In tragedy, Japan impresses the world...
Trip Start
Jun 27, 2009
1
48
Trip End
Jun 25, 2011
New York City, New York
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Journalists continue to make remarks about the polite demeanor, the lack of anger, the little if any violence looting or profiteering that seems to characterize disasters elsewhere. The japanese are truly incredible people and have endured and rebuilt their country before, with a quiet and uncomplaining resolve. The country's spirit is once again being tested. I know that once the nuclear reactors are under control that the country can focus on relief efforts...
From an article from npr.com...
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."That sense of calm is being sorely tested in Fukushima.
Say a prayer for Japan tonight, please. They need it.
がんばって Japan!
(Included are just a few of the incredibly powerful images coming out of Japan)
