VERY graphic image of tsunami devestation. NOT FOR FAINT OF HEART

[Locut0s]

In many ways this catastrophe is so large that it risks becoming entirely abstract. There are some estimates now of the number of dead reaching 400,000 or more, check the wikipedia. Although I wouldn't put a lot of weight on some of these numbers as they are estimates based on aerial flyovers of devastated regions, plus I'm not entirely sure of some of the quoted data. However whatever the numbers end up being it will be impossible to wrap your mind around. That's why sheer numbers alone after a while have little effect on us anymore. However seeing images like the following really bring home the enormity of the disaster:



I'd also like top say as a side note that I am disgusted by the reactions of some on other forums and newsgroups. I've read everything from "Looks like a lot of Muslims died, guess God is sending them a message", to "60,000 dead, yeah so.. like you can name on of them" etc..

[diddlysquat]

1. ????

[nostamj]

2. sorry, graphic does not show

"This image link contains an illegal code"

it may be on a site that does not allow linking.

[teach1st]

3. Here's the correct link...

xx

I saw it yesterday. There are no words. Copy and paste the link, then remove the two xx's at the end of the address.

Re-warning. This is graphic.

[karlrschneider]

4. I sure agree with you but there doesn't seem to be any link in there...

but welcome to DU, I think! :D
okay, on edit, here's the direct link

[Carl Brennan]

5. Do yourself a favor

and don't go to Yahoo message boards. Some of the stuff coming from those people is about as vile as it gets. I have gotten a couple of the topics shut down. I just hope that nobody from these areas hit by the tsunami see any of those posts. Those people are really hurting and that could push someone over the edge.

[Beware the Beast Man]

6. For as horrible as the subject matter is,

it is remarkably photographed. Disturbing, but remarkably photographed.

[likesmountains 52]

7. ohhhh

must be over 100 poor dead souls in that photograph alone..hopefully they never had time to be afraid or in pain.

[Cobalt Violet]

47. And that's just on the surface .

Who know how deep all that debris and bodies are?

[Sanity Claws]

8. A tragedy

The word is so often misused. Here it is too mild to describe the enormity of what happened.
The poor people -- I hope they didn't suffer but passed quickly.

[alexisfree]

9. I bet psycho bush gets his jollies from shit like this

[AngryAmish]

82. He whacks off to stuff like this

Why were the Iraqi prison photos taken?

[Tinoire]

10. Painful to look at.

I saw a smaller version of this a few days ago... did not notice all the corpses :( This large one really brings it home.

Yes and ditto for Carl's advice to not go to the Yahoo boards. There's a particularly vile type of "patriotic" people that frequent those...

Welcome to DU Locut0s :hi: Sorry it's not a cheerier time. Thanks for posting this

[Lengsel]

16. huh????

So, what is the rational for making light of this event?

[Old and In the Way]

24. Compassion is a liberal value.

I was on a site a few days ago that had pictures of the Tsumani from a tourist in Phakut. There were posts from all around the world. But there were more than a few jerks posting as "Micheal Moore", "Hillary Clinton, "Bill Clinton" asking if the surfing was good,etc. It's amazing how much damage and badwill a few juvenile, mal-adjusted people who apparently are anti-Democrats can create in the world's eye. I used to think they got their kicks out of baiting liberals /progressives....but I'm not sure anymore. I think they just have lots of hate and have real emotional issues that require professional counseling.

Here's the thread if you want to see them inaction.

http://www.pbase.com/gallery?gallery_id=2402580

[Old and In the Way]

30. I just went back and checked the site....here are some fine examples

of the values people who helped re-elect Bush (Bill Schneider, please take note):

From: guest([e-mail]) Date: 01-Jan-2005 05:28
Hey realist, I am not prejudiced :) after 911, given the chance I would wipe every single muslim off the face of the planet if I could! Talk about a bunch of idiots!!

From: Guest Date: 31-Dec-2004 20:19
@ Jagerbomb:

Why should I apologize? And for your information, no, I've never been outside of North America and haven't contributed to the world population and never plan to do either. In fact, I couldn't care less if there was a Tsunami or new war everyday (great entertainment, love to see the bombs falling live!). That's why I am so glad President Bush was re-elected; with him I know there WILL be more wars and who knows, he might even make my dreams come true and start a nuclear war with Russia/China/North Korea (the REAL axis of evil), then the end would be near, really really near. I am all for the genocide of all humans (yes, ALL).

