on a serious note...i'd like to take this time and pass on my sincerest condolences to those who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in south asia...i personally don't know anyone who has been affected by this, but as i sit here on this computer people on the other side of this planet are suffering, in pain, and lost their homes, etc...this event has made me sad and also angry...why angry you ask, its not about God...but about the things going on in the middle east...you have all these people suffering in south asia and you still hear about bombings and stuff instead these people take a stand and help people for a change...whose more suffering, al qaeda or the people in south asia?.....well enough about me being angry....
this has been a sad event, and i just wanted to at least let it be known how upsetting it is and just hope that these people have enough strength to get through this...although i know it would take a long while before things start looking better..

anita

Ive been looking into the tsunami as well... more than 60,000 and climbing... heavens gates have got to be flooded. My prayers are out to the suffering people as well. Only help I could really be was donating to the red cross. Hopefully their new year will turn things around.

Television and the media put an "over there" feel to their coverage and tend to make these events a sidebar to the local news. We here with web communities know that the world is a much smaller place and that neighbors can be half a world away.
I don't think that the medical, financial, or cultural impact can even be understood at this point, it's so much more massive than you can really wrap your head around and the recovery will take decades and generations.
I too add my condolences, as small as they may seem, for people who's family, friends and hearts are affected.

I as well have been extremely emotional for those over there who are suffering tremendously. I feel a great lost at this time, because I am wondering who are Christians and who was not. The thought always comes to mind when I think about people dying. I as well as many of the other Caedens know what it is like to lose someone, but I always go beyond my own life friends and family when I think about who I have recently lost. I am now so overwhelmed with the number being so great at one time in one place, even though there are so very many people in this day and time that die every day. I am a very caring person when tragic things happen and I really wish for those people over there to be comforted after there tragic loss. I will sign off for one small thing to say to anyone who may be reading this at this time who knows anyone that has passed away in this tragic event. I send you peace and comforting love from the Lord God who has risen and will come back for His believers in Him, and to live with the joy for the times you had with that person. I pray and am crying deep in my heart for those over there. GOD BLESS THE WHOLE WORLD.

good thoughts, I send my condolences, and most of all best wishes to the survivors who are lucky enough to be treated with modern technology unlike the past victims of this tragedy over the course of history. also best wishes to the families of victims, to the red cross and others contributing to the relief. I hope we can concentrate on making life as good as possible for the living while we mourn for the lost

I actually woke up this morning to my mom saying "It exceeded 100,000????". I still can't believe the numbers are growing so rapidly. I feel terrible about what happened and I can't even begin to imagine what those people must be feeling. I too want to send my condolences, even though they won't help with anything.

i can't believe the stories i hear each day.....people take life for granted, just look how it can go so quickly...it may have exceeded 100,000...but im sure there are thousands that they won't find at all...just imagine how much got washed out into the sea...oh gosh....horrible...just horrible....im donating to the red cross....i must...i can't just sit here and do nothing...

My heart is heavy - and I cannot begin to comprehend the human loss. Let us all share a prayer for those lost and those grieving. Those who don't know for sure, and are left wandering the streets. May they find peace at some time, and let us all help in any way we can. Now at 127, 000 and climbing. May they Rest in Peace.

This is all so scary and I cant even grasp how many people died... My parents friends live in Sri Lanka and they take care of a childrens home, church, and other buildings. We are all so worried about them and I dont want them to go after all they have done, their live's work probably destroyed. Pray for them if you will.

Kathleen

I sincerely hope you find them all. It may be some time before there's any infrastructure to get word out by phone or mail.

I join in sending condolences to those affected. Tragedy can make us feel so helpless when there is little physical we can do, other than donate money. But if we also take the experience and use its lessons in our daily lives from now on, then perhaps in our own communities we can spread compassion, hope and understanding. These are the building blocks from which long term benefits spring.
I want our family to spend time talking about what has happened, realising how fortunate we are, and the responsibilities we have to others. Children who are raised to understand our role in the global community will be better citizens tomorrow if they can be part of it in a real way today.

Just on a side note...
The reason why the numbers have climbed so high is that there were small islands that were in the way of the tsunami in which all of the people were obliterated. The reason why so many people were able to survive on other islands is that they were commercially developed meaning several story buildings meaning people could get above the wave. The number that survived the tsunami actually exceeds the numbers that died in this cataclysmic event.
Anyways, I'm not so concerned with the suffering that is happening right now. Before you start chasing after me with your pitchforks and torches let me explain. I'm allot more concerned with what will happen after off the damage was cleaned up. Because allot of the buildings were decimated there will be few to no jobs available on the lands that were decimated by the tsunamis. Mass starvation will probably set in because as generous as the US is with its donations, the world communities will not be able to constantly support these people. It is unfortunate but that means that jobs from the world over including the US will have to go to these struggling countries. Now mark my words and mark them well people will start grumbling that jobs are going overseas and that there are no jobs in the US. This may take a few years but people will forget about the tsunami and become solely concerned with themselves again. I don't mean to be cynical, but that is how I foresee it. Hopeful it won't happen but I'm not naive enough to think that.