just watched the news coverage of the sichuan quake. another devastating natural disaster hot on the heels of the cyclone. the station tried to soften the blow by featuring stories of how 2 students made it out of the rubble alive; one even had enough in him to ask for a bottle of coke. you could feel the relief in the rescue workers as they hugged each other for a job well done as applause rang out for their efforts. however, the applause died off too soon as they got down to the grim task of pulling out dust covered limp bodies.
the death toll has reached 20000 already. at this point, further information about the rising death toll just numbs me. a natural disaster brings out the best in people, you hear about how refugees who don't have enough to eat are willing to share their food with complete strangers. i would like to think that it brings out the best in me too, but it no longer does.
i am loath to donate anything to the survivors of these disasters because i don't know what's going to happen to my donation. i don't want the money to end up in some corrupt official's pocket. i could always donate food but that could end up in the same official's stomach. or it could be rotting away in the many warehouses the rations go to.
this cynicism is worrying me. i could still remember times when i was willing to give unquestioningly; then i saw how good intentions could go so wrong. right now, there's a little girl in china who refuses to change out of the clothes that have been on her back since the quake. she's keeping them on because she wants her parents, whom she believes are climbing mountains to be with her and her sister, to know that she's alive. i want to be like that little girl.
our day will come.
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