Unlike our First Lady, I have almost always been proud of my country, and to be an American.
Never more so than when I see things like this; it’s a chopper crew from the USS Ronald Reagan delivering supplies to Japan.
8 thoughts on “Relief”
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As we watch this tragedy unfold, one has to recognize that despite the magnitude of the disaster, that there is no mayhem. I notice people huddled together, sharing what little food that they have, even though they must realize that it may be days before they get more.
We also don’t see lawless miscreants taking advantage of the situation by breaking into businesses or going in through shattered windows looting and causing other mayhem like we would see here in the US.
May God bless Japan and help them through this.
Yes, but these supplies weren’t packed and delivered by union labor.
“lawless miscreants taking advantage of the situation”
In Japan the people take honor and personal integrity very, very seriously. When I was there some 30+ yrs ago a person could go virtually ANYWHERE, day or night, and have zero fear for one’s personal safety. That included both the rural areas and the streets of Tokyo.
Yes Scott, but Japan also has the Yakuza. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza
People are people all around the world.
There’s a flip side to that safety, Scott. Once when I was visiting Japan a buddy’s girlfriend had to go and deal with the cops for getting her third speeding ticket for which they impounded her car. She was humiliated rather publicly before she managed to get it back. If you look into the typical behavior of a Japanese cop and reflect that their justice system has a conviction rate exceeding 99% you realize that the legal system there is pretty hamfisted. If you think Minneapolis cops think they’re entitled, it’s nothing compared to Japan.
Human rights groups have gone after Japan for their propensity for keeping people in jail for years without charge, and tolerating a level or police brutality that’d make Darrell Gates blanch with puritan horror.
Anything that gets our aircraft carriers within range of Honshu is a good thing.
A couple of thoughts;
Although it’s been a long time since I was in Japan I’m willing to bet you’re safer going for a late night stroll down most any street in Tokyo vs. a late night stroll along West Broadway in North Minneapolis.
We weren’t at all worried about the local police in Namie Japan, but the rent-a-cop/security guards at the power plant could be a real PITA. The ones that thought they were extra special were the ones we messed with the most.