The third, that people want to find some kind of meaning in this disaster, and they are more than willing to spin it in their minds until it affirms what they want to be true. Foreigners who want Japan to be an orderly, safe place were outraged by the US press's hysterical coverage. Foreigners who are angry about Japan not giving them everything they wanted gloat about every misstep Tokyo and TEPCO make. And maybe foreigners who want a reason to feel their a cut above other foreigners condemn the flyjin. I know in my mind I have twisted the tsunami into a narrative that is more about my thoughts at the time than what actually happened. I think it's only natural. We want big, crazy, chaotic things like this to have meaning. But we should also recognize the impulse, because doing so can help keep us from hurting people there is no need to hurt. There are already a lot of people hurting from the earthquake. Adding to that number benefits no one.
