#prayforjapan, #tsunami, #japon, #japao #jishin Japanese Earthquake Will Reshift Priorities for a While

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Robert Dougherty Robert Dougherty – 13 mins ago

COMMENTARY | Today's earthquake in Japan is undoubtedly the biggest story in the world. In fact, the Japanese tragedy is even the biggest story in America, in spite of the U.S. being consumed by so many other things. The other top news stories in America are rather ugly, as they range from the Wisconsin budget battle, Rep. Peter King's controversial hearings, the pending NFL lockout, the possible federal government shutdown, and the Charlie Sheen meltdown.

There are many heated and divisive issues in the United States right now. But with the Japan earthquake and tsunami, perhaps some much needed perspective has come in.

It always takes a massive tragedy - filled with death and destruction - to make us quiet down for a little while. Before today, America's biggest stories were getting out of hand, and were consumed by anger, hate and self destruction.

The passing of the Wisconsin budget bill brought the struggle in Madison to a new, heated level. In Washington, Rep. Peter King angered many by holding hearings on radical Muslims, while defending his support of the IRA. In addition, the federal government is a week away from being shut down, the NFL may lock out within hours, NPR came under fire again, and Charlie Sheen was consuming all of the regular and social media.

Priorities and civil discourse can get out of hand in times like this, as the nation learned in Arizona earlier this year. America had become addicted to Sheen, while political fights are getting more out of hand than ever. But thanks to the Japan earthquake, we now have even more important things to cover for a little while.

The disputes in Wisconsin are still important, but they took a rather ugly turn in the last 24 hours. For all that's at stake for the unions, they aren't facing the kind of problems Japanese citizens are right now. Neither are the opposing sides in the federal budget battle, or in the NFL lockout. And there's no way that Charlie Sheen's madness is anywhere near as important as an earthquake or tsunami.

The only time we put things in true perspective, if only for a few days, is when a horrific disaster happens. As such, today's tragedy in Japan can let all of us take a much needed breather, and pay more attention to those who are truly suffering and struggling.

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