Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Mar 15, 2011 12:53:19 GMT -5
So, grandma-- are they wrong for thinking this way? The word is getting worse and worse from there. Would widespread panic, looting, and murder, etc. make this any better? They are trapped there. Lambs to the slaughter if ...if...if... Let's hope those IFS do not come to pass, but- IF they do, would the people have been any better off going in to warrior mode? It's a flipping island. They are trapped. I'm sure the elite will be carried to safety. What about the rest? If Japan was full of Americans-- what would we do?? Interesting thought, considering they are trapped and there is not a whole hell of a lot they CAN do. krickitt, I'm not passing judgment on right/wrong. Just an explanation for a phenomena (lack of looting) that puzzles many Americans. It does not surprise anyone who is familiar with Japan. In this case, I'm convinced that they will do whatever it takes to resolve the problem and they will accept any help from other countries to do so. I'm hopeful that their technical expertise will prevail. PS I received a short email last night from our friends who live in Sendai. Although their house was destroyed and they are now staying in a community center, they are OK. They said that gasoline and water were in short supply. The message was very brief...
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steff
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Post by steff on Mar 15, 2011 12:53:44 GMT -5
Would widespread panic, looting, and murder, etc. make this any better
*********************************
How would this make any situation better? That's just stupid. This is their culture, it's the way they were taught and raised. Replacing that with our "ME first" mentality wouldn't do anything to help the disaster or their situations.
and the 'elite' are in the same boat as everyone else. Everything they have is gone.
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vonnie6200
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Post by vonnie6200 on Mar 15, 2011 12:55:54 GMT -5
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 12:57:12 GMT -5
GG- Glad to hear your friends are safe. We are waiting to hear from one of my daughter's friends and dorm mates. She recently completed medical school and is doing her residency, so we are hoping she's just too busy to respond to emails and post FB updates.
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steff
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Post by steff on Mar 15, 2011 13:01:26 GMT -5
glad that your friends are safe grandma..... will be sending good thoughts to them and hopeful thoughts to the friend of your daughter marjar....
my son plays xbox with a soldier stationed in Japan. He is also safe, but as he told kiddo, now way too busy for xbox during his downtime....and his scheduled trip home next month has been cancelled.
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:01:33 GMT -5
Would widespread panic, looting, and murder, etc. make this any better ********************************* How would this make any situation better? That's just stupid. This is their culture, it's the way they were taught and raised. Replacing that with our "ME first" mentality wouldn't do anything to help the disaster or their situations. and the 'elite' are in the same boat as everyone else. Everything they have is gone. Some folks are unable to comprehend anything that isn't all about me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2011 13:04:58 GMT -5
Great news from your friends, grandma. I hope they can get out of there, at least for awhile. The nuke news is so scary. I don't think we are disagreeing here. The discipline of the Japanese is to their advantage right now. I only wish the best for all of them. Whoever keeps saying everything is gone-- not true. In some cities, yes, others are hardly impacted- like Tokyo-- where the nuclear radiation is on track to land by tonight. Very scary stuff, and, sorry, but I think the Japanese are handling it better as a people than we would.
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:05:53 GMT -5
Thanks, Steff. Lovely young woman. We hope she is just busy and/or unable to communicate because of the chaos.
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vonnie6200
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Post by vonnie6200 on Mar 15, 2011 13:07:26 GMT -5
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Post by privateinvestor on Mar 15, 2011 13:08:47 GMT -5
Some folks are unable to comprehend anything that isn't all about me. You are right I am unable to comprehend anything about you..Marjar..in all due respects..
I am also unable to comprehend all the damage in Japan or the effect from radiation from their Nuclear Plants but I am trying to as best as I possibly can...
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:09:55 GMT -5
I was listening to the BBC last night. They were interviewing a professor from a university in Tokyo. She implied that the media and government were being less than forthright with the country. In fact, she stated she was learning more about the situation, from the BBC interviewers, than from the Japanese media.
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:10:39 GMT -5
Some folks are unable to comprehend anything that isn't all about me. You are right I am unable to comprehend anything about you..Ma'am..in all due respects.. Gee, I don't have that problem with you. With all due respect, sir.
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steff
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Post by steff on Mar 15, 2011 13:11:35 GMT -5
marjar, my son was going to meet this young soldier next month since he lives in Athens, Ga, not too far away from us. The young man told kiddo that he can't really say anything about what they are doing to help out, just that he wouldn't be home next month.
