OT: Note of Sorrow

I'd just like to say a brief word to those among our readers who have ties to Western China or the Burmese Delta. I suspect in coming months these coterminous disasters will be cast as a "tale of two governments," one surprisingly humane and the other effectively insane, but for now we can only extend our deep condolences to those affected. The stories coming out of China especially (we are hearing so little from Burma) are so harrowing, and so heartbreaking. Such enormous tragedies that it is difficult to even comprehend their scope. Our thoughts are with those who are suffering, those who are waiting or searching, those who are working at rescue and relief (endangering their own lives to help others), and with all those who have suffered losses.

___________________

Mike

Comments

[Wes]

Wonderful thoughts Mike. I feel so much the same and my tenderest of thoughts go to the people who are suffering there.

Wes

[Eddy]

Thank you for your well wishes and your prayers.

[Michael Matlach]

In regard to Myanmar I don't understand the defining silence. Where is the outrage at the lack of cooperation of the government to accept aid? It has been over two weeks and no large scale relief effort is under way to reach the many thousands without food, water and shelter. There needs to be a massive and immediate air-drop of supplies even without government approval or countless thousands will die.
There are resources in the region to carryout the airdrop and save lives. Please take the time to e-mail your government leaders and urge them to take action.

[Akiva Shapero]

Sad that it proves that slowly China is coming out of the shadows, but not so with Burma. As always innocents pay the price.

[Robert Chapman]

Having spent two weeks in Burma in January, we learned that the government (read 'army')there exists solely to serve itself and rape the country for what wealth it has. The list of ways it cheats and defrauds its citizens goes on and on. If ever there was a government that should be toppled, Burma's is the one. It's perhaps too bad that some of America's oil wasn't hidden under their sand...

[Bas Scheffers]

In true cynical Wag the Dog style, I can't help but think that China's unexpected effort and openness has a lot to do with taking media scrutiny away from the Tibet situation.

I just hope the government realizes how much enjoyment one can get out of doing good for others and makes a habit of it.

[dyathink]

i can't begin to comprehend the magnitude of either of these disasters, let alone both. So many unfortunate victims, so much sorrow and grief and so many having to start again from nothing with nothing. Thanks, Mike for remembering these devastating events and the victims and their families. And Burma..poor, poor Burma..

[Edwin]

The disaster in western China had led me thinking about the power of still pictures. Here in Hong Kong, the TV news were continuously showing updated video footages as the extend of devastation unfold over the days after the quake, and the story telling power of videos are undisputable. But I found the most moving moments (for me) were those when I stared at pictures, trying to take in what really is all about -- and when I stare, I mean I was actually fixated to the picture, my eyes glued, my thoughts undisturbed by narratives or captions. I was actaully gazing over the details of the pitures and awe at the story behind the image, without anyone telling the story.

There was this picture of a middle aged man with the corpse of his dead wife tied to his back, riding together on a motor bike, just to carry her to a morgue so that she got a proper cremation. She was tied so tight and close to his back, you thought that it would have suffocated her. And yet, you can tell she's gone by her lifelessness. The rope were those coarse and rough type, the body all muddied..... No video could have the same effect, no video would allow me to stare at the scene for so long.....
I can't find the link to the picture, I know it is somewhere on the web)