Earthquake in Italy

I'm really dismayed by and schocked at the images of the ruins left by the earthquake, followed by minor ones, which is causing so much suffering and devastated L'Aqcuilla and other neighbooring towns.
 
It's so brutal. It's 272 people dead so far, I don't know how many lost their homes, much of the historical heritage was levelled, it's all so sad. 

It was painful to watch the families' suffering. 

My words of condolance to all Italian Queenzoners.

Wow, I feel sorry for the earthquake victims. Yet again the Italian PM(Berlusconi) makes an insensitive comment(Google it)....

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[b]Saif wrote: [/b]

Wow, I feel sorry for the earthquake victims. Yet again the Italian PM(Berlusconi) makes an insensitive comment(Google it)....
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I actually like him and his ways. He is so wealthy and corrupt that he does and says whatever the fuck he wants.

Finally a politician with a sense of humour, and after all, the comment wasn't really that insensitive.
 
He was just giving friendly advice to the victims of the earthquake.

The Queen put ol' Pepperami in his place last week at the G20 summit :-]

however,im surprised it took so long for a thread to be started about the quake [mind you,there could of been one but it was lost amongst Jakes nonsense for all we know],been watching it on the news over the last few days,these old towns and villages dont stand a chance in these situations but hopefully 'out of the ruins..' as the old saying goes.
you always know when an earthquake disaster changes course when medical teams change the wordings from 'rescue' to 'recovery' when addressing the issue,so i wouldnt be surprised to see the death toll double over the next week or so..
not much else to say on the subject,just got to put it down as 'a force of nature' and 'one of the those things' and move on,tragic events yes,unavoidable probably not..
lets just hope no QZ'ers were caught up in it

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[b]Saif wrote: [/b]

Wow, I feel sorry for the earthquake victims. Yet again the Italian PM(Berlusconi) makes an insensitive comment(Google it)....
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Who gives a damn what does that idiot say ?

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[b]Yara wrote: [/b]

I'm really dismayed by and schocked at the images of the ruins left by the earthquake, followed by minor ones, which is causing so much suffering and devastated L'Aqcuilla and other neighbooring towns.
 
It's so brutal. It's 272 people dead so far, I don't know how many lost their homes, much of the historical heritage was levelled, it's all so sad. 

It was painful to watch the families' suffering. 

My words of condolance to all Italian Queenzoners. [/QUOTE]

Fully agree. There's too much dieing in this world

The thing is, the guy is openly racist, just like John Howard(PM of Australia). I've read/heard that he's race-baited Italians against gypsies numerous times successfully.

Indeed, this Italian quake is a tragedy.  So many dead, and like Joxer said I'm sure the total will double if they have officially started calling it a "recovery" effort, rather than a "rescue" one.  My thoughts with the Italians as they clean up from this. 

The damage to the historic palaces and such was also horrible to see...I hope they are able to restore the historic places.

im in venice right now, and i arrived the day it happened. it was nice that people were concerned whether i was ok or not (they dont keep up well with my updates haha)

but it was strange to hear that this was so close! so sad....

God brought an earthquake to the catholic nation of all catholic nations.  Surely there must be some kind of inconsistency somewhere here...

Naturally, my sympathies go out to everyone affected, so don't come back at me for being allegedly insensitive.  I can only hope one can be permitted to think freely and have heartfelt empathy at the same time.

Someone had to get this taboo out in the open, so let the God-fearing folk bring on the flame war.

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[b]Sir GH wrote: [/b]

God brought an earthquake to the catholic nation of all catholic nations.  Surely there must be some kind of inconsistency somewhere here...

Naturally, my sympathies go out to everyone affected, so don't come back at me for being allegedly insensitive.  I can only hope one can be permitted to think freely and have heartfelt empathy at the same time.

Someone had to get this taboo out in the open, so let the God-fearing folk bring on the flame war.

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Sir GH, I had this very thought yesterday afternoon. Surely this must be a warning to that Nazi Pope?

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[b]Sir GH wrote: [/b]

God brought an earthquake to the catholic nation of all catholic nations.  Surely there must be some kind of inconsistency somewhere here...

Naturally, my sympathies go out to everyone affected, so don't come back at me for being allegedly insensitive.  I can only hope one can be permitted to think freely and have heartfelt empathy at the same time.

Someone had to get this taboo out in the open, so let the God-fearing folk bring on the flame war.

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Which taboo? There is no connection between the tectonic activities in Italy and the religion of the Italian people or a part of the Italian people. Where is the "free thinking part" in your comment? You seem to think that Catholics do not understand how an earthquake comes to happen - maybe you think they believe God "sent it"? Well in fact Catholics have a brain like all other human beings.

I do not see how rubbing religion into peoples' faces when they are hit by a very painful tragedy is a sign of specific empathy and/or free thinking.  I am an agnostic and in no church at all but I do not understand how bringing up the religion of people in mourning is in any way breaking a taboo or a shining example of "free thinking"

My point is simply that if these people will be praying to their God amidst the relief/recovery efforts, where was their God when the earthquake was happening?  Generally speaking, people see their deity as the force that controls things that they cannot control.  So does this include natural disasters or not?  Only the believer can answer that according to what they would like to be true.

I'm not judging anyone, nor am I suggesting they don't have brains. This is 100-year-old philosophy for some, but new thoughts for others, especially if they subscribe to organized religion.  Maybe the aftermath of a tragedy is a good time for people to re-evaluate the way they see the world, which could make them spiritually and individually stronger, rather than picking and choosing when their deity of choice is looking out for their best interests.

I also think that believers are convinced that God is the origin of everything that happens but that is true for many religions, not only Catholics.There has always been a deep human desire to apply meaning to senseless suffering and senseless dying. There has always been a deep human hope that death does not destroy our souls but that there is some sort of afterlife. Again this is true for many religions, not only Catholics. Of course these very fundamental human needs have been exploited and abused by many religious leaders - not only Catholics.

In a tragedy like the earthquake in Abruzzo people find comfort in their faith. They take their dead to the church and have them buried with a Christian ceremony. Perhaps some lose their faith but many need the hope they find in their faith more than ever. I just think it's not a good time for non-believers to start a discussion about spiritual superiority. In fact, I do not think that my Italian friends, who are ALL Catholics, need to improve spiritually. They do not push their faith into my face and I do not question their religion. It's a matter of mutual respect.

Why do you guys keep mentioning God?  What has Brian May got to do with this.

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