____twoism

Julian Candy wrote:

rik0000 wrote:to me this is humankind at it worst.

So your saying this is worse than the Holocaust, the Irish potato famine, the Rwandan Genocide and the Reign of Terror in France?

Clearly it's not. What it IS is a very sad and pathetic reflection on certain elements of humanity. I'm staggered at the sheer bowel-scraping level of ignorance shown by these halfwits, coupled with their total and utter lack of compassion. While it's not even close to the tragedies you've listed, it does demonstrate the same callous lack of basic warmth, humanity and understanding that were shown in at least some of them.

As to 'taking a dump' on your spiritual beliefs, if somebody politely questioning those beliefs in the light of a natural disaster that has killed many thousands is 'taking a dump' on them then I'd question the strength of your beliefs to begin with.

Believe what you like. I'll respect your right to hold those beliefs and I'll stand up for your right to express them - even though I don't believe in them even 1%. But if you're going to tell the World, in 2011, that 10,000+ people getting swept away in the blink of an eye is somehow 'God's will' then I think you have to expect some of us to pick you up on it.

Mexicola wrote:As to 'taking a dump' on your spiritual beliefs, if somebody politely questioning those beliefs in the light of a natural disaster that has killed many thousands is 'taking a dump' on them then I'd question the strength of your beliefs to begin with.

I have no problems against other religions and I only responded that way because the way the original question was posed it seemed like something Brian Griffin would have said. I can't stand know-it-all atheists which is why I reacted so harshly.

Julian Candy wrote:

Mexicola wrote:As to 'taking a dump' on your spiritual beliefs, if somebody politely questioning those beliefs in the light of a natural disaster that has killed many thousands is 'taking a dump' on them then I'd question the strength of your beliefs to begin with.

I have no problems against other religions and I only responded that way because the way the original question was posed it seemed like something Brian Griffin would have said. I can't stand know-it-all atheists which is why I reacted so harshly.

I apologise. I'd just read those Facebook posts again after checking up on a friend in Japan. My blood was up I guess? No hard feelings I hope?

I was going to rant a long thing too about the ignorant comments made about the Pearl Harbor thing, considering my Grandfather (RIP) was in WWII over in Japan, in combat, and some of the stories he told me were completely haunting. His views on it were very understanding on both sides. But I'll leave it at that.

But to say those hateful things? It's not fair to the people over there, who have lost their lives or who are fighting to survive at this very moment.

I'll just say this. My grandfather fought in WW2 in the Royal Navy. He was part of the force that landed in Italy near the end of the War. Now he could tell you stories about Germans and Italians that would make your toes curl. I also lived for many years in Coventry, UK - a city that was bombed so hard during the Blitz that the Germans were effectively bombing rubble at one point.

If 10,000 Germans died in an earthquake tomorrow, I'd like to think my heart would reach out to them just as much as it does to the Japanese today.

in my mind the important thing to note about all that nationalism nonsense is that it comes from a complete fiction - the idea of a country as being synonymous with its people. nobody here on this forum ever owned a slave, whether they're white or not, and i guarantee you none of the people killed by the earthquake or tsunami attacked pearl harbor, whether they're japanese or not. things don't happen to countries, things happen to people. little people, young people, helpless people.

turquoise70 wrote:in my mind the important thing to note about all that nationalism nonsense is that it comes from a complete fiction - the idea of a country as being synonymous with its people. nobody here on this forum ever owned a slave, whether they're white or not, and i guarantee you none of the people killed by the earthquake or tsunami attacked pearl harbor, whether they're japanese or not. things don't happen to countries, things happen to people. little people, young people, helpless people.

Exactly! Exactly!

They are our fellow humans. We should look at that instead of differentiate where you come from.

No one can say with any degree of certainty why this happened where it happened and if who it happened to were deserving of it happening. Be it Gods will or whatever, it happened. And tomorrow, a great tragedy could befall your country, state or hometown. It happens. There is no rhyme or reason for it, it's just nature.

All I can I say with any degree of certainty is that watching these images flash across the TV screen with my Japanese wife, and seeing the heartbreak in her eyes as she is processing all of this horror, is a tragedy in itself. We are miles away from the destruction, and it still hits very close to home. People are dying, families are being torn apart and a nation is suffering.

There is not a lot to be happy about for the Japanese people right now, and I for one am more concerned about them than I am God or shit that happened a long time ago in a time of war.

As I said before, these things happen and next time it could happen to you. Is that God's will or a matter of circumstance? That's not for us to decide.

The above post was not a reflection of anyone on this board. All "you(s)" were used in a strictly general sense.

well said, dp... wishing you strength... I really hope things get better

Here is an article about what's really going on in the reactors.
To me it once again shows that the media is not to be trusted and isn't there to inform us but rather sell as much as possible of their "products". Sure, this story could be all wrong either but I have more reason to believe this than the mass media.

Thanks for posting that Ae. Good find. I read portions of this to my wife and without her really being able to understand all of it, she was relieved to hear some good news. As for me, it's nice to have a better understanding of the specifics about what happened.
Thanks again.

another interesting read and a bit shorter than AE's enormous article: http://goo.gl/lWiBA

On my way to work this morning an old woman fell off her bike 50 metres in front of my car. Another old woman helped her up whilst I drove by. Only when I stopped my car at the lights did I realize why she was on the floor. My car was shaking side to side from yet another earthquake.

It was work on a Monday as usual but not as usual. People were informed that the power would be cut throughout the day to selected areas for a period of 3 hours at a time.

Driving throughout the day I noticed that all the gas stations were shut. No gas (petrol) to be bought anywhere. Most of my students didn't show up for class, parents probably trying to conserve fuel. The power wasn't cut in the end, due to people being careful about what and when they used. No lighting or heating at the office, I was lucky it was a nice warm day.

Driving home at night everything seemed so dark, most businesses had their lights off and signage lights off, I'm really not used to it. Japan is usually a light fest. Less traffic than usual on the roads. My local supermarket was shut, I assumed they ran out of food. I went to a bigger more expensive supermarket a bit further away. Shelves were half empty, full of people. The prices were more expensive than usual, nothing on sale.

I get home to find out that another reactor could go critical.

I also realize how lucky I have been.

(EDIT: 2500th post, strange occasion for it to be so).

thanks for the update hexagon son... sorry to hear you are still in the midst of such a dire situation but good to hear you're soldiering through it so far. best wishes to you and your loved ones

This year has already produced some absolutely bizarre events. This being one a very sad one. I send my best regards to anyone having to live with the current conditions. I hope everyone who posts here and their family/friends are okay.

ever since this earthquake stuff in japan started i've been scared that every rumble i hear outside is some round-the-world earthquake triggered by a wave of seismic activity...... AAAAAAAAAAAA

I had a little spare time and was moved to put this together today. Music and photos...not mine. Sentiment, definitely mine. Consider a donation if you haven't already. Red Cross is always a safe bet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4elX4CaXYI&

Redpoint Beach Boy wrote:I had a little spare time and was moved to put this together today. Music and photos...not mine. Sentiment, definitely mine. Consider a donation if you haven't already. Red Cross is always a safe bet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4elX4CaXYI&

That was nice. What a lovely song.

My friend in Japan has finally convinced his wife they need to bail out of the North. He's now desperately trying to get train tickets to the relative safety of the South...