Tonight my computer crashed, I was very upset about this worrying about my files all being lost and not being connected for the next week before spring break. After coming to the library to get some homework, that all requires a computer done, I signed on to CNN and saw the latest news. Earthquake in Chile 708 dead, numbers continuing to rise. This really turns my little mishap into nothing at all. Here in America, especially at tabor we can be so consumed with our live and the little burdens of day to day life the greater scheme of things really slips by us. A huge relief effort was made to help Haiti after the terrible quack. I really hope the same will be done for Chile, even if the death toll does not reach the same numbers, which it hopefully will not. I strongly believe someone’s true strength does not show until you put them in a bad situation. The whole world pulled together to help Haiti after this horrible natural disaster.
If only these NATURAL disasters would make people think before starting man made disasters. We all fell very badly for those innocent people killed in these earthquakes. What about the innocent people who are killed everyday. What about the US soldiers that are still fighting over seas for a war that was started for a different reason than its being continued for, or the civilians caught in the cross fire. These natural disasters open our eyes to what suffering really is. Its not being unable to surf the web, its being unable to know if your loved ones are safe. It’s not worrying if the dinning hall will serve your favorite meal, its worrying it you will have a meal the next day. As well educated Tabor students and faculty, I believe there is more that we could be doing to better the community around us, and maybe even worldwide.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/28/chile.quake/index.html
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At Tabor it’s easy to forget that most people in the world have greater problems than our own, and that our suffering isn’t so bad in comparison. Seeing the article about the earthquake in Chile is a real wake up call to us that there are big problems in the world and to what is really important. We can survive without the internet for a few days, but having your entire family die in a natural disaster is horrific and life-altering. It’s also true that man-made disasters are also a huge problem, as these are situations that people can actually control, where we can’t control a natural disaster like the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.
Your article is very true because being at Tabor we do get consumed in our little drama. It is bad when you know more about stupid Tabor gossip than our countries war efforts in the Middle East. That is why I liked the topic of your article because you realized that as part of the Tabor community that it is a big world out there and opened people’s eyes to struggle going on outside Marion right now. As for the earthquake it is terrible to hear about the deaths and a damage that occurred but I hope that the world will come together and help out a country in need. No I am not one that would give charity for the sake of looking good, which is what America does sometimes, but Chile really could use our help. Together as community and a nation we all should become more educated with the world because sometimes we get lost in our own business.
You spoke a little of Haiti in this piece and I just wanted to bring out a quick story on that situation. On the plane ride home from the community service trip in Costa Rica, I sat beside Tim. Tim was on his way home from rebuilding orphanages in Haiti that had fallen during the earthquake. While I was able to say that I was on a beautiful island, working to better a simple community with bus stops, Tim talked about how there was nothing in Haiti that could be considered beautiful, other then the smiling faces of the children he got to help. He said that trash was piled everywhere, on the street, in the water, along side peoples destroyed homes and businesses. Tim’s stories reminded me of how much we take for granted. As a community, I think Tabor forgets a lot how great we have it. We must begin to realize that our Tabor bubble is a very small part of the world, and hopefully many, if not all, of us will get out there and do something to help someone who needs a helping hand.
I also read the same article on the earthquake in Chile and feel the same way that you did. I feel as though people in general, (not just Tabor community) take some things in their daily life for granted until something like this happens. Humans are innately selfish and worried about what they can accomplish next to buy that sweet new car or nice plasma screen when their money spending could be going to necessities of life. Also, hitting on my statement that humans are innately selfish, people should take time out of their day to hold that door open, or pick up a dollar a person dropped and return it to them because these little things go a long way. I hope that this situation helps wake some people up and that people will do what they can to help those helpless people in Chile.