新科大学毕业生：混乱的美国需要你们来拯救
译者按：
彭博最近在华盛顿大学2019届大学生的毕业典礼上有一个演讲。我认为他看到了美国当前社会的矛盾和混乱，所以编译在这里，供大家参考。
彭博是迈克尔-布隆伯格（Michael Bloomberg）的中文名字。他是彭博新闻的创始人之一。彭博1942年生，他40岁的时候，被所罗门兄弟（Salomon Brother）解雇。他用自己在所罗门兄弟挣来的一千万美元，建立了彭博终端 （Bloomberg Terminal），就是一个财经新闻的计算机网络终端，我自己以前也经常用彭博终端，看新闻和金融数据。 彭博60岁的时候，出任纽约市市长。他拥有620亿美元的财富，在美国富人榜排第六位。很多人以为他会在2020年竞选美国总统，但是最近他宣布不会竞选，估计是年龄太大。
美国有两个主要的华盛顿大学，WU (Washington University at St. Louis) 和 UW （University of Washington, Seattle)。 两个大学都不错， WU 是私校，在圣路易斯，UW 是公校，在西雅图。我孩子曾经想从一个大学去另一个大学读研究生，她妹妹开玩笑说，你把T恤衫上两个字母剪下来，换个位置缝上去就可以了。这个演讲是在WU的2019年的毕业典礼上。
——刘以栋
彭博演讲：
Americansare losing the ability to conduct civil and productive dialogue with those who hold different political views. This has profound implications for our ability to function as a society.
现在的美国人，正在失去与持有不同政治观点的人，进行文明而有成效的理性交流能力。这对我们作为一个社会整体的有效运作，具有深远的影响。
After all, when we can’t talk with one another, we can’t understand one another. When we can’t understand one another, we can’t work together. And when we can’t work together, we can’t do anything —at least not anything big and important.
毕竟，当我们无法互相交流时，我们就无法相互理解。当我们无法相互理解时，我们就无法一起工作。当我们不能一起工作时，我们就做不成事情，至少做不成那些重大事情。
We face a lot of challenges in America today,from climate change to gun violence to failing schools to the opioid epidemic. And on campuses, there’s a frightening trend toward racism, sexism, hatred, anti-Semitism and intolerance of unpopular views and opinions.
我们当前面临着许多挑战，从气候变化到枪支暴力，到失败的学校教育，再到阿片类药物流行病。在校园里，种族主义，性别歧视，仇恨，反犹太主义，以及对非主流的观点和意见的低容忍度，都是一种令人恐惧的发展趋势。
To have any hope of overcoming these challenges, we have to reclaim our civic dialogue from those who are debasing and degrading it, and preventing us from getting things done.
在克服这些挑战变得可能以前，我们必须从那些贬低文明交流的人那里，收回我们的理性交流能力，因为非文明交流阻碍我们完成我们的任务。
All of you can help do that — no matter what your politics are and no matter what line of work you decide to pursue. There is not a single issue that isn’t affected by political debates. And there is not a single issue that isn’t threatened by the breakdown in our civic discourse.
所有人都可以努力做到这一点 - 无论你的政治观点是什么，无论你决定从事什么样的工作。没有一个问题不受政治辩论的影响。并且没有一个问题，不会受到我们现在的文明交流崩溃的威胁。
So even if you hate politics, and there are a lot of reasons to hate politics these days, you will have to engage in political dialogue. And you will have to judge the arguments made by candidates. The question I hope you will ask yourself is: On what basis will you make those judgments?
因此，即使你讨厌政治，现在也确实有很多理由讨厌政治，你也必须参与政治对话。你必须判断候选人提出的论点。我希望你会问你自己的问题是：你将在什么基础上作出这些判断？
It would be natural to think that a degree from one of America’s top colleges has prepared you to be a skilled judge of political debates. But a recent study found that the smartest and most knowledgeable voters can actually be the worst judges. That’s because they are most likely to make judgments based on which party is making the argument rather than on the argument itself.
人们会很自然地认为，来自美国一流大学的学位已经让你成为政治辩论的熟练评判者。但最近的一项研究发现，最聪明，知识最渊博的选民实际上可能是最差的法官。那是因为他们最有可能根据哪一方提出论据，而不是根据论证本身作出判断。
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You would never do that. But it happens unconsciously all the time. People have a tendency to assume the worst about those on the other side of the aisle. And when it comes to those on their own side, they tend to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. That’s why educated and knowledgeable people excuse actions that are ethically wrong and defend statements that are blatant lies.
