Crane - Pray for Japan

The character there is the Japanese kanji for peace. I am impressed that I managed to get it to show up pretty well on the wing.

And now, TIME FOR A MINI-RANT, KIDDOS.

So I'm getting pretty fed-up with people complaining about how people only care about the tsunami/earthquake/power plant meltdown/volcano in Japan because it's Japan and that's where anime comes from. And yes, there are many people who seem to care at least partly because of that circumstance. Do I think that that reasoning is twisted and, subjectively speaking, wrong? Yes, yes I do. Do I think it matters why people choose to care and donate money and pray, etc. in a time of crisis? No. Did I donate money in this case, but not when the earthquake hit Haiti and in other recent disasters? Yes. Because in previous recent disasters, I didn't have money to donate. I still don't have much, I only gave $10, but hell, it's something. People who are concerned primarily because they're worried about the anime/manga/games industry and the fates of voice actors, etc. they're attached to... maybe your priorities need reevaluating, but you know what, if that's what it takes to get you to help, I don't care. You're helping, that's what matters. People who are annoyed with those people, yeah, so am I a little bit, but that doesn't mean you get to act like an uncaring bastard. Several thousand people died. I don't care if that country happens to produce things you don't like, I don't care if you happen to dislike the people who like those things, you should care. Human lives were lost. Get over your petty conflicts.

If you have money to give, try giving some - even if it's just a small amount. If you don't, send prayers, or good thoughts, or whatever the hell suits your fancy. But be reasonable, and don't refuse to care because of some personal distaste when a disaster struck. /endrant

P.S. Technically, I don't exactly believe in the power of prayer, although I do something similar to praying I don't call it that, but many people do, and it appears to have caught on as the thing to say, so... thus the title. If you don't pray either, great! Just send good vibrations or thoughts or money in another way that you do believe in.