<p>Haven't seen a mention of this here, and with all the Katrina stuff, I thought there would have been something.</p>
<p>7.6 magnitude quake, in the Northern Pakistan / India region.</p>
<p>Yeah..quite devastating...</p>
<p>there's one thread at the international forum.</p>
<p>isn't it strange - three large scale natural disasters in 2005 - the tsunami, katrina, now this earthquake. it's almost unbelievable.</p>
<p>isnt anyone else actually a little more worried about the fact that they think a kid has contracted the avian flu?</p>
<p>
[quote]
isnt anyone else actually a little more worried about the fact that they think a kid has contracted the avian flu?
[/quote]
One thing I find scary about that, is that researchers have discovered that the Spanish Flu originated in birds, and somehow passed on to humans.</p>
<p>
[quote]
isnt anyone else actually a little more worried about the fact that they think a kid has contracted the avian flu?
[/quote]
No, actually. Tens of thousands of people have died from the earthquake, and countless others have been displaced and are now homeless, and you're more worried about one kid possibly getting sick from from a bird?</p>
<p>Remember the SARS "epidemic"? Mad cow disease? These things are mostly media feeding-frenzies, with limited substance and extremely low risk to the average citizen. </p>
<p>But when something very real and very devastating like the tsunami of last December, or the recent earthquake, happens, it always seems literally a million miles away to Americans and most of us could care less. </p>
<p>Case in point: the United States government has recently sent $100,000 and 8 helicopters in aid to the Pakistani government. We're the wealthiest nation on earth, ladies and gentlemen. Compare with the Dutch government, who sent $1 million euros, or approximately US$1,205,700, or more than ten times what America sent. </p>
<p>Now I'm sure that once the public comprehends this and starts demanding government action, America will surely open its wallet, but you have to admit that the initial showing was quite pathetic. And apathetic.</p>
<p>haha, how quickly we forget that we are dealing with our own natural disaster thats already adding billions into our almost incomprehensible deficit.</p>
<p>Nobody "forgets" about the deficit. But that's never stopped politicians from spending money freely in the past, has it? Certainly the Bush administration appears somewhat unconcerned about the deficit.</p>
<p>number of dead will push 40,000</p>
<p>US donated $100,000 right away, and has now donated $50,000,000 now that the magnitude of the disaster has become known. Now we sent 50 times what the Dutch sent, and 25 times what the British sent, does that make you more happy?</p>
<p>Also, 2000 feared dead in a mud slide in Guatemala.</p>
<p>See my first post.</p>
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[quote]
Now I'm sure that once the public comprehends this and starts demanding government action, America will surely open its wallet, but you have to admit that the initial showing was quite pathetic. And apathetic.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My point was much more than just about the apathy of the American government. I'm more worried about the apathy of the American people in general. I bet most Americans don't even know that a disaster of this magnitude has happened. It won't be until Time Magazine does a nice glossy piece with panoramic pictures showing the devastation in Pakistan that people start to get it. The apparent lack of interest in this thread just further proves my point on a local scale. </p>
<p>And I'm also afraid the after the tsunami, and after Katrina, Americans have become somewhat desensitized to natural disasters. The shock factor just isn't there when you've heard desperate pleas for major disaster relief twice in the last year.</p>
<p>pink: you forgot the catastrophic earthquake in Bam, Iran, which killed around 50,000 people!</p>
<p>so it goes</p>
<p>tsunami, quake in Iran, Katrina, Asian quake</p>
<p>what is up with the year 2000s ultimate devastation? why such unnecessary casualties?</p>
<p>Maybe it's a sign. Maybe we should stop killing each other. No better place to have an earthquake than a terrorist haven like Pakistan.</p>
<p>All I know is this is unimaginable disaster and makes you realize how vulnerable we are and how unstable this planet sometimes is. New Orleans was nothing compared to some of the stuff that happens overseas, and yet Americans down there were looting and killing and there was mass chaos. When India had the monsoons this year I only heard good things about how the people helped each other and got through it. A lot needs to change if this race is to survive more than another couple of centuries.</p>
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[quote]
No better place to have an earthquake than a terrorist haven like Pakistan.
[/quote]
Wow. I don't pretend to know a whole lot about Pakistan, but that is a completely offensive generalization. </p>
<p>First off, Pakistan has been a key partner in the United States' War on Terror. Secondly, I can't believe you'd wish such a disaster upon anybody. I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of the 20,000+ killed were innocent civilians, not terrorists.</p>
<p>i sincerely hope aim78 got that quote from a TV show...</p>
<p>and please, no disaster is meant to punish anybody. don't keep saying "god wished this upon [country]". i so hate it when i hear some quarters saying that Katrina was a punishment on america. so what, now this earthquake is a punishment too? :mad:</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
isn't it strange - three large scale natural disasters in 2005 - the tsunami, katrina, now this earthquake. it's almost unbelievable.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Indeed.</p>
<p>banedon, I think that a disaster could be a punishment from God....but we cannot know if it is a punishment or a coincidence</p>
<p>1 Thessalonians 5
1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.</p>
<p>Luke 21:11
11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.</p>
<p>Mark 13:8
8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.</p>
<p>Matthew 24:7
7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.</p>
<p>Revelation 16:18
18Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.</p>
<p>If you all want to believe this came from "God", then you can't really ask "why" it happened, from that non-scientific point of view .. too many innocent people were killed, I dont really think this is "God's wrath" or anything. But from a scientific point of view it makes sense, Pakistan has had earthquakes before, I think it's located on a fault line. </p>
<p>Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas have all suffered hurricanes before, it's right at the gulf. This is why extra caution is taken at the beginning when buildings are built there</p>
<p>And the tsunami:
"Over the last three months, scientists have studied the December Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami. They believe the quake near Indonesia Monday was triggered by that event."</p>
<p>Maybe if you had a random hurricane in the middle of Indiana it would be God's wrath or something :P
But these disasters sorta make sense, it's not like totally random and new for instance</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
If you all want to believe this came from "God", then you can't really ask "why" it happened
[/QUOTE]
You really need to study theology and philosophy if you actually believe this. Also, we couldn't predict these events (hurricanes, earthquakes...) using science, so really we don't know why they happenned, only that they are vaguely connected to fault lines. I know that I sound like I am oversimplifying science, and I am, purposely, just as you did for religion, unpurposely.</p>
<p>I think the US people have other things to focus on- we're still trying to rebuild after Katrina. I don't care where you live in the world, you'll feel more empathetic towards people from your own country, hence why we're currently focusing on New Orleans and not the quake. Don't go pulling the ignorant/apathetic Americans card, it's almost as silly as thinking these natural disasters are God's wrath. </p>
<p>Also, I personally don't think we should write a blank check to every country that has a natural disaster. I know we need to be humanitarians, but I'd like to see us reign in the checks a bit, as we have many more problems here that could use that money.</p>
<p>The Tsunami was last year.</p>
<p>hurricanes are not God's punishment, b/c the US already has almost as many churches as strip clubs, so God must be happy (according to Jon Stewart).</p>
<p>seriously though, hurricanes can be predicted. We can see them when they are hundreds of miles and days from land. However, you cannot move houses out of their way.</p>
<p>There were natural disasters before humans existed, and there will be natural disasters after humans have gone.</p>