Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Friends in Japan

Our thoughts and prayers turn to good friends Charlie Whipple (his "Line Rider" was at BEAT to a PULP last month) and Rebekah who Denise has known for almost fifteen years. Both are in Japan as this catastrophe continues to unfold. I asked Charlie if there was anything we could do and he said, "We just have to tough it out, David."

It is a helpless feeling watching this unfold on cable news. I for one, am going to make a donation toward the relief effort.

9 comments:

Naomi Johnson said...

Me, too, David.

I've kept tabs on the situation that followed Katrina in rural Louisiana, and I know that besides the enormous loss of life and the loss of homes and material goods, in the rural areas of Japan there will be a cultural loss as well if there is not a great effort put forth to restore rural jobs and ways of life.

David Cranmer said...

The amount of money needed to restore is going to be astronomical. And on top of everything you mentioned, the possible contamination that could last decades.

Barbara Martin said...

A terrible tragedy when dealing with the aftermath of such destruction.

Charles Gramlich said...

The radiation leaks now means no one is safe. So terrifying for the people there.

Ron Scheer said...

Thanks for devoting a post to this subject. I haven't watched much news, because TV news is mostly useless.

For me this all got more real when I happened to ask a young Asian couple on the elevator in my building if they had friends or family in Japan, and the faint, worried "yes" that came from one of them was heart-rending. "Are they OK?" I asked, and got the same "yes," not one of relief, but of something far more deeply shaken.

Leah J. Utas said...

My thoughts are with them.

David Cranmer said...

Barbara/Charles, The aftermath is really what scares the crap out of me. There's what 45 million people in Tokyo? Dear Lord.

Thanks for sharing this, Ron. The unknown is the hardest part.

Leah, Amen.

Alyssa Goodnight said...

So very difficult to watch and monitor the situation. So many things you don't even consider. I read a Twitter post today requesting assistance for zoo animals in that area...

David Cranmer said...

I'm getting word that the American press is making a far bigger deal about this than the Japanese or some other foreign outlets. Of course, it is extremely serious but opinion in some circles is we are being a bit alarmist.