Thoughts on the Japan Crisis

March 11, 2011 a massive 8.9 earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean near North Eastern Japan at 2:46pm JST causing blackouts, tidal waves, and an unknown number of deaths and injuries. The earthquakes lead to power failure at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and though there are redundancies for such situations a tidal wave following the earthquake rendered the cooling systems inert leaving workers to fight to keep the reactor from overheating. Not only has this resulted in the deaths of many it has also left many behind to make decisions to stay behind and help fight reactor which would lead to their deaths from nuclear ionizing radiation

What is more disturbing and what has kept me up at night is the comments found on Twitter as well as the comments posted on Facebook. The comments have ranged from anywhere between accusing “karma” for the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and other events of second World War as well as laughing at the unfortunate events as being no more than sheer entertainment.

Not only is it wrong but, it is in the interest of myself and I to remind everyone that the time of conflict between our two countries has passed. It is unfortunate that the terrible events have occurred and while some people jeer at the unfortunate circumstance we should remember that the United States of America is the only country to unleash the fundamental power of the universe on another and we did it twice. Even more we did it to that same country that has befallen a horrific display of nature’s ability.

The people of Japan are right now working desperately to assist in finding and recovering as many survivors from the rubble as they can. The official death toll currently stands at 4,314, with 8,606 people missing and countless injured. It is expected to continue to rise with deaths mostly occurring due to drowning.

The resulting casualties of Pearl Harbor, 2,400, are nothing compared to the damage our country did on August 6, 1945 near the end of World War II. The first atomic bomb dropped by the Enola Gay instantly killed over 80,000 people. By the end of that year the resulting radiation from the bomb raised the death toll to 140,000 not including the second bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, which instantly killed 40,000 people and by the end of the year the deaths totaled 73,884 with another 74,000 injured.

To accuse Japan’s actions in World War II is wrong and not only is it wrong to use karma as an excuse remember that this is not how karma works. The earthquake and the secondary events occurring in Japan are that of an act of nature and a tragic one to say the least.

If karmic retribution was to be sought against anyone it would this county. Maybe it has already happened. Should we blame karma for Hurricane Katrina, BP oil spill, never ending earthquakes in California or maybe the cancellation of Two and a Half Men on ABC? The wake of disasters is etched far back into American history and it is obvious that we have taken our lumps.

Right now millions of people are standing by or helping, some calling to make sure their loved ones are fine. Some hopefuls may not get an answer right away; some people might get a hold of the people that they care about, family members, friends and pets. One more thing that bothers me and really hits home is that at this moment many people are making that phone call to find out if their family's and loved ones are safe some people are not getting an answer and not only the fear of not knowing what has happened to the person/people they love and finding out the worst news is the most heart breaking of it all.