The Great Earthquake Nears

As anyone who follows this story will know, the fall of nova has left many stranded in japan, victims of circumstance that no-one seems to want to help. Now they are being offered cheaper flights home (which some simply can't afford) and in the longer term (3 months) their salaries finally. I can see that some may not really see it as an option to go back, even if they can just about afford a ticket and will stay- finding what work they can, maybe even going homeless. Japan has some sympathy for them, but is avoiding the responsibility they have for having invited all these guests to come and experience their culture and provide so much entertainment and sympathetic help (whatever cold-minded nonsense you hear, language school teachers often double-up as therapist/councilors and none that I met is as selfish as the average 'full time worker'- self-important buffoons that they are, denying god's reality with their every breath (okay, there are exceptions, but todays professional pharasies are not as pure-hearted as they claim).

I do smell a certain racial attitude towards these foreign guests in not doing enough to ensure their pay is refunded (pay that was stolen by a company with deep connections to the government here, much like Enron had in America), nor to ensure that basic HUMAN RIGHTS like food and shelter and security are granted. The Japanese workers can stay with their families- foreigners can't- sometimes even in their own countries, where families are much less close (living with mine would mean a lot of verbal abuse alongside all the kindness and I'm not sure I could take it in the middle-to-long term). I know I partly came to Japan to be more independant and save for the future- trusting the government approval of Nova and their legitimacy as a large company. Back then it was easy to leave for something else- now the market is not only depressed, but also flooded with thousands of other inexperienced 'teachers' in the same boat.

So, we see the media blaming the teachers for Nova collapsing, suggesting they should have been firm and loyal, even with no pay or no food. You see no offers from the government or even private citizens to help people they invited to help them with their poor English and narrow perspective on the world. Can God accept this treatment of the young and generous (with their time, if that is all they have)- can God sit back and allow his children to be treated this way- a way that is so shocking it has made the front pages of the international news?

If Katrina was America's punishment for the invasion of Iraq, the brutal conquest of a Sovereign land and the rape of her resources, all to satisfy greedy consumerist habits, one wonders what may be on the cards for Japan if they insist on proceeding with this bigoted nonsense and hard-hearted refusal to see what they are doing? Whatever Shinto might seem to teach them, humans all have equal rights (though perhaps individual aptitudes- rights to a happy life being a different subject). Could it be that Earthquake that has been on the cards for so long?

I should stress here that God doesn't punish- yet our actions, thoughts and deeds of our heart can bring forth consequences out of the great law of karma. God indeed counsels us to be kind and loving, slow to anger and hate, so that we are on track for the way he created us to be. But if we ignore such signs, wonders and teachings, who knows what might happen- only our faith and kindness can appeal to God's grace. Of course, I hope all this doesn't happen and Japan comes to it's senses and helps these poor buggars, and also that a lot of them go home, where it will be a lot safer- then they can come out again with other jobs. But all this makes Japan look bad for a reason- no-one tolerates intolerance- it can no longer be a 'dirty little secret' that can be hidden safely. America and the UN have yet to say anything- hopefully it will all be resolved before this is neccessary (remember, this is about people being marooned, not the economics of bankruptcy itself, which happens all the time, but rarely to foreigners on this scale).

In my country, people would certainly help and the government would already have many schemes to make sure everyone is safe and to an extent looked after. Maybe that's why when we had a flood, only a few people actually died. 'Natural disasters' bring their own message. Let's be good and fear the wrath of our own misdeeds- being loving, instead.

God, let there be compassion, peace ,justice and safety. May your kingdom come ton Earth, may we be saved from the harsh things of this world by your grace.

Amen