A Political Reflection on the Japan Earthquake
When the 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan this past week, it sent shock waves all over the world. This catastrophic event hits closer to home for me; I live in Los Angeles. Those of you who follow Recovering Republican know me for my rants on conservatives, Sarah Palin and all that is unholy to progressive politics.
It’s curious how these types of terrible acts of God can bring your reality into focus. Living in the Los Angeles area, the “big one” is always in the back of your mind. Every time I drive under an under pass, I hurry through and hope not to get caught there by a red light that seems to take forever to change.
According to seismologists, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when the “big one” will strike. When it does come, I don’t think your political affiliation , or what color the president is will matter; you get the point. Our priorities will be reordered for us on that fateful day.
Liberal Republicans, Obama Republicans, Conservatives, Democrats, black and white, it won’t matter then. Our last tragedy on 9/11 gave us pause as we reflected on what was important. On that tragic day we were all Americans. It’s sad it takes a calamity of that magnitude for us to collectively “get it!”
I recall vividly for the next two to three weeks after the attack on the Twin Towers, we were so united. We were one people, one nation. The feeling seemed to vanish and quickly as it appeared after the attack.
The earthquake in Japan was said to be one of the four most powerful to hit planet earth since recorded history. The tragedy is further complicated by the destruction of a nuclear power plant that was destroyed. The full toll of this tragedy is yet to unfold. It may be some time before we can fully comprehend the immediate as well as collateral damage of this tragedy.
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