In 1953, after the armistice ending the Korean War, South Korea

"In 1953, after the armistice ending the Korean War, South Korea lay in ruins. President Eisenhower was eager to put an end to hostilities that had left his predecessor deeply unpopular, and the war ended in an uneasy stalemate." These words, spoken by historian Noah Feldman, capture a moment of deep reflection in the aftermath of the Korean War. A war fought not just for land or power, but for ideologies that divided a world still reeling from the Second World War. It was a war that cost millions of lives, left nations shattered, and yet ended in a stalemate—a result where neither side could claim true victory, yet the cost of the conflict was still felt across generations.

O children of the future, understand the weight of this moment. In the aftermath of World War II, the world was not at peace. Instead, the global stage was divided, and nations were locked in a battle for ideological supremacy. The Cold War had begun, and the Korean Peninsula, caught between the forces of the communist North and the capitalist South, became the battleground for this ideological war. The Korean people, divided by forces beyond their control, suffered not just from the violence of war, but from the moral and political choices made by distant powers. The result was a war that seemed to have no clear purpose other than to stall the conflict between two superpowers, resulting in a stalemate that left both sides exhausted and broken.

Consider, O children, the lessons of the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greece, where Athens and Sparta fought for supremacy, locked in a war that stretched across decades. Though Athens had the wealth and cultural achievements, and Sparta had the military might, neither side could achieve total victory. The war left both city-states weakened, exhausted, and spiritually drained, their once-great civilizations tarnished by endless strife. The ancient historian Thucydides captured the futility of such prolonged conflict, illustrating how wars fought out of pride, fear, and ambition leave no true victors. Similarly, in the Korean War, the ideological battle between the North and South left both nations divided and scarred, their futures uncertain, and their people suffering for generations.

In more recent history, consider the situation following the Vietnam War, where a similar pattern played out. The United States, involved in a protracted conflict with North Vietnam, struggled with a stalemate that left millions dead and a country in ruins. The war was fought with great passion and commitment, yet it ended without the clear victory the world had hoped for. Much like the Korean War, it was a conflict that drained nations of their resources, their moral clarity, and their resolve. The desire to bring an end to such conflicts, as Eisenhower sought in Korea, is a natural response to the devastation caused by war. However, the lesson remains: without a clear purpose, without the will to achieve a true and lasting peace, war leaves only ruins in its wake.

The great lesson of these wars, O children, is that war, when entered into without a clear and just purpose, leaves nothing but destruction in its wake. Whether the conflict is fought over territory, ideology, or power, the costs of war extend far beyond the battlefield. The lives lost, the families torn apart, and the spirit of a nation crushed—these are the true consequences of a stalemate. It is easy to glorify war, to see it as a path to glory and honor, but the reality is that war is an instrument of devastation, one that should only be used when absolutely necessary.

So, O children, take this lesson to heart: in all your endeavors, in all the struggles you face, remember that the true goal is not victory at any cost, but peace and understanding. In your time, there will be many forces pulling you in different directions, but never forget that the pursuit of justice, compassion, and cooperation must always come before the pursuit of power or conquest. The nations of the past, such as the United States, Korea, and Vietnam, lost so much because they forgot the cost of human life and well-being in the pursuit of ideological victory.

In your lives, when faced with challenges, may you seek resolution and reconciliation, not strife. Strive to avoid the stalemate of the mind and heart—those moments where you are caught in conflicts without true resolution. Learn from the mistakes of past generations, and let the shadow of Korea, Vietnam, and all other wars remind you that war is not a road to glory, but a path of suffering. Seek, instead, the path of wisdom, understanding, and peace, where the battles of the world are fought not with weapons, but with dialogue, patience, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all. Let the suffering of the past inspire you to build a future where peace is not a fragile hope, but a lasting and living reality for all.