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52. Epilogue: Essential Conditions for Independence In this book, we have recorded an outline of events that are related to the independence of Korea. Details cannot all be spelled out, but what has been presented can be sufficient, upon careful reflection, to suggest what independence is or what it involves, what circumstances our independence is in today, or what is likely to happen to it in the future . I hope everyone will study the book many times and will also do their best to encourage everyone else to do the same, so that not a person in the entire country will remain uninformed. It would be useless, however, if one knows only the relevant events without understanding how independence could be preserved intact in the future. I shall therefore briefly state what our people must learn urgently . Everyone should understand mentally and act accordingly in behavior so that, at first, a few persons will gain strength but, later, the entire nation will be united in mind and body, full of vigor and ready for action. No one could then argue that this book has no effect. The most essential principles will be divided into six; some of them have been mentioned before, but some will be discussed for the first time. My intentions are that their true meaning should be fully understood . We should pay no attention to whatever the government may do, or whatever everyone else may do; hopefully, each one of us should decide independently what we should do and what we should persuade others to do. First, [we] must be open to the [outside] world. 1. There is no nation in the world that is not open [to the outside], and there are no people in the world whose mind cannot be opened. 253 Islands that had been secluded and had lived in ignorance of [the rest of] the world since the beginning of the world are now, without exception , open to foreign countries, and the various barbarian tribes in these islands are in the new light [of civilization] and are changing daily in competition with others for wealth, power, and civilization. Such regions are gradually prospering and gaining an equal position of influence. [But] in other regions that are not [changing and prospering], outside influences have gradually entered and expanded without limits , thus eroding and weakening the indigenous forces to the point where the local tribes may finally become extinct. The entire world population would then become one and be at a uniform level [of civilization ?]. The Orient at this time is, figuratively speaking, in the dawn of its development; some areas have come into the light before other areas have. Eventually, however, every place will be in the sunlight since no one can stop the rising of the sun. We cannot stop by ourselves the new light [of civilization] that has risen in the West and shines and moves on like the sunlight. What has transpired so far proves clearly that it [the new light] cannot be stopped. Having witnessed this [process], [we must conclude that] any thoughtless attempt to avoid coming into the new light at all cost would only lead to the permanent extinction of the nation and eventual annihilation of the race. Everyone should realize it is inevitable in today’s world that [we] must be open to foreign countries. 2. We must realize that trade is mutually beneficial. A man can survive only when there are neighbors. In the absence of neighbors, one has to live only amidst birds and beasts. How can he, to begin with, meet his bodily needs? He will have to provide, all by himself working with his own hands, everything that he eats, wears, and uses. How could he ever do it? How could he preserve scholarship and skills or [the moral precepts of] benevolence, righteousness, decorum, and wisdom. What, then, would be valuable in human life? What would be the use of having properties and treasures? I owe my existence, therefore, to my neighbors for the things to wear, eat, and use, and also for learning and practicing scholarship and morality. The broader the range of my neighborhood, the more refined and plentiful are the goods available for my use, while my own products will be more appreciated and more widely utilized. Our information and knowledge, too, will be broadened. These are the reasons why [we should] build friendly relations with all nations of the world, open [our...

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