The Japanese sets the example.
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27560)
Philippines
March 16, 2011 3:26pm CST
What hit the Japanese was nightmarish, one that probably not even scriptwriters would have thought of. The earthquake, the tsunami, the radiation, and now the bitter snow. Two thousand were already found and declared dead, and an estimate eight thousand were missing.
Yet footages of Sendai survivors show a shaken, hungry, and cold Japanese back on their feet, sweeping in the rubbles, retrieving the buckets where they put the fish, queuing quietly for food and supplies. Some students brought out the food they have and gave it to the passing people for free, knowing that in a few hours, they themselves would not have food to eat.
Fifty of the Fukushima Nuke Plant employees had stayed in the plant, troubleshooting and containing what may be a tragic disaster. These workers, two of them already unaccounted, are definitely exposed now to hazardous radiation.
The Emperor, on one rare appearance, announced his sadness and his fears about radiation. And yet he urged his people to stand again and overcome the tragedy that had befallen them.
What the Japanese had just shown is the triumph of the human spirit. I bow before thee!
6 people like this
6 responses
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
17 Mar 11
Hello Eileen ,
They have been like that and history tells it a-lot of their principles and beliefs that made them today. sometimes i wonder if Philippines was never free from the Japanese Rule, we maybe have the strength that they have today. though free, we seemed to be TOO MUCH chaotic.we tend to complain a lot now a days and it's really irritating my ears.. they have always been like and i can't helped being envious of them.Truly, am not surprised at all.
Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
23 Mar 11
Some of our people are really a noisy lot. We complain without assessing our options, given a situation. We violate laws if we can get away with it, like jaywalking. However, all is not lost. The new breed of students are far better informed than the peddlers, the pedicab drivers, and the what not that we have today in the streets. Have you not noticed that the young breed are putting to shame the elders? And as a positive consequence, our parking attendants, our waiters, our salesmen, our cashiers, even our traffic enforcers are kinder. They smile now and are simply polite!
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
There's nothing wrong with complaining but some people are just too much..
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
28 Mar 11
I think they have understood one simple truth. The best thing to do to get on after a disaster, is to just get back to business the best that you really can. It would be very easy for the country to fall apart after one of the things that happened. Never mind all of the things that happened. In fact most countries would in fact fall apart a lot of the time.
Still the people of Japan, through their strength and their courage getting through this situation is really awe inspiring. There are a lot of times where I think that the disaster shakes people but really it is made worse by people who do not have the strength and the ability to forge ahead in this world. Really, Japan has done this to a great extent and they should in fact be saluted for the courage and the strength that they have shown.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
28 Mar 11
matt, the Japanese are simply awe inspiring. When i saw how they quietly suppressed their tears amidst hunger and bitter snow, I felt rally ashamed of my people who would grab and curse and go out of control amidst adversity. Surely the Japanese deserves our prayers and our kindness.
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Articles and shows I have seen have commented on the self reliance of the Japanese people. Many people will wait to see who will come to help, but they stand up and help themselves. Of course, we should also help.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
17 Mar 11
The Japanese could be described nothing less than admirable. They are a people so unique that tales of honesty, discipline, self-reliance would put any other country and people to shame.
@junrapmian (2169)
• Philippines
17 Mar 11
Me, too. I commend them for their spirits and hopes. They can't be easily be fallen down by those calamities. And they really support their government and not putting blame on those who are in power. My prayers for them. I salute them, too!
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
23 Mar 11
As I am praying, too. The Japs do need our petitions, severely!
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
16 Mar 11
yes it's the tenacity, resilience, discipline and bravery of the Japanese as a people that should be emulated, no wonder they were able to recover very fast from the ashes and ruble of the past. I also observed that there were no mumblings or ramblings, finger pointing and blaming the government, they just went on to do what they had to do the best they can with so much generosity and order, stoic in a way but very admirable for me