今日は朝から、オバマ氏が44代アメリカ大統領になる瞬間が見たくて、ずっとテレビに釘付け。なんにも手につかずに1日が終わってしまいました。

そしてついに、47才の若きオバマ大統領が誕生したのです！

彼の就任スピーチのテーマは“新しい責任の時代＝Era of New Responsibility"、国民と共によりよい国にしていくためには、みんなの力が必要だ、と一人一人に問いかけるような感動的なスピーチでした。

零点下5度という寒さにも関わらず、オバマ氏を一目でも見たいとアメリカ全土から集まった観衆、その数は今までのどんな有名人にもまさるほどの熱狂的な人の波でした。オバマ氏もすごいけれど、市民たちの喜びの笑顔や涙に、感動もひとしお、これからのアメリカは大統領に任せる時代ではなく、国民たちがそれぞれ変革のために行動を起し動き始めるアメリカになってほしいと感じた1日でした。

日本でもアメリカでも、そのすべての様子は新聞やテレビで観ることができるので、今日はオバマ氏が、就任直前に娘たちに送ったという手紙を、みなさんとシェアーしたいと思います。

オバマ大統領の娘さんたちは7才と10才、その彼らにわかるように、とてもわかりやすい文面で書かれているので、みなさんも、是非辞書を片手に読んでみてくださいね。オバマ氏がなぜ大統領になりたいと思ったのか、尊敬する今は亡き祖母のこと、そしてこれからの彼の意気込みと子どもたちへの願い、可能性には限界はないんだよ、というそれは感動的なレターです。特に最後から３パラグラフ目からの文章は、思わず涙がホロリと、、、、。

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country—but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free—that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better—and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

もうひとつ、とっておきなオバマ氏関連のニュースを教えちゃいましょう。ニューヨーク在住の友人・ジャーナリストが、就任式のチケットをゲット！その彼女がここ何日かに渡って書いている、最も新しい記事を読むことができます。ここをクリック。