He's not my brother, but he is heavy. Photo from Reuters.com
Last night Steve and I were sitting at the pub like we do most every Thursday night. The news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan was fresh on the news, and played-out on the television hanging above the bar. We watched as the water came ashore, but the footage was of rural farmland and really, it looked rather anti-climatic. We talked about how fortunate it was that the epicenter was fairly near to the coast, because the close proximity wouldn't allow the waters to swell to bombastic heights.
In short, we obviously didn't know what the hell we were talking about.
Then at work this morning, while watching more of the devastation on TV, a bellman came down to the basement and said a guest had told him, “God was punishing Japan for bombing Pearl Harbor." I'm glad I wasn't around to witness the actual comment, because I probably would have lost my job.
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Miyagi Prefecture, near Sendai, was one of the five largest quakes ever recorded. The ensuing tsunami added a second blow, along with nearly one-hundred aftershocks. It's a grim situation over there, and my heart aches for the people of Japan.
But...
The Japanese are some of the most awesome people on earth. Over the next few days and weeks I think you'll see the country of Japan at their finest hour. In the years following The Second World War—after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the country—Japan became the epitome definition of “resilient," and this was long before the word (along with the term “ground zero") was associated with New York City and 9/11.
With search and rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts, Japan is facing it's largest undertaking since post World War II, and they will no doubt excel and succeed, because that's what they do. And just like they did in the postwar years, they'll have a little help from their friends. It has yet to be announced how much money the U.S. will contribute to the aid of Japan, but I bet it will be more than the 2.5 billion dollars we gave them in the years after the atomic bombs were dropped. Did you know the U.S. gave so much money to Japan after we dropped the bombs? We did, and I suppose it made some high-up American brass feel better about themselves, especially after killing so many women and children.
As I write this, the estimated death toll is at a thousand, but it will most likely rise, although probably not to a fraction when compared to the 230,000 people who died in the Indonesia earthquake/tsunami of 2004. Since Japan is an earthquake-prone country—and a lot more modernized than Indonesia—the country was more prepared for the event, and their steps to protect themselves against Mother Nature's wrath will undoubtedly be reflected with a relatively low death toll—and thankfully.
“Tsunami" is a Japanese word. It means "harbor wave," although I think that's putting it lightly.
I was in Japan a few years ago and I totally fell in love with the country. Their respectful culture, integrity, humbleness, and excellent food are just a few things I love about the Land of the Rising Sun.
Oh yes, Japan will be alright, I know it will be. It has to be. They've faced this scenario before, although the first time was due to a despicable crime against humanity, and not from a natural occurrence. Out of the ashes Japan rebuilt, and the land became one of the most respected, powerful and influential countries in the world. They'll do it again, and this time even better than before. That's Japan. Will there be looting and pillaging in the days ahead? I seriously doubt it because it's simply not in their nature. Japan isn't like us—they're actually better, and in many ways.
To Junko, Mr. Matsumoto, Mr. Matano, Mr. Tomita, and to the rest of my Japanese friends, you're in my thoughts and I hope you and your families are safe. Please take comfort in knowing this disaster and devastation that your country is coping with was indeed an act of nature, and not a malevolent act of hatred or revenge brought upon by an angry God, or by a presumptuously self-righteous country that attempted to act like a God.
FiN.
17 Transferred Comments:
However I do think it was important at that time in history to show the Japanese, and to show the world that it did exist. However I’m sure a better location could have been found to show the possibilities of such a powerful and destructive weapon.
A tragedy has taken place. Focus on that and not on another tragedy such as a world war and a subject that you know so little about. Bring up the Atomic Bomb? You’re no better than the idiot that you quoted about Pearl Harbor.