Heartsick for the people of Japan

It's now been almost a week since Japan's devastating earthquake, and the tsunami which appears to have been even more devastating.  My heart breaks for the people of Japan... I simply cannot fathom the losses, and the grief, that these souls have endured, and I fear there is much more to come. 

I know I will make a donation to some relief effort although I have not done so yet.  At the moment, my country is providing the best possible efforts through our elite search and rescue teams, our military, doctors, and more.  Since I am a taxpayer, I am indeed already contributing to the effort. If I were in close proximity, I would go myself to help.  I think the human ... humane ... element is every bit as needed as is food, water and medicine.   I think that sometimes a hug, or the shoulder of a stranger to cry on, can provide a strength that nourishes the soul and gives one hope to continue on through the rubble. 

I pray for the people of Japan. The government - not so much.  I apologize if this thought is unsettling to anyone, it has been on my mind since the disaster occurred and has been banging around more loudly in my head every day, as more less-than-honest information from officials has been disseminated. It seems to me they have not been giving honest accounts from the onset, about the nuclear energy reactors and the third leg of this disaster that could prove far more fatal than the earthquake and tsunami. 

I have to talk about this.  Some may understand, many may not.  But I must separate the people who are suffering this human tragedy, from the Japan that killed my family members.  My Dad was in World War 2, others of my family as well.  Not all came back.  Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor pulled the USA into the war, that is unmistakable.  Would we have been drawn in otherwise? Probably.  Did we miss signals of the impending attack that could have saved lives.  Yes.  It's not all "Japan's fault", not by a long shot.  But my Dad, who talks very little about the war, told me about those pilots that never returned.  The planes made by Mitsubishi, piloted by kamikazes ... images in my mind probably placed there as a youngster, not far removed from the war, that I cannot shake.

In war, it used to be said "to the Victor goes the spoils".  The United States was prominent in rebuilting Japan following WW2... helping to turn this country smaller than California is the third largest economy in the world.  I sincerely hope that the United States is not giving a blank check to Japan's government, at a time when we cannot take care of our own people.  The people of Japan should be helped immediately without consideration of the expense involved.  Yes, we should be there and doing all in we can, but we should NOT be bearing the full expense of our endeavors on behalf of the country of Japan. 

Our economy is rebuilding from near economic catastrophy ... something not just of OUR doing because other countries, and people from other countries participated and profited from some of the practices that brought our financial system to its knees.  Unscrupulous people inhabit all walks of life, all genders, all countries.  We cannot afford to be the rescuer to the world when we could use a life preserver ourself!  And I wonder, if such a disaster were to strike California, which of our Allies would jump to action and worry about cost or consequence later?  Who would be here for us? Great Britain, Canada, for sure. Japan? I rather doubt it....

So please forgive me if my thoughts and feelings expressed here are fragmented; if I appear "unforgiving". I simply do not trust nor believe the government of Japan.  I am one who trusts my instincts, and things have happened in my life time that would seem to validate those instincts.  On December 7, 1994, my husband decided to go buy a new TV while I was at work.  He drove 125 miles to get the "good deal" and brought it home, had it all set up but waited for me for the ceremonial "surprise" flip of the switch to turn on the largest TV we'd ever owned.  The moment I saw the surprise, I exclaimed my displeasure simultaneously as he pushed the remote to turn on the TV ... a large white ball projected onto the screen just before a loud internal noise, and the picture tube blew immediately.  Did I mention, it was a Mitsubishi TV? 

So, I am horrified and in pain for the people of Japan.  I am praying, and am almost morbidly watching for any sliver of joy to come from that hell zone.  I will donate, to the people who have been so traumatized, who have lost so much.  But to the sneaky government ... I have little sympathy.

Addendum 3.18.2011
After a few days, I have a few more charitable thoughts.  Considering the magnitude of the disaster, I think the Emperor may have been in shock and or denial about the nuclear threat that loomed on his watch.  And yet his people and working heroically to try to avert a worst case scenario.  Some are undoubtedly giving their life for their country and for man.  How terrible, this tragedy.

I still won't buy any Three Diamonds pineapple, or anything else Mitsubishi...