现在，我知道你在想什么。 你认为你永远不会那样做。但它总是无意识地发生。人们倾向于对观点不同的人做最差的评价。当涉及到他们自己人时，他们往往看不到邪恶，听不到任何邪恶，也不会说自己人的邪恶。这就是为什么受过良好教育和知识渊博的人，会为违背道德错误的行为辩解，并捍卫公然谎言的原因。
Of course, some people say: Defending the indefensible is just politics as usual. But I don’t accept that, and I hope you won’t either. When extreme partisanship replaces reason, logic, facts and data, the country suffers and special interests win. I’ve seen it time and again, on issue after issue: gun violence,education, public health and even one that threatens life as we know it: climate change.
当然，有人会说：捍卫站不住脚的观点是政治领域的常态。但我不会接受，我希望你也不会。当我们用极端的党派偏见取代理性，逻辑，事实和数据时，国家就会遭受损失，特殊利益集团就会取得私利。我一次又一次地看到这样的问题：枪支暴力，教育，公共卫生，甚至那些可能威胁我们人类的生命的问题：气候变化。
The problems driven by climate change are getting worse — and that’s something you’ve seen during your time here. The recent Mississippi River floods have affected life in St. Louis and they have devastated farmers across the Midwest. Those types of natural disasters will continue to get more severe with climate change, according to the best scientific data.
气候变化带来的问题正在恶化 - 这是你在大学期间看到的事情。密西西比河最近的洪水影响了圣路易斯的生活，并且在中西部地区摧毁了农民的财富。根据最佳科学数据，随着气候变化，这些类型的自然灾害将会变本加厉。
The trouble is: Too many politicians aren’t interested in hard science. They’re only interested in political science and winning their next election. So they ignore the data. They try to cut funding for climate research because they know it will undermine their political argument. Sometimes they even try to block public employees from uttering the words “climate change.”
问题是：太多的政治家对自然科学不感兴趣。他们只对政治科学感兴趣，他们的目标就是赢得下一次选举。所以他们忽略了数据。他们试图削减气候研究的资金，因为他们知道这些研究将破坏他们的政治论点。有时他们甚至试图阻止公职人员说出“气候变化”这个词。
You have to wonder what they’re trying to hide. The only conclusion I can draw is that they’re either hiding their own ignorance or their own bad faith. Either way, when government officials try to gag scientists and censor their conclusions, watch out and speak up.
你肯定想知道他们想隐藏什么。我能得出的唯一结论是，他们要么隐藏自己的无知，要么隐藏自己的恶意。无论哪种方式，当政府官员试图扼杀科学家并审查他们的结论时，请关注并说出来。
America’s progress depends on a dialogue that treats these issues not as pawns in a political battle but as problems to be solved. Ignoring data and facts and defending indefensible positions happens in both parties. But during these last few years, it has enabled new levels of dishonesty and wrongdoing and it has reached a point that, I believe, no democracy can long sustain.
美国的进步取决于对话，这些解决问题的对话不是政治斗争中的筹码，而是为了解决问题。无视数据和事实，捍卫不堪一击的立场，在民主党和共和党都有发生。但在过去的几年里，这样的不诚实和不法行为，已经达到了一个登峰超级的高度，我相信，任何民主都不能在这样的情况下长期维持下去。
Our democracy, as the founding fathers understood, rests on more than just votes. George Washington wrote in his Farewell Address: “Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” If the spring runs dry, democracy withers away — and the rights we hold dear disappear. Graduates, that spring of virtue is now yours to protect.
正如美国的国父们所理解的那样，我们的民主不仅取决于投票。乔治-华盛顿在他的告别演说中写道：“道德或正义是民众政府的必然之泉。”如果泉水枯竭，民主就会消失 - 那时我们所拥有的权利也会随之消失。毕业生们，那美德的泉水现在需要你们的看护。
And make no mistake: It is more polluted with toxic dialogue than it has been in modern history.
并且毫无疑问：与现代历史时期相比，现在被污染的没有诚意的对话比其它任何历史时期都严重。
The good news is, the way to clean up the pollution can be found in the three words on the cover of your diploma. It’s the motto of this great university: Strength Through Truth. And it’s a motto that perfectly fits a university named for George Washington.
