What can the mind bear Effect of time and distance on the memories of disasters - Essay Example

20 February, Effect of time and distance on the memories of disasters: Incidents and natural disasters are sudden and come unannounced. There is little compliance of nature’s schedule with the predictions of scientists and weather forecasts made by humans. They happen anywhere, anytime and for any reason but leave behind their traces in the minds of the affected people. However, the extent to which an individual may gain influence from the effects of a disaster depends, to much an extent on the individual’s encounter with the disaster.

There has been considerable time since the atomic bomb explosions in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but still the nuclear power has affected the genes of people living there. “The US atomic bombs that killed and wounded half a million people in Japan 65 years ago continue to haunt generations of families who live in fear of inheriting radiation-damaged genes” (Mifthah). The abnormalities in children that are born there even today can be attributed fundamentally to the explosions that happened decades ago.

However, the impact is never as obvious when the disasters have no physical impact on the affected. Disasters bring extreme agony and pain for people when they happen. However, the pain fades away as the time passes by. Millions of people have lost their lives in the 9 / 11 attacks on twin towers in the US, earthquake in Tangshan, China and lately, earthquake in Haiti. But very few people talk about them today as compared to the number of people that discussed them shortly after they happened.

There are several factors to justify that. Not all people gain influence from a dreadful incident or natural disaster but those, who are actually affected by them. It is interesting to note that the latter also tend to come out of the trauma as they move on. There is a famous adage about time that says, “Time heals all wounds” (Kilcrease). Natural disasters have little likelihood of influencing the culture of a nation upon which it comes. However, the case is different when the disaster is caused by man like that of the 9 / 11 attacks.

That was a man caused disaster which brought a revolution in the Western mindset that ultimately gave rise to the concept of extremism. Since the 9 / 11 attacks, fear of extremists has become ingrained in the Western culture in general and that of the US in particular. Man caused disasters are more influential because they can somehow be controlled through political adjustments or socioeconomic changes unlike natural disasters that are beyond the control of man. Although nations tend to improve their disaster management systems according to the latest disasters, yet there are little to no influences on the culture.

To conclude, time fades away horrible memories of past events. On the other hand, the greater the distance from the place where disaster occurs, the lesser the awareness and feel of it becomes. Decades after an incident, it only holds significance for providing data for new researches. Other than that, old disasters hardly matter for new people. Works cited: Kilcrease, J. Worth. “Time Heals All Wounds, or Does It?” 24 April 2008. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. . Mifthah, Mohideen. “Atomic bomb legacy haunts Hiroshima families.

” 12 Nov. 2010. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. .