From: Guest Date: 31-Dec-2004 19:02
What is 200,000 humans? Who cares about 200,000 humans? I sure don't!

From: Hugh Jass([e-mail]) Date: 31-Dec-2004 13:34
Unlike many people here, I don't think this was a punishment, I think it is a reward. Look, we got rid of some of the poorest, most worthless "humans" on the planet. I think this is God's way of giving us a "high-five" Like, "You guys are doing great, keep up the good work." We need to keep up what we're doing, and maybe he'll reward us even more, maybe send a meteor to destroy France, or maybe Africa will be swallowed up by the ocean. Damn, this is great.

THANKS GOD IF YOU'RE LISTENING!!!

From: Guest([e-mail]) Date: 01-Jan-2005 01:21
In the past 4 years, the USA has given more than ALL other countries combined. You hate to remind people of that but considering the lack of respect given to the US and Bush, you need to. People need to SEE more than they want to.

From: Isaac Date: 31-Dec-2004 13:11
Dear all,

Lets stop bickering and have the peace in our hearts and pray for the people affected by this disaster.

I'm a christian and I know for sure that God is in charge of all things. But we are not to second guess him or question his actions. God is blameless, so to the christians that blame God for this, stop. God's actions are not for us to fanthom too, so for those who are saying this is a punishment, stop.

But this is a wake up call for all, these are things that make you think twice about denying the existing of an Almighty God. For christians, we know, we have read about it in the Bible. For the rest, take this as an opportunity to find out more and think about the what you want in life. Its humbling to all, and I can only thank God that Singapore, the place where I stay has been shown mercy.

From: Sum Dum Gai([e-mail]) Date: 31-Dec-2004 11:07
wat you crazy guy say. not funne. many peepul ded. me so sorry for dis. you crazy you go hell. fuk you.

From: an insensitive prick Date: 28-Dec-2004 19:52
so does this mean my vacation is cancelled?

From: sum dum gook ([e-mail]) Date: 27-Dec-2004 23:10
to look on the bright side this guy has some new lawn furniture

From: schmuck ([e-mail]) Date: 29-Dec-2004 21:20
this guys is totally cool ... he's just body surfing ass first, and probably thinking, geeze! What a rush!

From: Mitch Date: 29-Dec-2004 05:43
I've taken sponge baths that are rougher than what this guy is going through. It actually looks fun.

----------------

This country is so screwed when we have people like this posting to the world.

[ISUGRADIA]

36. Sounds like the Rush Limbaugh crowd is out in full force

in these postings. I am a believer in karma. People who have this kind of hatred or "humor" will get back sorrow in their lives tenfold.

[Valerie5555]

37. Wonder if they were the REAL die hard sicko fans of web sites such as

Ogrish and World of Gore

[Valerie5555]

Holy flipping crapadoodle, I had been to the Yahoo boards and the

entire set of messages were probably so irreverent the moderators had to yank them all.

[Valerie5555]

43. Holy flipping crapadoodle, I had been to the Yahoo boards and the

entire set of messages were probably so irreverent the moderators had to yank them all.

[tnlefty]

57. Thanks for posting this. As difficult as it was to read I do think

that it's a good idea to realize just what rotten assholes I am in this country with. Too sad to type anymore.

[Obviousman]

68. I am literally, physically sick after reading that

[anarchy1999]

80. I viewed this photo on New Year's Eve, reading the posts from the

Freeps just made me get physically very ill. Never in all my life have I ever been witness to such depravation. It was bad enough the day I saw this picture, but to read what these people posted made me really, really sick. God, or whatever higher power is out there, please forgive them, they know nothing. I'm so sorry.

[Valerie5555]

33. Holy mackrel I wonder if any even posted as either AL GORE, TIPPER GORE

or even JOHN KERRY, TERESA KERRY or even JOHN or ELIZABETH EDWARDS.


