Current Events
The Saddest Scenes From China
It’s really the saddest sight on television every time the rescue operation in Sichuan, China is being shown on cable news. I would often turn my stare away from the scenes on the screen as children were being pulled from under the rubles that had resulted from the massive quake that had befallen the area a number of days ago.
It’s the most lamentable of all — I thought the news shouldn’t be as visual as that, that there should be a limit somehow, for the senses could only witness a reasonable amount of grief.
After the tragedy in Myanmar, the earthquake in Sichuan Province is yet another enormous misfortune for Asia, as people in this region barely struggle past neverending food crisis and rising fuel prices. I just wished that we should have had done away with these recent catastrophes. But nature has it’s own willings that are beyond our grasps.
And I hope to the fullest that more and more survivors would be rescued from the rubles three days after, despite that as of now, the death toll is feared to have reach 50,000 — such unspeakable tragedy really.
bugsybee Says —
I didn’t have the guts to watch news about the earthquake in China. I was expecting the media to show scenes that would more than just jolt the senses. Up to this time, more than 20 years after I watched a scene on TV where rescuers were trying to free a little girl from the rubbles - she was buried up to her neck (I think it was an earthquake in Peru or Colombia) but the rescue was futile and the little girl’s dying scenes were so horribly shown on TV, I’m surprised I can still recall the little girl’s helplessness so vividly. It’s a recurring nightmare in fact.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
barrycade Says —
i hope families of victims in myanmar and china can move on and get back to their normal lives soon.
it is times like this when I feel so grateful to heaven for sparing us from nature’s wrath.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
snglguy Says —
At least China is allowing assistance from other countries come in unhindered. And this coming from a country that could very well afford not to seek outside help because of its economic and industrial might. The situation in Myanmar on the other hand is a travesty of the gravest kind. Till today, the military rulers are still not allowing medical aid workers to come in the country.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
myepinoy Says —
I agree with snglguy. The situation is Myanmar is much more devastating than any other natural calamities.
Tyrants everywhere are the same, they really have no heart.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 1:01 am
Major Tom Says —
To bugsybee: That’s what exactly I was thinking, such grievous scenes are sometimes just too much for us to take and absorb — could be traumatic as that incident in Peru.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 6:29 am
Major Tom Says —
To barrycade: It might take a long time for them; but I wished them that way similarly.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 6:30 am
Major Tom Says —
To sngl: The military junta in Myanmar is so insecure about the fragile power they hold over the people, being so aware perhaps on it’s low credence, that even in time like these, they’d rather see their people die than power be at risk of being taken away.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 6:33 am
Major Tom Says —
To myepinoy: I can’t believe that the world today, with all the advancements we have gained, could still tolerate tyrants and allow them to rule or unrule a people. ASEAN should really be concerned about this brute attitude of one of its member, such a travesty for me.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Panaderos Says —
The leadership in Myanmar seems more bent on saving itself than allowing foreign governments and organizations to lend a hand and save its citizens. What a myopic and pathetic view!
Although I have some serious misgivings about China’s foreign policies, at least its government was smart and humble enough to welcome outside assistance. I feel bad for all the victims, especially for the kids who died after their school buildings collapsed.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 7:11 am
Major Tom Says —
To Panaderos: After this problem, Myanmar should really set sight on following a more reasonable course, away from the joint form of governance, which had become so disreputed for numerous and grave human rights violations. ASEAN, as I said earlier, should put more pressure on Myanmar.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 9:01 am
spliceanddice Says —
I wonder how the Tibetan monks thought about the Chinese quake.
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
donG hO Says —
we are definitely hoping for the same thing. i hope nothing else comes after these. i hope…
Made on May 17, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
Abaniko Says —
Tragic indeed! My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones.
Made on May 18, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
Haze Says —
In this time of catastrophe aid is essential for everyone. I guess China will get over easily because there has been no obstruction of aid from the government and the people!
In Myanmar, military should just drop their guns and let the people of Myanmar accept all help possible. They have the right to live!
Made on May 19, 2008 @ 4:03 am
bw Says —
People don’t know how horrific this earthquake disaster in China is. This one puts the much publicized Katrina disaster to shame
Made on May 19, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Ferdz Says —
I am really saddened by this. Grabe! It was like a few months ago andun ako and now that happened. This will take time to recover and I also mourn not only for the people but the heritage there as well.
