Why it's worth listening to people you disagree with | Zachary R. Wood

翻译人员: Thomas Tam 校对人员: jacks peng

In 1994,

1994年，

Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein coauthored "The Bell Curve,"

查尔斯‧默里与理查德‧赫恩斯坦 合著了《 钟形曲线 》，

an extremely controversial book

一本非常具有争议性的书，

which claims that on average,

书中声称，平均来说，

some races are smarter and more likely to succeed than others.

有些种族比其他种族更聪明， 更容易取得成功。

Murray and Herrnstein also suggest

默里和赫恩斯坦也提出，

that a lack of critical intelligence explains the prominence of violent crime

缺乏批判性的智慧， 是贫穷的非裔美国人社区中的

in poor African-American communities.

暴力犯罪频繁发生的根源。

But Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein are not the only people who think this.

他们并不是唯一持有这种想法的人。

In 2012,

2012 年，

a writer, journalist and political commentator named John Derbyshire

身兼作家、记者和 政治评论员的约翰‧德比希尔，

wrote an article that was supposed to be a non-black version of the talk

写了一篇原本面向 非黑人族群的文章，

that many black parents feel they have to give their kids today:

而如今，该文章也成为 黑人父母建议孩子们

advice on how to stay safe.

如何保证自身安全的忠告。

In it, he offered suggestions such as:

在文章中，他提出了如下建议：

"Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of blacks,"

“不要参加可能会 吸引很多黑人的活动 ”，

"Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods"

“ 远离有大量黑人的社区 ”，

and "Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in distress."

和“别太乐善好施， 主动帮助困境中的黑人”。

And yet, in 2016, I invited John Derbyshire

而在 2016 年，我邀请了约翰‧德比希尔，

as well as Charles Murray

还有查尔斯‧默里

to speak at my school,

来我的学校演讲，

knowing full well that I would be giving them a platform and attention

他们完全清楚，我会提供 他们一个平台和关注度，

for ideas that I despised and rejected.

去表达他们那些令我 鄙视和排斥的想法。

But this is just a further evolution

这只是令人不舒服的

of a journey of uncomfortable learning throughout my life.

人生成长之旅的一个新篇章。

When I was 10 years old, my mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia,

我10岁时，母亲 被诊断患有精神分裂症，

a mental illness characterized by mood swings and paranoid delusions.

一种以情绪波动和 偏执妄想为特征的精神疾病。

Throughout my life, my mother's rage would turn our small house

在我的整个生活中， 母亲的愤怒会让我们的小房子

into a minefield.

变成一个雷区。

Yet, though I feared her rage on a daily basis,

尽管我每天都在恐惧她的愤怒，

I also learned so much from her.

但也从她那里学到了很多东西。

Our relationship was complicated and challenging,

我们的关系既复杂又富挑战性，

and at the age of 14, it was decided that I needed to live apart from her.

在14岁时，我决定离开她独自生活。

But over the years,

但这些年来，

I've come to appreciate some of the important lessons

我变得开始感激母亲给予

my mother taught me about life.

我的关于人生的教训。

She was the first person who spoke to me about learning from the other side.

她是第一个教我 从对立方那里学习的人。

And she, like me, was born and raised

和我一样，她出生并长大在

in a family of committed liberal democrats.

一个自由的民主党家庭之中。

Yet, she encouraged me to see the world and the issues our world faces

她鼓励我去认识到

as complex, controversial and ever-changing.

世界是复杂的， 充满争议和不断变化的。

One day, I came across the phrase "affirmative action"

有一天，我在一本书中看到了

in a book I was reading.

“平权运动 ”一词。

And when I asked her what the term meant,

当我问她是什么意思时，

she spent what felt like an hour

她居然花了一小时

giving me a thorough and thoughtful explanation

做出了一个彻底的， 深思熟虑的解释，

that would make sense to a small child.

而且对一个小孩来说并不难理解。

She even made the topic sound at least as interesting

她甚至让这个话题听起来很有趣，

as any of my professors have.

不亚于学校教授的讲解。

She explained the many reasons why people of various political views

她解释了持有不同政治观点的 人们挑战和支持

challenge and support affirmative action,

平权运动的各种原因，

stressing that, while she strongly supported it herself,

她强调自己强烈支持平权运动，

it was important for me to view the issue as a controversial one

意识到这个具有争议的问题 对我来说是很重要的，

with a long history,

它有着悠久的历史，

a questionable future

充满疑点未来，

and a host of complicating factors.

