老美看美國: 對制度進行質疑的重要性

老美看美國：對制度進行質疑的重要性

文/他爹 ， 翻譯/他娘

2012/1/27

我一般不容忍愚蠢，否則很快就沒耐心。我最近再次注意到，這裡有少數讀者，要麼看不懂我的文章，要麼就是不把全文看完，就斷章取義，導致錯誤百出的結論。

你要清楚---我不是「反美」。我可以確定地說自己是個「愛國者」。事實上，三十年前，我就是美國海軍陸戰隊軍官團「PLATON 「 領導培訓班項目的成員。

現在，讓我們來談談本文的要點乃至我前期寫過的那些文章，有些人質疑我的寫作動機。我寫東西不是為了討太太的歡心。真是可笑之極，孩子氣十足。所以，長大吧，像個爺們吧！

我不是「左派」，也不是「極端保守派」。 我認為如此給人貼標籤，把自己的信仰納入如此狹隘的觀點，不僅對於那些被你帖標籤的人不利，也把自己變成心胸狹隘之人，好像整個世界就只有這麼一個小小的分類。如果是這樣的話，這個世界將會是多麼蒼白無聊的地方。我認為，人，社會，文化，經濟乃至政治體系比那標籤要複雜的多。

那些不相信制度是複雜的，認為制度是簡單的人，他們才更是所屬體制的問題，因為他們認為事情太簡單了。

中國歷史上就有一個很好的例子。二十世紀五十年代，許多農民抱怨他們的莊稼還沒到收成，鳥就吃掉了。所以，最「簡單」的辦法就是消滅鳥。因此開展了一場運動，獎勵大家去滅殺鳥。那些有殺鳥機智的人獲得獎勵，常常是一塊獎牌。

問題解決了。再也沒有鳥了。錯了！

下一個季節，農民們播種了，再不受成群的鳥兒阻礙生長了。

然而，隨著作物的生長，引來了成群的蝗蟲，吞噬著莊稼，這時卻再也沒有鳥來吃掉這些害蟲了。

所以，質疑制度對一個社會或者制度的進步來說是非常重要的。把問題簡單化往往會失敗---通常敗得很慘。

似乎有兩組截然不同的人在讀我的文章---親美派認為質疑我們的國家就是不愛美國，寧願去指責中國的種種不是，而不是指責美國的不是。另一組親中派對中國的成長歡欣鼓舞，一定程度上很開心美國也不是烏托邦，也有自己的問題。

對於親美派，我為你的愛國情操鼓掌，但是，我敦促你把你的言行和你的信念好好思量一番---那就是言論自由。很久以前就有人說過，「我雖然不同意你所說的，但是我誓死捍衛你說話的權利」。

對於親中派，我也為中國過去30年取得經濟成就，把上億人民從貧窮中解放而鼓掌。中國在世界經濟上扮演的角色與東方權利的平衡是很關鍵的。

對這兩組人，我要指出的是，每個制度都有其自身獨特的問題。

然後，老實講，我對美國的問題更加關心，因為我生活在這裡，我的選票可以影響並改變我生活在其中的這個制度。

但是，對於親美派來說，我也要告訴你們—如果不是60年前的一群人對當時的制度的缺失進行質疑的話，這個國家的許多地方就會仍然奉行一個制度，那就是在當時，我娶一個中國婦女為妻便是違法的。對於親美派，我要指出的是，如果不是有人質疑這個制度，有人願意為了改變而犧牲，黑人就會仍然是奴隸。如果由於某些原因你認為那些現象應該繼續存在，那麼我與你之間的問題就嚴重了，這裡的篇幅也不夠我寫的。

而且，關於中國的問題或制度失敗與否並不是我要考慮的。因為不管我怎麼用否定的態度來寫中國的種種問題，對中國要做什麼或不要做什麼絕對不會有任何的影響。

我更願意，當寫到中國的時候，指出他們制度中許多好的地方，對於我們生活的地方，美國可以有借鑒作用。這個進程可以引領進步和成功。我生活和投票的地方是我要改善的地方。不是中國。

