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老桑说
让/我/们/一/起/来/放/风/筝
虽然脚踏在地上
但仍如飞鸟般在空中翱翔
你仿佛是在屋顶
和树梢上随风起舞
握紧你的拳头
抓住风筝的线
▾
「 朋友，你好！我是老桑。 」
△老桑在风筝会
卡勒德·胡赛尼的作品《追风筝的人》是一部风靡全球的畅销小说。过去的几年中，这部小说一直占据着中国的畅销书榜单首位，在2014年清华大学学生最受欢迎的书籍榜单中排名第三，小说目前已被改编为同名热映电影。
△《追风筝的人》
故事吸引着我去探索更多与风筝有关的故事，于是我上周来到了潍坊国际风筝会，展会上数百种风筝让我大开眼界。有的与会者是为参加比赛而来，另一些则是以风筝为乐的爱好者们。竞赛环节中有相应的标准来评判选手的风筝与放飞技巧的水平。
△风筝会
我也参观了潍坊世界风筝博物馆，在那里我了解了中国风筝2000年来的历史。最初，潍坊人墨翟发明了一种用木头做的可以飞翔的鸟，之后他把技术传授给鲁班，将制作技术进一步发展完善。传统的龙头蜈蚣风筝也在后期被发明出来，它既有复杂的设计也对放飞的技术提出了挑战。
△潍坊世界风筝博物馆
风筝发明以后，曾被用于战争、侦察和科学实践。在中国，制作风筝和放风筝逐渐成为一种艺术形式，诞生了许多著名的制作大师，同时也逐渐演化出地域性差异。现如今，风筝已经被世界广泛地接受成为民间的娱乐活动。事实上，我在潍坊碰到的每一个人都乐于分享自己从小到大因风筝而留下的难忘回忆。
《追风筝的人》的故事发生在阿富汗，一年一度的风筝比赛是当地的年度盛会。参赛者会在自己的风筝线上coat（覆盖）上一层锋利的玻璃粉，以便在比赛中切断对手的风筝线，因为只有坚持到最后的才是比赛的胜利者。
当风筝线不幸被切断时，“追风筝的人”就会追赶随风飘落的风筝，试图来捕获它，因为它们被视作是战利品。如果胜利的一方能够将自己最后对手的风筝掌握在自己手中，将会被视为巨大的胜利，在自己的社区中garner（收获）荣耀与尊重。
故事的主人公是阿米尔和哈桑，两个人成长在饱受战争摧残的喀布尔。阿米尔拥有权势和地位，哈桑却没有。尽管他们是很要好的朋友，但两人的关系却因个人和政治的影响而逐渐恶化。阿米尔后来因背叛了哈桑而将自己的一生付诸于救赎之中。
这本小说深刻地揭示了家庭矛盾（特别是父子关系）、种族歧视、政治环境对个人生活的影响，以及如何应对过去犯下的错误。书中的情感流露使所有的读者都为之动容。
在小说中，阿米尔对他收养的孩子索拉博分享了自己过去追风筝的故事，“在古代的中国，将军们曾通过放飞风筝穿越战场来相互传递信息，这是真的。”
虽然风筝可能并没有什么实质性的功能和作用，但是它却能够对书里书外的世界起到重要的影响。
与《追风筝的人》书中的grim（严酷的）背景环境不同，风筝代表着幸福。社区的人们聚集在一起参加年度的盛会，分享着备受尊重的传统，而五彩斑斓、种类繁多的风筝则令观众们疯狂。不论是放飞还是追逐风筝的过程，都让所有人可以参与其中。
△潍坊国际风筝会开幕式
潍坊国际风筝会也是同样的盛景。每年，来自全世界热情洋溢的风筝爱好者们汇聚在这里，与当地人一起分享着这一传统，是共同的兴趣让他们团聚在了一起。从传统到现代的风筝样式设计使观众们大开眼界。同时，这场节日也是当地的主要收入来源之一。
个人的记忆不仅仅是书中阿米尔、哈桑和其它角色对他们过去风筝故事的动情回忆，在我见到的潍坊居民中，也都有着自己从过去到现在对风筝一如既往的热爱。
风筝也是关于梦想的隐喻，他们注定将飞走而不会停驻。它们就像是被展出的艺术品，无拘无束，必将高飞远走。然而，这正是梦想实现最困难的地方。
迪士尼经典的音乐幻想电影Mary Poppins《欢乐满人间》（续集将在今年年底推出）中有一首经典歌曲名为《让我们一起来放风筝》。这首歌唱出了那种在放飞风筝时，人们仿佛在心中让自己也拥有了“一双翅膀”，将心灵与思考都随着风筝“飞向最高空”的感受。
With your feet on the ground
虽然脚踏在地上
You're a bird in flight
但仍如飞鸟般在空中翱翔
…
You can dance on the breeze
你仿佛是在屋顶
over houses and trees
和树梢上随风起舞
With your fist holding tight
握紧你的拳头
To the string of your kite
抓住风筝的线
拥有梦想是美好的，但就像连接着自己与风筝的线一般，我们的梦想也必须与扎根于现实。实现梦想，你必须有规划，这就像制作风筝的过程，只有不断精进技艺，并等待着合适的季节条件，才能最终放飞。梦想也是如此，不断在实践中随着外在环境的变化而调整，才能终有所成。
在我之前很多文章中都给出了一些关于实现梦想的切实建议。比如，“人生如圆，终点即是起点”一文。
随着时间的流逝，当你放飞自己的理想时，发现它已然变得丰满、美丽、充满内涵。从远处看，你手里拿着的线对于onlooker（旁观者）来说是模糊不清的，他们只能看到你梦想实现后最杰出的成果。
在小说中，阿米尔和他的父亲逃脱了战乱的阿富汗，以难民身份移民到美国，他们在加州开始了新的生活，远离了家乡的tumult（动荡）。阿米尔试着赢得新的身份，从而彻底地从令人窒息的阿富汗传统中解脱出来。
阿米尔认为：“美国是河流，奔腾前进，往事无人提起。我可以进这条大川，让自己的罪恶沉在最深处，让流水把我带往远方…就算不为别的，单单为了这个，我也会拥抱美国。”
河流是单向度的——一去不复返。摆脱了过去阻碍着自己的罪恶与限制，阿米尔跳进了这条生命的河流，不断向前。
起初，这对他而言并不容易，所以他尝试着逆流而上寻找自己的过去。但是最终他习惯了河流的“脾性”，逐浪而行，尽力洗刷自己过去的悔过，并为自己和家人创造了新的生活。
我们也是如此，都有做过让自己后悔的事情，或许是被家庭的背景所限制，也可能是不可控外在社会环境的受害者，但这些都不应成为否定自己梦想的理由。
△风筝会的龙头蜈蚣
所以，展望未来和脚踏实地是我们到达最终目的地的方法。就像那飞翔的风筝，一点点的让自己穿越了大气层，在空中自在翱翔。
朋友，请相信，长线在手，风筝不歇，初心紧握，方可飞向云端。
谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
英文版
English
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The Kite Runner:
How high will you fly?
▾
「 Hello, my friend！
I’m John Smagula. 」
Weifang International Kite Festival
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is an international bestselling novel. In the last few years, the book has remained at the top of the charts in China. At Tsinghua University, this novel was the third-best-selling book among students in 2014. The novel was also adapted into a popular movie.
