Recently, I was talking to Noriko, one of our students, about international affairs. Noriko believes in a nuclear weapon-free world. She was very disappointed that President Obama, who also believes in a nuclear weapon-free world, did so poorly in the American mid-term elections. She said she wanted to write a letter of support to him. So, that’s what she did!
Here’s what she wrote…
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December 27th, 2010
President ObamaThe White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
The USA
Dear Mr. President,
I’m sorry to hear that the Democratic Party lost a lot of seats in this mid-term election. Most American people who have independent minds and regard nuclear weapons as a deterrent can’t or don’t want to understand your healthcare reform bill or your nuclear policy.
I think the 21st Century is an era of peaceful coexistence. Nuclear weapons and spent nuclear fuel are negative assets from human beings.
We – all living things on earth, including human beings – have to respect each other.
Some people say it’s just an ideal. So what? To translate ideals into reality – that’s the aim of politics.
Your speech moved me. You’re very brave!
When there are no nuclear weapons, please come to Japan, especially Hiroshima & Nagasaki.
In Kyoto, let me treat you to delicious macha ice cream. Let’s celebrate the victory of a nuclear-free world.
Yours sincerely,
Noriko Izumisawa
***
After signing the letter, Noriko decided to include a photo of some green-tea ice cream…Next time President Obama comes to Japan, he might eat Noriko’s green-tea ice cream instead of a green-tea popsicle
Which world leader would you like to write to?
What would you say to them?