但是，在這裡圍繞中國和美國爭吵不休，看上去很有幹勁實踐「一報還一報」的方式互相指責對方的兩派，我想引用如下的句子：

以眼還眼的鬥爭很快就會令世界陷入失明----聖雄甘地

當雙方正不斷奮力捍衛各自的信念和行為時，他們永遠不會找到對話的機會以尋求共同的立場（共識）。這種失敗，通過過去 5000 年的人類文明，導致戰爭、不 容忍、 種族主義、仇恨和巨大的人性缺失，導致人類不能夠繼續前進。

因此，對於親美派，我保證我還會繼續就我認為需要改變或變得更好的的事情而寫作，如果你在等著我挑中國的刺兒，你可能要等很久。不寫中國並不是說中國沒毛病，而是因為我就是捶胸跺腳，高喊我們與世界其他地方相比最偉大，也是無濟於事的，那隻能讓我自己感覺好受一點點。

在我的這些文章里說中國壞話絲毫不能讓美國變得更好。反而體現出我對中國過去30年取得的成就的視而不見。中國完美嗎？不完美。美國完美嗎？不完美！兩國都有許多問題，都可以得到改善，以變成更適合生活的地方。但是，如果不進行質疑，事情就會原地不動，進步就會停止。

只要想想 — 如果第一架飛機飛行后，沒人想要做得更好呢？如果發明了第一台電腦和軟體，每個人都感到滿意呢？如果美國善良的人們很久以前未能質疑為什麼某些權利不給予所有公民，那麼種族仍將隔離、 白人一個區域，黑人在另一個地區亞洲人在一個區，西班牙裔在另一個區。

如果不質疑為何事情會這樣，我們在美國生活的這個世界就會是一成不變的。我也永遠不可能娶我的妻子。也就不會有老虎伍茲，或邁克爾喬丹，或利亞納。質疑「為何」可以引發改變。並不是說美國是一個不好的地方。或曾經是一個不好的地方。

既然我生活在美國，我會說，這裡是我和我的孩子和我未來的孫輩們生活的最好的地方。但是，我也相信通過質疑仍然存在的錯誤，我可以堅信我的子孫們在我走了很久以後也會繼承我的遺志。

憤怒和不容忍是正確理解的敵人--聖雄甘地

很巧，我讀到了下面這篇文章，可以支持我今天和前面的文章觀點。

http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/tender-photos-unearthed-turbulent-time-235100316.html

（原文）

THE IMPORTANCE

OF

QUESTIONING THE SYSTEM

I don』t suffer fools easily and when I do I tire easily. It has been brought to my attention, again, that there are those readers here who either fail to understand the point or fail to actually read the entire piece which leads them to erroneous conclusions.

To be clear – I am not 「anti American」. To be sure I think of myself as a Patriot. In fact, going back over 3 decades I was part of a program then called PLC – Platoon Leaders Class – for U.S. Military Officers in the United States Marines.

But, on to the point of this article and some of the comments on prior articles questioning the motives of my writing.

I do not write for the pleasure or acceptance of my wife. That』s ridiculous at best and childish at worst. So, grow up.

I am not a 「leftie」 or a 「neo con」. I find such labels of people and their beliefs into such a narrow view point that it not only does a disservice to those you label but to yourself for being so narrow minded – as if the entire world can be put into such small neat little categories. If it were so the world would indeed be a very boring place.  I think people, societies, cultures, economies and political systems are more complicated than that.

The people who don』t believe they are complicated but instead simple systems are more often than not problematic to the systems they belong to because they believe things are too simple.

A GREAT case in point is from China history, recent history.  In the 1950』s many of the farmers complained that the birds were eating the seeds they planted before they could grow into plants and be harvested. So, the 「simple」 thought was to get rid of the birds. So, programs were instituted that rewarded people for how many birds they could kill. Those who were talented at 「killing」received praise and often a medal for their efforts.

