The Old Man and the New Cold War

Ivan, an old man in Russia's countryside, was talking about the old days while drinking vodka in a bar. Ivan recalled his dreamlike past as he recalled the days of the Soviet Union, which was the most courageous country in the communist camp that divided the world with the United States. Although the Soviet Union era, which was a totalitarian state, was actually a dark era, Ivan was young and healthy at that time, fell in love with a girl named Anna, a girl from a neighboring village, and was loyal to the party and well behaved, so he has been able to survive until now. Ivan still misses those days.

 

An old man in the countryside of Korea was talking about the past while drinking makgeolli at a bar. Old man Kim recalled the time when South Korea, which divided North Korea and the Korean Peninsula, set the national goal of anti-communism, sang Saemaul songs under the leadership of former President Park Chung-hee and laid the foundation for South Korea to become an economic powerhouse. In fact, although Korea was said to be in a dark era at the time when it was called a dictatorship, old man Kim was young and healthy, fell in love with a girl named Kkotbun, a neighborhood girl, and was loyal to the country and well behaved, so he has been able to survive until now. Old man Kim still missed those days.

 

David, an American veteran, was talking about the past while drinking brandy at a bar. David recalled the days when the United States, which defended freedom against the communist camp, became a superpower by participating in the Vietnam War and aiming anti-communism as a national goal. In fact, although he was over the verge of death in the Vietnam War, old man Kim, or David, was young and healthy, fell in love with the neighboring village Catherine, and was able to survive until now because he defended freedom and behaved well. David still missed those days.

 

Old man Wu, an old man in China's countryside, was talking about the old days while drinking Paigan at the market. Old man Wu participated in the Yennan battle as a boy and watched the Chinese Communist Party gradually grow into an economic powerhouse after driving out the Kuomintang army and taking control of mainland China. He recalled the days when he ran on the front lines for people's liberation. In fact, although he faced a lot of death during the People's Liberation War, old man David was young, healthy, and in love with the Jwa clan maiden in a neighboring village, and was able to liberate the people and behave well until now, so he has been able to escape. Old man Wu still misses those days.

 

Tanaka, an old man in Japan's countryside, was talking about the past while drinking sake in Izakaya. Tanaka survived the Pacific War as a sailor in his youth, but he worked hard to create an economic co-prosperity sphere centered on Japan. He recalled the brilliant blue light of Yokohama during Japan's growth as the world's second-largest economy. Tanaka was young at the time, healthy, and in love with Musuko, a maiden from a neighboring village, and was able to revive Japan and behave well until now. Tanaka still misses those days.

 

Countless Ivan, old man Kim, old man David, old man Woo, and Tanaka all supported leaders who thought their way, bringing the world into a new era of Cold War. The future of the next generation of young people didn't even need to be thoughtful. If those days can come again, if they can hold on to the years that go by...

 

When Louis XV was defeated by Friedrich II of Germany at the Battle of Los Baja, Mrs. Pompadour reportedly said the following to console Louis XV. "Whether or not a heavy flood occurs only after we die, that's not the only thing." Artist Latru reportedly listened to her with certainty.

 

Looking at the election results in Russia these days, it is thought that Putin has many elderly Soviets behind him. However, I understand that older people can live younger when they think about their lives more permanently and strive for the next generation.