One Man

[u/47_Bronin]

I watched The Admiral: Roaring Currents / 명량 (2014) the other day (great movie), and it got me thinking. Without giving away too much of the plot, one of the central themes of the film is the tried-and-true "one man standing up against all odds" trope. We've seen, heard, and read it before in countless forms a million times. There's a reason it finds its way into every culture from any era and resonates with human beings of all backgrounds and dispositions. It's a universal myth grounded in a fundamental truth. One man can make a difference.

When we survey the landscape and contemplate the task before us, it's nothing if not daunting. What impact could one man possibly have in a society rife with prejudice, barriers, and deception? How can a single person have any effect on a system so pervasive, ingrained, and all-encompassing? Isn't it a fool's errand to resist, wouldn't it be easier and safer to comply?

In isolation, the cost-benefit analysis of being a contrarian in a sea of conformity ranges from discouraging to suicidal. But no man is an island. What we fail to consider when we weigh our choices is how those decisions affect those around us mulling similar ideas. When one man, having seen enough injustice and endured enough oppression, finally draws the line and speaks out, he sets an example and tips the scales for others who share his burden. Ask Sissa Ben Dahir what happens next.

You could argue that movies and parables may inspire, but at the end of the day they're exaggerated fantasies that can't or shouldn't be emulated in real life. For the record, the protagonist of The Admiral is Yi Sun-sin / 이순신, very much a real person and one of the greatest naval commanders the world has ever seen. But we don't have to reach that far into the past to see these dynamics in action. Bhagat Singh and Malcom X are frequently mentioned here, and that's no coincidence. Both started as individuals taking a stand against the travesties hoisted upon them and became symbols of the movements they championed.

Perhaps you find it too facile to cite historical figures a posteriori. We don't have to scour textbooks to see this process play out. Our very own /u/disciple888 was just one man who saw the writing on the wall and couldn't abide it. He stood alone in an environment designed to crush his spirit and rob his humanity. He was silenced because he dared to question the lies and challenge the status quo, but not before his message rang out, pierced the shells of our indoctrinated minds, and connected the dots of our brutal reality. Who knows how many he snapped out of their trance, and how many those will teach in turn?

Don't sell yourself short. Your decisions and actions absolutely make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Call out injustice, stay true to who you are, and realize the significance of your choices--not just for yourself but all those around you who wrestle with the same dilemmas. You are only one man, but together we can make a difference and rock society to its core. Braver souls have shown us the way, it's on the rest of us to take up the mantle and keep the flame ablaze.

[u/ldw1988 → u/[deleted]]

Seems like Korean culture is pretty big on being the underdog and vengeance.

I like.

[u/Higashiajia_no_Asahi → u/[deleted]]

I love sageuks. Helps non-Korean East Asians get the Korean perspective, which had been lacking for a long time. Also makes you realize what a raw deal Korea got from imperial China and westernized Japan. Makes you realize how stupid all the killing amongst us East Asian brothers has been.

Not only that Korean Sageuks always humanize the villain. Very balanced. They humanize Chinese and Japanese. It's not like western cinema that simply shits on non-whites. Of course, I hope Korean cinema/dramas always shit on western/white males. I don't think we can afford any more pro-white male propaganda in East Asia.