This story prompted me to learn more about kites, which brought me to the International Kite Festival in Weifang last week. Hundreds of kites were on display. Some participants were there to compete, whereas others were hobbyists just out to have fun. For the competitive events, there are guidelines by which the kites and kite-flying skills are judged.
I also visited the Weifang World Kite Museum, which recounts how kites originated in China 2,000 years ago. Weifang local Mo Di had invented a flying wooden bird and passed down this skill to Lu Ban, who further improved the design. Later, the classic dragon-headed centipede kite came about, which is as complex in design as it is challenging to fly.
Kite flying was originally used for military purposes, intelligence gathering, and scientific exploration. In China, kite design and flying then became a form of art, producing famous masters and regional variations. Today, it is a popular form of recreation the world over. In fact, everyone I met in Weifang said they flew kites growing up, creating many cherished memories.
A powerful story
The Kite Runner takes place in Afghanistan, where an annual highlight was the kite-fighting tournament. Participants would coat their kite strings with a sharp, glass powder, and then while flying try to cut the others’ lines in the competition. The one who had the last kite flying won the tournament.
As kites were cut and fell out of the sky, “kite runners” would run and capture them. These fallen kites were considered trophies. If the winner could bring home the kite of his final opponent, then that would be the greatest victory of all—garnering significant honor and respect in the community.
The story introduces us to Amir and Hassan, boys who grew up together in war-torn Kabul. Amir had power and status; Hassan didn’t. They were friends, but their relationship became strained due to personal and political issues. At one point, Amir betrays Hassan, leading to disastrous results, and this sets in motion Amir’s lifetime quest for redemption.
The novel explores the very difficult issues of family tension (particularly between fathers and sons), racial discrimination, the effects of larger political events on personal lives, and challenges of confronting and letting go of the past. The emotional touchstones in the book could resonate with almost any reader.
In the novel, Amir shares some kite history with Sohrab, a nephew who he later adopts. “And in ancient China, generals used to fly kites over battlefields to send messages to their men. It’s true.”
Although kites may not be very useful in and of themselves, they serve a larger purpose in the novel and in life.
Against the grim background of The Kite Runner, kites symbolize a form of happiness. The community comes together in anticipation for this annual event, sharing in this honored tradition. Spectators marvel at the beauty and diversity of the kites. There’s room for everyone to participate, either by flying or running kites.
