|
羅納德‧雷根 (RONALD REAGAN) 在莫斯科國立大學的演說 Speech at Moscow State University進步不是預先注定的。關鍵是自由──思想的自由，資訊的自由，交流的自由。 羅納德‧雷根(1911─ )於 1980年被選為美國總統。他的當選標誌著八十年代一股強勁的保守潮流的勝利。雷根生於伊利諾伊州，在進入政壇之前是個電影明星，以後曾當選為加州州長。 在他的整個政治生涯中，羅納德‧雷根一直表現出對政治上壓抑、經濟上停滯的共產主義制度深惡痛絕。自從米哈伊‧戈巴契夫掌權以後，蘇美關係突然向好的方向轉變。戈巴契夫在蘇聯的生活中導致廣泛的政治和經濟變革，最終促成1989年東歐各國共產黨統治的崩潰。 在這發生歷史性變化的時期，戈巴契夫邀請雷根訪問蘇聯。1988年5月31日，雷根對莫斯科國立大學的學生發表演講，形成他蘇聯之行最精彩的場面之一。在該校一幅列寧像前，雷根描述了全球民主革命的擴展以及在即時通訊時代中自由思想的力量。 ……站在這兒，一幅描繪你們的革命的壁畫前，我想談談目前正發生的一場完全不同的革命，它悄悄地席捲全球，沒有流血和衝突。它的作用是和平的，但將從根本上改變我們的世界，砸碎陳舊的想法，重塑我們的生活。 人們很容易低估這場革命，因為它並未伴隨著旌旗飄舞的場面和嘹亮的喇叭聲。它被稱作工藝革命或資訊革命，而人們可以把小小矽片──跟指紋印一般大小──當作它的象徵。這樣的一塊矽片比擺滿一間屋子的老式計算器的計算能力更強。 作為一項交流計劃的一部分，現在我們有一個展覽正在貴國巡迴展出，顯示資訊技術正如何改變我們的生活──用機器人代替體力勞動，為農民預報天氣，或是為醫學研究人員繪製脫氧核糖酸的遺傳密碼。這些微型電子計算器如今幫助人們設計各種東西，從房屋、汽車直到太空船──它們甚至可以用來設計運作更好更快的電子計算器。它們能把英語譯成俄語，或使得盲人也能閱讀，甚至幫助邁克爾‧傑克遜在一個合成器上奏出管絃樂隊全部樂器的聲音。一個人通過與一個衛星和光纖電纜的網路聯繫，用一架擺在桌面的電腦和一門電話便可獲得幾年前最龐大的政府也無法得到的資料。就像一隻蝶蛹，我們正從產業革命的經濟──被地球的自然資源所束縛和限制的經濟──進入……一個新時代。 在這個新時代中，人具有無限的想像力，而創造的自由則是最寶貴的自然資源。 想想那小小矽片吧。它的價值不在製作它的原料──沙子，而在由機靈的人腦設計的它內部的細微結構。或者再以衛星全球轉播為例，它替代了成千上萬噸經採礦、 燒鑄製成的銅絲。在新的經濟中，人的創造發明越來越使得自然資源成為過時的東西。我們正突破生存的物質條件，跨入一個人類締造自己命運的世界。甚至當我們探索科學最先進的領域時，我們也追溯到人類文化的古老智慧，它包含在《聖經》的《創世紀》卷中；最初只有聖靈，正是從這一聖靈源源不斷地創造出天地萬物。 但進步不是預先注定的。關鍵是自由──思想的自由，資訊的自由，交流的自由。著名科學家，學者，貴校的創辦人米哈伊‧羅蒙諾索夫深知這一點。"眾所周知，"他說，"科學成績斐然，發展迅速，特別是當奴隸的枷鎖被解除，代之以哲學的自由之後。"…… 現代紀元的探索者是企業家，他們高瞻遠矚，敢冒風險，具有堅定的信念，勇於涉足未知領域。這些企業家和他們的小型企業幾乎造成了美國的整個經濟發展。他們是技術革命的原動力。實際上，美國最大的個人電腦公司中的一家便是由兩名與你們年齡相仿的大學生在他們家宅後面的汽車間裏創立的。 有些人，甚至在我自己的國家，面對自由市場經濟試驗中的騷亂，眼中只看見浪費。所有遭到失敗的企業家的情況怎樣呢? 其實許多企業家都失敗過，特別是成功的企業家。他們往往失敗過好幾次。假如你向他們詢問成功的秘訣，他們會告訴你，那是他們在摸爬滾打中學到的東西──是他們從失敗中學到的東西。正如對於一名參加角逐的運動員或一位探求真理的學者，經驗即是最偉大的導師。 這正說明為什麼政府的制訂計劃的人員無論怎樣精明也無法代替數百萬夜以繼日埋頭苦幹以實現自己夢想的個人。 我們美國人毫不掩飾我們對自由的信仰。事實上，在某種意義上它是全國人民的娛樂。每隔四年美國人民選一個新總統，1988年便是大選年。一度有13名重要的候選人在兩大政黨內競選，且不提其他政黨，包括社會黨和自由意志 黨的候選人──全都問鼎我的職位。 一千家地方電視臺、八千五百家廣播電臺和一千七百家日報──每一家都是完全不受政府控制的獨立私營企業──對這些候選人進行報導，輪番採訪，把他們拽到一起辯論。最後由人民投票──由人民決定誰將任下一屆總統。 但自由並不以選舉為起點或終點。比方說，走進任何一座美國市鎮，你都能看到代表各種不同信仰的十幾座教堂(在許多地方還有猶太教堂和清真寺)，而且你看見屬於各個不同民族的家庭聚集一堂做禮拜。 走進任何一所學校的教室，你都能看見孩子們正接受獨立宣言精神的教育，以使他們懂得：他們被造物主賦予某些不可出讓的權利，其中包括生活、自由和追求幸福的權利，任何政府都沒有理由剝奪這些權利──它們是在他們的憲法中對言論、集會和宗教信仰自由的保證。 走進任何一所法庭，你都能看到主持人是一位不依附政府權力的獨立的法官。每一個被告都有權受到通常由12名普通男女公民組成的陪審團的審判，完全由這些陪審員來考慮證據，作出有罪或無罪的判決。在法庭上，被告在證實有罪之前是無罪的，而一名警察或官員的話並不比被告的話具有更高的法律地位。 走進任何一所大學的校園，你都可以發現大學生們就美國社會問題及其矯正的方法進行公開的，有時是熱烈的討論。打開電視機，你可以看到立法機關就在攝像機前處理政府事務，就即將成為國家法令的審議事項進行辯論、表決。加入任何一場示威遊行，你就會明白這種活動在美國司空見慣──人民的集會權得到憲法的保障和警察的保護。走進任何一座工會大樓，你會瞭解到工會會員們都知道，他們的罷工權利受法律保護。…… 然而自由的含義甚至比這更廣：自由是提出質問的權利，是改變既定工作方式的權利。它是一個市場持續不斷的革命。它是一種認識，使我們能看清缺點，尋求解決的途徑。它是提出一種見解的權利，這見解被專家奚落，卻在人民中大受歡迎。它是追求你的理想的權利，保持自己良心的權利，即便你一個人處在懷疑者們的重重包圍中。 自由是這種認識，即沒有任何一個人，沒有任何一個權威或政府能壟斷真理，而每一個人的生命都是無比珍貴的，我們每一個降臨到這個世界上的人都是為某種原因而來，要作出某種貢獻。…… 民主與其說是一個政府體制，不如說是一個限制政府，使其不能侵犯人權的制度：這種約束權力的制度使政治和政府從屬於生活中的重要因素，即唯有在家庭和信仰中才能找到的價值的真正源泉。 但是我希望你們明白，我談論這些問題不僅為頌揚美國的優點，也為了證明貴國的精神崇高偉大。究竟有誰需要對杜思妥耶夫斯基的祖國談探索真理，對康定斯基和斯克裡亞賓的祖國談想像力，對烏茲別克作家阿利捨‧納維奧豐富、高尚的文化談美和心靈呢? 貴國錦繡河山的偉大文化熱情洋溢地向全人類發出呼籲。請允許我引用關於人類自由的最為意味深長的段落之一。它不是摘自美國文學，而是引自貴國二十世紀最傑出的作家之一鮑裡斯‧帕斯捷爾納克的小說《齊瓦戈醫生》。他寫道："我認為，倘若藏在一個人體內的獸性能夠用威脅──任何一種威脅，無論是監禁或是死後的報應──加以壓制，那麼人性的最高標誌將是馬戲團裏手執鞭子的馴獅者，而不是犧牲自我的先知。但這恰恰是要害問題：千百年來使人類高於禽獸的不是棍棒，而是內心的音樂──手無寸鐵的真理不可抗拒的力量。"手無寸鐵的真理不可抗拒的力量。今天，整個世界殷切期待著蘇聯發生變化，邁向更大的自由。…… 你們這一代人生活在蘇聯歷史上最令人激動，最有希望的時代。在這個時代，自由最初的氣息在空中流動，人心隨著希望不斷加快的節奏跳動；在這個時代，在漫長的沈寂中積聚起來的精神力量噴薄欲出。 我記起果戈理《死魂靈》將近結尾的膾炙人口的一段文字。果戈理把他的祖國比作奔馳的三套車，並且問它的目的地在何方。然而他寫道："除了傳來美妙的鈴聲，沒有任何回答。" 我們不知道這旅程將如何終結，但我們希望改革的許諾將得以實現。在這莫斯科之春，1988年5月，我們或許能獲得這一希望──猶如托爾斯泰墳上嫩綠的樹苗，自由將最終在你們人民和文化的肥沃土壤上欣欣向榮，蓬勃生長。我們或許能希望，一個新的開放格局的美妙鈴聲將響徹雲霄，引向一個和解、友好與和平的新世界。…… 附註：
