YOUR VIEW: MH370 is a universal tragedy
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This article is a tribute to all 239 people who perished onboard MH370.
Now that we know where their final resting place is, we can seek closure and pray for them to rest in peace.
For all those who read and follow this story in Yahoo News for the past 19 days, this could easily turn out to be a personal tragedy if we were related to anyone of those onboard. By all accounts, it is truly a prolonged period of unspeakable ordeal and trauma for the past 19 days to families and relatives, colleagues and friends. Beyond this episode there will be untold stories of coping with someone, a father, a mother, a son, a daughter or even a best friend who will never be there anymore. Yes, from henceforth it is about moving forward; slowly, painfully and tearfully.
It is indeed a first tragedy of Asian background in recent memories.
We read of entire family tree being wiped out. We read of young children suddenly without parents. We read of family suddenly deprived of support. We read of a young couple lovingly on a honeymoon. We read of retirees eagerly looking forward to visit China. We read of people returning home after a cultural exchange in Malaysia. We read of workers looking forward to meet their loved ones.
In each and everyone onboard, there is a story to tell, a reason to be onboard and most of all, a purpose to fly without fear or suspicion. After all, millions of passengers travel the world everyday and there is no reason to suspect that this one would not be the same as the rest on that fateful day; 8 March.
When the news first broke that Malaysian Airlines has lost contact with MH370 in the early hours of 8 March, a chain of events ensued. Almost immediately ships and planes began searching the South China sea where the last contact was recorded. As it turned out, they were searching the wrong place. The plane did not crash and instead it continued to fly westward. Relatives and friends were furious and mad because precious time was lost. Pandemonium, chaos and even scuffles broke out in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing as more questions were raised and conflicting answers were given by Malaysian airline officials. As days passed by, those who wished that this was all a passing nightmare soon came to realise and sombrely accepted that there was no more hope in seeing their loved ones alive. Whatever information or misinformation that they received for the past 19 days would not change the final announcement by the Prime Minister of Malaysia that flight MH370 had terminated into the Indian Ocean and there were no survivors.
The Indian Ocean is an infinite body of water that is so remote, hostile and treacherous that no one could possibly survive a plane crash there let alone for 19 days. We may never know the real reason for this tragic end but I am sure that the world salutes and empathizes with all these innocent victims.
It is a sad end for all those onboard and sadder for those who continue to hold special and personal memories of their loved ones. We grieve their losses and we share their sorrows because such tragedy transcends no race, no border and no exception.
With 14 nationalities onboard, it was a universal tragedy.
May all of them rest in peace.
Douglas Chua, 57
Writer
