不思議に思って 当時、語源を調べたことがあります。丁度、地域で「アメリカについての感想スピーチ」をしたおり、その事に触れた原稿が暮れのかたづけで出てきましたので 本日は手抜きで その一部を紹介させていただきます。 要は opportunityは 風の力を自分に有利なように活用する自分サイドの努力も忘れてはならないということです。
....I often hear the word 'opportunity' in this country.(America) I looked up the word in the dictionary. I learned that the word 'opportunity' came from the Latin word meaning to sail toward the port with favorable wind. When the wind is the major source of sailing forward, how to make advantage of the wind and make the ship get to the desired port faster than the other ones is important. That means you create your luck with your own effort.
There is another word which has similar meaning -luck. In Japan, there is a saying that "The Goddess of luck has no hair at the back. She only has her hair in the front. You can grasp her hair from the front but not from the back after she has gone." That implies that luck comes suddenly and an immediate action is necessary.
To my understanding, opportunity has a more challenging meaning, leaving room for your involvement in creating luck. I think the United States is always trying to create opportunities for innovation. This positive attitude provides some fundamental good characteristics of the country.....
今は、世相は変革の時。 しかし、いつの場合でも好機を見逃さず うまく活用していけたら良いなと思います。
