China quake and Myanmar cyclone

Not too long ago, in China, there were strange happenings. Let me explain the usage of the term "strange". See, at first, China was celebrating in pompous fashion her hosting the Olympics. Now, this celebration did not remain on her shores. It transcended across her home boundaries and whiffed into the noses of other lands. And when this happened, it naturally received a mixed reaction. The Chinese diaspora, true to their roots, enchanted with nationalistic fervour and overwhelmed by a sense of unity with the motherland came out and poured into the streets with numbers and spirit to harp upon the Chinese accomplishment crowed and manifested, this time by China hosting the Olympics. Her first to date.
With that there were other dissenters. I am not sure what to say about them. Did they win? Were they heard? One thing for sure, Tibetian dissenters defenitely came out with a vengence to be heard. You could see them. If one missed them grabbing the Olympic torch or if they felt they miss the opportunity of grabbing the torch, they definitely grabbed the headlines with their. There were other dissenters. Quieter ones, who inflated themselves with the moral beliefs that China was undeserving of being a host to the Olympics. After all the Olympic are a testament to the human spirit. And China is definitely not a country to uphold that individuality and survival of the human spirit. No, China, by its own testament has squashed the human spirit. See, Tiananmen Square of 1989, see the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward. The communist government, according to many have never inspired the endearing name of upholder of human spirit neither has it be viewed to be anywhere near it. To the contrary, it is seen as an abuser of human rights. It actually stifles information, politcla participation and thus individual accomplishment. With time and change, it has definitely began lossening controls on individual rights. Or has it? Undoubtedly, there were dissenters with the decision of the Olympic committee to hand such a event over to Beijing. Some quiet some not as quiet.
As the protest, especially over Tibet took greater stage in political forums, governments and dignitaries had to choose. Sitting on the fence or remaining quiet was not fashionable at that time. It became an issue. Although Beijing the Olympic committee insisted that this was not a political setting and refuse to bring politics into the question, the dissentment did not go away. It was a moral issue, no doubt. A moral issue that had political implications. Something to do with justice and the law. Not international law, just a sense of right and wrong. Cases were made for and against.
There were a few political leaders who still refuse to attend to these matters. They insisted on turning a blind eye and a deaf ear. Some of them had previously been champions of human rights, democracy and such like. For once, we could find them no where. There were a few who were hesitant about coming into this shambles. It had more political stake than anything. These moral pinnings of the human soul and a political representation had a lot of stake in them. China is rising like a red dragon. Her diaspora has come out onto the streets like red dragons set on fire! And here she was demanding respect as a sovereign state to control her own philosophy and instill it on her citizens and those they claim to be theirs. They resented those who resent them. And this red dragon was not to be messed with. So, suddenly, Mr Bush, took a back seat. Suddenly, his spirit evaporated.
And the story is only begining!
With all this highlights, China became too big for herself. She burst. And I mean literally burst. Yea, like an earthquake, you know. The land rumble, the houses came down, and everything else along with it... No, this wasn't in a province, unknown tot he rest of the world. This was in the Sichuan province, a rising industrial center. Epic center was just outside the capital of the province and the tremors traveled 900 miles to the epic center of the Olympics. Slowly the death numbers rose, the damage valuation increased. The quake was measured at 7.9 just as the numbers of those left homeless started to be counted. And while at first Beijing did not seem to keen for help or attention. It soon realize it needed help. The measure of the blow sank in.
The was unrest and the government tried to stifle the noise. Other issues came into play as people began to examine corrupt practices such as cutting corners on infrastructue and the efficiency of response. The government felt it needed to silence media except for state media. Needed to keep a handle on its peoples mouth. And needed to control their feelings. Where had all your patrotism gone?
Suddenly, the diaspora deflated, they turn into victims and transported their energy into seeking for relief. Through the internet and other outreaches, they harness numbers to help the countrymen.
I began to think as China just began to feel its invincibility, just as patrotism turn into fervour... Babel fell.
I realised that just as dissenting took a back seat, for all you know the earth quaked. Out of it, maybe we heard something... Ask yourselve.
I only say, I don't this is an end, neither the Olympics...
Let me add, a little to the story. Not long before, all the rumble in China, there was a cyclone not to far way. In Myanmar. Another oppressive nation. Junta government to which China and India cozy up with because of its geographical advantages and natural resources. The death toll began its climb...

Near the Gulf of Mexico...

I went to the beach... no, not langkawi, not trengganu or anywhere near penang...no, actually it was florida. There are many fascinations to this escapade. It is not as wild, as releasing an idea. But you know when you are let from a hole, anything seems nice. Any air to one about to suffocate is oxygen to the dead. That is how it felt when I left. And the sky was weeping with me, tears of joy! So, one of the trills was driving there. I must say I enjoyed driving. It was scary in the night when it rained. The trucks were an overwhelming force, not on one side but two! Coming at you on the flanks, like Ferdinand and Vidic, only with more legs. Admittedly, I was intimidated to the core. The next time I was at the wheel, I resolve to ignore their scare bullying tactics. But I wasn't about to risk being taken down by a whipping so mostly I like them speed ahead of me. Once I felt more confident, I began Ronaldo-ing... and then I was on the way to Florida! Honestly, I wish I had more time on the wheel.
I wasn't too impress with Florida. The place we landed in though was quiet. I think that quite made the trip. But once you step into the sand, smell the salt and just push your eyes to the horizon, squint it against the reflection of the sun on the waters, then you forget time, you forget boundaries, you forget problems. At that moment, it is all about that moment. Playing in the foamy waves was fun. Crashing into them was even better. The water was deep so nobody had to go too far out. I must say the thoughts of shark attack still scares me deep down. I enjoyed sitting in the sand, burying myself underneath. It was like a blanket. Tucked inside with all the trapped thermal energy, I would dry in minutes. The sunshine makes one feel closer to heaven, to gold, to glory. The ray was electrifying after days without the glow. The immensity did not seem overwhelming.
One late morning, I was traversing the outskirts and of the ocean, on my journey I saw people picking shells, just being lazy (that is the objective), fishing, swimming, running, etc; as I took note of my surroundings, I began to think of what really was the beach to people. I mean of course there were all these activities and other water sports: jet skiing, kayaking, sailing, boating, snorkeling, surfing, etc... Why and how do people appreciate the beach?
It is truely amazing that beach holds so many fascination. Just standing in the shallow waters, as I felt the jagged ways hit onto shore and retreat in foam, the sensation of shells being dragged by the current back into the ocean. When I stooped down and wondered my hand feeling their broken pieces, unshapely pieces and once in a while feeling something still perfect. I mean it is wonderful that are small pleasures in life we don't always dwell on. Maybe that afternoon as I stood there preoccupied with the sea shells, maybe I could have done more with that time but there are things God creates so attractive that I wondered at that moment of my Creator. It would be hard to go to the beach and frolick in the sand without stopping to breathe the air and just taking a private moment the smell of the wind. So it would be hard not to take a moment off and replenish the soul, to replenish faith in seeing small, very small things wield so much power.