Not to sound callous but am I the only who finds it strange we're being asked to send money to Japan?
I mean, it's not like Japan is a poor, backward, corrupt country like, say, I don't know, Haiti.
Japan is the world's second largest economy. Once thought to take over America back in the 1980s and 90s. It's a technologically advanced society with an economy far more powerful than our own here in Canada.
The Japanese, as is the usual case throughout the course of human history, are resilient and will overcome this tragedy.
Just saying.
Well no. I don't find it strange, but I think you are onto something here.
ReplyDeleteEven the nation perhaps most prepared for exactly this type of natural disaster, a wealthy one that has plowed enormous amounts of money and material into the effort to mitigate damage from earthquakes and tsunamis is still going to need help, and a lot of help.
I remember the SF earthquake all too well. An amazingly rich, generally well prepared people got his with a big quake. They still needed short-term help and assistance of all sorts to get the recovery underway quickly and effectively.
In the long term, they will be able to do more to recover, and do an even better job at prevention. For now, immediate needs require an immediate infusion of assistance.
I've watched those shows displaying Japan's engineering feats regarding earthquakes.
ReplyDeleteBut even for short term assistance Japan is fully capable of taking care of itself. I don't recall the Red Cross asking me for money after the SF quake. Outside some Canadians who went down, same thing for New Orleans and Katrina.