大千世界，因每個(gè)個(gè)體而精彩

如今的世界是否趨于大同?一個(gè)有著半亞裔血統(tǒng)的孩子的心路歷程告訴我們，我們是如此的不同，卻又是如此的相似。在與人交流時(shí)，言者無(wú)心，聽者有意。在日常生活中，我們的思維定勢(shì)，傾向于簡(jiǎn)單化的理解都會(huì)對(duì)別人造成傷害。然而，你我要對(duì)誤解勇敢地說(shuō)“不”。

As she walks, thirty eyes follow her movement. I stare down at the floor, trying to distract myself and attempting to reach a center of serenity.

It's hard to describe the anxiety[1] of a classroom when a teacher is handing back final test scores. We all want to do well, and in that moment, often nothing seems more important than that score at the top of the test. We are focused, united in our desire and our worry.” When my teacher has reached my desk, I scramble[2] to find the score. 43/44. Yes! That's a strong A. My neighbor leans over and asks, “How'd you do?” I tell him, and he rolls his eyes. “It's just because you're half-Asian. I'd get those grades if I was Chinese, too.”

The words hurt, but I've heard them many times before. He's right, in a sense. I am half-Asian. I receive good grades, I have straight hair, and I play piano, so I guess I fit some of the stereotypes[3]. But my school is full of cliques[4], each group divided by race, personality, and looks. I don't belong with the “Asian” clique. I am similar, but not quite like them, and they don't identify with me the way they do with each other. They bond over their need-to-succeed and the mistakes of their stupid white peers, and then they look at me.

But I don't fit in with[5] my all-American friends either. My peers expect that I have perfect grades, and when I don't, they are quick in their judgment and harsh in their laughter. My achievements are often attributed to being half-Asian.[6] I am happy about my achievements and satisfied with my lifestyle, but when the response to my stories are always, “It's just because you're Asian” or “You are so Asian”, it’s hard to just brush the comments away. My friends don't mean to taunt, but something about their tone cuts deep. Again, I am similar, but not quite like everybody else, and they don't identify[7] with me the way they do with each other. I never feel quite at home among my friends.

Why?

America, and in particular, California, is a land full of immigrants. I am sure many of our parents and grandparents didn't feel quite at ease in their homeland, and that is probably part of the reason they came here. They sought acceptance and a diverse country where everyone could belong. Yet many of us seem to forget this when we stereotype each other and attribute our successes to our culture, instead of to our individual work. My successes are not because part of my family originated in China. The reason that I did well on that test was because I had studied. It's a simple fact, but it's easily forgotten in the midst of all the generalizations[8] we tend to make.

We shouldn't identify ourselves with only the color of our skin. We each have our own talents, goals, and traditions. Our similarities stretch[9] across borders and are not confined to a particular nation. I know this, yet when my peer turned to me and said, “It's just because you're Asian” after I told him my test score, I did nothing. I sighed, turned back to my work, and tried to overlook[10] his words.

But silence is the not the way to deal with racial insensitivity. My silence makes the comment okay. It represents acceptance of such insensitivity, and allows, even encourages, that individual to hurt others with their words. I have another option, though.” I can speak up[11]. I can let them know that it is not okay to be inconsiderate. I can let them know that such assumptions cause pain, and that their words spread thoughtlessness[12].

As teenagers, we are still young, and able to make a difference. So much promise stretches before us, as our words and actions will influence the next generation. It is possible to leave stereotypes behind, and filter our everyday consciousness. As Harry Millner once said, “All progress occurs because people dare to be different”. I am one person, but I can take a step. Progress begins now.

當(dāng)她走近時(shí)，三十雙眼睛都緊跟著她的動(dòng)作。我眼向下盯著地板，試著分散注意力，試著保持淡定。

當(dāng)老師發(fā)下期末考試的卷子時(shí)，教室里的緊張氣氛真是一言難盡。我們都想做好，而此時(shí)此刻，通常沒有什么比在班上考高分更重要了。此刻，我們因自己的渴望和憂慮而團(tuán)結(jié)一致。

