TODAY IN HISTORY
April 15, 1865 - President Abraham Lincoln died, nine hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth at the Ford's theater in Washington.
MEETING LEADER - Dean Dykeman
PLEDGE - Dean Dykeman PATRIOTIC SONG - Sy Yuter PRAYER - Bishop John
HAPPY THOUGHTS - Bishop John - Happy Passover to all; Dean Dykeman - daughter starred in college play; Shelley - 8 puppies.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Happy Birthday Sy, 39 again; Rachel - blood drive being held at the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department on April 23rd from 9 - 1; Friday meeting, April 22nd is at Squires due to Good Friday.
SPEAKER AND SUBJECT - Ken Shimazu - Update From Tokyo.
SUMMARY OF TALK
Looking relaxed and leaning against the podium, Ken described returning from his trip to Tokyo since the earthquake and Tsunami tragedy. He admitted that as a child the earthquakes scared him and maybe even caused his premature grey hair. He enjoyed the bullet train from Osaka to southern mostl Japan. The stoic personality of the Japanese people has prevented them from looting or line jumping during food distribution.. There are still numbers of after quakes felt even in Tokyo. There is an alert system through which citizens are warned when an earthquake is coming but not how forceful it will be. Ken stayed on the 12th floor of a hotel and felt very safe even when sways were felt due to a very strict building code there. He was impressed by the dedicated actions of civil servants there, policemen, firefighters, teachers and government workers, etc. The displaced people were housed in school gyms and teachers dealt with nervous people dealing with all the stress even though teachers themselves were affected by the quakes and tsunami. . This Tsunami was the biggest in the history of Japan. His help is commendable.
FRIDAY MEETING AT SQUIRES
Elinor Yuter, Reporter
Rachel Leihbacher, Expediter
DISCUSSION - We all agree that:
Ten things to learn from Japan-
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
http://franceschusblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/japan-rest-of-world-have-to-learn-from.html
Ken is going to go back to Japan for another visit in May again.
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