. . . Standing here before a mural of your revolution, I want to talk about a very different revolution that is taking place right now, quietly sweeping the globe, without bloodshed or conflict. Its effects are peaceful, but they will fundamentally alter our world, shatter old assumptions, and reshape our lives. It's easy to underestimate because it's not accompanied by banners or fanfare. It has been called the technological or information revolution, and as its emblem, one might take the tiny silicon chip－ no bigger than a fingerprint. One of these chips has more computing power than a roomful of old-style computers. As part of an exchange program, we now have an exhibition touring your country that shows how information technology is transforming our lives－ replacing manual labor with robots, forecasting weather for farmers, or mapping the genetic code of DNA for medical researchers. These microcomputers today aid the design of everything from houses to cars to spacecraft－ they even design better and faster computers. They can translate English into Russian or enable the blind to read－ or help Michael Jackson produce on one synthesizer the sounds of a whole orchestra. Linked by a network. of satellites and fiber-optic cables, one individual with a desktop computer and a telephone commands resources unavailable to the largest governments just a few years ago. Like a chrysalis, we're emerging from the economy of the Industrial Revolution－ an economy confined to and limited by the Earth's physical resources－ into . . . an era in which there are no bounds on human imagination and the freedom to create is the most precious natural resource. Think of that little computer chip. Its value isn't in the sand from which it is made, but in the microscopic architecture designed into it by ingenious human minds. Or take the example of the satellite relaying this broadcast around the world, which replaces thousands of tons of copper mined from the Earth and molded into wire. In the new economy, human invention increasingly makes physical resources obsolete. We're breaking through the material conditions of existence to a world where man creates his own destiny. Even as we explore the most advanced reaches of science, we're returning to the age-old wisdom of our culture, a wisdom contained in the book of Genesis in the Bible: In the beginning was the spirit, and it was from this spirit that the material abundance of creation issued forth. But progress is not foreordained. The key is freedom－ freedom of thought, freedom of information, freedom of communication. The renowned scientist, scholar, and founding father of this University, Mikhail Lomonosov, knew that. "It is common knowledge," he said, "that the achievements of science are considerable and rapid, particularly once the yoke of slavery is cast off and replaced by the freedom of philosophy." ... The explorers of the modern era are the entrepreneurs, men with vision, with the courage to take risks and faith enough to brave the unknown. These entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States. They