Thursday, March 24, 2011

10 Things to Learn from Japan


1. THE CALM
 
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
 
 
2. THE DIGNITY
 
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
 
 
3. THE ABILITY
 
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
 
 
4. THE GRACE
 
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
 
 
5. THE ORDER
 
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
 
 
6. THE SACRIFICE
 
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
 
 
7. THE TENDERNESS
 
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
 
 
8. THE TRAINING
 
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
 
 
9. THE MEDIA
 
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
 
 
10. THE CONSCIENCE
 
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly

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