The chatterers in shul this weekend said they've heard that, among the faithful, it has been decalred that last week's disaster was sent, by God, to remind the Jewish people that slanderous talk (loshon hara) is a great evil.
We don't agree.
If we can find a link that confirms the shul rumor, we'll go to the trouble of writing an argument.
Stay tuned. DovBear operatives are on the case.