Disasters bring out the best in people.

 It would be nice if there were no such thing as a disaster. It would be great if no one has to endure the horrors of war. It would perfect if there were no war! Then everyone would be happy, and death would just be part and parcel of life. But if everyone were happy and content, then who would strive to make the world a better place? How is anyone supposed to improve upon humanity? After all, how are we going to be happier than happy?

 I will never be in favour of war. And as for natural disasters, I am no God. They are way beyond our control. But disaster alike, rob us of our material possessions, the lives of our fellow countrymen, the lives of our loved ones. Everything that we could possibly dream of attaining would crumble in the hands of a hurricane or even at the will of a nuclear attack. However, precisely because of our human frailty, disasters often bring out the best in us.

 A wise man from Japan once said, “After a great storm you can see more clearly where there is solid ground.” In the disaster stricken city of Fukushima, the world bears witness to the extent of which an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear meltdown can have an affect on the lives of the Japanese. We shudder at the images and video clips of the destruction brought upon our fellow human beings; of how the physical state of the environment is drastically altered to nothing but rubble. But amidst the bleakness of hopes, we awe at the courage and immense discipline of the Japanese. We salute to their selflessness; of their willingness to go beyond the call of duty to help each other, sometimes even to mere strangers. Throughout the course of the disaster, not one incident of looting was reported. There were neither fights, nor protests. Just snaking queues. Yes, disasters do wreak a bit of havoc, but they compel us to focus on what is truly important. Our families. Our communities. Our country.

 We each understand how vaccines work. How there is a need to inject that little bit of harmful virus into our body, so that our immune system is able to learn how to fight that particular virus in future. Quite simply, but really, disasters cause people to adapt and prepare for future disasters. Victims of disasters can experience healthy personal growth, as they seek ways to prevent themselves from becoming victims of those disasters again. We see today that countries such as Indonesia, the U.S., Japan have begun to develop technology to detect early signs of disasters such as any nearby seismic activities or possible drops in pressure above the oceans. Disaster prone countries such as them have been able draw on their experiences and subsequently emerge stronger and more resourceful, breaking various technological barriers that would further enhance their warning facilities. Therefore, the country would be able to prepare the citizens beforehand and effectively work out evacuations routes, thereby saving a whole lot more lives. All of which to gain, owing to the debt of human ingenuity that surfaces from disasters.

 Critics would argue that disasters would bring out undesirable behaviour in people, mentioning that people would turn to crime as a way of satisfying their immediate needs. This is indeed the case for some countries, and such behaviour is regrettable. But life is about choices that we make. It is not as if the law is abandoned once a disaster strikes, and that all morals have to be temporarily put aside for the sake of satisfying one’s comfort. There is still that little bit of conscience that exists in each and every one of us. Disasters have a thing about evoking empathy and sympathy in people, to the extent that it humanizes people. It makes people realise how no one is spared from them, regardless of race, riches or religion.

 It is never easy to disregard the destruction that disasters can bring upon us. But whatever we can learn and gain out of them, is the way we can progress forward to be happier than happy.