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Post by privateinvestor on Mar 15, 2011 13:12:06 GMT -5
Some folks are unable to comprehend anything that isn't all about me. You are right I am unable to comprehend anything about you..Ma'am..in all due respects.. Gee, I don't have that problem with you. With all due respect, sir. Thanx for that I guess?? But seriously our troops in Japan who are trying to help out are now exposed to radiation but not sure of the extent which can be very scary IMHO
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:13:59 GMT -5
marjar, my son was going to meet this young soldier next month since he lives in Athens, Ga, not too far away from us. The young man told kiddo that he can't really say anything about what they are doing to help out, just that he wouldn't be home next month. I wish him the best. I expect some of this is security and attempting to keep people from panicking more than they are.
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steff
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Post by steff on Mar 15, 2011 13:15:11 GMT -5
90% of all Japanese are either Buddist or Shinto or a combination of both.
In Buddist tradition, the 7th day ritual begins 33 years of formal mouring & ceremonies.
Buddhism stresses compassion & that death is part of life.....
I just heard these things and sheds a little light into how they look at these deaths.
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:24:20 GMT -5
Gee, I don't have that problem with you. With all due respect, sir. Thanx for that I guess?? But seriously our troops in Japan who are trying to help out are now exposed to radiation but not sure of the extent which can be very scary IMHO You are welcome. It is terrifying...... and unimaginable. Those of us who are seeing only photos and videos have no idea as to how tragic and traumatic this destruction really is. We can't comprehend the true scope of devastation, nor what the people must be feeling.
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steff
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Post by steff on Mar 15, 2011 13:29:04 GMT -5
Just saw a piece about an "elite" businessman from one of the devistated towns. He's out looking for his employees. Not his big house, not his bank account, nothing that makes him "elite" as krickett would put it, but his employees. And upon finding 3 of them, he broke out into tears.
I think this vision of "elite" has become a very narrow minded American way of seeing people....
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Mar 15, 2011 13:31:01 GMT -5
Marjar Where is your dau's friend located?
Imo, the media does tend to exagerate and sensationalize. I realize the situation is very serious, BUT I do take the US media with more than a grain of salt. I'm trying to locate NHK - the Japanese network. They have an English broadcast
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2011 13:38:43 GMT -5
It started in 1492 and more and more keep coming.Anybody see this? So this poster equates the men whom built the (once) great country United States of America to riff raff. What a disgrace. I pity all of you real patriotic Americans that have to live amongst such disloyal ungratefuls. I saw it. It's a disgrace. But I have learned that liberals have SERIOUS problems with distinguishing between things you and I can clearly see are very different. For example, it's obvious to you and me (and most other people) that immigrants like Albert Einstein, Andrew Carnegie and Itzhak Perlman were and are incredible assets to this country and made tremendous contributions to our society. Liberals, on the other had, lump them into the same category as the drug-addicted, homeless, disease ridden criminals that jump the border (as the statement above regarding 1492 reveals). To them, they all fall under the category "immigrants" and should all be treated equally. It's crazy, but there it is... I think you missed the year: 1492. Yup. The same year that Columbus decided that he discovered North America, despite the fact that there was already a civilization here. But it's all good, because he lived and worked side by side with the natives and shared their land. Oh wait, no - the natives were killed and their land was taken. Then the pilgrims came, and they were nice at first when they needed the natives' help to survive. And then over centuries the natives were killed, killed again, moved, and dispersed. But it's all good, because we're here now and that's all that matters, right? Just completely gloss over the way the "first Americans" basically decimated a peaceful people for their land. Pick up a freakin' book, people.
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Bluerobin
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Post by Bluerobin on Mar 15, 2011 13:41:33 GMT -5
MJ, you forgot, then the natives were given casino's to make up for their loss. They also exacted revenge through tobacco.
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Post by privateinvestor on Mar 15, 2011 13:43:04 GMT -5
I thought I had seen enough death and destruction to last for the rest of my life but I was wrong this disaster in Japan is far, far worse. I am at the point that it is much too tough to watch anymore and I have suggested to my family members to turn off their TVs and just remember Japan in the thoughts and silent moments and hope they will recover..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2011 13:45:56 GMT -5
MJ, you forgot, then the natives were given casino's to make up for their loss. They also exacted revenge through tobacco. I don't think they were given anything other than tax exempt status and maybe the land to start the business, IMO a far less than a fair exchange for losing most of their nation.
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Post by marjar on Mar 15, 2011 13:50:49 GMT -5
GG- She has family in Ota (?). She's been studying in Tokyo, which has allowed us to think she is probably okay. It is worrisome that no one has heard from her, however. She tends to be a bit of a free spirit and has been known to leap before she looks.
