"Events", cataclysmic or otherwise happened in the past too. And like the Japanese are doing now, people then didn't wallow in self pity. They dealt with it and moved on.

The same now. The only difference being, before it would have been a few articles in the newspapapers. Now with the high degree of interconnectivity, we come to know of every minute detail through the internet, the 24/7 channels.

Not the end of the world. We are just more aware of "happenings" around the world. That's all.