I've been randomly crying for a few days now...

[AlienGirl]

I'll be fine for a while, even be able to joke around, and then *WHAM* I get hit with the mental image of the tsunami, or a thought about some individual story I've read (the baby on the mattress, the kids who ran out to pick up fish...) and I'm bawling again.

I think I'm losing it.

I feel worse than I did after 9/11, because this time there's no fear or sense that I should do something to protect myself. This is just grief.

Most of the people who live in my neighborhood are from India. A lot of my neighbors are in shock; they've got that blank look, the "I can't let myself feel yet" look.

I've sent my donations, but what good is a little money going to do in the face of tectonic upheaval? Nothing I can do will make the world okay again. Nothing anyone can do will make the world okay again.

Tucker

[supernova]

1. It will make a difference

to the people that will be helped. :hug: Hang in there.

It's just a really freaky thing. That earthquake could have happened anywhere.

[Historic NY]

2. Just doing something to ease the immense suffering of others and knowing

you have done what you could, should help. We can only hope our donations help them reclaim a bit of their lives. I too see the pictures and feel the sadness.

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. My doctor is from India.

I saw him this morning whe we were both getting gas, and I almost couldn't bring myself to speak to him. When I did, all could think to say was "I'm sorry". His answer: "Thank you. We know you are."

:cry:

[Maddy McCall]

4. Mine is, too....and he's an old college friend.

I need to call him. Thanks for reminding me. :)

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. You'll both feel better.

:hug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. I saw some of the video and photos

Bad idea--gave me nightmares. However, it made a distant, massive tragedy immediate and comprehensible.

Tsunamis are horrible because they come out of nowhere, destroy everything, then vanish, not to turn up for another 30, 40, 100 years.

[politicaholic]

7. Big hug from near by.

Nothing worse than feeling helpless in the face of empathy.

[AccessGranted]

8. I Know How You Feel

I've been feeling that way on and off since 9-11 and it's been down hill since then. There are many devastating and horrible things going on in the world right now and even if it does not directly affect you, it hurts. I've done volunteer work to help the homeless and have been helping with an anti-war group to stop military recruiters from harrassing young people. I got laid off, but I'm still trying to do what I can and you're right, it just doesn't seem to make me feel any better. I finally named what I feel. I call it "The Great Sorrow". I'm reading a book right now called "Positive Energy" by Dr. Judith Orloff. It's helpful.

[cruadin]

9. The magnitude of just what happened has only slowly begun...

to sink in for me.
I mean, hardly a week goes by that there isn't some kind of natural disaster somewhere in the world--typhoon, earthquake, flood, fire--that claims many lives and that cries out for relief and compassion.
The scale of this tsunami--both in geographic area and number of lives lost--has taken a while to fully register with me.

I just saw a wire service story in another forum that said as many as 400,000 may be dead.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2885514

I don't know how you deal with suffering and destruction on such an enormous scale. In some ways I think I still haven't fully incorporated the horror of it. Maybe that's a defense mechanism, because you're right about one thing-- "Nothing anyone can do will make the world OK again."

[blm]

10. I hear you, AG.

Half the day I spend thinking about trying to adopt one of the orphans and then I think that those orphans should fill the lives of the so many grieving parents who lost children. All we can do is what we can for now and then wait to see what is needed of us.

[HEAVYHEART]

11. I know how you feel

I've been feeling depressed about it myself. I called my kid's friend's mom today who is Indian, and told her how sorry I am. We're not close friends or anything but I felt the need to call her to let her know that I'm here if she needs me. She thanked me for calling and invited us over for dinner next week. I know how you feel... :cry:

[Groggy]

12. Hope

There have always been major catastrophes that happen randomly on the Earth...this will always be the case. There will always be the poor, there will always be sadness, there will always be violence, there will always be death.

There will always be love, there will always be happiness, there will always be miracles, there will always be hope.

This is life...this is what it is.

We have to love one another, care for one another, help the needy, heal the sick, and do the best we can. The most important thing is to be grateful for our lives, the people around us..and never take one single day for granted.

Just my take on things.

Peace to you my friend.