Mt Kinabalu is there. When I was in secondary school 45 years ago, the scouts group loved to climb there. Last week, an unexpected earthquake took placed. 10 people from a primary school in Singapore perished there.
When my children were in primary school, I felt very uncomfortable when they came home and asked for permission to go for overseas trips.
"But you are still so little... it's too young for you to go... you can always go when you are older in secondary school..." I would advise.
"But this trip is organized by the school. So it is very safe. So and so is also going." the child would retort.
Not to spoilt the parent-child relationship, I would usually reluctantly relent and let them go. But I am never convinced that Singapore is SO SMALL that a 10-year old needs to take a plane and go overseas for learning experiences to fulfill learning objectives.
I have no problem with 15 years old going overseas. 10 to 12 years old is just too young.
I was an army instructor. I taught new recruits 'Immediate Action'. For example, when you hear the first shot from the enemy, you 'take cover', drop flat on the ground and crawl to something that can protect you. When your rifle misfires, you do 'immediately action' to check the rifle and clear the blockage. After a month or so of training, new recruits instinctive do 'Immediate Action'.
Young children do not have the instinct to do 'Immediate Action' when danger looms. They are likely to be stunned and petrified for minutes, do not know how to react. The instinct is not there yet. As they grow older, their instinct to survival improves.
An earthquake or a tornado is an act of nature. Many times in my blog, I have mentioned that God generally does not meddle with the acts of nature.
But isn't God all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving? Yes. Isn't God the creator of all things, including nature? Yes. Then why does God not do anything to stop nature from releasing its fury and take hundreds of innocent lives??
I like the answer to THIS question, as given by Pope Francis: "One can only raise one's eyes up to heaven and look for answers that can't be found." This is still a Christian mystery.
However if you subscribe to the Karmaric teachings, then there is an answer. In fact, Karma can explain almost everything. Innocent lives are lost because of Karma.
Regardless, God is always there to offer love and comfort, to the dead, the living, the sick, the hurt and the anguish. God have mercy.
