I found an interesting article about Haruki Murakami this morning.
I hardly read his novels anymore, but I read a lot of his novels in my thirties.
Haruki Murakami gave the speech,
“Writing Fiction in the Time of Pandemic and War,"
in April at Wellesley College.
That speech was released Wednesday in The Shincho Monthly literary magazine.
Murakami says
The two big events changed the world in dramatic ways.
These events are of course Russia's invasion and the pandemic.
Walls are increasingly built and dividing people and countries.
Feelings of suspicion have replaced mutual trust.
Everybody seems to be confronted with a choice,
to hide behind the walls , preserving safety and the status quo,
or to emerge beyond the walls , in search of a freer value system.
Murakami asks two questions.
Can our trust in each other overcome our suspicions ？
Can wisdom overcome fear ？
And Murakami answers.
The answers to these questions are entrusted to our hands.
We are being required to take the time to think deeply , rather than an instant answer.
These words are very suggestive.
While reading this article, I suddenly thought about my behavior.
I have been checking the news about Ukraine every day for a long time.
But since this spring I can no longer see the details of the Ukrainian news.
Because my nerves and mind were overwhelmed by cruel and abominable facts.
However,that my behavior must have been to hide behind the wall.
I wonder if I would be able to emerge beyond the walls again ?
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