老師到了我的桌前，我慌張地查看成績(jī)。44滿分我得了43分。太好了!是個(gè)不折不扣的“優(yōu)”。我的鄰座靠過(guò)來(lái)問：“你怎么樣?”我告訴了他，他便翻個(gè)白眼道：“還不是因?yàn)槟闶前雮€(gè)亞洲人。我要是中國(guó)人，我肯定也能得這個(gè)分?jǐn)?shù)。”

這些話很傷人，雖然我已經(jīng)聽過(guò)很多次。在某種意義上，他是對(duì)的。我是半個(gè)亞洲人，我會(huì)得好成績(jī)，我梳著直發(fā)，我還彈鋼琴，我覺得我確實(shí)符合某些對(duì)于亞洲人的刻板印象?？墒俏覀兊膶W(xué)校里充滿了小派系，每個(gè)都由種族、性格和外貌來(lái)劃分。而我并不屬于“亞裔”的圈子。我與他們相似，卻不相同，他們無(wú)法待我如圈內(nèi)人。他們之所以聯(lián)合在一起，是出于那種必勝的心理和那些愚蠢的白人同學(xué)所犯的錯(cuò)誤。而我，就是他們的眼中釘。

然而，我也無(wú)法融入“純美國(guó)”的朋友圈子。我的同伴們總認(rèn)為我會(huì)得全優(yōu)的成績(jī)，當(dāng)我得不到時(shí)，他們馬上指手畫腳，無(wú)情嘲笑。我的成績(jī)都?xì)w功于我身上一半的亞裔血統(tǒng)。我很滿意我的成績(jī)和生活方式，但對(duì)于我的故事，人們的反應(yīng)總是：“因?yàn)槟闶莵喴岚　被蛘摺澳阏媸堑湫偷膩喼奕恕?。我很難對(duì)這些評(píng)論一笑了之。朋友們并不是有意嘲弄，但他們語(yǔ)調(diào)中的某些東西傷我至深。還是那句話，我與他們相似，卻不相同，他們無(wú)法待我如圈內(nèi)人。我在這些朋友中從未感覺自在。

為什么?

因?yàn)槊绹?guó)，尤其是加利福尼亞，是一個(gè)由移民組成的地方。我相信許多我們的父輩和祖輩在他們的故土上倍感不安，這可能是他們移民的部分原因。他們尋求包容，尋求一個(gè)多元的國(guó)家，在此人人得到歸屬。然而，很多人忘記了這一點(diǎn)，以至于將彼此分門別類，并將個(gè)人的成就歸功于文化差異而不是個(gè)人努力。我的成就不僅僅源于我的華裔血統(tǒng)。我拿好成績(jī)是因?yàn)槲遗W(xué)習(xí)。就是這樣一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的事實(shí)，卻總是由于我們不由自主的成見而被輕易遺忘。

我們不該僅基于膚色去認(rèn)同彼此。我們有各自的才華、目標(biāo)和傳統(tǒng)。我們的相似性能跨越國(guó)界，而不是局限于某個(gè)特定的國(guó)家之內(nèi)。我深知這一點(diǎn)。然而當(dāng)我告訴同伴們我的成績(jī)，他們轉(zhuǎn)向我，對(duì)我說(shuō)“就是因?yàn)槟闶莵喴帷睍r(shí)，我卻毫無(wú)反應(yīng)。我只會(huì)嘆氣，回去繼續(xù)學(xué)習(xí)，試著忽略這些話。

但沉默不應(yīng)該是應(yīng)對(duì)種族成見的辦法。我的沉默縱容了這些言論。沉默表示我接受這樣的偏見，允許甚至鼓勵(lì)他們?cè)儆眠@樣的言論去傷害別人。然而，我有別的選擇，那就是我可以直言不諱。我要讓他們明白這樣不考慮他人的感受是不對(duì)的。我可以讓他們明白這樣的臆斷會(huì)造成痛苦，他們的言論會(huì)散播輕率的認(rèn)知。

作為青少年，我們尚且年輕，依然有能力去創(chuàng)造不同。我們面前，希望無(wú)限，因?yàn)槲覀兊难孕卸紝⒂绊懙较乱淮?。放下偏見，梳理我們?nèi)粘５囊庾R(shí)。正如哈里?米爾納所說(shuō)，“所有的進(jìn)步能夠發(fā)生，都是因?yàn)槿藗兏矣诓煌?。我只是一個(gè)普通人，但我能向前邁出一步。進(jìn)步，從現(xiàn)在開始。

如今的世界是否趨于大同?一個(gè)有著半亞裔血統(tǒng)的孩子的心路歷程告訴我們，我們是如此的不同，卻又是如此的相似。在與人交流時(shí)，言者無(wú)心，聽者有意。在日常生活中，我們的思維定勢(shì)，傾向于簡(jiǎn)單化的理解都會(huì)對(duì)別人造成傷害。然而，你我要對(duì)誤解勇敢地說(shuō)“不”。

As she walks, thirty eyes follow her movement. I stare down at the floor, trying to distract myself and attempting to reach a center of serenity.

