No! No! Not Japan!

I don't think anyone of us here in "safe" Singapore can fully comprehend the extent of the disaster that has hit Japan. On Saturday morning, I stared at the television screen in disbelief when they showed scenes of the earthquake and tsunami hit areas in the Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures. I had not heard the news on Friday and had gone to bed early, clueless!

I said a prayer for the people of Japan. I asked for God's mercy and love to be shown to them even in the midst of such a catastrophe.

Today, I scan the papers tearing at heart wrenching photos and stories of those who have survived the double tragedy. As if the natural disaster was not enough, the Japanese have to also manage their damaged nuclear plants. I am sure, there must have been fleeting thoughts of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War 2.

The Japanese are a resolute people. They will come out of this wreckage and build up their lives once more. It will take time, but they will make it. I read about the long queues at petrol stations and at supermarkets. It really takes a nation of disciplined people to queue up at such times. There are no reports of looting or chaos or of people rushing to get food and water. Maybe there are instances but they must be few for the press not to highlight such reports. In comparison, I read with interest that our army guys were sent to Christchurch, New Zealand to help with the earthquake rescue efforts. Finally, they were deployed to help with crowd control and security on the streets.

In the midst of all the death, destruction and sadness ... other things shine through. The way the world has responded is heart warming. Countries are scrambling to get over to Japan to help with the disaster relief efforts. This with the knowledge that they put themselves in danger as Japan suffers more after shocks and prediction of possible tsunami occurrences again. There is also the danger of being exposed to radiation from the damaged nuclear plants.

Then there is the story of Mr Hiromitsu Shinkawa, the 60 year old man who was found alive and well on the roof of his house floating 15 kilometers from his coastal town of Futaba. Miracles do happen.

I move on to the other pages of the local papers and read about the upcoming general elections, and realize that in everything that happens ... life goes on! And the next time we want to grumble about our hot and humid weather, or about our government, or about the "difficult life" here in Singapore, we might want to think of what has happened in countries not too far away from us ... and thank God instead.

Please just close your eyes and say a prayer for the people of Japan.