Once again Mother Nature has shown how terribly ruthless she can be. Over the past decade, she has wreaked havoc in places such as Iran, the Indian Ocean region, Pakistan, and Haiti. 
And now, most recently, she has hit Japan.
Following the 9.0 earthquake that struck from off the northeast shore of Honshu, Japan on March 11, and the resultant tsunami, social networks have proven to be invaluable. They have offered whenever possible a variety of ways for people within and without Japan to connect with one another — to try to locate and correspond with family and friends; find food, water, and shelter; raise and donate money; share firsthand experiences with the media and public.
But for as much good and kindness that we have seen, we have, unfortunately, also witnessed great insensitivity and tastelessness. The jokes that Gilbert Gottfried posted on Twitter cost him his long-standing job as the voice of the Aflac (insurance company) duck; rapper 50 Cent’s questionable jokes and comments on Twitter earned him no new fans; and the racist rant of UCLA student Alexandra Wallace on YouTube has caused a significant stir. Why anyone would choose to make light of such a serious and tragic situation is difficult to understand.
May the people of Japan find the strength and courage to get through these challenging times. And may the rest of us around the world offer them compassion and support. The Japan Society and SXSW (South by Southwest) are just two of a number of reputable organizations helping to raise money for relief efforts.
Photo credit: Sunny Z
