The seed of hope.

Still reeling from it all, the news brings no respite from the storm.  But, inside was a piece of writing by the novelist Murakami Ryu (he of the edgy novels that informed part of my readings in Japanese literature) that got to me. In it, he mentions that despite it all, despite the overshadowing threats hanging over the nation, he has a real courage.  And I do understand and salute his statement:

"But for all we've lost, hope is in fact the one thing we Japanese have regained.  The great earthquake and tsunami have robbed us of many lives and resources.  But we who were so intoxicated with our own prosperity have once again planted the seed of hope.  So I choose to believe."

And it is not the "hope" of the all talk no action variety that wins popular elections, either.

The sun still shines.