Getting worse...

While many of us were having a pleasant weekend, the anti-Japanese sentiment seems to have grown more serious. More demonstrators protesting in China again and it now seems impossible to stop the tide. Where are we headed to?
I know our history and firmly believe the Japanese had done wrong in the past. But that's decades ago, I'm astonished to see many young Chinese participating in the brutal demonstrations screaming for punishment. WHY?
Are we too late to talk about a brighter future? Struck with grief, I took out an album I've oftenly listened to as a kid. "It's obvious you hate me. Though I've done nothing wrong."
Living in a country holdin' up freedom and equality before God, but actually being filled with discrimination, as a teenager this song was not just rhythmic pop music. Had a quarrel with many whites and even had fights with fellow Asians from time to time. But I was just a immature kid. Eventually learned you can't live alone. A nation can't survive a loner either...

Now I've grown up and become a philanthropist and wish they could listen to this song too...
"I can't understand what makes a man hate another man. Help me understand..."



Album: "People are People" by Depeche Mode (released 1984)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002L6D/102-8136867-2577702?v=glance

People are People (M.L.Gore)

People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully

So we're different colours
And we're different creeds
And different people have different needs
It's obvious you hate me
Though I've done nothing wrong
I never even met you
So what could I have done

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully

Help me understand
Help me understand

Now you're punching and you're kicking
And you're shouting at me
I'm relying on your common decency
So far it hasn't surfaced
But I'm sure it exists
It just takes a while to travel
From your head to your fist
(head to your fist)

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

タイトル：さらに悪化…

写真：デペッシュ・モードのアルバム「People are People」(1984年にリリース）

我々の多くが快適な週末を過ごしている間、反日感情はさらに悪化したようだ。中国ではさらに多くのデモ参加者が再び抗議を行い、もう流れを止めることは不可能なようだ。どこへ向かっているのだろう？
自分の国の歴史は知っているし、日本人は確かに過去に悪いことをしたと固く信じている。しかし、それは何十年も前のことだし、これだけの若い中国人が暴力的なデモに参加して制裁を叫んでいる姿を見て、驚愕するばかりだ。どうして？
もう明るい未来について話すには遅すぎるんだろうか。悲しみに打ちひしがれながら、子供のころによく聞いた音楽アルバムを持ち出した。「俺のことを嫌ってるのは分かるけど、何か悪いことをしたかい？」
自 由と神の前の平等を謳った国に住んでいたが、実際は差別だらけで、１０代の子供としてこの唄は単なるリズミカルなポップ音楽ではなかった。白人とはよく けんかしたし、仲間であるべきアジア人とさえけんかをしたこともしばしば。でもその時は未熟なガキだった。そのうち独りじゃ生きられないことを学んだ。国 も独自路線じゃ生き残れない…。

今は大人になってすっかり博愛主義者になってしまった。彼らもこの唄を聞いてくれたらいいんだけど…。
「俺には理解できない。なぜ人が人を憎むのか。どうしてなのか教えてくれ…」

People are People（M.L. ゴア）
＜訳は省略＞

(today's word)
philanthropist　博愛主義者
　philanthropy は博愛の精神。少しおおげさだが、思ったよ り差別だらけだったアメリカで育ち、とにかく人が嫌いになりかけたこともあったが、今ではその反動か、やはり人に助けられ、人を助けて生きていくんだと本 当に思うようになった。親や兄弟のおかげでもあるかな…。世界の人たちが共感してくれるとどんなにいいだろう…。
…ちょっとかっこつけすぎかな…。しかし、久しぶりにデペッシュ聞いた。懐かしさで少し感傷的になったか…。