The Tsunami Disaster

I never imagined the magnitude of the destruction till i read every single article on www.channelnewsasia.com just a few moments ago, all the while, i knew that a gargantuous amount of people lost their lives, but that was just it. Alot of people died. Never did i imagine or even contemplated, the emotional deaths and other horros that the survivors had to go through, to me, it was really more like a life and death kind of thing, i didn't really dwelled deep into the emotional aspects of the whole disaster, let alone even tried to contemplate how it must have been like for those that lost theoir lives and those that survived the onslaught.

But now, i'm an aware reader, my mind has been enlightened, and i cried, cried not because of the fact that it was a natural disaster, cried because of the fact that the deaths and destructions that struck most of South Asia made me realise how precious and how lucky i am to be in Singapore.

Unlike the man who lost 5 of his 7 children in Malaysia to the orphaned children on the streets, we in Singapore, will never experience how such natural disasters can affetc us. And it struck me, while we were happily exchanging gifts with our friends, carrying on with our normal routine that we call our lives, we seemed to have forgetten that just a 3 hour plane ride away, millions of people are living in fear of their lives and that of their loved ones. Most affected are destitute, some frantically searching for loved ones, some resigned to the fact that in an instant, all their hopes, all their aspirations but most importantly, their families, perished, just like that, in a mere fraction of a second, 119,000 lives were lost forever.

What did those that perished think before that first major Tsunami struck shore? If such an incident were to happen to me, it wouldn't be how such a lousy year this has been for me, or how unlcky i am to be stuck in a tsunami, but rather, it will be my loved ones. I will think no other than my loved ones. I had a near death experience before and i know how it felt like to almost be robbed of your life. So you can say i'm speaking from experience.

However,

There are just some paradoxes in light of the disaster that i simply cannot comprehend.

Why?

in light of the massive deaths and destruction,

...are Singaporeans still so nonchalant about the whole affair?

...making fun about the tsunamis?

...Chatting happily about their upcoming New YEar plans?

...Sqeualing about irrelevant things?

...not spending enough time with their families?

...Eager to NOT be with their families come New Year, but rather, be at Sentosa counting down?

Why aren't they

...treasuring their family more now? Remember, many people lost their families in an instant, we're talking about brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wifes, husbands, sons, daughters, grand-daughters, grand-sons and so on....

...Volunteering to help? I still see teenagers walking down Orchard, buying expensive clothes to feed their exorbitant lifestyles. I would rather these money go to people who need them more.

Is the fact that 119,000 +++ deaths not serious enough to warrant even a slightest fraction of concern? Or is it simply the fact that we, in Singapore, are always safe from everything?

But do you know, if not for Sumatra Island, or if the epicenter of the quake occured just south of Singapore, the possibility of an entire population being wiped out just like that is very high? If death tolls from Sri Lanka, which is so much further away from the epicenter than it is to us, can be so high, God Knows what will happen if Singapore lay in the path of the Tsunami, we will most definately be wiped out cold.

But

Before you brand me a hypocrite, bear it in mind that if i could, i will take the next flight out of Singapore to Indonesia or Phuket to offer my help, i want to be in the midst of the volunteers, distributing water to Tsunami striken areas, i want to be in the midst of the healthcare workers who counsel and help the agrieved, i want to play a part in the reconstruction of the affected areas, i want to offer my clothes, my money, my time, my blood, my compassion and my love for these people who up till now, are still stuck in shabbily converted classrooms, or only have a thin piece of cloth they call clothing over their bodies.

I want to help, i want to provide relief, i want to ease the pain of the suffering, to comfort the homeless children, to comfort the ailing parents, i want to embrace them and give them warmth in light of the disaster, i want to spread words of comfort to their broken hearts, i want to, i really do.....

But i know i cannot, no matter how much i want to, even if it is just for a week before i enlist, because it is simply not possible to. This fact makes my heart sink, i will try convincing my parents, to at least let me offer my services to the needy, be it direct or vicariously. Either, way i will make sure that i contribute something to the effort of rebuilding, not cities or buildings, but Lives

I mean, have you ever seen the pictures of the corpses, all bloated and all, with families pouring out tears over them? DOES IT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOU? WHAT WILL YOU DO IF THAT PERSON WAS ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?, what then? don't you wish that you will have someone to comfort you? To help you ease the pain of losing your loved one? If it does and you have a conscience, then help out, big or small, it does not matter, as long as it is from the heart.

This Tsunami has taught me one thing, that is, treasure your family members and friends very very much, because like those affected, your life can change in an instant, even if it means during a time or Joy and celebration.

Such is the paradox of life, we just have to accept it.





Alan gagged and reeled at 3:27 AM
  0 people shizzled my nizzle
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