The September 2 earthquake in Java, Indonesia caused panic among people living or working in high rise buildings, and deaths to those whose houses were buried under massive mudslides. Indonesia, lying within the Pacific “Ring of Fire” zone, is always experiencing earthquakes. But the capital city of Jakarta has not been hit by any big earthquake. There is always the suspicion that “the big one” is coming.
Jakarta-based TV anchor and writer Desi Anwar recently wrote an article published in The Jakarta Globe entitled, “Quake Was Earth’s Wake-Up Call.” In it she wondered what Jakarta would be like if a big earthquake were to hit this city. Then referring to the September 2 Java earthquake, she said: “Imagine if the quake’s epicenter had been closer to the city and buildings started to collapse in unison with tidal waves sweeping in from the bay. What a dreadful thought! No doubt it would be like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster with all the special effects”.
Then in a somewhat philosophical mood she pondered what is the role of humans in this earth and why we are here. She concluded: “Contrary to our wishful thinking, the world is not our playground in which to indulge our every whim and fancy, or our plaything to shape and knock about as we see fit. And then she added that earth is “where things that we hold of value, like our pride and dignity, have less worth than the smallest blade of grass”.
Think about it. Desi Anwar is right, isn’t she? All of us have a “use by” date, beyond which life expires. Life is short. How long can one live today on this earth? 70 years? 80 years? I have friends who could not cross their 60th year. They died on their 59th year. Yet we think we own this earth. But the earthquakes are, like Desi Anwar said, a wakeup call to all of earth’s inhabitants. Something is not right. Perhaps the real rightful owner is reclaiming earth?
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im not sure why these people dont understand. having been through several earthquakes, i treasure all, the life now and the future to come…
Another reminder that we are living in the last days
This is indeed a shocking reality on what the world is facing today.
Very good food for thought. If people and governments have not wakened up yet and are stil complacent after the 2004 tsunami and after this latest quake, there must be something seriously wrong with the human species.