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Bluerobin
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Post by Bluerobin on Mar 15, 2011 13:52:32 GMT -5
PI, years ago, my area expierenced a devasting flood. This reminds me of that, but is sooooooooooooooooo much worse. I pity the poor people, and can imagine the road they must now travel.
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Post by ed1066 on Mar 15, 2011 13:58:04 GMT -5
I saw it. It's a disgrace. But I have learned that liberals have SERIOUS problems with distinguishing between things you and I can clearly see are very different. For example, it's obvious to you and me (and most other people) that immigrants like Albert Einstein, Andrew Carnegie and Itzhak Perlman were and are incredible assets to this country and made tremendous contributions to our society. Liberals, on the other had, lump them into the same category as the drug-addicted, homeless, disease ridden criminals that jump the border (as the statement above regarding 1492 reveals). To them, they all fall under the category "immigrants" and should all be treated equally. It's crazy, but there it is... I think you missed the year: 1492. Yup. The same year that Columbus decided that he discovered North America, despite the fact that there was already a civilization here. But it's all good, because he lived and worked side by side with the natives and shared their land. Oh wait, no - the natives were killed and their land was taken. Then the pilgrims came, and they were nice at first when they needed the natives' help to survive. And then over centuries the natives were killed, killed again, moved, and dispersed. But it's all good, because we're here now and that's all that matters, right? Just completely gloss over the way the "first Americans" basically decimated a peaceful people for their land. Pick up a freakin' book, people. LOL! I hope you're 15 or 16 years old, because this post's understanding of history is very shaky. It sounds like you have some beefs with the Spanish and British governments, as well as the private companies which financed the 17th century explorations of North America, but "America" the country didn't exist until the British Colonies declared independence from the Crown. Can you guess when that was? (hint: there was a "declaration" of "independence" involved)...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2011 14:18:43 GMT -5
I think you missed the year: 1492. Yup. The same year that Columbus decided that he discovered North America, despite the fact that there was already a civilization here. But it's all good, because he lived and worked side by side with the natives and shared their land. Oh wait, no - the natives were killed and their land was taken. Then the pilgrims came, and they were nice at first when they needed the natives' help to survive. And then over centuries the natives were killed, killed again, moved, and dispersed. But it's all good, because we're here now and that's all that matters, right? Just completely gloss over the way the "first Americans" basically decimated a peaceful people for their land. Pick up a freakin' book, people. LOL! I hope you're 15 or 16 years old, because this post's understanding of history is very shaky. It sounds like you have some beefs with the Spanish and British governments, as well as the private companies which financed the 17th century explorations of North America, but "America" the country didn't exist until the British Colonies declared independence from the Crown. Can you guess when that was? (hint: there was a "declaration" of "independence" involved)... Okay, I skipped over that part because I thought it was implied, but fair enough. But the concept of Manifest Destiny was in place by the 19th century, which basically had Americans plowing westward, taking Native American land and either enslaving them or leaving them homeless. Now, I'm no math-magician, but does 1800 come before or AFTER 1776?
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Post by ed1066 on Mar 15, 2011 14:23:43 GMT -5
LOL! I hope you're 15 or 16 years old, because this post's understanding of history is very shaky. It sounds like you have some beefs with the Spanish and British governments, as well as the private companies which financed the 17th century explorations of North America, but "America" the country didn't exist until the British Colonies declared independence from the Crown. Can you guess when that was? (hint: there was a "declaration" of "independence" involved)... Okay, I skipped over that part because I thought it was implied, but fair enough. But the concept of Manifest Destiny was in place by the 19th century, which basically had Americans plowing westward, taking Native American land and either enslaving them or leaving them homeless. Now, I'm no math-magician, but does 1800 come before or AFTER 1776? I don't think anyone will deny that atrocities were committed against Native Americans in the name of manifest destiny, western expansion, industrialization and just general greed, but what is the point of mentioning it? This thread is about the social nature of the Japanese people and their rigid standards of politeness, honor and decorum, which is making their current situation slightly less horrific since they don't have to deal with looting, murder and other violence (as New Orleans did) while they try to recover from a crippling natural disaster...
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 15, 2011 14:30:43 GMT -5
I thought I had seen enough death and destruction to last for the rest of my life but I was wrong this disaster in Japan is far, far worse. As far as death toll goes, the 2004 quake in the Indian Ocean and the ensuing tsunami was far more destructive. The current estimate is around 10,000 dead from the Japan quake / tsunami compared to 230,000+- from the 2004 quake off the coast of Indonesia.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Mar 15, 2011 14:37:46 GMT -5
The coming California quake- and it IS coming- will be about this scale. It might actually be worse.
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