Humanity

I always ponder about this when I get too sick with work (I mean, there is only so much about rivers and hydrology that I can handle in a moment's worth). Like in one of my old posts, I was talking about how Junior Masterchef Australia gave me a spark of hope for the next generation.

However, the recent events which provoked these thoughts are of a sadder ("sadder"...is there such a word?) nature. JAPAN -- the one country which is on everyone's mind right now (and I hope, in prayers too). Devastating news. But in the midst of all that, you see inspiring articles up on the social media boards and across the internet.

One that caught my attention was this one: Japan Quake as Seen from Twitter (Translated by me so quality questionable) by Jun Shiomitsu on Facebook. This, along with the CNN article regarding the absence of human turmoil in post-disaster Japan.

The Facebook post is really touching. How many of you out there could attest to that? I highly doubt many nations could do that. I highly doubt mine can. Just for comparison on a tiny scale: the case where the four-wheel-drive that overturned on the North-South Expressway in Rembau which scattered a bunch of loose change on the road -- which then led to motorists risking their own lives, to frantically pick up as many coins as they can, not to return to the accident victims mind you, bur for themselves. COINS. As in, disregard of their own lives and the accident victims', for that.

An excerpt: "Some were also seen sitting along the roadside and picking the coins, oblivious of the crash victim..."

That just goes to show what kind of mentality the nation has.

As opposed to in Japan: "At a supermarket where everything was scattered everywhere over the floors, shoppers were helping pick them up and putting them back neatly on the shelves before quietly moving into line to wait to pay for them."

I have the most sincere RESPECT to these people and their wonderful country.

So here comes my rants.

I know of a lot of people who seem to have some kind of identity crisis and want to be all Japanese, peppering their conversations with snippets of broken Jap, claims to only watch Japanese dramas and animes, read only Japanese mangas...you know, that sort of thing, and it got me thinking: If you want to be so Jap, why don't you also embrace that respectable attitude the real Japanese people have? You know, just saying.

Then there are just those insensitive morons who are making jokes about Ultraman and Doraemon running away from the mega-natural disasters. Tasteless. The nerve of some people saying "Where is your sense of humour?" to people who are protesting that stupidity. There is a time and place for a sense of humour, and making fun of a nation's dire situation post-disaster is not one of them. If you want so much humour, go make fun of your politicians, since most of them are half-ass anyway.

Oh, and to those people who keep going on about how 2012 is true, just because of some mega-hyped movie and conspiracy theories: SHUT UP. It's people like you that the world doesn't need. We don't need your negativity during times like these. We don't need you to whine about your half-baked, no-basis speculations about the end of the world. If you think the world is going to end, shouldn't you be brushing up on being good and chalking up on your good deeds?

Do this one good deed: Stop being selfish and shut the hell up.

Also, if you want to be deemed 'awesome' and 'up-to-date' about what's going on, please brush up on your knowledge, and confirm that your information is true. False reporting is a felony, you know. Don't make hyped up reports, especially when you don't live on the coast.

Be strong, Japan. Our hopes, wishes and, prayers are with you.