It's hard to describe the anxiety[1] of a classroom when a teacher is handing back final test scores. We all want to do well, and in that moment, often nothing seems more important than that score at the top of the test. We are focused, united in our desire and our worry.” When my teacher has reached my desk, I scramble[2] to find the score. 43/44. Yes! That's a strong A. My neighbor leans over and asks, “How'd you do?” I tell him, and he rolls his eyes. “It's just because you're half-Asian. I'd get those grades if I was Chinese, too.”

The words hurt, but I've heard them many times before. He's right, in a sense. I am half-Asian. I receive good grades, I have straight hair, and I play piano, so I guess I fit some of the stereotypes[3]. But my school is full of cliques[4], each group divided by race, personality, and looks. I don't belong with the “Asian” clique. I am similar, but not quite like them, and they don't identify with me the way they do with each other. They bond over their need-to-succeed and the mistakes of their stupid white peers, and then they look at me.

But I don't fit in with[5] my all-American friends either. My peers expect that I have perfect grades, and when I don't, they are quick in their judgment and harsh in their laughter. My achievements are often attributed to being half-Asian.[6] I am happy about my achievements and satisfied with my lifestyle, but when the response to my stories are always, “It's just because you're Asian” or “You are so Asian”, it’s hard to just brush the comments away. My friends don't mean to taunt, but something about their tone cuts deep. Again, I am similar, but not quite like everybody else, and they don't identify[7] with me the way they do with each other. I never feel quite at home among my friends.

Why?

America, and in particular, California, is a land full of immigrants. I am sure many of our parents and grandparents didn't feel quite at ease in their homeland, and that is probably part of the reason they came here. They sought acceptance and a diverse country where everyone could belong. Yet many of us seem to forget this when we stereotype each other and attribute our successes to our culture, instead of to our individual work. My successes are not because part of my family originated in China. The reason that I did well on that test was because I had studied. It's a simple fact, but it's easily forgotten in the midst of all the generalizations[8] we tend to make.

We shouldn't identify ourselves with only the color of our skin. We each have our own talents, goals, and traditions. Our similarities stretch[9] across borders and are not confined to a particular nation. I know this, yet when my peer turned to me and said, “It's just because you're Asian” after I told him my test score, I did nothing. I sighed, turned back to my work, and tried to overlook[10] his words.

But silence is the not the way to deal with racial insensitivity. My silence makes the comment okay. It represents acceptance of such insensitivity, and allows, even encourages, that individual to hurt others with their words. I have another option, though.” I can speak up[11]. I can let them know that it is not okay to be inconsiderate. I can let them know that such assumptions cause pain, and that their words spread thoughtlessness[12].

As teenagers, we are still young, and able to make a difference. So much promise stretches before us, as our words and actions will influence the next generation. It is possible to leave stereotypes behind, and filter our everyday consciousness. As Harry Millner once said, “All progress occurs because people dare to be different”. I am one person, but I can take a step. Progress begins now.

當(dāng)她走近時(shí)，三十雙眼睛都緊跟著她的動(dòng)作。我眼向下盯著地板，試著分散注意力，試著保持淡定。

當(dāng)老師發(fā)下期末考試的卷子時(shí)，教室里的緊張氣氛真是一言難盡。我們都想做好，而此時(shí)此刻，通常沒有什么比在班上考高分更重要了。此刻，我們因自己的渴望和憂慮而團(tuán)結(jié)一致。

老師到了我的桌前，我慌張地查看成績(jī)。44滿分我得了43分。太好了!是個(gè)不折不扣的“優(yōu)”。我的鄰座靠過(guò)來(lái)問：“你怎么樣?”我告訴了他，他便翻個(gè)白眼道：“還不是因?yàn)槟闶前雮€(gè)亞洲人。我要是中國(guó)人，我肯定也能得這個(gè)分?jǐn)?shù)。”

