The Older Man

The earthquake and tsunami, which destroyed Japan is over, but the threat from the nuclear power plants is on going. Radiation is leaking, putting thousands in danger, and causing massive evacuations. The Japanese government and other countries are doing everything possible to assist the citizens, but it will take years to repair the destruction caused by a double natural disaster, and nuclear crisis.

Japan is not a third world country; their people begin preparing for earthquakes and tsunamis at an early age. The drills they practice for these two events prepare them better than any nation on earth and their high-rise construction saves thousands of lives.

The media in the United States rushed to Japan – sending picture after picture showing the devastation, human suffering, and focusing on the nuclear crisis. Even though the radiation leaking in Japan is a local problem, and would dissipate before reaching the U.S. – people still were stocking up on iodine pills, which are effective only after radiation exposure. The safety of our nuclear plants is under review and government officials are screaming for new regulation.

The Japanese take their preparation, drills, and warnings seriously, and expect the government to evacuate all citizens to safety. Americans have no drills, the evacuation plan is; run for your life, and warnings for tornados and hurricanes dismissed. The only ones who heed these warnings live in tornado alley. The rest wait, and wait and wait, and then when they are suppose to evacuate stay because they are not going to leave their home. After a nature disaster, the citizens expect the government to be there immediately to rescue them. Many do not have the necessary supplies because their lives are too busy prior to the event. The news media pours in and films the human suffering, the government is to blame, and citizens do not take responsibility for their actions.

The Japanese have it right. Their government prepares them and once they are safe start to rebuild their lives so they can assist their neighbors. The elderly are the first cared for because they are the countries national treasures. They do not whine, sue, or blame anyone when nature has its way.

 Americans should stop whining, complaining, suing, and blaming when Mother Nature comes to visit.