Jan 05, 2005 07:08 PM
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(Updated Jan 05, 2005 07:08 PM)
I do not think there is any person who can truly say that he or she is not affected by what happened in Asia on Boxing Day. The tragedy that occurred is so basically human and stirring in nature that I had a stricken heart for almost three days afterwards. Even now, I can?t even begin to imagine the loss that these millions of people have suffered.
Fortunately (for me that is), I have no relatives or even friends in the affected regions, and have no personal tragedy to recount, but the reason I chose to write this is to show that I am one of those in the MS community that stand solidly in support of the victims.
At this moment, I do not think I can do much more than donate some money, and I will be doing that to the extent my humble purse can allow. However if anyone comes up with any other practical idea which can be carried out by people like us I will be glad to join in. I am on the search for people who will accept materials such as blankets, clothes and other home goods and guarantee that these will reach the afflicted. I will be happy to donate to that cause.
The category is member ramblings; hence I guess am just rambling along. I do ask each of you to try and do your best for the affected individuals. Even just thoughts and prayers are not insignificant things.
Now to come to the part that I really want to talk about. We all saw the violent nature of the tsunami and all of us are horrified by the carnage that followed, so was I. But more than that I was hurt when people made it out to be some sort of revenge taken on us by mother earth. They said that nature was revolting against man and that human interference with nature has caused this disaster. I do not subscribe to this theory and will ask you all to think before you say something like that.
The earth has been around for millennia before we set foot on it. The earth does not even know we exist. These violent ways of nature (volcanoes, earthquakes etc) are just the earth?s ritual of renewal and disposal. A volcano is hazardous to human life in fact any other kind of life, but to the earth, it is just a natural way of renewing itself, of creating more land.
Earthquakes and seismic disturbances are not caused due to any human activity and will obviously have no regard for any human activity. So please do not call this nature?s fury. Nature has nothing to be furious about. We must understand that to survive on this beautiful planet (most probably the only hospitable environment in this galaxy), we must learn to respect it and to adjust with it. We are after all mere visitors in the earth?s vast geological history.
It is also not correct to blame scientists for not being able to predict or warn the people. They are trying their best. One day we will be able to give ample notice and one day there will be no deaths, however till then we must just give the earth its due and do our best to relieve suffering.
For all those people who lost their near and dear ones, I must say I am truly sorry. I cannot even begin to understand the sort of grief you are going through. Though this gesture is small, I hope that you will take heart at the fact that so many of the citizens of the world are united in your support and would do much to help you.
