Eathquake Hits India And Pakistan

re. temporal (#8) and Umairr

temporal, no need to take my remarks personally. I was referring to the general reaction of many on these boards who at other times are spouting gems like ``the only good India/Pakistani is ....``; not just this board. I was also thinking of Gen Mushy`s offer when I wrote that. You are the last Pakistani on chowk I could accuse of xenophobia. My use of `everyone` was an inadvertent error.

you write ``I am perturbed you are using this forum for an otherwise legitimate beef that needs to be discussed amongst us.``

I thought twice before posting that reply, and decided to go ahead thinking that it`s possible postive impact (actually getting people to realize the folly of normally propagating enmity that could annihilate millions) could be maximized at this time.

I don`t doubt the genuine intentions shown by folks on both sides of the border for the other, though I find the outpouring of condolences on this medium somewhat stange to say the least. Do we really NEED to verbally express solidarity for other humans in ditress? Shouldn`t it go without saying?

That said, the efforts to raise funds here is quite commendable.



Umair, I used `ten times more` in a manner of speaking. No need to getthe calculator out. But whilst you`re at it... do tells us what (infant mortality + death through malnutrition and lack of vaccines) divided by 15000 equals.

P.S. At the time of writing the previous post, jang.com had the death toll at 2000.



krashid: ``thank god the death toll in Pakistan was not so high``????

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Mohajir,

The Bush Adminsitration sent $1m in services and goods. Still peanuts IMO, buttwice as many peanuts as any Gulf state you mentioned sent.

rgds

PM

Egalitarian Brahmin:

I was about to write my general feelings when I came across your post. I hope and pray that your family is amongst the survivors and may God grant strength and peace to the ones who`ve been the victims of this irremediable calamity.

Catastrophes are indeed unforeseen and unpredictable! Whenever one encounters directly or indirectly any such shakening incident, one realizes the insignificance of oneself!

Kind Regards

PM:

I think your post deserved the critique it received. This is not the right time to offer your services as the mediator between the two governments to resolve all the issues. There`ll be many many other venues where you can fully express your intentions! Please, be patient :-)

Take Care

egalitarian_brahmin #21

I hope and pray your loved ones are safe and sound.

I once knew someone who after hearing of the Lattur earthquake, without worrying about planning or contacts or anything else, just got on a train and landed up there to help. I understand that feeling now.

Sadhana

Pankaj,

It is hardly the time or place to prove a point. Let us stop saying ``I told you so`` for atleast now?

Sincerely

YLH

The death toll may be much higher than 15,000. There are still thousands of people in the countryside unaccounted for. Those who are contributing through donations or volunteers in teh field are truly truly praiseworthy-thousand times more than who are just relying on praying. And then there are those who are still thankful to God/ Bhagwan for not effecting their loved ones. I have nothing to thankful for in this kind of situation when the weak, poor, children and old are the primary victims of this massive earthquake. If it is the work of God, the jihadis, rss, sangh pariwar must be angels in comparison.

I bow my head today to those who are contributing in the most humane way possible and not to you, Mr. God/ Bhagwan or Whatever unless you give me the reason for taking the lives of young and innocent school children. A motive not understandable to human is no answer.

Egalitarian Brahman #21 This must have been a very difficult few days for you as a young student far from your loved ones and without any communication concerning the welfare of your loved ones. I am very glad that your family is safe.

Let us pray for the souls of the departed ones, and for God`s Blessings on those who have to rebuild their lives. Please keep all of us posted on chowk should you wish to discuss this further.

Masd #15 Thanks for sharing your experience with the earthquake in Hyderabad. It does make us realize some realities we so often forget in daily life: we all share a fragile existence amidst powerful forces that we can no more control than a few insects on a leaf can control a mighty river. What we can do is try not to damage the leaf too much, and learn to navigate in a cooperative manner.

ATTN:

#33 was not posted by me.

ylh#37

Sorry, I do not understand. What point I tried to prove?