I wonder if they even went so far as to pronounce Phuket as "FUCK IT" if you get my drift.

[Tinoire]

25. I can't even repeat some of the vile things I saw

all based on ignorance, many about how Muslims are cursed by God (shows how little they know about the religious make-up in the region), that it's God wiping vile scum from the earth and much much worse. Gleeful posts at that. Sent a shiver down my spine that there are such people on this earth, in my country.

[driver8]

26. WTF is going on in this country?

I have never seen as much hatred in people as I have seen in the last few years...ironically, around the time that Bush took office.

How does someone get so hateful that they can make jokes about a disaster like this? Is this how christians are supposed to act? I'm not a religious person, but this doesn't seem to follow any ideas of Christianity that I have ever heard.

This turns my stomach...these people are sad, very sad.

[Old and In the Way]

31. I'm hoping they're 13 year old boys

but I suspect that many are just anti-social.

[Tinoire]

38. I don't know...

I'd never seen it until I saw the look in the eyes of the band of thugs they bussed in to stop the recount in 2000. There was so much hate in their eyes it scared me.

The Germans were/are some of the loveliest, kindest people you can imagine and yet look at how they temporarily lost it- as if gripped by a dark force. I don't think the parallels between Bush and Hitler are that far apart anymore. Both share the same demonic traits and sway over their followers.

Those people are NO more Christian than the "Christians" Hitler groomed with his Thousand Year Reich nonesense. Sad and disgusting.

[Valerie5555]

39. As for the IRANIANS, I am sure most of them were rather sane and good

and hopefully the whole incident where they stormed the American Embassy and took EVERY occupant of that building or at least NEARLY EVERY occupant hostage was an act of momentary Islamic revolutionary insanity.


"Ayatollah" types and extremists probably *DO* have a lot in common whether they are ISLAMIC or CHRISTIAN. :scared: :scared:.

[roguevalley]

40. People are saying what they never dared say before because

they believe its okay because of the leadership of this country right now. They are allowed to hate because they are. I remember when Nigger was a word you heard all the time and then people scorned it for hatred. Then kids began using it and you hear it again, a lot of times from ignorant whites. What they believe is allowed, they will do.

[Valerie5555]

41. Wonder if the same is true of "fag" or "faggot" in a Phelpsian sense

eom

[Lydia Leftcoast]

63. The people at the top set the tone

whether you're talking about schools, churches, businesses, or governments.

If you have sociopathic greedheads at the top, they empower and embolden the other sociopathic greedheads.

I noticed the first rounds of insane hatred after Reagan was elected.

[fujiyama]

44. Makes me want to leave this country

This is about as disgusting as it gets.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Strelnikov_]

60. Could you please reflect on these vile comments about the disaster?

By our own version of the Taliban.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/jan2005/Tsunami_Sweden_1-3-2005.pdf

Why is it that reich-wingers always settle on the comments of an extremist minority to whip up hatred against others?

Why does the reich-wing always seem to put forward a Herschel Grynszpan as justification for their current version of Kristallnacht?

[ebayfool]

11. My god, that's ... unspeakably painful. I can't absorb it in it's ...

totality, just taking it in small bits (like bad medicene). BTW - I've heard those same cracks (from 'supposedly good christians' no less). First time, I was shocked speechless - just stood like a fool & shook. Second time, I quit! Don't care how bad I need the income, it's tainted coming from that kind of mindset. It's like a disease overtaking people I once thought I knew.

[HeeBGBz]

12. That is horrendous

That's just one area. One beach. How many other images like this?

[Gloria]

13. This is the worst thing I've ever seen...

eom

[dweller]

14. regardless of the sentiment of painless deaths for those poor victims

everything about that picture screams horror and pain.

does anyone know what region this picture was taken?

i have to go outside now in the dark for some air and solitude.

dp

[Solly Mack]

15. Mind numbing

the horror :(

[liberalhistorian]

17. I'm simply speechless.

There really and truly are no words at all adequate for something like this. And I wonder if those who claim that "God is sending a message" would include the thousands of missing and presumed dead Americans and the thousands of dead Europeans, most of whom were Christian or non-Muslim????????? And the world saw us partying hearty last night like nothing happened at all!

