The Other 95 Percent

More Tsunami

Look before I say anything else, let me just say this.

The Tsunami was very very sad. Lots of people died and this is never a good thing. Unless of course a huge wave were to hit some imaginary country populated by elderly war criminals, rapists, murderers and Leyton Hewitt fans. But that is the ONLY circumstance in which a Tsunami might be thought of as a good thing. 'Nuff said about that.

Having said that, let me also say this.

HOW GOOD HAS THE TELEVISION BEEN IN THE LAST MONTH!??!?! We have had massive concert events on the radio and TV, we have had every sporting fraternity in the world, from cricket to lawn bowls, play special celebrity/charity matches. Incidentally, has anyone else noted the conspicuous absence of a charity tournament from the Surfing world? Are Kelly Slater and Mark Occhilupo too busy to give up a little of their time to charity? Perhaps they can stage a charity tournament in Sri Lanka. I hear the surf is really pumping.

And then there is the fantastic News on the TV! Boy Howdy, Monica Kos must have wet her panties when she heard that a big wave had struck nations to our north and killed tens of thousands of people. I mean seriously. This is where its at for the Today Tonight people. This is where they make a killing. From the inspiring story of the Sri Lankan surfer who surfed to safety, dodging palm trees as he went to the harrowing story of Private Whoreallygivesashit who had to do his fucking job and in the process saw a few dead Indonesians. It is a dream come true for any sensationalist journo. It is hard to imagine more fruitful times for Monika Kos and the Today Tonight people. In fact the only way I can imagine Monika Kos being more pleased with a massive natural disaster is if there had been a shark attack at the same time. Actually if you were going to write the perfect Today Tonight story it would probably involve half a dozen huge unemployed great white pointers swimming through the streets of Thailand eating people, right after a gigantic tsunami has just smashed into the coastline. Nothing makes great tabloid TV quite like thousands of muslims (and a smattering of christian tourists just to spice things up) swimming to avoid both the rising sea level and the hungry sharks. Monika Kos would just loose her mind.

And are we ashamed that we find the Tsunami to be such a source of entertainment? Hell no we are not.


Hey I have a theory. Try this on for size. The Australian reaction to the Boxing Day Tsunami has more to do with relief and gratitude that it didn't happen to us then genuine grief and sorrow for the quarter million Asians that have died. How else can you explain events such as the World XI versus the Asia XI limited overs cricket match? The proliferation of TV shows and concerts raising money and offering condolences? The atmosphere has been more one of celbration then of sorrow. And it is not because such an atmosphere is required to encourage people to donate money. Look deeper. It is because we feel more inclined to celebrate the tsunami that didn't hit Australia then we are to grieve for the dead of Asia. Think about that. Posted by ExistAngst at January 28, 2005 03:00 AM