I was looking through these absolutely stunning photographs from The Atlantic‘s post entitled “Japan Earthquake: Six Months Later.” I am amazed by the amount of cleanup that has been accomplished in such a short amount of time.
One photograph stood out among the rest.
A volunteer lights a candle by a damaged replica of the Statue of Liberty during an event to pay tribute to victims of both the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the March 11 earthquake in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, on September 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Yesterday, we mourned the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. It has taken us a decade to clear the rubble and begin the rebuilding process. There have been countless delays, contract holdups, and other drama. From lawsuits over religious decorations to numerous cases of mesothelioma from asbestos exposure to both first responders as well as those employed to clear the rubble post-collapse.
Across the nation, American offices are filled with people pretending to work. Congress votes on bills that have gone unread. Books like The 4-Hour Workweek top for best seller lists. Troops are still in Iraq despite campaign promises of a withdrawal. The list goes on. We’re trying our hardest to look busy while not doing anything at all.
So, no, I wasn’t surprised when I read that it wouldn’t even be feasible to make the Amazon Kindle in the United States. We have trouble doing much of anything these days. Watching Japan recovering so quickly only magnifies our own issues. There was a time when the United States could do anything. How can we get back there?
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