Stocks don't measure U.S. social awareness

As the stock market continues to rise in tandem with the number of Kosovo refugees, some Wall Street analysts have become concerned that the market has not reacted at all.

Yet if the Dow Jones Industrial Average were used as today's indicator of social awareness, that would be even greater cause for alarm.

The stock market indices should be used only as a measure of the nation's economic health. The only reason they haven't reacted to the Kosovo crisis is that the havoc in Yugoslavia represents little threat to the United States' economy.

The Persian Gulf War and last year's Russian currency crisis had a significant impact on the balance sheets of many large American companies.

Relief, if any emotion, should be felt regarding the stock market's apathy to Europe's difficulties.

Knowing that the stock market is no indication of the average American's ethical concerns brings comfort to one's conscience.