英語検定ライティング準１級（第171回）

厩戸皇子「憲法17条の功罪の話」

憲法十七条は604年に聖徳太子によって制定されたと言われている。彼は１万円札で見かけたことがある。その憲法には仲良くすることは尊敬に値するという文言が最初に書かれている。
The seventeen-article constitution is said to have been established by “Umayado Prince” in 604, and he was on the ten thousand yen bill, we remember.
The first article of the constitution determined that we should respect the friendly relationship without fail.

この言葉は確かに正しい。敵対する関係はお互いや周囲の関係者に悪影響を及ぼす。加熱すれば喧嘩どころか戦争にもなりかねない。この憲法の第一条は素晴らしい神のお言葉である。
Such kind words extremely right, and they aren’t wrong.
In contrast, the hostile relationship never fail to have negative influences on each other or people around us.
The heated argument could lead to a violent quarrel, instead those involved might result in a bloody case.
We must absolutely prevent this conflict from developing into a huge threatening catastrophe.
In short, the first article by him must be a one of the holy and sacred phrases uttered by God.

だが気を使いすぎて言いたいことが言えない関係は本当に仲が良い訳ではない。本音を交換し合えることが信頼し合える関係を作る。そこには本気の喧嘩もある。ただし暴力は避けたい。
In the case that we hide what we mean to one another, we are likely to keep a virtual considerate relationship, but this isn’t a truly matured relationship because we are afraid of injuring each other’s emotions or feelings.
We must exchange our true thoughts with frank attitude, which composes our relationship with confidence.
Sometimes a real quarrel breaks out suddenly, but we must avoid resorting to violence.

日本では政治に関する議論が難しい。思想の違いが激しい論争に変わるからだ。だから政治は世間話の中心にはならない。それは増税をしたい側にはもってこいだ。厩戸皇子の罪である。
We find it difficult to discuss something political in front of several acquaintances of ours in our society.
It is because there are numerous differences between one political philosophy and others, which leads to a heated argument among those involved, but most of us want to avoid this kind of conflict or friction.
As a result, something political fails to become a central subject when we have a casual conversation.
This kind of atmosphere Japan’s society has had never fail to make a difference on the side of officials, who want to raise the taxation, and smart ordinary citizens against it are nuisance, burdensome and troublesome.
This must be the decisive fault of the seventeen-article constitution determined by him.