好消息是，清理污染的方法可以在你们毕业文凭封面上的三个字中找到。这就是这所伟大大学的座右铭：通过真理取得力量（Strength Through Truth）。这是一个完美契合以乔治-华盛顿命名的大学的座右铭。
In 1794, during President Washington’s second term, there was a faction ginning up support for secession. Washington recognized the threat it posed, but he was confident it would not succeed. He wrote in a letter: “It is not difficult by concealment of some facts, and exaggeration of others … to bias a well-meaning mind, at least for a time.” But, he continued: “Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.”
1794年，在华盛顿总统的第二任期内，有一个派系开始支持分裂国家。华盛顿承认它所带来的威胁，但他相信它不会成功。他在一封信中写道：“通过隐瞒某些事实和夸大其他事实并不困难，至少在一段时间内可以欺骗善意的民众。” 但是，他继续说道：“真相被揭开以后，真理最终会得胜，虽然昭示真相需要付出代价。”
Now, I know the phrase “pains is taken”probably just horrified every English major here. As kids we were taught that Washington never told a lie. But they never told us he had trouble with subject-verb agreements.
现在，我知道“付出代价” （pains is taken) 这句话可能让每一位英语专业的学生感到恐惧。作为孩子，我们被告知华盛顿从不说谎。但是他们从未告诉我们他在主语 - 动词一致性方面遇到了麻烦 （Pains 是复数，Is是单数，译者注）。
But really: Washington’s point, and this university’s motto, are principles I hope all of you will take to heart: Truth will prevail where pains are taken to bring it to light. And with truth comes strength.
但实际上：华盛顿的观点，以及这所大学的座右铭，都是我希望你们所有人都会铭记于心的原则：真理将得胜，昭示真理需要付出代价。 力量会随着真理到来。
The pains taken by Americans to bring truth to light are why secession failed in 1794 and 1861. The pains taken by abolitionists and suffragettes and civilrights marchers and marriage equality advocates brought America’s core truth to light. All people are created equal.
美国人为昭示真相所付出的痛苦是1794年和1861年分裂失败的原因。废奴主义者，女权主义者，公民权利游行者，和婚姻平等倡导者所承受的痛苦使美国的核心真理曝光：所有人都是生而平等的。
Today, the necessity of taking pains to bring truth to light is greater than ever because the tools for spreading lies are more powerful than ever.
今天，因为传播谎言的工具比以往任何时候都更加强大，所以付出代价昭示真相的必要性比以往任何时候都要大。
Since the dawn of democracy, there have always been those who — to paraphrase Socrates — try to make the weaker argument appear the stronger and who care more about winning debates than being truthful. In ancient Greece, they were called Sophists — and they would have loved Twitter and Facebook.
自民主诞生以来，总有一些人 - 用苏格拉底来解释 - 试图让较弱的论点看起来更强大，他们更关心赢得辩论而不是昭示真实。在古希腊，他们被称为诡辩家（Sophists）-如果在现代的话，他们会非常喜欢推特（Twitter）和脸书（Facebook）。
Social media has given rise to a new golden age of sophistry, aided and abetted by blind partisanship. The only way to overcome it, the only way to lift our national discourse out of the gutter — is to heed Washington’s words and take pains to bring truth to light. Those pains are the burden of citizenship in a democracy. And a great education does not relieve them. It intensifies them. So let me offer some advice for dealing with modern-day sophists who try to obscure — or deny — truth.
在盲目的党派关系的帮助和怂恿下，社交媒体引发了一个诡辩的黄金时代。克服它的唯一方法，也就是将我们国家的话语从阴沟中解脱出来的唯一方法 - 就是听取华盛顿的话，并努力将真理置于光明之中。这些代价是民主国家中公民的责任。一个伟大的教育并不能解除诡辩。而是加剧了诡辩。因此，让我提供一些建议，来处理那些试图掩盖 - 或否认-真理的现代诡辩者。
When those in the political arena engage in name-calling and other schoolyard taunts, they are trying to distract your attention from the real issues and from their inability to address them or their unwillingness to put forward practical solutions. Don’t be distracted.
当政治领域的人参与辱骂和其他校园嘲讽时，他们会试图分散你对实际问题的注意力，以及你对他们无法解决这些问题的能力，或他们不愿意对问题提出切实可行的解决方案的关注。不要被分心。
When they tolerate attacks on minority groups, especially those who profess a faith that some find threatening, they are empowering those who traffic in hatred. Don’t tolerate it.
