We have a lot to be thankful for even though we never really appreciate it; the privilege of having the democratic voting system and the luxury of being able to vote for whoever you want to vote for. Being able to attend the polling booths without someone pointing a gun to your head, being able to cast a vote without being told whose name to write down. It happens in many countries.

The family of Hussein al-Kaabi have become the latest victims of the build up to the elections in Iraq where religious divisions are running deep with certain Parties being outlawed. This family – Hussein, his pregnant wife and their six young children – were slaughtered by members of the Ba’ath Party after Hussein was seen helping an acquaintance put up election posters for a Shi’ite Party. His children, little seven year old Mais pictured here with her throat cut, were butchered mercilessly – his pregnant wife shot and stabbed repeatedly as she tried to save them, Hussein was killed alongside them.It is a shocking picture to look at and you have to ask why is it that children are always made to pay the price of sectarian violence…?

Makes you think you really do have nothing to complain about when you look at what these poor people have to live with everyday.