We are witnessing a character of strength in Japan

The pictures and the videos that stream across our televisions and computers can only hint at the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Japan. Every new citizen video recorded by cell phone cameras or amateur videographer seems to add new horror to the plight of that nation.
My aunt in the US Virgin Islands called me Friday night to learn if I had heard from my son in Korea. I had. She was worried that he might have been affected by the tsunami that spread across the whole rim of the Pacific Ocean. He was safe.
But I wonder as events unfold; “What must a nation feel when they discover that four trains have totally disappeared as a result of the earthquake and tsunami?”
The fishing town Minamisanriku with a population of 17,000 was completely destroyed as a wall of water over four stories in height rushed up the valley leveling everything in its path. Sunday it was estimated that 95% of the buildings were totally destroyed. And now over 10,000 of its citizens are missing.
Coupled with the earthquake and tsunami, the nation of Japan faces the loss of electrical generating stations and the potential failure of safeguards on its nuclear power generating stations.
And with the loss of power, comes the loss of water delivery systems and transportation systems.
And with so many highways destroyed, the dispersement of troops and rescue people becomes even more difficult. By now, the hope of finding life is diminishing, and searchers are finding more and more bodies. The death count continues to rise.
After tremors spark fresh fears of additional tsunami’s. Fear is shared with hope.
I found it interesting listening to Japan’s Ambassador to Canada Kaoru Ishikawa as he explained that rescue workers who wished to come to his country to assist had to be self sufficient. In a country that was already having problems supplying water and food to its inhabitants, they would not be able to support others.
Canada’s DART (Disaster Assistance Relief Team) team that has been organized is a natural support function to travel to Japan. It is self-sufficient and can immediately start supplying water in a devastated region. I hope that they will be dispatched quickly.
Yet for all the troubles that nation is facing, I marvel at the resilience of the Japanese people. With little or no food, they are sharing their meager food supplies. We are not seeing the looting or hording of food. We are not seeing battles between people for water.
We are witnessing a strength of character in a nation. The Japanese Prime Minister has told the world that this is the worst disaster since the Second World War.
From what I see, the way the nation and its supporters are rallying, I think that this is a true example of man’s humanity to man. We can all learn from this example.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher