I saw a video online of a Ukrainian soldier's last moments, which deeply moved me. He was severely injured in close combat by a Russian soldier, first shot, then stabbed in hand-to-hand combat, and finally, powerless to turn the tide, could only wait for death.
The Ukrainian soldier called out to his comrades in order before dying, called for his mother, and then pleaded with his opponent for a little more time to die peacefully. In the end, he praised the opponent's courage and combat strength, congratulating them on their victory. As he struggled in a pool of blood, a Russian soldier ended his suffering with a grenade.
In this extremely cruel situation, a strange warmth appeared on the battlefield, where two warriors who wanted to kill each other, after the outcome was decided, showed respect for one another. At that moment, the two were not like mortal enemies, but rather like friends who appreciated each other. Of course, in the eyes of today's children, this might be considered a kind of "old-school" sentiment, right?
I can personally understand this emotion, because I grew up in a military camp, and I understand the thoughts of warriors. As ancient samurai and modern soldiers, they all pursue bravery as the highest goal. To be warlike, to die a good death, to fight like a man, to die like a warrior. Because of this philosophy, one must praise all acts of bravery, praise any display of strength, skill, and courage by warriors. Even if one is a victim of such combat, one must use their own life to prove the bravery of the opponent and must not hesitate to praise the enemy, thus supporting their own philosophy.
Similarly, national borders do not truly exist; they are merely a conceptual line on a map. Soldiers kill each other and sacrifice their lives for that line because they believe in it, believe in their duties and missions. Politicians easily paint, erase, and move border lines on maps, while countless flesh and blood bodies charge forward on the front lines. This is absurd, yet similar events have never ceased throughout human history. Soldiers genuinely believe they have something to defend, something to protect, and fulfill their obligations to the people.
So, although I personally do not support the killing between people, nor do I agree with using war to resolve disputes, I believe that this bloodshed and cruelty serve as a reminder and an education. It educates all who can see one thing: to support an idea, one must pay a price. It also reminds all who can see one thing: behind every idea there must be a cost; an idea that does not incur a cost is nothing.
Why do I get irritated when I hear others say "I want" or "I think"? Because many of those who say this claim a certain correctness and advocate for certain rights while not intending to pay any price for it. In fact, while they say this, they expect others to pay the price so that they can enjoy the benefits. What have they done themselves? They have said the right words.
The samurai believe in bravery, so they can accept dying at the hands of a more courageous enemy. For me, this means I can trust him, trust that he truly values bravery. A person who calls himself a samurai, but says things like 'Why don't you all go up?' or 'Everyone come listen to my analysis of bravery,' then for me, not a single word he says is credible, whether that mouth is speaking of great ideals, personal dreams, aesthetic tastes, or a pancake.
You said "I want to fall in love", but there is still half a sentence missing, half a sentence "even if it means being heartbroken like before". You said "I want to quit my job and start a business", but there is still half a sentence missing, half a sentence "I am ready to fail completely and start from scratch to work again". You said "I oppose smoking in the elevator", but there is still half a sentence missing, half a sentence "for this, I was beaten, and I can accept going to the police station to make a record". At first, even if it was just talk, it already indicated a willingness to pay the price for it, which sounds more credible and makes it easier to listen to.
Many people say: the world should be like this, life should be like this. But they never consider what they have to pay to get this "right", let alone think about being the one who foots the bill. Thus, these "rights", those "goods" become light and powerless, and also impossible. This is because, from the very beginning, they never figured out what they truly need.
The Ukrainian soldier, on the brink of death, first called out the names of his comrades---people need support; then called for his mother---people need love and companionship. Finally, he called out to his enemy, because at this moment the truth finally emerged: the support people want often goes unfulfilled, the love and companionship people desire may also be absent, but what always accompanies you is your enemy, and in the end, the one who can truly understand and appreciate you is also your enemy. The reason is that you both sacrifice for your ideals, achieving the deepest understanding in the midst of bloodshed, both obtaining and validating what you want---
And everyone else besides this is just a bystander. It's quite an ironic scene, isn't it? And this matter itself, after wasting a life in vain, actually gains nothing; the only reward is merely being alive, yet a part of oneself dies along with the enemy's death, a very sad scene, isn't it?
Now looking back at many people and things in the world, do you feel that everything is light and floating? People are just talking.
Cover Title: "The Persimmons Have Turned Red"
Creator: Little Meat Hand of He Cai Tou
AI algorithm provided: Midjourney V6.1
Prompt：____orange persimmon, covered in snow, hangs on the branch, its delicate and bright colors captured in high-definition photography. --ar 16:9 --p __--v 6.1
Past Events by the Ditch Produced by Cai Tou
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Please believe me,
Every word I say,
All are wrong
Meditation Moment
《The Persimmons Have Turned Red》
And Cai Tou's little meat hand
Midjourney V6.1
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Southern school, this "Persimmons as Wishes**"** is for you.
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