当他们容忍对少数群体的攻击，或者容忍煽动对不同信仰的人和群体的恨。不要容忍它。
When they denounce journalists as “enemies ofthe state,” and declare any critical coverage to be “fake news,” and dress uplies as “alternative facts,” they are trying to fool you into trusting only the news that comes from their mouths. Don’t be fooled.
当他们谴责记者是“国家的敌人”，并宣称任何批评的报道都是“假新闻”，并将谎言称为“另类事实”时，他们试图欺骗你只相信他们口中传来的消息......不要被愚弄。
When they exaggerate the risks we face from immigrants without talking about all the benefits they have brought to our country, they are preying on people’s fears. Don’t let them get away with it.
当他们夸大我们面临的移民风险而不谈论他们给我们国家带来的所有好处时，他们正在制造恐惧来捕捉人们。不要让他们得逞。
When they try to tell you who you can love, or even who you can be, they are either pandering for votes or playing God. Don’t put up with it.
当他们试图告诉你，什么样的人你可以爱，甚至你应该成为什么样的人时，他们要么正在争取选票，要么正在扮演上帝。不要忍受它。
When they promise a free lunch or free college, free medical care or free income, remember that a bill always comes due. Don’t let them pass the buck.
当他们承诺免费午餐或免费大学，免费医疗或免费收入时，请记住账单总是会如期而至。不要让他们推卸责任。
When they prevent speakers from being heard, by shouting them down or creating spaces where dissent is not tolerated, they are trying to win arguments by bullying and censorship instead of through facts and reason. Don’t let them suppress freespeech. (Even when you find that speech to be deplorable. Protecting their right to speak is the only way to protect your right to speak.)
当他们阻止说话者发出声音时，或者通过大喊大叫来压制异议人士的发言空间时，他们是试图通过欺凌和审查而不是通过事实和理由赢得争论。不要让他们压制言论自由。（即使你发现言论令人遗憾。保护他们的发言权是保护你发言权的唯一方法。）
When people romanticize the past, remember something my mother, who lived to 102, told me: The good old days were never that good.
当人们将过去浪漫化时，请记住我102岁的母亲告诉我的话：过去的美好时光从未如此美好。
Finally, when leaders wrap themselves in the flag, or the national anthem, and try to make you think that critics of our government don’t love and respect our country, remember: Real patriotism isn’t about honoring symbols. It is about bringing truth to light and, when action is required, standing up and taking action.
最后，当领导者将自己包裹在旗帜或国歌中，并试图让你认为，我们政府的批评者是不爱和不尊重我们的国家时，请记住：真正的爱国主义不是要尊重符号。它是关于将真理置于光明之下，当需要采取行动时，站起来并采取行动。
In other words: Real patriotism is about taking pains.
换句话说：真正的爱国主义是关于付出代价。
So take pains to understand the other side and to expose lies. Take pains to reject scapegoating and xenophobia and not to fall for easy answers. And take pains to hold our leaders accountable for theirwords and deeds. If you do that, I have no doubt that truth — and America —will prevail.
因此，你们要付出代价去了解对方并揭露谎言。付出代价拒绝替罪羊和仇外心理而不是通过堕落来获得简单的答案。付出代价让我们的领导人对他们的言行负责。如果你这样做，我充满信心：真相和美国终将胜利。
And my generation will be able to say, as we pass the leadership torch to yours, the same words that George Washington spok ewith his last breath: ’Tis well.
当我们将领导地位的火炬传递给你时，我们这一代人，将能够说出乔治-华盛顿临终时，用他最后一口气说的话：“很好”。
后记：
彭博被解雇以后，不是继续从事他以前的股票交易工作，而是给股票交易提供财经信息，赚服务费。财经新闻以前是路透社（Reuters）主导，我工作的时候它们是平分秋色，现在基本是彭博新闻的天下。我听说，彭博公司以前每个星期五下午，让员工们在一起自由发挥，寻找公司可以改进的地方。彭博是犹太人。犹太人从欧洲的被歧视对象，变成美国的上流社会。他们的许多文化和价值观，值得我们华人去研究和学习。
相关阅读：
作者：彭博（迈克尔-布隆伯格），编译：刘以栋，系美国资深金融分析师，笔耕不辍的他，业余爱好阅读，写作。金融类点评，教育类资讯和感悟，常在国内外各类报刊媒体刊发表，让多人收益。本文经授权发表，版权归属作者/译者/原载媒体所有。
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