The Earthquake Next Door
Squibs & Blurbs
by Jerry Zimmerman
TEANECK New Jersey—(Weekly Hubris)—3/28/11—Good Lord, what a horrible event! An earthquake and then a true nightmare-come-to-life tsunami. I sit stunned as I watch it steadily rolling and roiling across a quiet Japanese landscape, simply destroying everything in its path.
Unbelievable. But there it is, right on my TV, all day, day after day, every detail to be seen—the good, the bad and the truly ugly. It is happening completely on the other side of the world; yet I feel it and see it as though it is right next door.
The world has grown infinitely smaller since I was a child and the news of all its people is now constantly known to me and to billions of others, day in and day out, as it happens.
All this information is overwhelming to take in, and very often it is emotionally devastating. Suddenly, I specifically know of all our earth’s large and small tragedies. I see bloodshed, loss, horror, hunger, despair.
How does one live with this knowledge?
This feeling of worldly connection reminds me of John C. Lilly, doctor, neuroscientist, analyst, free-thinker and the inventor of the sensory deprivation chamber. This chamber is a long, human-sized tank filled with warm salt water that a person can float in. A top is closed over the floating person, leaving him or her in an ultra-quiet and completely dark environment, comfortable enough to be left alone for long periods of time with no outside stimulation.
The sensory deprivation chamber became popular during the 1960s and 70s as a tool for promoting introspection and self-realization, creating a time and place for participants to explore their inner lives, free from the world’s distractions.
John Lilly was an active user of his invention. He professed to have been able to become still enough in body and soul to be acutely connected to the energies of people all over the world. However, he eventually gave up on his sessions, saying that these energies also included the distress and the agony of humans and animals from every corner of the planet, and it was too much to bear!
I’m beginning to feel like John Lilly, with the TV taking the place of his special chamber.
I’m connected to the world, with all its good and bad; and not only can I hear the pain and distress in its energies, I can actually see the people, the children and the animals who are suffering, every day.
It is impossible to give help sufficient to all this need or for even the tiniest part of this need. I do what I can where I am, and then continue with my life. But this direct knowing seems to haunt me more than ever.
I have many Japanese friends here in America, including my daughter-in-law, Maki. They are all in shock and devastated; some with family and friends affected; some simply grieving for their entire country.
Maki in particular is having a very difficult time, even though her immediate family is safe. She is an experienced Japanese Red Cross and International Red Cross nurse, trained to provide very skilled help in just this type of emergency. And her whole persona is that of one who wants to be of service and help to her fellow humans, and particularly now to her fellow countrymen.
Maki is in Portland, Oregon and at the moment is stymied in getting to Japan. She is a working nurse and relieves her frustration by doing her best for the patients she has in her care in Portland.
She is sad and troubled and is doggedly doing what she can to be of the utmost service to the community she is in at the moment, as she always does.
She is a shining example of making some personal sense out of these horrors.
I will try to do the same.
Jerry Zimmerman
Jerry Zimmerman was born and bred in Pennsylvania, artified and expanded at the Syracuse School of Art, citified and globalized in New York City . . . and is now mesmerized and budo-ized in lovely Teaneck, New Jersey. In love with art and artists, color, line, form, fun, and Dada, Jerry is a looong-time freelance illustrator, an art teacher in New York’s finest art schools, and a full-time Aikido Sensei in his own martial arts school. With his feet probably and it-is-to-be-hoped on the ground, and his head possibly and oft-times in the wind, he is amused by the images he finds floating through his mind and hands. (Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)
6 Comments
Jane Matsumoto
It has been so hard… Most of my family are in Yamaguchi but some are up in Tokyo and I am very worried for them. I am still missing a few friends and although everything tells me I need to let go, it is difficult! I have been so sad and feeling helpless… wanting to do more. My heart goes out to Maki. My boys and I have been trying to raise money for the Red Cross by donating saved allowances, baking goods for bake sales, and participating in other local fund raising events. It is not much, but it helps to stay focused and to try to do the best that I can to help in any way possible.
eboleman-herring
Jane, never, ever say, “It is not much….” If all of us would do that “not much,” it would be more than enough. My heart is with you, and your loved ones, and with Maki. Is the Red Cross the best place to give?? Is there a Japanese-controlled fund that some of you prefer?? Let us know in this, Jerry’s, space… Much, much love. Elizabeth
eboleman-herring
From Jane: Thank you, Elizabeth.
Here are some organizations that my friends and I have donated to:
Red Cross
1) Donate online at Redcross.org
2) text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10
3) The Japanese Red Cross webpage requests donations to be made through our national Red Cross. There is information available on how donations that can be made directly to the Japanese Red Cross by directing funds to either Sumitomo or The Bank of Tokyo. Both bank account information can be found online: http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html
UNICEF
1) 1.800.FOR.KIDS to donate by phone
2) text JAPAN to 864233 to donate $10
3) Use the form found on the link below to make a secure, tax-deductible donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and 100% of your donation will go to Japan
https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9640&9640.donation=form1
Animal Refuge Kansai
Donate online at http://www.arkbark.net
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Donate online at http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_united_states/
Operation USA
1) Donate online at http://www.opusa.org
2) Donate by phone at 1.800.678.7255
3) Donate by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
4) Text REBUILD to 50555 to donate $10
5) Corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies are also being requested.
6) Air miles can also be donated to Operation USA through United Airlines Charity Miles program at http://www.united.com.
Salvation Army
1) Donate online at https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org
2) Text “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
Doctors Without Borders
Medical teams have been sent to Japan. Please note that donations made will not be specifically for the recovery efforts in Japan. However, the organization relies on unrestricted donations made to help fund their efforts.
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=240
Thank you!
どうも ありがとう!
Kurt Helstrom
On the news the other day some “expert” was giving assurances that this type of accident couldn’t happen here. My first thought was,”It did happen here!” And not because radiation is now showing up on the west coast. There is only one planet, one ocean, one people. I wish our “experts” would see it this way.
eboleman-herring
@Kurt: Ohhhh, Kurt, what a beautiful response. I wish to God that thought had come into my own mind, pronto, when the quake/tsunami hit. If we persist in thinking us/them, here/there, mine/not-mine, we cannot reach enlightenment, or enlightened action. If we see every disaster as occurring in our own family, to our own Mother, so to speak, we are on the road to right action. Thank you for this response to Jerry’s beautiful piece…
Namaste, eb-h
Kurt Helstrom
Unfortunately, our leadership has adopted the Ayn Rand virtue of selfishness into policy. But I am very optimistic that people – everyday people – are moving toward selflessness. It may be the only path out of what is becoming an increasingly messy planet. Thank you, as well, for your response. Your thoughts, I believe, hit the mark.