May They Rest In Peace! (Lugg. 7)

Today, May 12, 2009, is the first anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake, which devastated several cities, killed around 87000 lives and made numerous people homeless. The catastrophe not only tore the ground in half, but also tore up millions of people’s heart.
Unconsciously, we have gone through one year after the most destructive disaster in China in thirty years. All about the earthquake is still clear in my mind, including my crying when I watched documentaries on TV and listened to the radio programs about how civilians in earthquake-stricken areas struggled to start a new life. When we were standing in silent tribute in class this afternoon, I thought a lot within those few minutes. I recollected the scene when we whole class in high school did this. At that moment, I felt a whiff of power pouring into my body as the sound of car horns and air-defense warning goes around all over the city. I remembered the night when I listened to an earthquake survivor, a middle school student, speaking out his gratitude to his classmates who lost life when helping him escape from the classroom. I failed to hold back my tears after the student made a promise that he would go to cemetery and kneel down in front of the deceased’s tombstone every “5.12”.
WenJiabao, prime minister of China, said that it was the catastrophe that made the country prosperous, when he visited the earthquake-stricken areas. He went to a hospital in the city of Beichuan and comforted the newly orphans who lost their parents just several days before. The orphans were sobbing, unaware of what the old man was talking about. It was rather provoking that some local officials asked the vulnerable children to stop crying with a fierce tone. I could not understand what was in their mind. How could they do that to a group of people who just lost parents and were only about 7 years old? Anyway, when I thought of our volunteers and medical staff and soldiers who were in the front line, I would forget the scandal and be touched by the strength of Chinese people.
May the deceased rest in peace, and the survivors keep striving!