Not much to be said for it.
Even though a country is defeated,
Its mountains and rivers remain.
And o’er the castle ruins, when it is spring,
The grass will be green again.
– Tu Fu
There are many angry people on the Internet. You’ll find them dropping insults as comments to blogs or sprinkling irascible posts on forums - and when their keyboards fall silent, they are spreading vitriol on talkback radio.
They are testimony to the fractious spirit of humankind that sees strangers trading gestures, not understanding, or presenting backs to the unfortunate, not empathy, or nations marching idealistic youth to death while non-combatants feign ignorance of delusional leadership.
Do not, dear reader, judge the tone of these articles before reading them - and seeking messages within. My points are not subtle, but they are ‘fine.’
The idea that ordinary people forced to fight (too often by “civilian” cowards who lead from behind a desk) are capable of shining courage … or dark holocaust. What has it done to our history, and to confidence in our humanity?
Or the more fearful idea that a cultural empire - deemed noble and just in the texts read to children - is found selfish, greedy, brutal, and most foully-murderous, at that moment in conflict when such nobility is most desperately necessary.
A mound of summer grass:
Are warriors’ heroic deeds
Only dreams that pass?
– Sora
