「たとえ打ちのめされても、立ち上がって...」オバマ大統領、最後の記者会見で娘たちへのメッセージを語る

The Huffington Post | 執筆者： Marina Fang

投稿日: 2017年01月19日 16時15分 JST 更新: 2017年01月19日 16時15分 JST

ホワイトハウスで談笑するオバマ大統領とマリア、サシャ（2015年11月撮影 Getty Images） | NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images

オバマ大統領は1月18日（現地時間）、ホワイトハウスで最後の記者会見を開いた

一番最後の質問は、上院議員時代からオバマ大統領の報道を続けてきたシカゴ・トリビューン紙のクリスティ・パーソンズ記者が尋ねた、2人の娘マリアとサシャに関するものだった。

大統領選の期間中、ミシェル夫人はスピーチで「強く、周りの手本となるような男性は、自分を強く見せるために、女性を蔑むようなことはしない」と述べ、トランプ氏を批判した。それにも関わらず、女性蔑視発言を続けてきたトランプ氏が勝利したという事実について、オバマ大統領夫妻はふたりの娘にどう話したのかと、パーソンズ氏は尋ねた。

それに対し、大統領選の結果はマリアとサシャをがっかりさせたが、ただふさぎ込んではいない、とオバマ大統領は答えた。

「大統領選の期間中、ふたりは母親が語る言葉が、大切なものだと信じてきました。なぜならそれは、私たちが家でいつも教えてきたことだからです。また私自身は、ふたりの母親である妻への接し方を通して、男性はどう女性に接するべきかを教えてきました。将来付き合う相手、結婚する相手は、女性をこう扱う人であって欲しいと私たちはふたりに伝えてきました」

「しかし同時に、私たちは立ち直ることと、希望の大切さを教えてきました。結局、それが一番大切なものなのです。私たちは、たとえ打ちのめされても、立ち上がって自分がやるべきことをやらなければいけないのです」

ワシントンD.C.にあるアイスクリームショップで、何を買うか話し合うオバマ大統領とマリア、サシャ（2015年11月撮影　REUTERS）。

マリアとサシャは日々成長していて、そんなふたりに毎日驚かされている、本当に素晴らしい娘たちだとオバマ大統領は記者たちを前に語った。

今のところ、ふたりは政治の世界には興味を持っていないようだ。母親の影響の方が大きいのだろう、とオバマ大統領は冗談めかして話した。しかし将来どんな道に進むかに関わらず、ふたりは「社会のために積極的に行動する市民」「世の中に光を照らすような人」になろうとするだろうと、大統領は語った。そして彼らと同じように、世の中を良くしていきたいと考える若い人たちがいることがこの国の希望だ、とも述べた。

「やれることに一生懸命取り組み、正しいと感じていることを信じて進めば、世界は少しずつ良くなると思います。それこそが、私が大統領としてやろうとしてきたことです。そして、一緒に働く若い世代の中にその動きがあることを私は見てきました。私は彼らを心から誇りに思っています」

クリスマスツリー点灯式で、クリスマスキャロルを歌うオバマ大統領、マリア、サシャ（2015年12月撮影　REUTERS）

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家族と共に過ごすオバマ大統領

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President Barack Obama leans over to talk with his daughter Sasha as they sit with first lady Michelle Obama and Malia and watch the performances at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama, joined by his daughters Malia and Sasha, speaks at the White House on Nov. 26, 2014, during the presidential turkey pardon ceremony, an annual Thanksgiving tradition. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Barack Obama bike rides with daughter Malia and first lady Michelle Obama on Aug. 15, 2014, on the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest bike path outside of West Tisbury, Mass., during the Obama family vacation on the island of Martha's Vineyard.
President Barack Obama -- with first lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Malia -- waves as they arrive at the White House in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, from a family vacation in Hawaii.
President Barack Obama eats shave ice with daughter Malia Obama at Island Snow, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Kailua, in Hawaii during the Obama family vacation.
President Barack Obama, his daughter Sasha, the first lady Michelle Obama and their other daughter Malia disembark Air Force One after arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for their annual family Christmas vacation Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in Honolulu.
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President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha arrive at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu on December 19, 2014, at the start of their annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii.
Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC.
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President Barack Obama speaks with Col. John C. Millard, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, accompanied by his daughters, Malia and Sasha, and first lady Michelle Obama, upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, en route to Westchester County, N.Y., to attend the wedding ceremony of White House Chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner.
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President Barack Obama, with daughters Malia and Sasha and first lady Michelle Obama, watch musical performances at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha Obama leave the White House for their holiday vacation December 19, 2014, in Washington.
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First lady Michelle Obama hugs her daughters Malia and Sasha when they watch a performance during their visit to an ancient city wall in Xi'an, in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, Monday, March 24, 2014.
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