Natural disasters force us to imagine the unimaginable

Cyclone in Myanmar. Earthquake in China. Tornadoes in the Midwest.

These real disasters happening to real people seem less-than-real to us when we read about them in the paper or see images of them on TV. But because one natural disaster after another has piled up over the past week, I'm feeling especially sad for families who are living through these latest tragedies.

Imagine if, here in Portland, something like a cyclone whipped through your neighborhood, flinging pieces of your house and all of your possessions far away. Imagine being separated - by yards, by miles - from your partner, your kids and not knowing where they were. It's unimaginable, I know, but very real to a lot of people at this moment.

I had lunch with a friend today and we were talking about the earthquake in China. News reports are saying at least 15,000 people were killed. The quake hit during the day, and some of the worst casualties involved students in schools. In one high school alone, 900 kids were injured or killed by the collapsing building.

My friend brought up the point that the deaths of children are particularly sad because of China's one-child-per-family rule. That brought tears to my eyes.

We all wish we could do more to help in times like this. I know I do.

Comments

[Renee]

Well said, Marianne. I am drawn to these stories, and shocked by the sweeping grandness of both of these tragedies. It's so frustrating to know that in Myanmar there's all this resistance to outside help as well. I'm sure Mercy Corps and NW Medical teams, Red Cross, etc. can take donations, but even that seems like so little to help in disasters so huge. I am the weepiest person in the world, and I struggle to keep it together when thinking about "1 child per family" too.