For a guy doesn't really believe in luck, I'm pretty lucky. I have two Japanese friends, both are poets, like me, which is how I came to know them, through the American poet Gary Snyder, who is a mutual friend. Following the earthquake, tsunami, and aftershocks, both of my friends are safe, their families are safe, and their homes are intact. Thank God. One friend had to sleep in a library that first night, but that isn't so bad.
For millions and millions of Japanese, that is not the case. Whole towns are gone. A Woodland-sized city was swept out to sea. No one yet knows how many lives were lost or how many people are now homeless. And we need to help.
America, especially the West Coast, should stand up tall for these people, and we need to give as much as we can. Friend, it could just as easily have been us, Both San Francisco and Los Angeles are long overdue for a huge quake, indeed, the entire Pacific Rim is an earthquake zone! I have family in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, maybe you do, too. Dig deep, the help we give is the help we'll get.
And as good a reason as that is, I'll give another; we're all humans together on this planet. Countries? Borders? That's all stuff politicians thought up. We are people, human beings, with hearts, souls, and hopefully, a measure of compassion. That's the reason I like most. Because it is good for our souls.
Maybe you're saying, Jobe, we're barely scraping by out here. We just make it paycheck to paycheck. Just barely. And I say, if you can give one dollar, just one, then give it. If millions of us do, it will add up. And if you can afford to really kick in, and don't, well that's just sad and awful.
Here is a link where you can safely donate online. Please do. I'm asking. -Jobe
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