Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster
Monday, 14 March 2011 23:22![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rockfotze
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As everyone is well aware, a terrible tragedy has struck Japan. We were only just getting over the shock of the Christchurch quake that killed at least 166 people three weeks go and Mother Natures unleashed her wrath all over again. I remember thinking/saying back when the quake hit Christchurch that it could have been an even worse disaster had it struck a more densely populated area, a small consolation in such a devastating tragedy.
I keep looking at photos of the carnage of the tsunami’s and it’s hard not to cry. I’ve always had a soft spot for Japan, especially since I went there in September 2009. I can’t even imagine how they will clean it all up, how the country will recover. Seeing the devastated faces of those people is just heartbreaking. I’m still not quite over the Queensland floods from january and now we have these killer earthquakes so close to home. It’s just terrifying and I can’t even imagine having to live through something like that.
If you can spare it, please make a donation. There are a lot of ways to do so to suit everyone. I’m sure every cent will help.
Meanwhile, I just wanted to vent some rage at the overwhelming ignorance people have been displaying about this disaster. I was first made aware of it when I read this VICE article. I almost couldn’t believe it, people are comparing this event to Pearl Harbor? Really???!! I’m torn between bewildered disbelief and angry acceptance because I guess it’s not all that surprising that people are so damn ignorant and proud of it. I’m actually surprised no one has said anything about it being karma for the whales, but no, the average US citizen only remembers what happens in their country, particularly when glorified in a big budget Hollywood film (seriously, would most of those people know anything about what happened at Pearl Harbor if it wasn’t for that movie? I doubt it). HEY ARSEHOLES! No country, no matter what happened during war, deserves something like this. What, are we all hoping something will happen to Germany to get back at all them damn Nazi’s? It’s an absolutely appalling mentality and it scares me to think there are so many of these ignorant fools out there.
So if you’ve already donated or are unable to, another awesome public service would be to troll the Facebooks of these absolute douchebags and give ‘em what for! But really, if you see anything like this on your Facebook feed, please don’t ignore it. Things like this ought to be addressed because ignorance doesn’t fix itself, it’s up to the more informed and less racist people in society to make a difference!
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Date: 14/3/11 14:25 (UTC)I heard about the Pearl Harbour thing and I still lack the words to express how angry that made me.
It's amazing how, in the wake of such a disaster, many people show their real face - and in most cases, it's not a pretty one.
Let's send the people of Japan all the strength we can spare, they need it :|
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Date: 15/3/11 02:27 (UTC)no subject
Date: 14/3/11 20:06 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15/3/11 02:15 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15/3/11 02:15 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15/3/11 02:18 (UTC)The one that really got me was the guy saying 'Japan STARTED WWII by bombing Pearl Harbour!!!' omfg how are you SO STUPID.
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Date: 15/3/11 02:21 (UTC)I am especially shocked and appalled by those who say this disaster is extra revenge for Pearl Harbor, fully acknowledging the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I just... oh man it makes me angry!
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Date: 15/3/11 02:45 (UTC)And christ, 'remember Pearl Harbour'? Uh, why? You guys don't. You weren't even fucking born.
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Date: 15/3/11 16:36 (UTC)This is perhaps the truest thing I've heard said about these idiots. They don't remember. They don't remember anything. They have five minute attention spans that flicker from celebrity to celebrity.
They can't pay attention to anything bigger than that, because they don't know history and they don't know the very basics of current affairs.
Watching an American watch news- real news, not their Fox/CNN/etc bullshit- is like watching child watching Sesame Street in a language they don't understand. Only the child would probably get more out of it.
Nothing in the world affects America. No revolts in Egypt or Tunisia are going to make a difference in the prices down at the local Walmart. Not in a way an American would understand. News is something that happens to other people.
And when it comes down to it, they don't understand tragedy or loss. They have never experienced hardship in their own comfortable, easy lives. If they sound like monsters, it's because they have no sense of scale.
No one who has life experience - other than a very broken person- would say this kind of trash about a disaster. So I understand why you're thinking sociopath, but the reality is more benign yet far more dangerous:
They're just really, really fucking ignorant. And they have no idea how oblivious they are. They don't understand how the rest of the world affects them, or- even scarier- how they affect the rest of the world.
Americans are like defunct monarchs watching their people starve, wondering why they don't just eat.
And I'm American, on paper. I'm not bashing someone elses' country. These are the idiots I have to live with. Not everyone is like that. But way, way too many of them are.
no subject
Date: 15/3/11 14:50 (UTC)I truely hope that Japan will escape another nuclear disaster in Fukushima. As bad as the earthquake and tsunami were - this would be even worse.
It's so sad. :(