当地NJでは今年一月は凍てつく冬を例年以上に経験しています。特に寒い冬では何故か朝焼けを見るのが好きです。凍てつく空気の中でも朝日が昇る前後の時間帯は地球自然の力を感じ、落ち込みやフラストを一時的にでも忘れさせ、前に進む大切さと希望を自覚する時間帯ですね。

昨年11月選挙結果で、我々を取り巻く米国の社会・政治環境は大きく変わっています。　二極化した其々のイデオロジ・バブルから抜けきらず敵・味方のフレイミングで全てが判断されし、他意見を排除するトライバリズムの動きは、凍てつく冬を連想させ、米国が求める価値はどこに在るのだろうと警戒心を呼び起こさせます。　

来年2026年に米国は独立後250年祭を迎えます。　米国が存在しているのもラッキーな18世紀の欧州政治事情あっての事との歴史観は批判されるかも知れませんが、米国歴史家一部の一致する史観の一つです。　米国が求める民主主義の姿はこの国の歴史が示すように過去何度もチャレンジされましたよね。　創立小国時代から何度となくスイング、スウィング・バックしながら生き永らえたらこそ、第二次世界大戦以降のパックス・アメリカーナをエンジョイしたと言うと語弊があるでしょうか。　二大政党のどちらが一時的にでも勢力を持ったにせよ、この国は国家安全を理由に移民勢力を以上警戒し排阻したり違法拘束した苦い経験があります。特に、市民権を二年前に取得した日系米国市民である小生にとっては、避けて通れない話題です。　

ローリングしながら試行錯誤して、凍てつく冬の朝でも上り現れる朝日に希望を託すと同時に、さて個人として短い余生の中、何ができるのかを考えた朝でした。

Here in NJ, we have experienced a freezing winter this January, more than usual. For some reason, I love watching the sunrise, especially during the cold winter. Even in the freezing air, the time before and after the sunrise is when you can feel the power of nature, forget your depression and frustration, even if only temporarily, and become aware of the importance of moving forward and the hope.

The results of last November’s election have brought about major changes in the social and political environment surrounding us in the United States. Unable to escape the polarized ideological bubbles, everything is judged by framing it as friend or foe, and the trend toward tribalism that excludes other opinions brings to mind a freezing winter and raises concerns about the values ​​America seeks.

Next year, 2026, the United States will celebrate 250 years since its independence. The historical view that the United States exists only because of the fortunate political circumstances in 18th century Europe may be criticized, but it is one of the historical views that some American historians agree on. The form of democracy that the United States seeks has been challenged many times in the past, as the history of this country shows. Would it be misleading to say that the country has enjoyed Pax Americana since World War II, having survived by swinging and swinging back many times since its founding as a small country? Regardless of which of the two major parties has temporarily gained power, this country has the bitter experience of being overly cautious about immigrant forces, excluding them, and illegally detaining them on the grounds of national security. This is a topic that I cannot avoid, especially as a Japanese-American who obtained citizenship two years ago.

As I rolled, trial and errored, I placed my hopes in the rising sun that would rise even on a freezing winter morning, and at the same time, I thought about what I could do as an individual in the short time I had left in my life.