In his song “New Songs with Old Tales,” Jonathan Lee introspectively examines the father-son dynamic, candidly stating, “Two men can end up looking the same all their lives.” This observation extends beyond familial bonds, alluding to the superficial connections we often maintain with our so-called “siblings”.
In yesterday’s social media feeds, filled with sad pandemic videos, the familiar call to “unite and stand together against the outside” still prevailed. This reflects a refusal to introspect, with some choosing instead to deflect blame onto external forces despite the tragedy.
The anger in these stories is ambiguous. Is it directed at the “foreign devils,” as the characters Wei Chunfang and Wei Xiaobao describe, or is it a reflection of what Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich described in “Second-Hand Time” – a population ingrained with the socialist gene, identical and distinct from the rest of humanity?
Perhaps it is time to free ourselves from the duty of the “awakened dragon, eyes alight with vigilance,” to move beyond the confines of an imagined community and truly live for ourselves. This shift encourages not only personal liberation, but also the cultivation of a perspective that values introspection over outward blame, fostering a more nuanced understanding of our place in the world.