I know we've all watched in horror as the tragedy that is going on in Japan unfolds. First a deadly earthquake, followed shortly by an absolutely powerful and terrifying tsunami, followed by the disaster of the nuclear power plants. How can one country take so much? I've watch several videos on CNN and other news outlets of the damage and the reaction of the people.
I'll say this much - I totally admire the spirit and resiliency of the Japanese people. For the most part, they don't tend to freak out. They don't scream and cry. They don't protest and beg for help. They don't just sit there and wait for someone to save them. They stay calm and they go about getting their lives back in order as much as they can. They help each other. They watch out for the aged, the children and those with disabilities. They get to work. There isn't a bunch of looting. People wait in line with patience for food and water. They are well behaved, organized, intelligent people who try to take care of themselves.
I'm in awe of this and I admire the Japanese people. A lot.
I have a dear friend who is Japanese and I've observed these same qualities in her. She is strong. She is kind and she goes about quietly doing good. She doesn't get emotional about things and she takes what is dealt to her with courage. I love having her as a friend. She teaches me so much. She has been very saddened by this disaster and even though her family has been in the US for a couple of generations, she is very concerned for the people of her heritage.
I found this interesting explanation of the Japanese people:
"Two phrases offer some insight into the Japanese psyche.
One is "shikata ga nai," which roughly translates as "it can't be helped," and is a common reaction to situations beyond one's control. The other is "gaman," considered a virtue. It means to be patient and persevere in the face of suffering.
Theories abound as to what makes the Japanese so resilient and willing to cooperate. Some cite the centuries-old need to work together to grow rice on a crowded archipelago prone to natural disasters. Others point to the hierarchical nature of human relations and a keen fear of shaming oneself before others.
"It strikes me as a Buddhist attitude," Glenda Roberts, an anthropology professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, said. "Westerners might tend to see it as passivity, but it's not that. It takes a lot of strength to stay calm in the face of terror."
I think it's time for a donation to the LDS Humanitarian aid fund.
I'll say this much - I totally admire the spirit and resiliency of the Japanese people. For the most part, they don't tend to freak out. They don't scream and cry. They don't protest and beg for help. They don't just sit there and wait for someone to save them. They stay calm and they go about getting their lives back in order as much as they can. They help each other. They watch out for the aged, the children and those with disabilities. They get to work. There isn't a bunch of looting. People wait in line with patience for food and water. They are well behaved, organized, intelligent people who try to take care of themselves.
I'm in awe of this and I admire the Japanese people. A lot.
I have a dear friend who is Japanese and I've observed these same qualities in her. She is strong. She is kind and she goes about quietly doing good. She doesn't get emotional about things and she takes what is dealt to her with courage. I love having her as a friend. She teaches me so much. She has been very saddened by this disaster and even though her family has been in the US for a couple of generations, she is very concerned for the people of her heritage.
I found this interesting explanation of the Japanese people:
"Two phrases offer some insight into the Japanese psyche.
One is "shikata ga nai," which roughly translates as "it can't be helped," and is a common reaction to situations beyond one's control. The other is "gaman," considered a virtue. It means to be patient and persevere in the face of suffering.
Theories abound as to what makes the Japanese so resilient and willing to cooperate. Some cite the centuries-old need to work together to grow rice on a crowded archipelago prone to natural disasters. Others point to the hierarchical nature of human relations and a keen fear of shaming oneself before others.
"It strikes me as a Buddhist attitude," Glenda Roberts, an anthropology professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, said. "Westerners might tend to see it as passivity, but it's not that. It takes a lot of strength to stay calm in the face of terror."
I think it's time for a donation to the LDS Humanitarian aid fund.
2 comments:
Very interesting post, Vonnie. Particularly about the ability of the Japanese to deal with things, and to carry on. They surely have a lot to deal with as to the earthquake and tsunami.
Those are good thoughts Mom. It is horrible to see what happened there, but uplifting to watch the Japanese people deal with it.
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