And as a Christian, I find the reaction from the RW fundie wingnuts to be especially disturbing, disgusting, dismaying, and odious. They have been totally silent, for the most part, except for the "God's judgments" message bullshit, and there are no links whatsoever for aid on the websites of the American Family Research Council, the Concerned Women for America, Focus on the Family, Pat Robertson's hateful screed that passes as a website, or any of the other fundie wingnut groups sites; they don't even mention it. Their silence is deafening and unbelievable. I'm almost ashamed to be an American right now.

[Valerie5555]

28. And could anyone believe how Focus On The Family had a link to an article

on "How to survive a "Lord Of The Rings" movie - less Christmas." Hmmmmmmm, maybe one of the tips should have been "Lobby for the making of a "live action" version of "The Hobbit" (or the "prequel" to The Lord Of The Rings,), perhaps.

[fujiyama]

45. I checked the sites out

and it's amazing. Only the "Focus on the Family" website had something to do with the Tsunami relief.

The CWA site was the worst - asking for a TAX DEDUCTABLE donation to their own organization! The Family Research Council also didn't mention the disaster.

Sickening.

[The Stranger]

49. Focus on the Family actually linked to Samaritan's Purse, a "relief"

organization run by Franklin Graham, who has publically made bigoted statements:

But Graham, who is 53 and goes by Franklin, is also no stranger to controversy. A man who often says just what is on his mind, he drew fire from around the world when, in the wake of 9/11, he called Islam "an evil and wicked religion."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6730092/site/newsweek/

2001-NOV-16: According to MSNBC, Franklin Graham appeared on the NBC Nightly News, commenting on Islam. He allegedly said: "We're not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God. He's not the son of God of the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion." . . . He continued: "I don’t believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion. When you read the Koran and you read the verses from the Koran, it instructs the killing of the infidel, for those that are non-Muslim."

When asked by NBC News to clarify his statement, Graham repeated his charge that Islam, as a whole, is an evil. "It wasn’t Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn’t Lutherans. It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith." NBC news contacted Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and other Christian leaders. None would would comment on Graham’s attacks. Ken Woodward, Newsweek religion editor, said: "Obviously, Mr. Graham is tone deaf in this respect. He’s certainly not his father’s son in terms of discretion."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter18b.htm

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Oilwellian]

18. This is horrifying

Those poor people. The forces of mother nature were wretched this time.

[HuskiesHowls]

19. That picture really brings it home

It took me a minute to realize that those were all bodies. My mind wanted them to be something else.

Its time to go light a couple more candles!

[JI7]

20. does anyone know where this picture is from ?

what country and/or city ?

[Valerie5555]

35. Not sure where but it looks like probably somewhere in Indonesia

eom.

[muse]

46. Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

[Valerie5555]

64. Holy cow I made a lucky guess so you could say "ding ding ding" I 'm a

winner. :D

[Bouncy Ball]

21. Dear God.

That is horrific. There is a very small boy, looks like a toddler, with his arms still oustretched, as though his mother fell out of his grip.

And so many of them are missing both of their legs. I wonder why is that? I really hate to be morbid here, but I have the mind of a scientist sometimes: could the force of the wave have been enough to do that? Or was it the debris everywhere? There are too many of them with both legs missing for it to just be random...

[Downtown Hound]

22. I don't think they are missing their legs

their legs are simply buried in the mud and debris. All that stuff got kicked around and settled on top of them.


God, what a horrible sight.

[Bouncy Ball]

23. Ok

there are a few that clearly look as if they are missing both legs, but maybe it's just hard to tell.

And I just noticed a small baby at the water's edge. I need to not look at this picture again. It's already seared into my memory.

[Valerie5555]

27. Had seen worse photos, but OMG either the HEADS of those corpses were

buried in the muck or it looks like the corpses also have NO HEADS.

[AgadorSparticus]

29. this is just unbelievable.

the image is so mind numbing. i look at this picture and still can't wrap my mind around the horror of it.

nor can i understand the mindnumbing hatred that is oozing out of so many people. it just makes me want to cry. i don't know how we have come to this place of incivility. we have amazing technology and have lost every sense of our humanity in the process.

how utterly disgusting and shameful.

