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Drooling on the Pillow

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Tsunami 

The cataclysmic scope of this tragedy is one measure of the event. Another dimension is the fact that it happened in 2004.

I recently read Krakatoa a fascinating account of the tragedy of 1883. That was a volcano, this was an earthquake. That spawned a Tsunami that travelled around the world nine times and was measurable in England. That was said to have killed around 40,000 people. This, well, apparently we're up over 80,000, with no end in sight. The population in those areas is vastly greater today than then, especially in coastal areas, but then, a figure like this is far more likely to be accuate today than then. 1883 was the early age of telecommunications and people in the west knew of the event within 12 hours, despite destruction of cables by the tsunami.

But they didn't see pictures of trenches filled with dead babies the next day. They didn't listen to the testimony of people whose lives were utterly destroyed hours before. Here's one good thing. In hours of watching Fox and CNN last night I didn't see one journalist stick a microphone into anyone's face and ask "How do you feel?" I'm sure it happened. But I didn't see it.

Today's victims have the benefit of today's medicine, today's communications and today's transportation. In 1883 it took weeks and months for supplies to arrive.

I guess I'm trying to find an upside and that's probably foolish. But, really, it's almost more than one can bear.

God bless those poor people.

Here's a link for contributions, but you probably know there are many, many places where you can give.
Posted by: Sluggo / 2:11 PM
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