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Palu: The political and the ridiculous
There’s nothing like a crisis to bring out the best and the worst in us. This was certainly true following the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Palu in Central Sulawesi on Sept. 28.
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This picture shows Roa Roa hotel after it was hit by an earthquake in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi on October 1, 2018, after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area on September 28. The death toll from the Indonesian quake-tsunami nearly doubled to 832 but was expected to rise further after a disaster that has left the island of Sulawesi reeling. AFP/ Adek Berry (AFP/Adek Berry)
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here’s nothing like a crisis to bring out the best and the worst in us. This was certainly true following the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Palu in Central Sulawesi on Sept. 28, which brought out the nationalist, the political, the inconsistent, the superstitious, the religious and the ridiculous sides in people.
As soon as the news about the disaster was broadcast, help poured in, with donations and assistance from Indonesians, including ordinary citizens, as well as foreign parties. Witnessing others’ suffering often brings out our innate human instinct for compassion.
Science actually shows we are wired for compassion, not self-interest. Hmm, who would have guessed, with all the corruption, wrong-doing, cruelty, greed and hoax news we read in the media?
The nationalist and the political: The Indonesian government instructed foreigners working with foreign NGOs to leave.
