On the night of Apr. 15th, 276 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped from their school dormitories by a terrorist group in Chibok, Nigeria. The group broadcasted that the girls, ages 15-17, were going to be sold as child brides for twelve dollars apiece.

More than one month later, they have yet to be returned home and yet, in our media, we have barely heard a word about this.

However, when scrolling through the headline stories, Donald Sterling’s racist remarks and Solange Knowles apparent attack on half of the infamous “Yonce” couple are prevalent.

These headlines have no real effect on our lives. They’re passing stories whose relevance is only for entertainment purposes. However, the story that is hidden under the gloss and glamour of others affects every single female, every single American, and every single Westernized individual.

Regardless of the number, any one abduction in this fashion is already too high and the intention of these kidnappings is strikingly relevant to Western society.

The terrorist group, Boko Haram, roughly translates to the phrase “Western Education is Sin.”  Western education, in this context, is the education that does not teach radical Islamic ideals, that does not teach their girls at all. Does that sound familiar?

In the United States and in our European counterparts, our prosperity, in part, comes from the advancement of all individuals regardless of race, religion, culture, or gender. Developing countries mimic our social norms, culture, ethical values, and educational systems in an effort to  become economically, mentally, and physically competitive on the world stage.

Our “War on Terror” is not against just one group. It is against anyone who prohibits the advancement of those trying to embrace our ideals. While these girls are a victim of terrorism, they are also a victim of region and race. If 276 American girls were abducted, the developed nations would immediately intervene in an effort to save the lives of these precious innocents; we have intervened for much less.

Boko Haram has realized that the only way to stop the development of third world countries is to slow the advancement of the children in it.

Their terror is not power and our ignorance is not bliss.