A LETTER TO THE WORLD

A LETTER TO THE WORLD

Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

I'd like to begin my speech with the lines of Tagore:

The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish, and your voice pour down in golden streams breaking through the sky.

As we all know, the darkness of the world war two has vanished, but the voice, the voice from the hopeless but hopeful people, the voice out of eternal love and selfless devotion, the quite simple but pretty touching  voice, will break through the sky and teach us an infinite lesson.

So today I'd like to share a letter with you, a letter written by a mother in the wartime.

Dear World,

　　My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for a while. And I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

　　You see, up to now, he's been king of his own room. He's been boss of the back yard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and to comfort his feelings.

　　But now---things are going to be different.

　　This morning, he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage.

　　So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him that things he will have to know. Teach him ---but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every dishonest politician, there is a devoted leader; that for every enemy there is a friend. Teach him the wonders of books. Give him quiet time to think over the mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hills. Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone else tells him they are wrong. Teach him to sell his strength and brains to the highest bidder, but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling crowd... and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Teach him gently, World, but don't spoil him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

　　This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He is such a nice little fellow.

A LETTER TO THE WORLD