AVN

yo

i moved. avn.tumblr.com

y. iono. cus i can.

When everyone on the internet reads nothing but headlines, then thinks they’re political geniuses.

heylauren-:

And I’m just like

(Source: heylauren)

Letter from Japan

EDITOR’S note:

THIS letter, written by Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh working in

Fukushima as a policeman, and written to a friend in Vietnam , was

posted on New America Media on March 19. It is a testimonial to the

strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of

life near the epicenter of Japan ‘s crisis at the Fukushima nuclear

power plant. It was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam,

author of “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres.” Shanghai

Daily condensed it.

Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in

chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I

also see dead bodies.

Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48

hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing

folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero.

We barely manage to move refugees before there are new

orders to move them elsewhere.

I am currently in Fukushima , about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear

power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could

write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human

relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

People here remain calm - their sense of dignity and proper behavior

are very good - so things aren’t as bad as they could

be. But given another week, I can’t guarantee that things won’t get

to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection

and order.

They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override

dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The

government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and

medicine, but it’s like dropping a little salt into the

ocean.

Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little

Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to

behave like a human being.

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity

organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that

snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He

was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line.

I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn’t

be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the

earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was

driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he

saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away.

I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach

and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make

it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his

relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him.

That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it

up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run

out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t

you eat it?”

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away,

but he didn’t. He took the bag of food, went up to where

the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be

distributed.

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to

the food pile. He answered: “Because I see a lot more

people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will

distribute the food equally.”

When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn’t see me cry.

A society that can produce a 9-year-old who understands the concept of

sacrifice for the greater good must be a great

society, a great people.

Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours

of my shift have begun again.

Ha Minh Thanh

************ LESSON TO LEARN FROM JAPAN ***********

10 things to learn from Japan.

1. THE CALM

Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY

Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY

The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.

4. THE GRACE

People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER

No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE

Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. THE TENDERNESS

Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. THE TRAINING

The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA

They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE

When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly!

This made me cry so fucking bad. My baby brother is 9 and to imagine him without anyone… my fucking heart is breaking into pieces. It made me really reflect about my selfish material wants, about the people in my life, and the time I use my life for.

I really stayed up til 3:30 am playing zombies just so i can upstage Jonathan (35 w/2p). Need a new damn hobby.