Dear all,
It is difficult to put into words what the last 6 days have represent-ed for the country that has welcomed me with open arms since the summer of 09’. I think the images that have circulated on the media over and over again speak for themselves... and the crisis continues.
It is difficult to put into words what the last 6 days have represent-ed for the country that has welcomed me with open arms since the summer of 09’. I think the images that have circulated on the media over and over again speak for themselves... and the crisis continues.
What has surprised me most isn’t the fact that the earthquake and tsunami which hit northeastern Japan on Friday were bigger than anyone ever expected, but the ridiculous amount of media coverage that Fukushima’s Power Plant has received and will continue to receive... for days and even weeks to come.
I’m tired of their BULLSHIT (for lack of a better word) coverage. Let’s get real, and focus on the real issue here. Japan needs help, there is no question about that. Tens of thousands are missing, which is essentially a euphemism to say that those lives have already been lost. Herein lies the real tragedy. Lives have been changed forever and there is nothing we can do to change them back to anything close to the way things were as far back as friday morning.
I really don’t think I’m too far off when I say that whether we like it or not, nature IS a dictatorship. That is to say, it is the only one thing that has absolute authority over every other sphere of life. We either play by its rules or we die by its rules. It is as simple as that. The recent events are none other than mere reminder that no matter how much planning you do, there is no such thing as being fully secure. It is for this reason that it is essential to only take into account what is truly valuable and never take ANYTHING for granted. Our life can change... or end in... but an instant - be present. LIVE it.
That said, I must admit that I haven’t been frightened for a minute about the recent events. I am exactly where I want to be, and when it comes to a crisis of this magnitude I really don’t think there is a single country out there that is better prepared to deal with this disaster than Japan is. This is a nation of 127 million people with a long history of disasters, both manmade and natural, from a 1923 earthquake that killed 142,800 in the Tokyo region to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through these and more recent traumas, including a 1995 earthquake that killed 6,400 in Kobe, the Japanese have endured and rebuilt their country with an usually quiet and uncomplaining resolve. Now, this country’s spirit is once again being tested by what prime minister, Kan, has called its “most severe crisis since the end of the war”.
Amid the chaos, foreign journalists have remarked on the polite demeanor, the lack of anger, the little if ANY looting or profiteering that seems to characterize disasters elsewhere. I mention this because I sincerely believe that the media and politicians worldwide should be focusing on whether THEY are prepared to deal with this type of situation and START acting accordingly. The media should be addressing the fact that events like this can strike WHENEVER and WHEREVER.
There is no good that comes from misinforming the world population with sensationalized and overly exaggerated headlines such as “Nuclear Crisis”, “Worst Than Three Mile Island Incident”, “The New Chernobyl”, “Exodus from Tokyo”,... the list goes on. All those who have successfully been stupefied by the images and information disclosed through their respective news channels would be doing Japan much more of a favor if instead of worrying and passing on these ridiculous headlines over facebook, twitter, and other social networks, they went back to their regular lives and offered their support through donations[1] - that’s what Japan needs most right now. Let us remember that Japan has historically always been a very generous donor to any disaster-stricken area anywhere in the world.
In times like this, it is imperative to act calmly and not get swayed by rumors and misinformation. We need to be critical about what we read and hear before we start sharing and passing it around; it doesn’t take long for the Internet rumor machine to roll into action and do more harm than good.
This leads me to my next point - the media need to get a grip and start focusing on the hundreds of OTHER major problems that are happening around the world in this very instant. Why for example, have people stopped talking about the situation in Libya and Egypt over facebook and other social networks? Well... cause last time I checked, these countries are not making it to the front page. All the media is doing is diverting attention from issues of real concern in other parts of the world (or even and especially in their respective countries). The most disturbing part of this ordeal is the fact that most of these media outlets are milking millions in revenue out of their misinformation and absurd claims using a country’s misfortune and current state of affairs in order to create financial gain for themselves rather than HELP effectively. THIS dear reader is the reality of the world we live in - profit comes first no matter what the cost... and nothing sells more that “chaos”, “fear”, and “uncertainty”.
I could probably ramble on for a few more thousand words about this topic alone, but I believe I’ve made my point - I’ll let you be the judge. In an attempt to bring an end to this post and communicate what I really want to express, let me just say that I proudly stand where I am. This country has given me so much in such a short amount of time, and although there are many things about it’s culture and way of doing things that I will never come to fully understand... I will NOT leave simply because things get rough. It is an honor to be here and will proudly serve and help in whatever shape or form that is within my power to do so.
The bottom line is that contrary to the media’s portrayal of the situation, the Japanese people have responded to the current calamity with a stoic calmness and impressive orderly civility. The one exception may be near the troubled Fukushima nuclear plant - and with good reason. Elsewhere, however, survivors search for missing loved ones, clean up their streets and wait patiently for gas--with regret, for sure, but hardly a complaint.
Indeed, it is their resilient spirit gained in overcoming their country’s numerous crises in the past which is proving to be one of their greatest resources. If there is ANYONE who knows how to remain calm in the face of adversity... it’s the Japanese people. Six days on, there is little of the public anger and frustration that so often burst forth in other countries. As reported in the Mainichi Daily News, “there is no panic... people line up quietly at the cash registers and everyone is cooperative”. And as American academic, Robert Dujarric, who was stuck in the Shinkansen (bullet train) last Friday put it, “if you have to spend 16 hours in a stationary train and an additional nine hours getting home... do it in Japan”.[2]
The reality is that people in all surrounding Prefectures throughout Japan are calmly pitching in to help themselves and others taking life one day at a time. “How?”, you might ask, “does the Japanese phsyche work?” Two phrases offer some insight: One is “shikata ga nai,” which roughly translates as “it can’t be helped,” and is a common reaction to situations beyond one’s control. The other is “gaman,” considered a virtue. It means to be patient and preserve in the face of suffering. We “Westerns” might see it as “passivity”, but it’s not. It takes a lot of strength to stay calm in the face of unexpected adversity.
In sum, I am confident that Japan will tackle the challenges of reconstruction with the resilience and purposefulness that has marked its history. This is not the first time Japan has found itself dealing with a crisis of such enormous proportions and coming out on top.
It will not be the last.
It will not be the last.
To all those currently residing in Japan and everyone else abroad,
がんばりましょう！！ (GAMBARIMASHO!!!!)
Sincerely,
- アイカー
[1] There are numerous ways to help by donating. Of these, I strongly recommend the “Red Cross” since your contributions will reach the victims immediately as opposed to the days or even weeks that other organizations need to process all funds received.
[2} The Mainichi Daily News, "Ex-U.S. envoy Armcost confident quake-hit Japan will recover," March 17, 2010.
great post Iker.
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