Parent-Child Reading Notes

 Today, I was reading "Reading Together with Adults" with my sons, and there was a story by Japanese author Minakami Nankichi. When the eldest son heard this, he became unhappy and exclaimed, "Written by a Japanese person? I don't want to read it!"

I asked, "Why?"

He replied, "Because Japanese people are bad guys!"

I asked again, "Then whose work do you like to read?"

He answered, "Confucius. 'In dealing with friends, trustworthiness is of utmost importance. If promises are broken, then what can be tolerated?'"

I continued, "Do you know that during Confucius' time, we were actually foreigners?"

He said, "Huh?"

I found a map and circled Shandong, telling him, "Look, Confucius was a person from the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period, approximately in this area. But at that time, Guangdong, where we are from, did not belong to any country. To our ancestors, Confucius was a foreigner. However, now he has become a part of our cultural heritage for us descendants. Is it possible that writers from different countries in our era will also become a shared cultural memory and symbol of our global village in the future? When the future generations on Earth venture into the vast expanse of the universe and encounter extraterrestrial beings from different planets, as they reminisce about everything on this mother planet, will the concept of national boundaries vanish, leaving only a sense of familiarity?"

The child still didn't understand and said, "But they invaded our country!"

I sighed and continued to enlighten him, "Yes, you're right, many Japanese people were extremely bad several decades ago. To be precise, anyone who adopts extremism at any time is extremely bad. Because of this, our love and hatred should have specific targets and reasons. Let me give you a simple example: Yesterday, you were mischievous and naughty, and I punished you for it. Can I punish you again today for what happened yesterday?"

He shook his head and asked, "Why?"

I then asked, "Can I punish your little brother because of your mischievousness and mischief?"

After thinking for a moment, he cunningly replied, "Yes, because he is my little brother!"

"In that case, if your little brother makes a mistake next time, I will punish you, okay?"

He hastily said, "Okay, whoever makes a mistake should bear the consequences!"

"Yes, yes, Confucius said, 'To recognize and correct one's mistakes...'"

"I know, I know! 'To recognize and correct one's mistakes is the greatest virtue!'" the child interrupted.

"Confucius also said, 'What you do not want done to yourself...'"

"'Do not do to others!'" the child enthusiastically responded.

"Exactly, Japan is just like you. If they made mistakes yesterday, they should face punishment and consequences. But after the punishment, it is more beneficial for the future to learn how to get along with each other and live better lives. We should not live in the past but embrace the future, understand?"

"Yes, yes. And next time, when I have a good idea, you should listen to me!"

"Sure, you should bravely express your own ideas, and we will use the best method, whoever has the better one."

"Great, I will definitely come up with a better method than yours. Little brother, come over here. Let's read 'The Little Fox Buys Gloves' together."