are the prime movers of the technological revolution. In fact, one of the largest personal computer firms in the United States was started by two college students, no older than you, in the garage behind their home. Some people, even in my own country, look at the riot of experiment that is the free market and see only waste. What of all the entrepreneurs that fail? Well, many do. particularly the successful ones. Often several times. And if you ask them the secret of their success, they'll tell you, it's all that they learned in their struggles along the way－ yes, it's what they learned from failing. Like an athlete in competition, or a scholar in pursuit of the truth, experience is the greatest teacher. And that's why it's so hard for government planners, no matter how sophisticated, to ever substitute for millions of individuals working night and day to make their dreams come true.... We Americans make no secret of our belief in freedom. In fact, it's something of a national pastime. Every four years the American people choose a new president, and 1988 is one of those years. At one point there were 13 major candidates running in the two major parties, not to mention all the others, including the Socialist and Libertarian candidates－ all trying to get my job. About 1,000 local television stations, 8,500 radio stations, and 1,700 daily newspapers, each one an independent, private enterprise, fiercely independent of the government, report on the candidates, grill them in interviews, and bring them together for debates. In the end, the people vote－ they decide who will be the next president. But freedom doesn't begin or end with elections. Go to any American town. to take just an example, and you'll see dozens of churches, representing many different beliefs－ in many places synagogues and mosques－ and you'll see families of every conceivable nationality, worshipping together. Go into any schoolroom, and there you will see children being taught the Declaration of Independence, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights－ among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness － that no government can justly deny－ the guarantees in their Constitution for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Go into any courtroom and there will preside an independent judge, beholden to no government power. There every defendant has the right to a trial by a jury of his peers, usually 12 men and women－ common citizens, they are the ones, the only ones, who weigh the evidence and decide on guilt or innocence. In that court, the accused is innocent until proven guilty, and the word of a policeman, or any official, has no greater legal standing than the word of the accused. Go to any university campus, and there you'll find an open, sometimes heated discussion of the problems in American society and what can be done to correct them. Turn on the television, and you'll see the legislature conducting the business of government right there before the camera, debating and voting on the legislation that will become the law of the land. March in any demonstration, and there are many of them－ the people's right of assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution and protected by the police. Go into any union