中國留學生畢業典禮演講朋友圈刷屏：美國空氣都是甜的

今天，一則中國留學生在畢業典禮上的演講視頻在朋友圈刷屏了。

馬里蘭大學的畢業典禮上，中國留學生Yang Shuping受邀為全校師生做畢業演講，這本是一件值得驕傲的事，但她說出的話，卻讓中國留學生們聽了十分生氣。

在演講中她主要表達了這樣的觀點：

中國的空氣質量差，不得不戴口罩，而美國空氣清新甜蜜：

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.

這裡的空氣是如此的新鮮甜蜜，儘管說起來奇怪，但這對我來說很奢侈。我大感意外。我在中國的都市中長大，每次外出都必須戴口罩，不然的話，我可能會生病。

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

I felt free.

然而，當我在機場外面呼吸到第一口空氣的時候，我感到了自由。

No more fog on my glasses, no more difficult breathing, no more suppression.Every breath was a delight. 不再有蒙在眼鏡上的濃霧，不再有呼吸困難，不再有壓抑的生活。每一口呼吸都是一種愉悅的體驗。

美國倡導民主，言論自由，與中國大相徑庭：

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.

在來美國之前，我在歷史課上學到了美國獨立宣言，那時獨立宣言的內容——生命，自由和對自由的追求對我來說沒有實際的意義

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades.

我單純地記下這些詞，僅僅為了拿個高分。

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

我學到了，在美國，自由表達是一項神聖的權利。

……

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.

一直以來，我都很渴望去講述這樣的故事，不過我曾相信只有權威的人才有資格講述，只有權威部門才能界定事實。

……

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

但是，沉浸在馬里蘭大學這種多遠的文化中讓我有機會能夠接觸不同的、多樣的視角，去看待事實。

……

對此，網友們有幾種不同的看法，一種是覺得，這位同學以偏概全，在公開場合貶低祖國：

也有人認為她說的是實話：

還有人想起了《北洋水師》里的一句台詞：

此去西洋，深知中國自強之計，舍此無所他求；背負國家之未來，取盡洋人之科學，赴七萬里長途，別祖國父母之邦，奮然無悔。

這件事也已經刷爆了馬大同學的朋友圈，大家的目的也很簡單，希望她可以在公開場合對自己的言論負責，畢竟畢業典禮是一個面向全校的場合，而大部分中國留學生表示「並不想被她代表」。

@不長大的阿晞：作為留學生 覺得你的書真的是白讀 你知道當初asian american為什麼會有今天 身份為什麼會被得到認可嗎 就是因為他們當初放棄了要變成「白人」的想法 決定走向self-determination和self-pride 他們為自己是黃種人感到自豪 為自己國家的文化和傳統感到自豪

@星億：我昆明的朋友都氣炸了！！！我都勸他們，你代表不了任何人，你只能代表你自己，你也許還能代表你的家庭教育，但是你的言行，代表不了馬里蘭，代表不了中國留學生，更代表不了昆明和中國。雖然我在美國五年了，見過各種各樣的中國人，但你這樣的，我還是頭次見。

以下是演講全文：

Good afternoon faculty students parents and friends.

各位家長、同學、朋友們，下午好！

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

我很榮幸，也很感激能夠在馬里蘭大學2017屆畢業典禮上發言。

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

人們經常問我：為什麼你選擇來馬里蘭大學？

I always answer: Fresh air.

我總是回答：新鮮的空氣。

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.

五年前，我從中國來到美國，出了達拉斯機場航站樓，呼吸到在美國的第一口空氣後，我就丟掉了正準備戴上的五層口罩。

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

這裡的空氣是如此的新鮮甜蜜，儘管說起來奇怪，但這對我來說很奢侈。

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.

我大感意外。我在中國的都市中長大，每次外出都必須戴口罩，不然的話，我可能會生病。

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

所以，當我在機場外面呼吸到第一口空氣的時候，

I felt free.

然而，在機場外深呼吸的那一刻，我感到了自由。

No more fog on my glasses, no more difficult breathing, no more suppression.Every breath was a delight.

不再有蒙在眼鏡上的濃霧，不再有呼吸困難，不再有壓抑的生活。每一口呼吸都是一種愉悅的體驗。

As I stand here today, I cannot help, but recall that feeling of freedom.

