras reiterates that no leader, despite his strength, is safe. And now, there is conflict between the Han and Uighur in China. 

Why are these conflicts more alluring than those in, for example, Darfur? The answer is be simple. In Iran, Honduras, and China, people are acting out against authority and tradition. In Iran and China, to protest people are risking their lives and sidestepping their government's attempts to control the media. It is the battle of the underdog against the powerful--and everyone likes to see the underdog win. The situation in Honduras has created a global paradox. The USA hated the president the military ousted, but once Manuel Zelaya lost his power the USA has supported him. All these events reflect a change in thought and a change in process. Meanwhile, it is easy to turn a blind eye to Darfur because it is a familiar seen.  Genocide is not new, and the method of Genocide that has been adopted in Darfur has been seen in Africa before (Rwanda). And so, the media looks to news that is deliciously horrific, but also more than current events. To make the cut, the news must be fresh.

And that is what the happenings in Iran, Honduras, and China are. They are something sightly different than anything that has happened previously. With the world connected by easy travel and the internet, there is no longer a place for ethnocentrism or isolation. The powers of the world have had to consider the ideas of others and all people have seen that their way of life is not the only one. Social change is happening, and it is being promoted by war and the modern area. This has happened before, but never in this exact way. But, as old customs become the foundation for new ones, it is proven once again that revolution seldom comes peacefully.  And this is what the media believes new worthy, well at least worthy enough to include somewhere in the paper.