Problem solved. No more birds. WRONG !!

The next season the farmers planted their seeds and they grew unimpeded by the flocks of birds that before would eat some ( not many ) of the seeds.

However, as the plants grew they now invited swarms of locusts that devoured the crops. There were no more birds left to eat the insects.

So, questioning systems is important for a society or system to progress. Simple answers to complex problems fail – often miserably so.

There seems to be 2 distinct groups that read my writings – a pro USA group that finds it unpatriotic to question things in our own country and prefers to point out the failings of China versus the USA. Then, the other group is a pro China that wants to exult the growth of China and is somewhat contented that the USA is not a utopia but also has problems.

To the pro USA groups I say I applaud your patriotism but I also urge you to gauge your words and actions with what you say is your belief – that being the freedom of speech. It was said long ago that 「 while I may not agree with what you say I am committed to defend your right to say to the death」.

To the pro China group – I, too, applaud what China has done the past 30 years – the growth of its economy, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, the vital role that China plays in world economics as well as a new balance of power in the east.

To both groups I also point out that each system has its own set of unique problems and issues.

However, to be honest, I am much more concerned with the issues of the USA because I live here and my vote can effect change within the system I live in.

But, to be fair – the pro USA group I say this to you – without questioning the failings of system by groups of people 60 years ago a system would still exist in this country in many parts where it would have been illegal for me to marry my wife, a Chinese woman. To the pro USA group I point this out to you – if it wasn』t for people questioning a system and willing to die for change blacks would still be slaves.  If for some reason you think those would be good things to still exist then I have a much more serious problem with you than can ever be written in the space provided here.

Also, I am not concerned here to point out the failings or problems in China. All the things that I could ever write here about China in a negative manner would have absolutely no effect on what China does or does not do.

I much prefer, when writing about China, to point out the good things that could be useful in the system that I live in here, in the USA, that could be utilized for the benefit of the USA.  That process can lead to progress and more success. Where I live and vote is the place I want to make better.

But, the 2 main groups here that fight about USA and China and keep poking each other and seem motivated to practice 「an eye for an eye」 method I say to you the following:

「practicing an eye for an eye will soon leave the world blind」- Mahatma Gandhi

When two sides are continually fighting to defend who or what they are they will never find the opportunity to open a dialogue to begin to find a common ground. That failure, through the past 5000 years of human civilization has led to wars, intolerance, racism, hate and vast losses in humanity to be able to move ahead.

So, to the pro USA group I promise to keep writing about things I think need to be changed here or could be made better. If you are waiting for me to pick on China you will have a long wait. It』s not that there arent』 things I could write to pick on China but I don』t see what the benefit would be other than to beat my chest, scream how great we are compared to the rest of the world and make myself feel good.

Talking bad about China in these writings will not make my place in the USA better but it could show my ignorance of the good things China has accomplished the past 30 years. Is China perfect? No. Is the USA perfect? No. Both have numerous things they can do to make them better places to leave. But, failing to question will leave things as they are and progress will stop.

Just think – what if after the first airplane flew nobody wanted to make it better? What if after the first computers were made and the software with them that everybody was satisfied? What if good people in the USA long ago failed to question why certain rights weren』t given to all citizens then races would still be segregated, white in one area and blacks in another, Asians in one area and Hispanics to another. 

Without questioning why things are the world we know here in the USA could still look like that. I could never have married my wife. There would never have been a Tiger Woods or a Michael Jordan or a Rhianna. Questioning the 「why」 effects change. It』s not the USA is a bad place or ever was a bad place – it』s that we can make it better. That』s the ideal.

Since I live in the USA I will say that to my knowledge it is the best place in the world for me and my children and the descendants of mine yet to be born to live. But, I also believe that by questioning the wrongs that still exist I ensure that the children of my children will be able to say the same thing long after I am gone.

Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.--Mahatma Gandhi

Accidential, I read this article which supports my articles today and previously:

http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/tender-photos-unearthed-turbulent-time-235100316.html