Letter to the Japanese

Dear Shiho Fukada,

I have read the post you published on the New York Times website and from you, I have gotten a better insight into the catastrophe that has befallen on your motherland. After reading it, I am full of emotions and would like to express them to you.

Here in Singapore, we are very concerned about the dire situation in Japan, one of our close friends, and has been following the news very closely.   It occurred as a rude shock to us when we first heard of this shocking misfortune and the destruction it has wreaked on Japan. Most of all, it was the severity of this earthquake, a lot of which has been hounding Japan for the past century. Initially, we expected Japan to cope with this earthquake pretty well, due to the consolidated Japanese constructions against earthquakes.  However, to our chagrin, the bleak situation has been aggravated by a looming nuke crisis. Japan is right now facing a “so-called” double whammy.  Japan is still one of the countries that are still heavily indebted, and such a spell could mean total disaster to your country. Despite all these, I know that from all these calamities, something is highlighted again, the respected “Japanese spirit”.  This encompasses noble qualities of the man such as determination, consideration and kindness, all of which are clearly exemplified by your fellow compatriots in this disaster. It is surprising that this moral is still being passed down for so many generations.  Notwithstanding the bleak prospects that you are facing, the undaunted Japanese people carry on with their lives with courage.  No cases of looting had taken place, due to the graciousness of the Japanese. Everything was done peacefully and in order. Fortunate survivors rushed to the aid of those who were in predicament. In this materialistic society of ours today, such racial pride and spirit had long been diminished. It was out of this disaster that I witnessed the boundless strength of man in the face of crises., and gave me faith in humanity, As the saying goes, “When there’s a will, there’s a way out”, I believe that with sheer resilience, the people of Japan will be able to stride out of this and rise once again. Hereby, I would sincerely send my deepest condolences to the bereaved ones and those who have sacrificed .

It was courage, faith, endurance and a dogged determination to surmount all obstacles that built this bridge.- John J. Watson

 Yours Truly,

Lim Fu Man