The great quake of '99 is one of the worst tragedies to befall this island in a generation. As those most affected try to put their lives back into some semblance of order, there are those who would take advantage of others' misfortune for their own benefit. This only adds confusion atop complexities (
After the earthquake, the Taiwanese people -- from different ethnic groups, old and young, men and women -- all displayed an unprecedented sense of togetherness. There was a collective experience of an overflowing of emotions that seemed to bring the country closer.
Yet while all of these things have been happening, we now see several "vultures" hovering in disaster's sky.
The first species is the "political vulture." Hovering at the fringes, they show little real concern for relief efforts, and while men and women were furiously digging through the rubble, these opportunists were attacking procedures and each other.
The reprehensible actions of the political vultures shows that "winning the presidency at the expense of Taiwan" (
The second species is the "media vulture." Basically, these are of the same blood as the political vultures (obviously many reporters did an admirable job covering the aftermath of the quake with sense and compassion. This people should be appreciated for their work).
Media vultures are leftovers from the "old-guard," or certain figures who are treated as the "hired thugs" of a particular political party. During the disaster, these vultures stirred up trouble by teaming up with the political vultures to broadcast pathetic criticisms.
For example, statements such as: "how can a person trust this kind of government?" "Don't believe what the government says; don't let the government handle your donation to the victims of the quake!" These people are only good at taking pleasure in others' misfortune (
The third species is the "selfish vulture." Selfishness is part of human nature, yet after a great disaster, some people are so selfish that the first thing that they say is: "I must have my concerns attended to first; I don't care that others may be far worse off than me."
If these people don't get their way, they began to blame others.
Other examples of these sorts of scavengers are those who have taken advantage of the disaster to loot, to misappropriate donations of goods (as well as money) and those who gouge customers during the crisis just to make an extra dollar.
As if things were not already bad, must we contend with the sort of person who lives on suffering?
Hu Wen-huei is the Deputy Editor in Chief of the Liberty Times.
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