Wednesday, June 01, 2011

What would you be willing to do for your country?

Japanese seniors volunteer for Fukushima 'suicide corps'

This story is on CNN and it is about Japanese senior citizens who are volunteering to go to work in the nuclear power plant.  THAT, my friends, is doing something for your country.  I got chills reading it.

"Masaaki Takahashi, 65, bristles at the name Hosono gave his team. "I want them to stop calling us the 'suicide corps' or kamikazes," he says. "We're doing nothing special. I simply think I have to do something and I can't allow just young people to do this."

"The group, consisting only of retirees age 60 and up, says it is uniquely poised to work at the radiation-contaminated plant, as the cells of an older person's body divide more slowly than a younger individual.

"We have to work instead of them," says Yamada, referring to the estimated 1,000 workers currently at the nuclear plant. "Elders have less sensitivity to radiation. Therefore, we have to work."

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

When do the Japanese plan to stop amazing us?

Anonymous said...

1. I'm a U.S. soldier (here in Kuwait) so I can safely say I do more than the average American for my country.
2. I am often asked to do things that I dislike, luckily however, nothing that I have morally objected.
3. If the rest of the U.S.A. showed the true patriotic (not the standard-issue flag-waving eyewash) spirit & behavior of these Japanese Heroes, the entire world would be a better place.
4. Finally, DG, thank you for this Blog. It has been an enlightening and entertaining distraction. I wish you all the best.

Anonymous said...

great story and example of sacrifice.

Anonymous said...

That wouldn't happen here in Kuwait. Unless, of course, they could hire an army of Benghalis to do it for them... :)

LWDLIK said...

Amazing inspiration to us all. Pay attention world heed the lessons.