December 26, 2004, 'Tis the season for national self-absorption
Ho hum. Stories about "Christmas miracles" of long lost family reunions or seeming generosity that, really, aren't anything other than a seasonal excuse to sell tabloids or get zombies to watch the local news, will crowd out consciousness of what should probably be the largest story of the new millenium... the humongous 8.9 Krakatoa-magnitude earthquake near Sumatra and resultant tsunami-- in death toll, certainly, way beyond 9-11 (a tragedy which people from the victim nations were doubtless concerned over, something which will not likely be reciprocated from here).
The fact is, this is an unfortunate harbinger of how natural tragedies, because of heavy population density in low, coastal areas, overdevelopment in said areas, poverty, and the like, which once might have killed dozens or hundreds will likely kill tens of thousands. This may well be a progressively bigger story as global warming exacerbates and our oceans rise (even as oblivious fat cats-- and American zombies-- pretend that science is something can be debated like the merits of football draft choices.)
I guess its Christmas weekend, and the usual stories of airline delays and American weather and what not are more important and all. At this point, its hard to say who is responsible for what amounts to the dumming down (and self-absorption) of reporting of the news. But it infects our political coverage (75% of those who voted for the President, for example, believed that Saddam Hussein was personally responsible for 9-11 and had nucular weapons-- both of which have long been conceded-- by the President himself-- as not true).
Well, my sympathies and prayers go out to the people of Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and all others effected. Even if, I suspect, few Americans will give it a second thought.
Comments
Well, I'm glad to see someone noticed, besides me, InstaPundit, Tim Blair, Buzzmachine, and others.
And I'm the only one on the above list that has friends in the area.
Posted by Kathy K at December 26, 2004 9:28 PM
C'mon, everyone who died in the WTC attack was a HERO, whether they were ever conscious of what was happening or not. Dying in a natural disaster is just bad luck.
Posted by The Raving Atheist at December 27, 2004 12:56 AM
You are actually linking an earthquake to Global Warming theory while dismissing 'non-believers' as "zombies"?
Posted by DANEgerus at December 27, 2004 10:46 AM
Other than on Sumatra and in the immediate epicenter area (where it caused incredible damage), the earthquake wasn'n't the big killer here.
I'm linking tsunami/tidal wave deaths caused by massive development along shorelines from Sumatra to Somalia... and the immense numbers of people who now live in very low lying areas where tidal waves (and hurricanes, or even smaller storms) will now cause far more human cost than they once would have when there was less coastal development. And yes-- global warming exacerbates that by raising the base sea levels. And yes, as this century goes on, unfortunately my guess is that disasters of this type and magnitude will become more frequent.
I linked to a story some months ago where reinsurance industry experts from Swiss Re said the same thing, btw. We quite literally continue to delude ourselves at our peril.
Posted by the talking dog at December 27, 2004 11:20 AM
Gosh, TD, you becoming broken record
Your take on earthquake:
"Weh weh weh, blub blub"
Lighten up for the new year.
Posted by Kim Jong-Illin at December 27, 2004 6:12 PM
Hey Kim--
Maybe you can offer some space in your cozy gulags for homeless refugees...
Posted by the talking dog at December 30, 2004 12:45 PM
Ya v serpe i neebet2. sdf4fdena!
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