今天站在這裡，我情不自禁地回憶起這種自由的感覺。

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.

在馬里蘭大學，我還感到了另一種意義上的自由，一種我會永遠感激的自由——言論自由。

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.

在來美國之前，我在歷史課上學到了美國獨立宣言，那時獨立宣言的內容——生命，自由和對自由的追求對我來說沒有實際的意義

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades.

我單純地記下這些詞，僅僅為了拿個高分。

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

當時那些字句對我來說如此陌生，抽象，直到我來到了馬里蘭大學。

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

我學到了，在美國，自由表達是一項神聖的權利。

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

在馬里蘭的每一天，我都被激勵著在有爭議的問題上發表自己的意見。

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

我可以質疑導師的意見，我也以在線上給老師評分。

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

不過這些都不能和我第一次看到校內演出的戲劇《黃昏：洛杉磯》(Twilight: Los Angeles)時感受到的文化衝擊相比。

Twilight is a play by Anna Deavere Smith about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

這是Anna Deavere Smith撰寫的關於1992年洛杉磯暴亂的一部劇。

The riots followed acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King.

那次暴動的導火線為當地陪審團宣判四名被控「使用過當武力」毆打Rodney King的警察無罪釋放。

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

6天內，人們走上街頭抗議，城市陷入混亂。

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

在這部劇里，學生演員公開地討論種族歧視，性別歧視和政治話題。

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

我很驚訝，我從來不曾想過這樣的話題可以被公開討論。

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

這部劇是我第一次接觸和政治有關的戲劇內容，它讓觀眾辯證地思考。

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.

一直以來，我都很渴望去講述這樣的故事，不過我曾相信只有權威的人才有資格講述，只有權威部門才能界定事實。

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

但是，沉浸在馬里蘭大學這種多遠的文化中讓我有機會能夠接觸不同的、多樣的視角，去看待事實。

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

我很快意識到了在這裡我有自由發聲的機會。

My voice matters.

Your voice matters.

Our voices matter.

我的聲音很重要。

你的聲音很重要。

我們的聲音都很重要。

Civil engagement is not a task just for politicians.

公民參與不僅僅是政治家的任務。

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.

我親眼見到了我的同學們參與在華盛頓特區的遊行，參與總統投票，為了各種各樣的原因募集資金。

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

我見證了每個人都有參與、推進改革的權利。

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

我曾以為一個人的能力也許不能做成什麼，但是我們在這片土地上，美國。

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

在一起，我們能推進我們的社會，讓它變得更開明和平和。

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.

2017屆的同學們，我們從一所擁抱人文教育、重視思辨能力、關注人道的大學畢業了。

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

我們具備了不同學科的知識，並準備好面對社會的挑戰。

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

我們中的有些人也許會繼續讀研究生，有的人會開啟自己的職業生涯，有些人會開始求索的歷程。

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

不過無論我們做什麼，記住，民主和言論自由不是簡簡單單就得到的。

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

民主與自由是值得我們為之奮鬥的、至關重要的新鮮空氣。

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

自由就是氧氣，自由是熱情，自由是愛。

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.

就像法國哲學家薩特曾經說的：自由是一種選擇，我們的未來就取決於我們在今天做的選擇。

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

我們為自己的人生寫下下一篇章，我們一起，寫下人類的歷史。

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

我的朋友們，享受這裡的新鮮空氣，不要放手。

Thank you.

謝謝。

對此，我推薦大家看另一個中國留學生何江在哈佛畢業典禮上的演講，他通過自己被蜘蛛咬傷，而媽媽用落後的土方法治療點出了中國當時醫療環境的落後，但他最後的落腳點在於：

在我意識到這些知識背景，及簡單的將受感染的不同物種隔離開來以減緩疾病傳播，並決定將這些知識傳遞到我的村莊時，我的心裡第一次有了一種作為未來科學家的使命感。但這種使命感不只停在知識層面，它也是我個人道德發展的重要轉折點，我自我理解的作為國際社會一員的責任感。

有問題，我們需要正視，還可以用自己所學去呼籲，去改變，而不是通過貶低自己國家的行為去抬高另一個國家。

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