Japanese, the quintessential symbol of compassion and resilience

Hurricane Katrina that ravaged eastern North America in 2005 was the deadliest hurricane since 1928 and the costliest natural disaster in US history. The impact: 1,836 died, USD 81.2 billion in damage, five years later thousands of displaced residents of Mississippi and Louisiana are still living in temporary accommodation. Shortly after the hurricane moved away, there were reports of carjacking, murders, thefts and rapes. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said, “They have M16s and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will“. To be fair, the US government did it's best in helping the affected people, considering the economic situation of the country at that time.

Hurricane Katrina seems like child-play compared to twin natural disasters and the resulting nuclear crisis that brought the entire Japan to a standstill. Two million Japanese were without electricity, and another 1.5 million were without running water. Up to 140,000 people living within 30 kilometres of the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi plant were under instruction to remain indoors, while 70,000 had already been forced to abandon their homes closer to the plant. Officials estimated the death toll will ultimately exceed 10,000.

But in spite of the overwhelming catastrophe, the Japanese reacted with a calm and positive attitude that is unusual to most of the cultures around the world. One of my friend’s friend who is living in Japan, gave a firsthand account of the grace, compassion, preparedness, planning and resilience that the Japanese demonstrated even during one of the darkest moments in Japanese history. Here it goes:

THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow has been elevated.

THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries.Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance, Buildings swayed but did not fall.

THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid.

THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

That’s incredible!!

Studies show that there is a logical reason behind the concerted resilience demonstrated by the Japanese. The sense of community is very powerful in Japan. The sense of individuality is never in the forefront of the Japanese culture. The Japanese culture is identified with a "cruise ship" more than a "ferry ride". A cruise ship is where the co-passengers are interacting and caring for each other where as it is more of business-as-usual in a ferry ride.

Most of the developed countries are founded on the basis of compassion for humanity. In comparison to an underdeveloped or a developing country, the developed countries definitely demonstrate more compassion for humanity with in and across its borders. However, the compassion and resilience that the Japanese have demonstrated over the past centuries stands out of any other culture in this world.

In 1923, earthquake in Tokyo killed 142,800 and then in 1995, earthquake in Kobe killed 6,400. The Japanese moved on with more energy.

Following their crushing defeat during the Second World War, sealed by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the same dominating spirit was redirected to rebuilding the shattered country. Addressing the nation in 1945, Emperor Hirohito famously said that, "we have resolved to endure the unendurable and suffer what is insufferable". And indeed, that is exactly what happened as the Japanese sprung back to become a world-leading industrial powerhouse.

One might argue that most of the cultures are becoming melting-pots that dilutes the togetherness of a culture. We could give thousands of excuses, but there is something mysterious (apart from the logical reasoning) about the Japanese that helps them hold their heads high with dignity even duirng the darkest moments.

"Compassion" is just a word in many constitutions around the world, but the Japanese have proved that they eat, drink and breath "Compassion" as part of their daily lives and how powerful of a force that can be when the latest and the greatest bleeding-edged technologies are shattered by the mighty force of mother nature.

What on earth is going on?!

Science fiction has always captured our imagination through Hollywood in screening the wildest phenomenons from Star Wars to 2012. Thanks to the animation technology, it seems more real than "virtual reality".

What has been going on around the world lately is incredible, incomprehensible and, at times, seems like a science fiction movie. The series of social waves that have swept through Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Bahrain seems to continue without much hope for future. Just when the world witnessed the social waves with awe and reeled back into the normal life, earth quake of magnitude 9.0 strikes Japan, followed by tsunami and nuclear radiation. The Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto acknowledged that Japan is facing the worst crisis since World War II.

Only a few months back North Korea and Iran were hot topics across the world press. And, all of a sudden, there are no where in the vicinity of the Hot-Spots radar.

The world recession created the mad Gold rush and within a couple of days, the Gold prices nosedived to a three week low. Markets tumble as nuke crisis in Japan sparks risk aversion. Crude prices decline sharply. Companies like BMW are making statements like, "No one knows how the situation will further develop. It is extraordinarily difficult to shift to everday business after the shocking events in Japan." Japan is pumping billions of dollars into market to stabilize their economoy.

But the world chugs along. Indian fans are worried about India's World Cup aspirations. Manchester United is struggling with its losing spree. Irish fans are overjoyed by defeating the English in cricket.

The NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) have their own tactical plans already laid out to face the uncertainity. NRIs are busy discussing the stability of their foreign land and the possibilities of hedging against the potential of currency-depreciation, by converting the loaned amount from foreign currency to Indian Rupees. Hold on, wow!!, Indian Rupees is something that we do count on!! For now, at least.

