My heart weeps when scenes of such devastation flash on TV. But I have great admiration for what is reflected in the Japanese people, this calmness and stoic courage they display in the face of such adversity, almost Zen-like. There is almost no dramatisation of human emotional outbursts, very few scenes/images that focused on the dead bodies that were found (most of the pictures were from foreign photographers). Only images of the people, waiting patiently in queues, helping one another to overcome this calamity. It truly reflects the depth of the culture that the Japanese has, the respect they have for the dead as well as the living and their pride as a nation and culture.
I have read some rather insensitive online comments abt this calamity; some said it is "retribution" to what they have done in WWII, the pearl harbour bombing, the massacres across Asia. But then, they also suffered two atomic bombs that wiped out at least half a million innocent people. Such comparison to me, is really pointless and overly simplistic.
I like what Mother Teresa said,
"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
and she also said,
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
However, as I look at the depth of the Japanese psyche and culture, I can't help but look back at the recent opening of the new regional library in Nex Mall and the "ugly" scenes displayed by some of our fellow countrymen.
Compare this in Japan
with this
I can only shake my head.
haiz, shall go and help those in need.
remember to donate to Red Cross. Ido so tomorrow.
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