這些話很傷人，雖然我已經(jīng)聽過(guò)很多次。在某種意義上，他是對(duì)的。我是半個(gè)亞洲人，我會(huì)得好成績(jī)，我梳著直發(fā)，我還彈鋼琴，我覺得我確實(shí)符合某些對(duì)于亞洲人的刻板印象?？墒俏覀兊膶W(xué)校里充滿了小派系，每個(gè)都由種族、性格和外貌來(lái)劃分。而我并不屬于“亞裔”的圈子。我與他們相似，卻不相同，他們無(wú)法待我如圈內(nèi)人。他們之所以聯(lián)合在一起，是出于那種必勝的心理和那些愚蠢的白人同學(xué)所犯的錯(cuò)誤。而我，就是他們的眼中釘。

然而，我也無(wú)法融入“純美國(guó)”的朋友圈子。我的同伴們總認(rèn)為我會(huì)得全優(yōu)的成績(jī)，當(dāng)我得不到時(shí)，他們馬上指手畫腳，無(wú)情嘲笑。我的成績(jī)都?xì)w功于我身上一半的亞裔血統(tǒng)。我很滿意我的成績(jī)和生活方式，但對(duì)于我的故事，人們的反應(yīng)總是：“因?yàn)槟闶莵喴岚　被蛘摺澳阏媸堑湫偷膩喼奕恕?。我很難對(duì)這些評(píng)論一笑了之。朋友們并不是有意嘲弄，但他們語(yǔ)調(diào)中的某些東西傷我至深。還是那句話，我與他們相似，卻不相同，他們無(wú)法待我如圈內(nèi)人。我在這些朋友中從未感覺自在。

為什么?

因?yàn)槊绹?guó)，尤其是加利福尼亞，是一個(gè)由移民組成的地方。我相信許多我們的父輩和祖輩在他們的故土上倍感不安，這可能是他們移民的部分原因。他們尋求包容，尋求一個(gè)多元的國(guó)家，在此人人得到歸屬。然而，很多人忘記了這一點(diǎn)，以至于將彼此分門別類，并將個(gè)人的成就歸功于文化差異而不是個(gè)人努力。我的成就不僅僅源于我的華裔血統(tǒng)。我拿好成績(jī)是因?yàn)槲遗W(xué)習(xí)。就是這樣一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的事實(shí)，卻總是由于我們不由自主的成見而被輕易遺忘。

我們不該僅基于膚色去認(rèn)同彼此。我們有各自的才華、目標(biāo)和傳統(tǒng)。我們的相似性能跨越國(guó)界，而不是局限于某個(gè)特定的國(guó)家之內(nèi)。我深知這一點(diǎn)。然而當(dāng)我告訴同伴們我的成績(jī)，他們轉(zhuǎn)向我，對(duì)我說(shuō)“就是因?yàn)槟闶莵喴帷睍r(shí)，我卻毫無(wú)反應(yīng)。我只會(huì)嘆氣，回去繼續(xù)學(xué)習(xí)，試著忽略這些話。

但沉默不應(yīng)該是應(yīng)對(duì)種族成見的辦法。我的沉默縱容了這些言論。沉默表示我接受這樣的偏見，允許甚至鼓勵(lì)他們?cè)儆眠@樣的言論去傷害別人。然而，我有別的選擇，那就是我可以直言不諱。我要讓他們明白這樣不考慮他人的感受是不對(duì)的。我可以讓他們明白這樣的臆斷會(huì)造成痛苦，他們的言論會(huì)散播輕率的認(rèn)知。

作為青少年，我們尚且年輕，依然有能力去創(chuàng)造不同。我們面前，希望無(wú)限，因?yàn)槲覀兊难孕卸紝⒂绊懙较乱淮恕７畔缕?，梳理我們?nèi)粘５囊庾R(shí)。正如哈里?米爾納所說(shuō)，“所有的進(jìn)步能夠發(fā)生，都是因?yàn)槿藗兏矣诓煌?。我只是一個(gè)普通人，但我能向前邁出一步。進(jìn)步，從現(xiàn)在開始。