During these uncertain times, blessed are those people who live in countries - both underdeveloped and developed - that were nurtured to be totally ignorant of the outside world. While most of the world is worried about their future, some of these people don't even know where Japan or Middle East is located on the map. Isolation does happen to be a virtue, sometimes!! But, disconnect with the outside world has cost the world - in terms of war and invasions - beyond human comprehension.

As the world witnesses incredible scenes of disasters and uncertainity, there are intriguing facts that come to light. How did all these disasters occur on the 26th?!

1 Gujarat India earthquake 26 Jan 2001
2 The Rhodes earthquake 26 June 1926
3 Taiwan earthquake 26 April 2010
4 Japan earthquake 26 Feb 2010
5 NE Japan earthquake 26 May 2003
6 NE Japan earthquake 26 July 2003
7 North America earthquake 26 Jan 1700
8 Yugoslav earthquake 26 July 1963
9 Aceh Tsunami 26 Dec 2004
10 Jogjakarta earthquake 26 May 2006
11 Tasik earthquake 26 June 2010
12 Mentawai Tsunami 26 Oct 2010
13 Merapi volcanic eruption 26 Oct 2010
14 Krakatau volcanic eruption 26 Aug 1883 ( 36,000 dead )
15 China earthquake 26 July 1976 ( 255,000 dead )
16 Portugal earthquake 26 Jan 1951 ( 30,000 dead )
17 Kansu, China earthquake 26 Dec 1932 ( 70,000 dead )
18 Turkey earthquake 26 Dec 1939 ( 41,000 dead )
19 Sabah Tidal waves 26 Dec 1996 ( 1,000 dead )
20 Bam, Iran earthquake 26 Dec 2003 ( 60,000 dead )

What on earth is going on?! Only God knows!

But, as long as you are alive, be thankful and stay the course.

Gandhiji's Facebook

War cost a fortune, millions of lives, social disruption etc. For some of us, this must have been an once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness and for most of us, fortunately, it is all hearsay.

Invading Iraq was a collosal waste of innocent lives and resources. Iraq and Afganistan wars have cost the American taxpayers over USD 1 Trillion (estimated). The total GDP of all the 52 countries in Africa is over USD 1 Trillion !! How about that?! Incredible!! The US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, made a lot of sense in delivering this punchline:

“In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as General MacArthur so delicately put it,”

All you can say is "What on earth were you thinking?!"

This kind of a military invasion is an entirely different ballgame played by the mightiest and resourceful superpowers and, as a result, we are witnessing the pain and suffering of humanity. And, the best part is that it is not over.

In 2011, we have started witnessing another kind of invasion which is, one way or the other, more aligned with Gandhiji's "ahimsa" and "satyagraha". This is a virtual invasion of not just one country, but an entire region. One need to get a visa and cross the border of a country. Thanks to the internet, especially the Facebook. All one needs is a computer-linked-to-net.

Just imagine, one fine morning a bunch of enthusiasts pick a country, creates a forum and starts stiring the human emotions. There you go. A revolution begins.

It sounds that simple. Well, it is, indeed, not that simple. However, think "Invasion of Iraq" and you might concur that it is simple. Thanks to advancement of human race in Communication Systems.

Just to get a fundamentally contrasting perspective, let us shift gears to the British Raj in India over 64 years back. It is incredible to imagine that world which was so disconnected and disconcerted with out Internet or Facebook.

And now, imagine spreading the nationalist fervor to the masses, mostly poor and illetrate, with no internet or facebook. Well, one needs a solemn power to accomplish that. That is how best we could describe Gandhiji's power, grit, determination, desire, ability, patience, perseverance.

Gandhiji spread his message partly through the press, writing and editing both ‘Indian Opinion’ and ‘Young India’. Gandhiji was a prolific writer. For decades he edited several newspapers including Harijan in Gujarati, in Hindi and in the English language.

Internet might not have made much sense considering the economic status of Indians then. And no wonder, it took Gandhiji over 30 years to ignite a collective spirit in India (1915-1945). But, in today's world, Gandhiji's ideals are being semi-automated, so to speak, through facebook and it takes just a few months - not decades - to kindle the human spirit.

It took 30 years then. Now, perhaps, a few months!! Now, that is an improvement that humans can be proud of. Thanks to Gandhiji's Facebook.

Relevant blog: The Untamed Web ==> http://readingthegreen.blogspot.com/2011/01/untamed-web.html