Chronicles of a Sengoku Pageboy in the Reiwa Era - Entry 0055

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Kasugayama Castle, Narumi Shogunate

Lord: Uesugi Dōman Maru Kagetora

Observations by a Pageboy

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◆ Year 451 of Tenbun Era, August 14th

"Misunderstandings of Discriminatory Language in the Reiwa Era"

In the Sengoku period, the use of discriminatory language was commonplace. The petty bureaucrats in their unimpressive paper offices would dismiss complaints from the subjects, adopting an attitude of indifference. This path would surely lead to the mishandling of the elegant words native to our land. While I am unfamiliar with the ways of Reiwa, I believe that human expression and freedom must persist eternally. For instance, in the Reiwa era, there's a fascination with the arrogance of celebrities. It's often reported that they "marry commoners," but what exactly does "commoner" mean? Are not celebrities themselves common people? I believe it refers to merchants who run their own businesses, peddling their performances as commodities. It's doubtful whether celebrities possess any unique abilities. In the Sengoku era, they would often be called street beggars. How the world has changed.

Terms like "fool," "gypsy," "outcast community," "aborigine," "Turkish bath," "skin color," "blind," "slow-witted," "lame," "idiotic," and more lack an inherent definition as discriminatory words. However, the societal impact of their usage raises concerns. Literary samurai need not concern themselves with discriminatory language. Such constraints would narrow their creative range, robbing their work of imaginative spaces and rendering it uninteresting to readers, a natural outcome. The finer points can be entrusted to skilled editing attendants who refine these words. Masters like Sakaguchi Ango and Dostoevsky have crafted masterpieces like "Idiot." Barking incessantly about discrimination serves no purpose; progress stagnates. While the term "SDGs" in our land refers to gender equality, if liberation from gender discrimination is the goal, complications can arise.

In the world of racing horses, terms like "mare," "stallion," "gelding," "white horse," "roan horse," "palomino," "black horse," are treated equally. How about humans? Some argue that criticism shouldn't be directed at unisex restrooms, shared baths, or coed childbirth. While same-sex marriage might not align with the natural order, on a personal level, one might withhold judgment. Witnessing a woman diligently cleaning men's restrooms, I can't help but feel embarrassed at the thought of being observed in such a manner. You likely share this sentiment. Thus, if men were to express a desire to meticulously clean women's restrooms, should that not be considered? Without hesitation, I would apply, even risking my life, to be the first. Discrimination is an attribute of humanity. Striving for absolute equality, eliminating discrimination, is an ideal, yet humans are burdened with a hundred and eight worldly desires. Only Lord Buddha may transcend them.

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