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下のスクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは一部異なる場合があります。 |
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Is the Dream of Dr. King Alive or Dead in Japan?
SHIBATA, Hiromu (Hachinohe National College of Technology)
“I have a dream”! Maybe all of you know this famous phrase.Yes, this is the first sentence in the speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1963. In this speech, he expressed his dream to eliminate discrimination against colored people. Needless to say, there were numerous obstacles, but he never gave up. His behavior and activities to abolish the public inequality for colored people definitely moved millions of people’s hearts both black and white. Unfortunately, he was assassinated before his wish was fulfilled. However, his beliefs were embraced by many people all over the United States and the world. Thanks to his vision and sacrifice, a colored man, Barak Obama, was elected the President of the United States in 2008.
Now, let us pay attention to the present situation concerning racism all over the world. What can we see? Can’t we see that millions of people are being treated terribly because of their race, gender, disability, or other points?
Sadly enough, hostility based on racism still exists. I often hear sad news about the oppression of one people over another especially in developing countries, where civil strife continues and there is no social order. Certainly developed countries are no exception. We must admit that we can also find examples of discrimination here in Japan. Maybe you can’t and don’t want to believe it, but this is not fiction. Perhaps some of you have heard of Mr. Arudou Debido. He is a pioneer in fighting for the rights of foreigners here in Japan. He changed his nationality from American to Japanese so he could fight discrimination from within. When he tried to enter a pubic bath, they did not permit him to enter only because he did not look Japanese! Just like this case, there is a lot of ill treatment against non-Japanese people, who are symbolically known by the word “gaijin,” a term used for foreign people without considering each person’s racial characteristics. I was shocked to hear of such an occurrence here in Japan. I didn’t think that Japanese people would hold such attitudes toward foreigners.
But then I met my English teacher in Junior High School, and he related to me some more examples of how he also experienced discrimination. One example was he was not allowed to get a credit card, the reason being he was a foreigner and the bank did not trust him to stay and pay his bill. Another example, he was refused entry into a bar, as the master quickly looked at him and his friend and yelled, “No gaijin.” I couldn’t believe these events took place in my town. We are supposed to be accepting and tolerant of others. But even today here in Japan we can see such events take place. My teacher’s words impacted on me greatly, and I resolved from that time on I would do whatever I could to try and end these kinds of discriminatory acts from happening again.
If King were alive today, when there is much room for his old dream, he would definitely say “I have a new dream.” Moreover, he would work hard to solve these discriminations. Although his life was lost, it is not impossible to make his dream stay alive in all of our hearts, and then we can let his dream live eternally.
No one is free from discrimination, whether he or she is discriminating against someone, or being discriminated against. Whether it be culture, politics or institutions, the seeds of discrimination lie in each of our hearts. This fact suggests, on the contrary, that we can overcome these problems with a little more courage! Just like King, we must not resort to the power of violence, but to the power of words. We must teach our children and grandchildren that peace and equality are essential. Yes, we certainly can change the world with all of your cooperation! Everyone, let’s cherish King’s new dream.” Finally, let me finish this speech with this one phrase as I declare my determination to you.
I have a dream!
