(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

Given my online history of being mistaken for coldly sarcastic, I will tell you now that this post is not intended so.

For the last few years, I had toyed with the idea of someday moving to Sri Lanka. I had a few flimsy reasons: (1) extras on the '96 PC game "Rama" included a brief look at exotic Sri Lanka and Arthur C. Clarke saying he moved there because of 30 British winters, (2) I've grown to prefer warm weather myself, (3) I hadn't heard of any particular violence or instability going on there, and (4) it had little attention from the U.S. and was therefore bound to be low on U.S. influence. Am I glad not to be the type to go on a whim. (I had also considered Indonesia, because a close friend of mine lived there for four years, but terrorist activity dissuaded me.)

In the last year or so, I was terribly jaded by frequent reports of massive war-related deaths, such that I barely thought to pray for strangers even during Florida's hurricane season. Now I feel like I can't pray enough for people on the Indian Ocean coasts.

Almost all major tragedies, it seems, could have been averted if people had heeded the glaring warnings. However, it sounds like these countries acknowledged the importance of a good flood alert system but couldn't obtain the resources in time.

I'm hardly one to assume the intent of nature or God acting thru nature, but I get the feeling there's a message of "Hey, warlords of the world! You think YOU'RE powerful?"

Comments

[ashegrey.livejournal.com]

I realize the intent of your post was regarding sympathies felt for those suffering loss and injuries from the tsunamis. But what I am addressing is that you shouldn't let this discourage you from travel and living abroad. A friend of mine just solved his underemployment problems by moving to China to teach english. He is only twenty-two and not all that adventurous but he couldn't envision a future for himself where he was living and decided to check out what China was like. I myself traveled Europe for two months, it was the best thing I ever did for myself; and have since gone back with my sister. If you are at all serious about traveling then do it, right now! Besides what are that chances of a natural disaster of that scale happing again?

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

I wasn't really going to let that discourage my lust for travel, any more than crimes and mishaps at school discouraged me from going there. But thank you for your concern. I wouldn't mind hearing from you on future entries.