It has been four days since Japan has dealt with a massive double blow in the forms of a magnitude 8.9 offshore earthquake and a tsunami. With Japan’s latest natural disaster making headlines on the mass and online media, I want to take the opportunity to say that I hope that Japan will overcome this tragedy and I wish my condolences to those who lost their loved ones or friends in the earthquake/tsunami. At the same time, I also want to point out the issue of insensitive people who take the opportunity to turn a country’s tragedy and misfortune into a joke.
Two days ago, some close friends of mine overseas (along with other people) ranted on their social networking sites about a cartoon which was drawn by a newspaper artist called Zoy (born Mohd Zohri Sukimi according to what I found via the search engine online) for the Malay-language daily, Berita Harian (and got published on it). At first I did not understand what exactly was going on until I had a look at the cartoon for myself. Looking at that picture I found via online not just ruined my mood but also left me appalled and wondering to myself how could people be so insensitive enough to poke fun at a country’s latest tragedy. In case you have no idea why the cartoon in that Malay-language daily is offensive, allow me to give an explanation. If you look at the drawing carefully, Ultraman (a famous fictional Japanese icon and check this information here) actually represents Japan or Japanese people (depends how you see it) trying to escape from an oncoming massive tsunami. I don’t see anything funny at all with this picture since the death toll in Japan right now has reached more than 2,000 and will continue to grow. Besides the angry rants from concerned people via social networking sites (thank goodness for the power of new media and a few nice people who show that compassion is not dead), it has been reported that the newspaper has issued a public apology over their distasteful so-called funny cartoon like what was reported here and this too. However, as a blogger, I believe the artist and the newspaper (partly to be blamed) should have thought twice about allowing a nation’s latest loss and tragedy to be turned into some joke which no one is really laughing at once it got out on print (and eventually leaving some upset people in its wake).
The Malaysian daily is not the only thing that came under fire for making a mockery out of a nation’s latest tragedy. Try reading this from MSN NZ which mentions of American rapper 50 Cent’s insensitive and thoughtless remarks on the Japanese earthquake/tsunami. As a result of what 50 Cent (born Curtis Jackson) did, he not just stirred the hornet’s nest in the world of tweets and blogging but also leave us wondering if this man really needs to grow a proper brain once and for all. If you think he is the only one doing this, here is something better: Gilbert Gottfried getting fired for turning a tragedy into a joke which nobody finds funny at all. Anyway, what says you about the issue of insensitive people making a mockery or a joke out of a country’s latest misfortune/tragedy? If you happen to know someone (a relative or a friend) making a complete joke out of a country’s latest misfortune, how do you react and what do/did you do? Opinions are welcomed (but remember, no profanity please!)
whatsaysyou 
That is just straight up sick. It reminds me of people who laugh when someone falls or cuts themselves. What’s so funny about other’s getting hurt or dying??? Personally I think there’s something wrong with the individual’s(s’) mind. Unfortunately, these types of people are given freedom of expression and speech. But just as much as they have the freedom to do this, we have the freedom to denounce them! Great post!
Thank you, bitofabelly81, and you are right those people have taken freedom of expression and speech over board by being insensitive and mean. Again, you are correct that we have the right to denounce them and never condone what they did.
oh, just wait n see tht karma bites the idiot bck…. hard on his royal behind!
Well said, PepperMint. It sucks big time to make a joke out of a nation’s tragedy
This crosses the line. It’s not funny when you poke fun at a devastation this huge and this tragic, with thousands of people dead.
A video was uploaded a few days ago. It’s a Christian girl praising God for the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, saying that God is punishing all atheists. At first, I thought she was delusional and needed psychological help. Then, as I did more and more research, I found out that she is a troll and exploited the tragic in Japan for her own gain. The original video has been deleted. This is a link to her video uploaded by someone else.
Then this is a video of her telling another YTuber that its was all a joke (all the while, not apologizing for what she’s said about the devastation in Japan). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_szTjTKQsk
Oh my goodness. Thank you for the input and extra information, MaiBao. How could this girl go and have a cheek to troll and thrive on people’s misery straight on Youtube? She has no compassion, no mercy and no brain the way she did it. She claims it is a joke but no one laughing along with her. Anyway, I am going to say this (I will get shot for doing that but I must say it), what that girl did on Youtube shows that she is no better than 50 Cent and Gilbert Gottfried combined. If I were her parent, I would not show my face around town knowing what my kid has done. She thinks she is garnering attention for the good reasons but she is only shaming herself for others to slam her.