UNPOPULAR OPINION AHEAD

[engelen]

I'm gonna give my unpopular opinion:

I believe poor countries have priority over first-world countries when a natural disaster occurs. I'm not saying we shouldn't help Japan (I've already donated and cried) or any other first-world country, but there are poor nations that need MORE help.
ie: The poorest country in Latin America which seems to have

Comments

[dearmisterecho]

I understand where you're coming from.

I'm really annoyed with the Western media's disgusting white gaze at the situation - I read an article yesterday that was saying "why is there no looting in Japan? Oh I know, it's because they're so MORAL and HONORABLE and treat everyone like family! Not like those stinky countries full of black/brown people, those animals looted everything, not like that more evolved race (SERIOUSLY THAT WAS WRITTEN), the Japanese!!"

Hurricane Katrina =/= Haiti =/= Tohoku earthquake.

[engelen]

1) I'm REALLY GLAD you're replying to this post <3 Yay for not dying <3 I hope you're safe <3

2) I woke up worrying about whether I offended you or not. I'm glad I didn't :P I love everything you said. It's pretty much exactly what I meant (also... when hurricane Alex hit Monterrey, people weren't looting; sure, some stores took on to selling water bottles [the huge kind] for 5 times their original price, but people were calm and orderly... MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE A RICH STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS HELPING!!! People loot when they feel they need to do it in order to survive because nobody will care to help them).

Sorry about all the grammar fail. I'm tired.

[dearmisterecho]

Thanks bb <3 I live in southwestern Japan while everything bad is going on in northEASTERN Japan. Life is carrying on as usual.

No worries, I wasn't offended at all :)

[engelen]

Yeah, it was late last night. I probably shouldn't have used the word "deserve," but you know I didn't mean "some people are better than other!!" Quite the contrary! It was more long the lines of "there's people who NEED it more."

I think it's partially because of the media.It IS because of the media. It's like disasters are a kind of show aimed to entertain the masses. It's like "the hit song of the season." Last year it was Haiti, last month it was the Middle East and their political issues, this week it's Japan. I feel like I should start saying "you're giving money to New Zealand? Ugh, that's SOO out! Get on with the times, bro!!" To see if I can make a point to people who think they have to give money to every charity just because the media are telling them they'll be better people if they do it

[engelen]

I wish people were able to take heart and focus on many conflicts and problems. But then again, it's pretty impossible.
AND depressing XD
I care about what's going on elsewhere, but when you start only focusing on WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD, you end up missing out on all the wonders and blessings out there (it's kind of why I avoid most disaster news nowadays).

I guess I really should just be thankful people help, no matter who they are trying to help and what their motivation is.
Oh yes, I'm ok with that. I just get pissed when people start questioning why more people aren't helping, as if it was their obligation to give to every single new charity (think of it like some kind of "soul" materialism; instead of items of clothing or gadgets, you're "buying" goodness).
Also those entitled assholes who think they're helping just because they're tweeting about it. Ugh, jerks (that was more about political issues than disasters).

(I look forward to your posts, I truly do)R-really? ; ^; That's very flattering

[ungalad]

Por eso yo doné a los topos. :P Japón solicitó no dinero, sino ayuda especializada, en particular para el rescate de personas y esas vainas. Los Topos fueron autorizados por la embajada para ir, pero no tenían dinero, so. :P Además me cae gordo que les estén tirando caca por lo de las plantas nucleares, wey. ¬¬ O sea, no ayudan con sus declaraciones catastróficas de "OMG SI NO LOGRAN CONTROLARLO SERÁ EL FIN DE JAPÓN OMG OMG Y DEL MUNDO!!!". XP

[engelen]

Pinche amarillismo y así, la neta. Y no wey, no mames! Estaba viendo CNN (gringo) y de que, hablan de Japón, y a los 5 minutos una nota sobre cómo la catastrofé allá podría afectar a EUA y es un reportaje eternamente largo.
Pinches cabrones.

[ungalad]

Ya sé, wey. A ver, ¿por qué dicen que el gobierno japonés miente u oculta información sobre la crisis nuclear? ¿Qué pruebas tienen? XP ¿O el león cree que todos son de su condición? Neta, no ayudan en nada, al contrario, distraen la atención del problema más grave (los miles de desaparecidos y damnificados que necesitan ayuda YA), y nomás son amarillistas y catastróficos. XP

[erniesaurus]

I pretty much agree with you. I'm getting sick of people comparing Japan to Haiti. Haiti was DESTROYED by the earthquake, because it was such a poor country and their government was so corrupt. Japan has certainly been hit hard and it's awful, but Japan is an affluent country with a legitimate government that has been preparing for this for the last century. I think that's what a lot of people don't understand about Japan. They have a very low poverty and homeless rate (although because of that, those people are frequently erased, but that doesn't change the fact that Japan is a very well-of country). Japan could certainly use more money, but they don't need it like Haiti did/does (there's another difference--Japan will be able to recover from this in a few years, Haiti probably won't).

[engelen]

MY POINT EXACTLY!!!!!

Again, I'm not saying people's hunan lifes in poor countries are worth more and that's why you should give them more money or send more help. NO. It's pecisely the opposite of what I'm saying. As humans, we are all worth the same, but our living conditions are extremly different.

[engelen]

*hugs* I think it was late at night. I'm braver (more stupid?) when I'm tired and not thinking clearly :P

I don't think I knew you lived in Japan BTW... or maybe I did but I'm a terrible friend and forgot D:
I remember seeing someone quote a Japanese guy saying "We'll be ok, Haiti needs more help" or something like that. I'm sad about Japan, but I'm not devastated, and I know they'll come through, because Japan is a strong country (economically), full with determined and responsible people. Also, this might sound terrible, but this whole thing might actually help the anime and manga industry in the future (you know, people get to reconnect with their most basic emotions, and they rebuild, and stuff... I'm trying to be possitive here D: ).

I think because you lived there, you can tell that they're not as bad off as other places?