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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda shakes hands with Jeanne Anderson of Richmond, Virginia, whose daughter Taylor Anderson was killed in last year's devastating tsunami in Japan, during a private reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Washington on Sunday night. Also pictured are Taylor Anderson's father Andy Anderson (3rd R) and sister Julia Anderson (2nd L). At left is Capt David Barlow, of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department unit that was dispatched to Japan to help with recovery work.

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My quip about Japanese pollies is not about how many times they bow down and apologise or do meet and greets with survivors.

While I understand your feelings about the politicians, gestures like this one go an awful long way to help people who lost loved one's remember that just maybe their loved one's life was not lost in vain.

The rest is for a different thread I do believe.

I'm not really in the mood right now to bitch about it, but yes I do think a special explanation is needed. This is supposed to be a news site for crying out loud,

Quite so, but it isn't necessary either for a "news" site to write a novella detailing the life and times of every subject that they choose to "blurb" about either is it?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

do you honestly think that with or without any "special" explanation Noda visiting with a victim's family isn't enough?

I'm not really in the mood right now to bitch about it, but yes I do think a special explanation is needed. This is supposed to be a news site for crying out loud, not someone's facebook update where everyone subscribed is supposed to know each other. Was she the only American? If so, understandable. If there were others, were they invited too? I'm sorry that I'm not American and I've never heard of her. I AM sorry she died, for what it's worth. I'm sorry that I didn't treat the photo with the respect that I should an obituary.

My quip about Japanese pollies is not about how many times they bow down and apologise or do meet and greets with survivors. It's about their complete inability to actually HELP the victims who are still suffering. Communities and businesses from all around the country are trying to pitch in with volunteer work. It is only the national government that seems in paralysis about what to do.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

papsmurf, do you honestly think that with or without any "special" explanation Noda visiting with a victim's family isn't enough? The article itself readsTaylor Anderson was killed in last year’s devastating tsunami in Japan, which should tell you very clearly the "plight" of young Ms Anderson.

As I noted earlier countless numbers of celeb types and government officials visited with the victims here in Japan, dont you also think that it's appropriate, no matter the reason, for the PM to do the same, and pass on his own condolences when visiting that particular foreign country? If you also notice he is also greeting a volunteer as well, along with others I would think it is pretty safe to assume too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ Fadamor and others.

Fair enough, it seems my comments were inappropriate and out of context. However, a little explanation with the photo would make things a hell of a lot clearer for those of us out there who do not know the plight of young Ms Anderson.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Would have thought sorry for your loss would have been the better choice of words.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is a kind moment where a leader of a country is appreciating how Ms. Anderson had a positive impact for the Japanese community and tragically lost her life in a natural disaster.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't wish to demean the Anderson's loss of their daughter, but why exactly are they getting special treatment when the families of the 20,000+ Japanese victims have been largely ignored by their own government.

a.) Noda was in D.C. b.) She lives in Richmond, a 2-hour drive from D.C. c.) Noda is just shaking her hand, not offering to pay college tuition for her family. d.) The time is takes for this photo op is infinitely small compared to doing the same for the tens of thousands of Japanese who were directly affected by the tsunami.

This isn't "special treatment", it was an opportunity for a photo acknowledging the Anderson's loss and to thank her for the child who would not be dead if she hadn't wanted to help Japanese children learn English.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Thanks for the link Yubaru. Tear jerking.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

http://youtu.be/SS-sWdAQsYg

papasmurf, watch that Youtube video, it's called "Arigato from Japan". Anderson took care of her school's kids, waited with them until all of them were safely with their parents, not thinking about her own safety, and then went home.

She was never heard from again, and passed away in the Tsunami.

No one knows how many receptions like this the PM has made with regards to victims and their families. Also the victims here are hardly "ignored", how many times over the past year has the Emperor and his wife gone and visited the victims and their families, to the detriment of his own health? There are literally hundreds if not thousands of stories of "famous" people donating their time and efforts to the victims and while they still need help and assistance, they also do not need to be pitied either.

Your support would be welcome I am sure.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

I trust the meeting has helped in healing the hurt of loss the Anderson family are feeling . My thoughts also to all those who are still hurting .

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I don't wish to demean the Anderson's loss of their daughter, but why exactly are they getting special treatment when the families of the 20,000+ Japanese victims have been largely ignored by their own government.

-25 ( +2 / -27 )

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