When Joe Biden landed at Sendai Airport on Aug. 23, he spoke of the generosity of the Japanese people. He spoke of his friendship and admiration for the people of Japan. Biden also said it was an honor for America to help Japan, because every time there is a natural disaster or tragedy, Japan always helps.
He said America, like Japan, is a Pacific nation, and America will always be there for Japan.
Biden said he admired the Japanese people’s determined response to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. He planned to meet survivors and hear their stories, but “the disaster met its match in the legendary industriousness and relentless perseverance of the Japanese people.
“Neighbors and total strangers in this region divided up the tasks essential to survival: scavenging for food wherever they could find it; overcoming downed cellular networks by communicating through message boards, radio, and human messengers; gathering fuel from the tanks of the wrecked motor boats and automobiles.”
The airport where he gave his speech had been flooded by the tsunami, yet it reopened only one month after the disaster, said Biden. American troops helped get one runway open only a week later so that it could receive aid. He said the Americans wanted to come and help because of the genuine affection between Japanese and American people. They were motivated to help Japan because they remembered that Japan helped us after Hurricane Katrina, said Biden. “But as Japan faces its own difficult time, Americans will stand by Japan for as long as it takes,” he said.
But I am also here to honor the incredible spirit of the Japanese people, who remind the world of something equally as forceful as the force of nature, that is the force of the nature of the human spirit, which is equally as formidable, particularly when we join together in the most trying of times.
He said America, like Japan, is a Pacific nation, and America will always be there for Japan.
Biden said he admired the Japanese people’s determined response to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. He planned to meet survivors and hear their stories, but “the disaster met its match in the legendary industriousness and relentless perseverance of the Japanese people.
“Neighbors and total strangers in this region divided up the tasks essential to survival: scavenging for food wherever they could find it; overcoming downed cellular networks by communicating through message boards, radio, and human messengers; gathering fuel from the tanks of the wrecked motor boats and automobiles.”
The airport where he gave his speech had been flooded by the tsunami, yet it reopened only one month after the disaster, said Biden. American troops helped get one runway open only a week later so that it could receive aid. He said the Americans wanted to come and help because of the genuine affection between Japanese and American people. They were motivated to help Japan because they remembered that Japan helped us after Hurricane Katrina, said Biden. “But as Japan faces its own difficult time, Americans will stand by Japan for as long as it takes,” he said.
But I am also here to honor the incredible spirit of the Japanese people, who remind the world of something equally as forceful as the force of nature, that is the force of the nature of the human spirit, which is equally as formidable, particularly when we join together in the most trying of times.
