When Tragedy Hits, Do We React or Reflect?

Articles , English , / Wednesday, July 16th, 2025

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Written by Ms. Ambreen (Doha)
Life is unpredictable. Sometimes, no matter how strong or advanced a country is, nature proves that it is still the most powerful force. In recent months, I witnessed two heartbreaking events that made me think deeply about how we, as a society, react to disasters. One was the tragic flood in Swat, Pakistan, where an entire family drowned. The other was a terrible flood in Texas, USA, which also brought destruction and loss.
Both of these were natural disasters, but the reactions I saw—especially online—were very different from what I had hoped for. In Pakistan, whenever something tragic happens, the first reaction from many people is to blame the government. Social media becomes filled with angry comments and emotional posts accusing leaders and authorities of failure. But no one stops to think: can natural disasters really be controlled? Even countries like the USA, with the latest technology and emergency systems, cannot prevent floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Yet in our country, people immediately start playing the blame game.
I am not saying the government is perfect or that mistakes are not made. Of course, there is always room for improvement in rescue efforts and planning. But there is a difference between asking for accountability and blaming everything on the system without evidence. The problem is, people don’t wait for facts. They don’t think about what help they can offer. Instead, they rush to post and share their anger, making things more negative and stressful for everyone.
Generation Z is especially loud on social media. Sometimes that is good—they are brave, bold, and not afraid to speak. They don’t easily accept lies, and they demand justice openly. But sometimes, this boldness becomes dangerous. Many young people react too quickly without checking if the news is true or false. They forward videos, start trends, and share opinions without collecting any real information. Their passion is real, but the responsibility is missing.

What worries me more is that we, the older generation, often support this behavior by forwarding and sharing everything without correcting them. We help them make things viral, even when the information is wrong or harmful. Maybe it’s because we were raised in a different time. I’m a product of the 80s. My upbringing taught me to be careful before speaking, to respect facts, and to stay humble in front of situations we cannot control.

I don’t want to sound harsh or disrespectful to the younger generation. But I cannot hide what I feel when I see viral posts about disasters, without compassion or balance. In both the Swat flood and the Texas flood, people were suffering, yet the internet was full of arguments, blame, and opinions. That is heartbreaking.

Disasters will always come. Nature doesn’t ask for permission. But the way we react is in our hands. We need to choose kindness over chaos, help over hate, and facts over fast opinions. This is the only way we can become a better society.