History teaches us the fragility of human beings

2025年11月11日 2025年11月11日

tsuzukizeirishi

History is often discussed by separating the past from the present, such as saying that bad people fought wars in the past.

On a TV history program, Mr.Yu Koizumi said,

The people who supported the Nazi Party in Germany were not unique,

We must keep in mind that humans possess traits that could lead to similar behavior in the present day if the circumstances are same.

This statement struck a chord with me.

When our situation is threatened, our aggression increases as a defensive reaction.

This is likely a trait developed for survival in a harsh natural world.

It is difficult to control reflexive, reactive behavior or the emotions themselves.

When we are dissatisfied, we tend to become exclusive.

Lighting up, loud microphone performances, easy-to-understand messages,

Enthusiastic situations like live music venues excite people and make them even more blind-hearted.

In today's increasingly conservatistic world, there are calls to protect Japan.

There is a trend toward exclusion toward foreigners in some quarters.

This phenomenon is not unique to the present; it also existed approximately 160 years ago at the end of the Edo period.

Of course, we must protect what needs to be protected, but

So what is the "Japan" that we must protect?

What defines Japan is diverse.
(A look back at history makes it clear that those in power, social rules, and culture have constantly changed.)

History teaches us the fragility of people, and we ourselves possess that fragility.

We must calmly deal with that fragility.
(Especially when it comes to simple, easy-to-understand binary oppositions.)