Weifang World Kite Museum
The same can be said for the Weifang International Kite Festival. Each year, kite enthusiasts from around the world come together with local residents to share in this tradition—uniting in a common interest. The kite designs, from the traditional to modern adaptations, delight the audience. The festival is also a key source of revenue for the city.
And then there are the personal memories. Amir, Hassan, and other characters in the novel recall their kite-flying memories from childhood with great fondness. Likewise, the Weifang residents I met all have great affection for kites, from past memories to present experiences.
Kites are also a metaphor for dreams. They are meant to be flown, not grounded. They are works of art to be displayed, not suppressed. They are meant to soar, flying high. Indeed, this is the heady stuff that dreams are made of.
In the classic Disney musical-fantasy film Mary Poppins (the sequel of which is expected to be released later this year), a treasured song is Let’s Go Fly a Kite. In this song, they sing how kite flying is like having your own “set of wings” that can elevate both your mood and perspective on life “up to the highest height”:
With your feet on the ground
You're a bird in flight
…
You can dance on the breeze
over houses and trees
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite
It’s great to have dreams, but like the string that connects us to the kite, so must our dreams be grounded in reality. To achieve your dream, you must have a plan of action. Like making a kite, practicing your skill, and waiting for the right weather conditions, so must dreams be formed, implemented, and adjusted based on the circumstances.
In many of my blog posts, I give you practical suggestions and advice on how to make your dreams become reality. For example, check out Begin with the end in mind.
Over time, as you set your dream to flight, it can grow in size, beauty, and meaning. From a distance, the string you hold will be invisible to onlookers, and they will only see the fulfillment of this dream as your greatest work of art.
In the novel, Amir and his father escape the chaos in Afghanistan and immigrate to the United States as refugees. They begin new lives in California, away from the tumult back home. Amir also tries to adopt a new identity, free from certain Afghani cultural norms he found stifling.
Amir refers to America as “a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far…If for nothing else, for that, I embraced America.”
Weifang World Kite Museum
Rivers only move in one direction—forward and not back. Rather than be bogged down in the sins and limitations of his past, Amir jumps into this river of life and moves forward.
At first, it’s not easy for him, and Amir keeps swimming back against the current toward his past. But ultimately, he adopts the river “mindset” and moves forward, taking the necessary actions to come clean of his past regrets and create a better life for himself and his family.
And so can we. We all may have done things we regret. We all may have been limited by our family backgrounds. We all may have been victims of circumstances beyond our control. But these are not excuses to deny our dreams.
It’s a matter of looking forward and taking the actions needed to move you to your destination. It’s like flying a kite, navigating it up into the atmosphere, one inch at a time.
My friend, soar. Fly high. With your fist holding tight, to the string of your kite.
1.Coat
a)含义：v. 覆盖
b)例句：
i.Participants would coat their kite strings with a sharp, glass powder, and then while flying try to cut the others’ lines in the competition.
参赛者会在自己的风筝线上覆盖上一层锋利的玻璃粉，以便在比赛中切断对手的风筝线
ii.Next, coat the fish with breadcrumbs.
接下来给鱼裹上一层面包屑。
c)近义词：overlay, cover, glaze
2.Garner
a)含义： v. 获得；储存
b)例句：
i.If the winner could bring home the kite of his final opponent, then that would be the greatest victory of all—garnering significant honor and respect in the community.
如果胜利的一方能够将自己最后对手的风筝掌握在自己手中，将会被视为巨大的胜利，在自己的社区中收获荣耀与尊重。
ii.The party garnered 70 percent of the vote.
该党得到了70%的选票。
c)近义词：gather, assemble, store
3.Grim
a)含义：adj. 冷酷的；残忍的
b)例句：
i.Against the grim background of The Kite Runner, kites symbolize a form of happiness.
与《追风筝的人》书中的严酷的背景环境不同，风筝代表着幸福。
ii.We received the grim news in silence.
我们听到这个令人沮丧的消息，沉默无言
c)近义词：forbidding, stern, formidable
4.Onlooker
a)含义：v. 旁观者
b)例句：
i.From a distance, the string you hold will be invisible to onlookers, and they will only see the fulfillment of this dream as your greatest work of art.
从远处看，你手里拿着的线对于旁观者来说是模糊不清的，他们只能看到你梦想实现后最杰出的成果。
ii.One onlooker flew in with a friend Thursday from New York.
一位观众在周四和一位朋友从纽约飞过来。
c)近义词：spectator, sightseer, bystander
5.Tumult
a)含义：n. 骚动；骚乱
b)例句：
i.They begin new lives in California, away from the tumult back home.
他们在加州开始了新的生活，远离了家乡的动荡。
ii.Our voices are simply drowned out in the general tumult and clamor.
我们的声音被淹没在大众的吵闹和喧哗之中。
c)近义词：racket, disorder, disturbance, turbulence
Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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