hall, where the members know their right to strike is protected by law.... But freedom is even more than this: Freedom is the right to question, and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuing revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize short-comings and seek solutions. It is the right to put forth an idea, scoffed at by the experts, and watch it catch fire among the people. It is the right to follow your dream, to stick to your conscience, even if you're the only one in a sea of doubters. Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put on this earth has been put here for a reason and has something to offer. . . . Democracy is less a system of government than it is a system to keep government limited, unintrusive: A system of constraints on power to keep politics and government secondary to the important things in life, the true sources of value found only in family and faith. But I hope you know I go on about these things not simply to extol the virtues of my own country, but to speak to the true greatness of the heart and soul of your land. Who, after all, needs to tell the land of Dostoevsky about the quest for truth, the home of Kandinsky and Scriabin about imagination, the rich and noble culture of the Uzbek man of letters, Alisher Navio, about beauty and heart? The great culture of your diverse land speaks with a glowing passion to all humanity. Let me cite one of the most eloquent contemporary passages on human freedom. It comes, not from the literature of America, but from this country, from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Boris Pasternak, in the novel Dr. Zhil'ago. He writes, "I think that if the beast who sleeps in man could be held down by threats－ any kind of threat, whether of jail or of retribution after death－ then the highest emblem of humanity would be the lion tamer in the circus with his whip, not the prophet who sacrificed himself. But this is just the point－ what has for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel, but an inward music－ the irresistible power of unarmed truth." The irresistible power of unarmed truth. Today the world looks expectantly to signs of change, steps toward greater freedom in the Soviet Union.... Your generation is living in one of the most exciting, hopeful times in Soviet history. It is a time when the first breath of freedom stirs the air and the heart beats to the accelerated rhythm of hope, when the accumulated spiritual energies of a long silence yearn to break free. I am reminded of the famous passage near the end of Gogol's Dead Souls. Comparing his nation to a speeding troika, Gogol asks what will be its destination. But he writes, "There was no answer save the bell pouring forth marvelous sound." We do not know what the conclusion of this journey will be, but we're hopeful that the promise of reform will be fulfilled. In this Moscow spring, this May 1988, we may be allowed that hope－ that freedom, like the fresh green sapling planted over Tolstoi's grave, will blossom forth at last in the rich fertile soil of your people and culture. We may be allowed to hope that the marvelous sound of a new openness will keep rising through, ringing through, leading to a new world of reconciliation, friendship, and peace.... |