Sincerely

SameerJB #38, `` And then there are those who are still thankful to God/ Bhagwan for not effecting their loved ones. I have nothing to thankful for in this kind of situation when the weak, poor,

children and old are the primary victims of this massive earthquake. If it is the work of God, the jihadis, rss, sangh pariwar must be angels in comparison.``

I know the feeling. It`s at times like this that I also question God and his ways. Perhaps this world is the hell we hear about and the innocent dying are going to a better place. It`s the only explanation I can come up with. Who knows.

HUMAN SUFFERINGS: NATURAL AND SOCIAL ORIGINS

I am saddened by the death and sufferings of such a large number of human beings. It is, however, so satisfying that both Indians and Pakistanis have expressed the kind of sentiments that need to be expressed in such a moment of distress.

The origin of the earthquake hazarad is essentially natural, though some aspects of the loss of life and property are rooted in the way we construct our settlements.

If we can show solidarity due to natural calamity, we can also find ways to alleviate our socially constructed difficulties. This indeed is moment of self-evaluation -- both individual and collective. In my view, both India and Pakistan need to divert a lot of money from the so-called defence budget to human development (which also includes the development of better built environment).

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

May God give us the wisdom to learn from this natural disaster that we should try our best to avoid man-made disasters! I hope it finally sinks into our heads that we do not have enough resources to deal with the misery that we might unleash on each other due to our petty conflicts.

Peace.

Sameer JB # 38 - There is no God. Otherwise, he/she would not have let powerful people inflict so many zulms on poor and less powerful people throughout history. It’s jungle out there!

We have to learn to take natural disasters in stride since frankly, what else can we do. The real tragedy is that we learn very little from our own man-made disasters. As our weapons become increasingly powerful and brains stay same pea-sized, we will have to worry more about what we do to each other rather than what ``God`` is doing to us.

Sorry about digressing from discussion on the tragedy at hand.

Peace.

Dear Chowk:

Thank you for the addresses of all the relief agencies where people can donate. Also one can contact local Ramakrishna mission or Bharat Sebasram Sangha. The later is rather quick in all its relief work.

Sameer, I also do not understand what pleasure God may have by burying alive 400 innocent children. We can not think of any other rational but just to see how humanity prevails. See, how people come together irrespective of religious and political boundaries. This life is mortal any way, sooner or later we all pass away, become dust of the dust in the universe. This kind of natural disaster only proves how vulnerable we are, it might be God` action to remind us our humbleness, our temporary relationship with this cosmos, and accept the grief with utter humbleness. I don`t know! I have several classmates working in Jamnagar ONGC refinery. And I am worried about them. Last two nights, I kept waking up thinking if the ceiling above me falls now, and kept praying to God, please keep my friends safe. Some of them, I have not throught of for many years, and I know some of them bought flats spending all their savings. Hope they are not in those ill-fated highrises.

Really what is the meaning of life any way, and how people keep having positive attitudes after all these? Those who are still bickering at each other, do you not see how pointless, futile that is? Let us not pay a single dollar on defense, rather try to build a relationship where we live in a borderless society, where we can share each other`s grief. May be that is what God wants!

Regards

cheraym

Sameer JB #38

You are alive.

So still if you are not thankful to God, you should be for your luck.

I am very thankful to God because most of my family suffered only shocks and no real disaster.

If you still think these sentiment of mine are in vain. Then you have seen nothing in life. I have seen and suffered enough to know the value of not suffering, particularly a disaster like this.

Bilal Ahmad writes:

``If we can show solidarity due to natural calamity, we can also find ways to alleviate our socially constructed difficulties. This indeed is moment of self-evaluation -- both individual and collective. In my view, both India and Pakistan need to divert a lot of money from the so-called defence budget to human development (which also includes the development of better built environment).``

Aameen! May this message sink into the hearts and minds of all in a decision making position, and indeed, every individual.

Let us not get sidetracked by philosophical intricacies about a god who allows these catastrophies. The God in each of demands we learn what we can (about fragility of life, about the need work together to minimize these dangers) even from this great calamity.

We don`t have the luxury of philosophizing at this point.

Peace all!