[Baja Margie]

32. Oh God

This is so terrible. Those little fuckers over on Yahoo should be shot.

[Valerie5555]

34. Or maybe Karma may prove to be a cat who is *VERY* prolific in "kindling"

kittens or a dog who is *VERY* prolific in whelping puppies in terms of how a tsunami calamity may happen to them all when they go on their holidays.

[Ladyhawk]

42. Woah. I wasn't expecting the bodies to be bloody. Why?

I guess I was expecting drowned bodies, but most likely they were bombarded by debris as they were swept away. Their bodies are battered, almost unrecognizable as human.

As for those yahoos at yahoo: disgusting human beings. This is what we're battling.

[Cuban_Liberal]

50. Liquefaction (autolysis), to put it nicely.

It's not pretty to look at.

[Valerie5555]

65. Just wondered as to what the flipping heck is that? Is that where bodies

turned to LIQUID or MUSH??????????????????????? :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[Guaranteed]

69. Yes..."lysis" means "explode" or "break"...the cells

are breaking apart.

[Valerie5555]

70. Good god, kind of like what happened in EBOLA or something

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[Guaranteed]

71. Yeah, basically...but they're already dead,

so, no biggee. :)

[Valerie5555]

72. Wonder what causes that in that case ..........................

eom

[Guaranteed]

73. The cells absorbing too much water, probably.

Cell membrane can't take the pressure and it breaks...

A lot of that stuff is just simple lacerations, though, I'm sure.

[Valerie5555]

74. So it happened when the bodies are inundated with water.

eom

[Uzybone]

48. Terrible

simply terrible.

[bigwillq]

51. Wow-what an awful sight.

I haven't seen this pic before. I don't think I want to see it again.

What an awful tragedy.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bobbyboucher]

55. UPI is Moonie scat. They got no cred, sorry.

I think you might need to be more careful of what press you read. Or not, it's your brain.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yankeedem]

61. It's probably not accurate, but if it was

What is your point? So some Muslims are ignorant too?

[Strelnikov_]

62. So What If It Is Accurate?

Seems that our religious nutjobs are balanced by their religious nutjobs.

I would hate to think that there was a religious nut-job gap.

Still working your Herschel Grynszpan, huh? Any luck?

[Strelnikov_]

59. How The Hell Do I Get One Of Those $50,000P/Hr Singer Jobs?

[LynnTheDem]

67. How come you keep posting this?

It appears you hate Muslims.

Why?

[indepat]

58. Makes one wonder what kind of message God will be sending if Yellow-

stone were to blow?

[Valerie5555]

66. Or if some mountain or what not in the Canary Islands were to collapse

causing a TSUNAMI that WIPED OUT the ENTIRE EAST COAST of the UNITED STATES? :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[WatchWhatISay]

75. Not even my worst imaginings of hell

were that bad.

If there is a heaven, there should be a rule - the worse your death is, the nicer part of heaven you get to live in.

[Stephanie]

76. You are brave for posting, and I am sorry I viewed

So very sorry. It's just unfathomable. It's really better not to know maybe. God it's just devastating.

[Red State Rebel]

77. Reminds me of photos from the Galveston Hurricane

I've read some books on that disaster and while the numbers aren't nearly as bad, for it's time it was devasting. Estimates are between 5,000 and 10,000 killed back in the early 1900's.

What a horrible tragedy for these people. I can't even begin to fathom what they are going through.

[Chili]

78. well, that brought it home to me.

I pray that no one saw a loved one in that photo. How horrible that would be. Or worse, imagine you had to search that beach for your wife or child or lover or friend.

And there is a special hell awaiting the heartless cretins on those yahoo boards.

[anarchy1999]

79. I saw this pic on New Year's Eve. It has caused me pain, nightmares

and grief beyond my own imagination. I just want to go help and I know that I can not. This pic brought it all home to me and was really more than I was ready to deal with. Why did it take so long to get help there? Tell me again why did we need to take a week to assess the situation? Where are we and who are we? "God Bless America", give me a break. God, please forgive me, I just live here.

I'm sorry.

[Frangible]

81. Worth a thousand words, indeed.

Very sad.