Pray for Japan

Although I have never visited what I have heard is a beautiful and wonderful country, my heart goes out to those effected by the most recent earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan a few days ago. As humans, we should reach out to those in need and offer our assistance and aid during these trying times.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way. Just the other day, I was reading an article about the situation in Japan and read a comment made by someone who was obviously, anti-Japan and anti-Japanese. The person mentioned that they wished ill-will towards the people of Japan because of the atrocities of their past. Blaming the generations of today for the mistakes of those in the 1930s is absolutely ridiculous.

For those who do not know, in the 1937, Japanese forces marched into Nanking, China and massacred hundreds of thousands of people, as well as raping nearly 20,000 women. If you know nothing of this event, it is called “The Nanking Massacre.” What occurred back then though has absolutely nothing to do with the people who live in Japan today. Why should they be responsible for the atrocities committed by their ancestors? That is like blaming me, a 25 year old, for what my ancestors did to Native Americans or for events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement.

Those who harbor these kinds of feelings wouldn’t give 2 cents to help their fellow man. I remember when the country reached out to those in Haiti and people remarked that we should be donating our money towards those in the U.S. and not in Haiti.

Wake up people! Does anyone NOT remember Hurricane Katrina? People opened their wallets and donated their time to help those in New Orleans. You can argue all you want about governmental issues, etc…but I’m talking about downright human decency. The people of the United States are some of the most charitable people in the world and will do as much as they can to help others in need.

I’m deeply saddened by what has happened in Japan and am grateful that a close friend of ours, who lives in Tokyo, was not in the country when all of this occurred. However, those who have experienced this destruction, whose family members have died or are lost, who have lost everything they own, I pray that they find peace during this difficult time. As a religious person, I trust that God will provide solace and peace to those in Japan and to those effected by these recent events.

According to ABC News, there are various organizations that are helping to aid in the relief effort. The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, International Medical Corps, as well as Save the Children and the Salvation Army are just a few organizations that are taking donations. I encourage you to donate whatever you can. You hear people say that no matter what the dollar amount, it helps. They are right…it does.