この1年を振り返るにあたり、3月11日の東北震災をなくして語ることはできません。震災直後から、被災経験のある神戸では、被災者と被災地を支援する様々な取り組みがあり、エリックと私もできる範囲で参加してきました。支援物資の仕分けボランティア、東北物産展があれば必ず何かを購入し、被災者に会える機会があれば出向きました。
宮城県出身の男性の言葉が忘れられません。「何の心の準備もないまま家ごと襲われた。レイプされたような気持ちだ。」
また、夏の同窓会で久しぶりに会った昔のクラスメートは、福島県内に居を構え家族を養っています。彼は、精一杯声を抑えながら、やり場のない怒りを語っていました。「一生住むつもりで福島に家を建てた。仕事も財産も全部そこにある。自分は放射線被曝してもいい。でも、子どもたちのことを思うと、全部投げ出すべきなのか？」
何も失っていない私たちは、心から「頑張ってほしい」と思います。でも、あれほど辛い経験や今まだ進行中の困難を忘れて前向きに生きるなんて、簡単にできることではないはず…。私たちは、黙って傷ついた心に寄り添い、少しずつでも目に見える形で支援を続けたいと思います。
どうか、新しく迎える年が、平和な一年になりますように。
This passing year
When I look back at this year, I cannot talk about it without mentioning the catastrophe of March 11th. In Kobe, where people had an experience of a big quake in the past, we started different activities to help people and communities in the affected areas swiftly. Eric and I participated in such activities as much as possible. We sorted donated items, purchased something when survivors came to sell their local items, and we went to see and talk to survivors when there was a chance.
I cannot forget a comment of a gentleman from Miyagi: “I was not prepared for anything like that. It feels like my home and myself were raped.”
My old classmate, whom I met at the school reunion in the summer, built a house and is raising a family in Fukushima. He was trying to keep his voice under control when he was expressing his anger to others. “I built my house in Fukushima to live there for good. I have my job and all my belongings there. I don’t care about radiation for myself, but should I give up everything for my children?”
We did not lose anything here and sincerely wish for them “to stay strong and be positive.” However, it cannot be so easy to be positive after or maybe still in the middle of such hardship… We can just stay with their wounded hearts quietly and keep supporting them a little at a time, but for sure.
I truly hope the coming year will be a peaceful one…
