一句“连美国的空气都是甜的！”咋就成了辱华现场？

提到留学生，貌似在大多数人脑中首现出现的标签往往不是“学习好”丶“素质高”丶“见多识广”丶“能力强”等等，而是首先蹦出一些不好的标签，比如“炫富”丶“飙车”丶“纨绔子弟”丶“靠父母”等等，其实这也正常，所谓“好事不出门，坏事传千里”，人们往往更容易记住负面的。

最近，可说留学圈没发生什么炫富呀丶打架呀丶飙车的事件了，却发生了一件颇具争议，甚至被网友们称为“留学生公开辱华”的事情。

事件经过是这样的：在美国马里兰大学的毕业典礼上，一名中国留学生Yang Shuping受校长邀请在演讲中称，自己来到马里兰大学是为了“新鲜的空气”，刚从飞机上下来就“感到了自由，这儿的空气太新鲜丶太甜美”。随后她接着说：“之前在中国历史课上学到的人生丶自由丶对幸福的追求，对于我而言毫无意义……人们公开谈论着种族主义丶性别歧视和政治话题，我非常震惊，我从来不知道这样的话题可以公开讨论”。

视频如下：

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=v05059yyo4s&width=500&height=375&auto=0

完整视频+演讲稿全文

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=o0505azwq1j&width=500&height=375&auto=0

Good afternoon faculty students parents and friends.

I am truly honored and grateful to speak at the commencement for the University of Maryland, Class of 2017.

People often ask me: Why did you come to the University of Maryland?

I always answer: Fresh air.

Five years ago, as I step off the plane from China, and left the terminal at Dallas Airport. I was ready to put on one of my five face masks, but when I took my first breath of American air. I put my mask away.

The air was so sweet and fresh, and oddly luxurious.

I was surprised by this. I grew up in a city in China, where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside, otherwise, I might get sick.

However, the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport.

I felt free.

No more fog on my glasses, no more difficult breathing, no more suppression.

Every breath was a delight. As I stand here today, I cannot help, but recall that feeling of freedom.

At the University of Maryland, I assume feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful — the fresh air of free speech.

Before I came to United States, I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence, but these words had no meaning to me— Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades.

These words sounded so strange, so abstract and so foreign to me, until I came to University of Maryland.

I have leaned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in American.

Each day in Maryland, I was encouraged to express my opinions on controversial issues.

I could challenge a statement made by my instructor. I could even rate my professors online.

But nothing prepared me for the culture shock I experienced when I watched a university production of the play— Twilight: Los Angeles.

Twilight is a play by Anna Deavere Smith about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
The riots followed acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King.

For six days, the city was in chaos as citizens took to the streets.

In Twilight, the student actors were openly talking about racism, sexism and politics.

I was shocked, I never saw such topic could be discussed openly.

The play was my first taste of political storytelling, one that makes the audience think critically.

I have always had a burning desire to tell these kinds of stories, but I was convinced that only authorities on the narrative, only authorities could define the truth.

However, the opportunity to immerse myself in the diverse community at the University of Maryland exposed me to various, many different perspectives on truth.

I soon realized that here I have the opportunity to speak freely.

My voice matters.

Your voice matters.

Our voices matter.

Civil engagement is not a task just for politicians. I have witnessed this when I saw my fellow students marching in Washington DC, voting in the presidential election and raising money for support various causes.

I have seen that everyone has a right to participate and advocate for change.

I used to believe that one individual participation could not make a difference, but here we are, United Terps.

Together, we can push our society to be more just open and peaceful.

Class of 2017, we are graduating from a university that embraces a liberal arts education that nurtures us to think critically, and also to care and feel for humanity.

We are equipped with the knowledge of various disciplines and we are ready to face to the challenges of our society.

Some of us may go to graduate school, some us may step into professions and some of us may begin a journey of exploration.

But no matter what we do, remember, democracy and free speech should not be taken for granted.

Democracy and freedom are the fresh air that is worth fighting for.

Freedom is oxygen. Freedom is passion. Freedom is love.

And as a French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre once said: freedom is a choice, our future is dependent on the choices we make today and tomorrow.

We are all playwrights of the next chapters of our lives. Together, we right the human history.

My friends, enjoy the fresh air and never let it go.

Thank you.

基本上演讲的内容围绕两点：

中国的空气肮脏不堪，而美国“fresh and sweet”的空气竟然好到令她无比惊讶。

中国没有民主, 只有在美国她才体会到什么是民主和自由，在美国她可以想说啥说啥，想做啥做啥。

说实话，小编看完她的全部演讲，都能感受到坐在台下的其他中国留学生一脸尴尬的样子。小编甚至怀疑这孩子是不是为了缓解上台的紧张喝了几口儿之后上去演讲的，作为一个已经大学毕业的成年人，什么时候该说什么话这最起码应该能把握好尺度吧……小编为了达到阅读量KPI都没敢说话这么标题党过。

对于这件事，网友的评论基本上也是比较客观的：

而马大同学的朋友圈，也已经被这条视频刷爆，大部分中国留学生表示“并不想被她代表”，希望她可以在公开场合对自己的言论负责，毕竟毕业典礼是一个面向全校的场合。

该学生这次演讲的主要槽点就是她对中国和美国的描述实在太不可观，跪舔的痕迹太过明显；另外就是在毕业典礼这样的公共场合，当着全校学生而且还是那么多外国学生的面，这样把自己的祖国黑了一把实在不合适。如果是一个从来没有到过中国，或者对中国并不了解的人，听了这段演讲很可能就先入为主地把中国想象成了一个可怕却不符合实际的样子。

我们承认祖国还有很多问题，很多不足，但是作为一个中国人，就算你不能或者不想在把祖国建设得更美更强这件事上付出努力，但是至少也不用非得再踩上一脚，啐上一口唾沫吧！？

留学生的使命

作为留学生，除了到美国学习是任务之一，促进文化交流也是我们应该肩负的责任，从古至今，留学前辈们通过一代又一代的努力，终于让美国人对中国有了一定的了解，破除了一些对中国的刻板印象。作为当代留学生的我们，是不是也应该在前人的基础上，肩负起促进中美文化交流丶消除偏见的责任呢？

 

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