As all things should be
Dear Blog Diary,
“Perfectly balanced.” - Thanos
You've seen the meme, "ask a man which he prefers, pirates cowboys or samurai. He will have a strong opinion on at least one of the three." I wonder when I finally make the pilgrimage to Japan, will they reject me based on Yakuza tattoo tradition. I don't actually know.
You’ve seen Yakuza in movies and when they fuck up, they lose a pinky. If it continues, on to the ring finger. At times just to be initiated, they cut off part of their pinky. The ritual stems from tradition. Years ago, cutting off a finger was detrimental to a practitioner’s ability to use a sword.
The reasoning is, when holding a sword you hold it with the pinky and ring finger tightly gripped and the middle and index slightly loose. If you’re all loose, the sword will come out of your hands. If you’re all tight, the sword can be easily knocked to one side.
It’s the stiffest tree that topples in the storm but the bamboo is flexible and bends with the wind. (That's Bruce Lee)
With the pinky/ring tight and the middle/index loose, you are able to maintain control while being flexible to your opponent’s attack.
In this, Yakuza would cut off a pinky as punishment to destabilize the hand that is wielding a sword, making you more vulnerable. More importantly, when your soldiers are more vulnerable, they are more reliant on the group. Five 2s will band together to defeat a solo 10.
Be your own person. It’s wild to me how it just depends on who I’m with, that who I am is now changed. I’m liberal to some, conservative to others. Feminist to some and not feminist enough to others. Then, today’s day and age, some people will just hate the idea of you because of things you can’t change. Important to remember, it’s just the idea of you. Some people sure, but most of us don’t wake up and want to hurt people. So what happens when you simply disagree, or even better, don’t agree enough or in the right way that the other person will accept?
Balance. Too far one way or another, you only make an enemy out of someone who probably shouldn't be. Thanos had it right but forgot that fact. And don't ever do that to Ironman.
Best regards,
E
#ARTiculate