Made on May 19, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Major Tom Says —
To spliceanddice: Nagkataon nga. Maybe they should offer prayers and forget the political wramblings for the meantime.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
Major Tom Says —
To dong HO: I hope so earnestly considering that all teh world would turn their attention on Beijing for the Olympics, the spirit of world unity and sportmanship should proceed.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Abaniko: It would be a long tiem for them to completely recover and recuperate, but time would heal them, as well as prayers and hope.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Major Tom Says —
To haze: China could have less problem in aid distribution for they have the economic resources of their own; it’s in Myanmar that ironically, aids and assistance are being hindered despite the great suffering of the people there.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
Major Tom Says —
To BW: It was just shocking especially when the scenes of the destruction were shown on TV. With all the modern techniques we have learned throughout the years in construction, those buildings in Sichuan seem to have feel down like powdery bricks without steel support whatsoever.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Ferdz: Buti na lang wala kayo dun when it happened. It was such a bad thing.
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
Wil Says —
70,000 deaths is unimaginable. But I’ve read reports that some of the builders of the schools colluded with local officials to take shortcuts in building the schools. If true, prosecution of the builders and these officials should follow. And how many deaths could’ve been prevented if no shortcuts were taken?
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
pining Says —
the cyclone in Burma, and then this… what’s happening to this world…
Made on May 20, 2008 @ 11:58 pm
the suspect Says —
i could understand. i myself wouldn’t want to listen or watch it due to its gravity.
i am saddened, truly, because they are our neighbors.
i just hope that they get to rise above it all. with the already controversial olympics coming, this tragedy would surely be a difficult situation for China.
Made on May 21, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
joanne Says —
I don’t know what it is about mother nature’s fury but it seems to be striking with so much more intensity, not to mention more frequency. Aside from the enormous number of deaths from Myanmar and China, I just can’t imagine how the thousands more who were orphaned and displaced will go on to rebuild their lives.
Made on May 22, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
tutubi Says —
have you seen the pictures of a wedding party minutes before the quake? happiness to destruction
Made on May 25, 2008 @ 9:57 am
weddingglitters Says —
unbelievable death toll. i purposely don’t watch the news on TV because i couldn’t take how miserable the victims looked.
Made on May 26, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
bingskee Says —
i do not how one can stare at the casualties without being affected. it is horrifying.
simpleminded Myanmar authorities..
Made on May 29, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Wil: That’s was one issue on cable news the other day. Chinese authorities are bound to prosecute some negligent officials.
Made on May 30, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Major Tom Says —
To pining: I noticed too how these occurences had become more prevalent nowadays. Perhaps, it’s been happening through centuries and we just note that todays because of how information are faster today. But then, there might be some grave signs of the times.
Made on May 30, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Major Tom Says —
To the suspect: very difficult actually, and coming in such a wrong time.
Made on May 30, 2008 @ 10:42 am
Major Tom Says —
To joanne: There seems to be marked intensity and furioisness about today’s weather disturbances. Some experts point it out to global warming as more warm winds clashes with cold ocean winds.
Made on May 30, 2008 @ 10:44 am
[splice] Says —
Sharon Stone says it’s Karma. It’s the wrath of some divine being spewing its anger on the Chinese. And Stone says its retribution time for the Tibetan monks. Haha!
Made on May 30, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
annamanila Says —
So many natural calamities happening all around! I just read the news .. in parts of the US, hail storm, the size of tennis balls, plus high tide is wreaking havoc.
I have read that it’s nature trying to restore balance in the ecological system. Not sure though what that means.
Made on May 31, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
Major Tom Says —
To tutubi: That was all over the news the other day and it was just horror I’ve seen in their faces.
Made on June 6, 2008 @ 7:45 am
Major Tom Says —
To weddingglitters: I actually have to stand out of my seat out just to veer away from the grievous scenes on news TV.
Made on June 6, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Major Tom Says —
To bingskee: The generals out there is just so unbelievable that they have to turn away aids that’s already have arrived, and despite the people there are already scavenging mud for palay left in the mud.
Made on June 6, 2008 @ 7:49 am
Major Tom Says —
To splice: That doesn’t become helpful these times methinks, with the tragedy being so grievous, perhaps Ms. Stone has just become overwraught with recent turmoil with the monks in Tibet and Myanmar.
Made on June 6, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Major Tom Says —
To annamanila: I guess it’s a time for climate transition for our Earth, like in the past Ice Age or Paleontholic Era, and with global warming being undeniably attendant, then that might be happening. It had happened centuries and eons ago even without industrial fumes, the Earth fogged with volcanic eruptions all over and at other times all covered in ice and snow, it’s not as unimaginable that indeed, our world is experiencing radical climate changes once again.
Made on June 6, 2008 @ 7:56 am