Do you want to change the world? Then you have got to read this article.

One of my friends asked a professor the question: what does he think would happen if the U.S. bases in Okinawa are demolished even though the bases there play crucial roles for Japanese national security. He answered her that it would be a positive effect on Japanese tension with neighbouring countries and also to people in Okinawa; after that, he said she has to see Okinawan people’s testimony such as local newspapers and books if she could not believe him. He also added that he understand she was honest but what he was scared was educated people like her graduating from respected universities follow the mainstream media and what was being told by the government and the views of people in Tokyo which lead to the denial of people’s sufferings.

She told me that what the professor answered implied her that she did not care people’s sufferings. However, she has been working for several human rights organisations for years. Is it possible for this kind of person to ignore people’s suffering? She is trying to get rid of agony from people by viewing the problem from a political standpoint. As far as the politics is involved in the issues among people, it is absolutely necessary to consider the issue with politicians’ view in addition to social and activist viewpoint. To change the world, you have to think like a person who change the world—and that is a politician. She knew the key to the solution, but the professor didn’t.

I also encountered the similar situation a lot of times. After the 3.11 earthquake in north-eastern Japan, Japanese activists and leftists began protesting against the use of nuclear power. They insisted that Japan can afford electric power without nuclear plants thanks to thermal power stations; as a result, this idea was far from the word “enough”. What is funny is that those who promoted more operation of thermal power stations were exactly same as those who oppose carbon dioxide emissions. They thought nuclear plants were more dangerous than thermal power stations; therefore, it was no problem to emit carbon dioxide as much as they liked. What the heck is going on here? Eventually they obey their egoism.

You have to see the reality. Small islands in Philippines got invaded by China right after the United States withdrew the bases. Japanese self-sufficiency ratio for energy resources without nuclear power is merely four per cent. Idealists (I believe it is just a misspelling of idiots though) would say let China have such small islands and live like a hippie without electricity, but how many people are actually ready for that? Few, or even none. Few idealists like John Lennon sort of changed the world; however, John Lennon is not as powerful as politicians because an idealist leader like him is not in today’s world and yet politicians are everywhere. People are weak without leaders. That is because they do not realise that they themselves are the leaders in this democratic world—everyone decides which way to go on their own choice. And leaders must face up to the reality.

Find the reality. Look at the reality. Face the reality. Receive the reality.

THE WORLD AIN’T DISNEYLAND. BE REALISTIC.