Why do we need an earthquake to understand that our fellow human beings suffer?

Posted on by January 21, 2010 by viola.zabeti

How often do we really think about, for more than a couple of minutes, that life can end in any second. How often do we hug our loved ones and tell them how much we love them and realize how privileged we are? Well, I would like to say: NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. When catastrophes such as the earthquake in Haiti occur, we think “ohhh we are so lucky being alive, having roof over our heads and living in security”. Many of us actually contribute with money, feel good about ourselves and the very next morning life goes on. That is what I did. When I read the news about the earthquake in Haiti, I felt sad for the people, I sent some money and the very next day my life moved on just as usual. When a catastrophe happens in a country so far away, no matter how much we would like to get involved, we do not really feel the sadness that we actually feel if a catastrophe or tragedy happens close to us geographically, this is a common fact. We keep reading about the lack of functional institutions in Haiti, the extreme poverty etcetera. I do not want to be a cynical and bitter critique, but I must ask: WHERE WERE THE MEDIA AND THE WORLD before the earthquake? Have we all been blind? When the Tsunami occurred 2004, the same fantastic thing happened. The western media highlighted the tragedy and every one kept talking about it and contributed with money. As simple as that. When the media stopped writing, people kept on with their lives. When I was in my early 20:ees, I felt immortal. I took so many things and persons for granted. Now I feel mortality coming closer and life is suddenly worth so much more. We do not know what will happen tomorrow. Some of us know that we will be able to eat, to sleep in a comfortable bed, but at the end, we will all leave this world in one way or the other, without being able to choose how. Without being able to say “good-bye” to the people we love. So this is what I suggest, keep helping your fellow human beings. Stop being proud, if you know someone that you love deep inside that you do not talk to for some reason, do not hesitate a minute: JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY “I LOVE YOU”. If you feel immortal, think again. Life is precious. Make every second last longer and do not waste it on complaining, being greedy etcetera. HELP your surroundings. Do not wait for a catastrophe such as the earth quake in Haiti before you contribute. Yes, we are not immortal. But our ideas and actions can be immortal if we do our best. B Why do we need an earthquake to understand that our fellow-human beings suffer? How often do we really think about, for more than a couple of minutes, that life can end in any second. How often do we hug our loved ones and tell them how much we love them and realize how privileged we are? Well, I would like to say: NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. When catastrophes such as the earthquake in Haiti occur, we think “ohhh we are so lucky being alive, having roof over our heads and living in security”. Many of us actually contribute with money, feel good about ourselves and the very next morning life goes on. That is what I did. When I read the news about the earthquake in Haiti, I felt sad for the people, I sent some money and the very next day my life moved on just as usual. When a catastrophe happens in a country so far away, no matter how much we would like to get involved, we do not really feel the sadness that we actually feel if a catastrophe or tragedy happens close to us geographically, this is a common fact. We keep reading about the lack of functional institutions in Haiti, the extreme poverty etcetera. I do not want to be a cynical and bitter critique, but I must ask: WHERE WERE THE MEDIA AND THE WORLD before the earthquake? Have we all been blind? When the Tsunami occurred 2004, the same fantastic thing happened. The western media highlighted the tragedy and every one kept talking about it and contributed with money. As simple as that. When the media stopped writing, people kept on with their lives. When I was in my early 20:ees, I felt immortal. I took so many things and persons for granted. Now I feel mortality coming closer and life is suddenly worth so much more. We do not know what will happen tomorrow. Some of us know that we will be able to eat, to sleep in a comfortable bed, but at the end, we will all leave this world in one way or the other, without being able to choose how. Without being able to say “good-bye” to the people we love. So this is what I suggest, keep helping your fellow human beings. Stop being proud, if you know someone that you love deep inside that you do not talk to for some reason, do not hesitate a minute: JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY “I LOVE YOU”. If you feel immortal, think again. Life is precious. Make every second last longer and do not waste it on complaining, being greedy etcetera. HELP your surroundings. Do not wait for a catastrophe such as the earth quake in Haiti before you contribute. Yes, we are not immortal. But our ideas and actions can be immortal if we do our best.

Viola Zabèti