和一系列复杂的因素。

While affirmative action can increase the presence of minorities

平权运动可以增加少数族裔

at elite educational institutions,

在精英教育机构学习的机会，

she felt that it could also disadvantage hardworking people of different races

也可能不利于来自富裕家庭的 那些努力学习的

不同族裔的人。

from more affluent backgrounds.

My mom wanted me to understand

妈妈想让我明白

that I should never just write off opinions

绝不该简单忽视

that I disagreed with or disliked,

不喜欢或不赞同的意见，

because there was always something to learn from the perspectives of others,

因为站在别人的角度， 总能学到新的东西，

even when doing so might be difficult.

尽管很难做到这一点。

But life at home with my mom

单与妈妈在家的生活

was not the only aspect of my journey that has been formative and uncomfortable.

并不是我人生旅途中的唯一 塑造性的，让我感到不适的方面。

In fourth grade, she decided that I should attend a private school

四年级时，她决定要我上私立学校，

in order to receive the best education possible.

以尽可能接受更好的教育。

As a black student attending predominantly white private schools,

作为就读于以白人为主的 私立学校中的黑人学生，

I've encountered attitudes and behaviors that reflected racial stereotypes.

我遇到了带有种族偏见的 态度和行为。

Several of my friends' parents assumed within minutes of meeting me

学校里几位朋友的父母 在见到我几分钟之后就认定

that my best skill was playing basketball.

我最好的本领只是打篮球。

And it really upset me to think that my race made it harder for them

让我不安的是， 种族偏见使他们很难

to see me as a student who loved reading, writing and speaking.

把我看作是一个喜爱 阅读，写作和演讲的学生。

Experiences like this motivated me to work tirelessly

像这样的经历， 激励着我孜孜不倦地工作，

to disprove what I knew people had assumed.

来反驳对我错误的假设。

My mother even said that, in order to put my best foot forward,

母亲甚至说，如果想要 给人留下良好的印象，

I had to be patient, alert and excruciatingly well-mannered.

我必须耐心，警惕， 而且要异常的彬彬有礼。

To prove that I belonged, I had to show poise and confidence,

为了证明我的能力， 我必须表现出平和与自信，

the ability to speak well and listen closely.

有较强的表达能力，并善于倾听。

Only then would my peers see that I deserved to be there

只有到那时，我的同龄人才会看到

as much as they did.

我与他们并没有分别。

Despite this racial stereotyping and the discomfort I often felt,

尽管我经常感到种族偏见 和对环境的不适应，

the learning I gained from other aspects of being at an elite private school

但我却从私立精英学校的 其他方面学到了

were incredibly valuable.

非常有价值的东西。

I was encouraged by my teachers to explore my curiosity,

老师鼓励我开发内在的好奇心，

to challenge myself in new ways

以新的方式挑战自己，

and to deepen my understanding of subjects that fascinated me the most.

努力探究令我着迷的主题。

And going to college was the next step.

下一步是大学。

I was excited to take my intellectual drive and interest in the world of ideas

我很高兴能够把对待 各种想法的动力和兴趣

to the next level.

带到更高的层次。

I was eager to engage in lively debate with peers and professors

我很渴望能与同学，教授 和外部发言人

进行热烈的辩论；

and with outside speakers;

to listen, to learn and gain a deeper understanding of myself

倾听、学习并对自己和其他人

and of others.

有更深入的理解。

While I was fortunate to meet peers and professors

虽然我有幸遇到了有相同兴趣的

who were interested in doing the same thing,

同学和教授，

my desire to engage with difficult ideas was also met with resistance.

我渴望参与争议性课题的 渴望却遭遇了阻力。

To prepare myself to engage with controversy in the real world,

为了准备在现实世界中 与争议进行对抗，

I joined a group that brought controversial speakers to campus.

我加入了一个将有争议的 演讲人带入校园的小组。

But many people fiercely opposed this group,

但很多人强烈的反对这个团体，

and I received significant pushback

我遇到了来自学生，教师和

from students, faculty and my administration.

校方行政部门方面的巨大阻力。

For many, it was difficult to see

对很多人来说，遇到冲突时，

how bringing controversial speakers to campus could be valuable,

很难认识到将有争议的 演讲者带进校园，

when they caused harm.

其实是利大于弊。

And it was disappointing to me facing personal attacks,

当面对个人攻击，

having my administration cancel speakers

当校方取消了对演讲人的邀请，

and hearing my intentions distorted by those around me.

当我的意图被周围的人扭曲， 这一切都让我倍感失望。

My work also hurt the feelings of many,

我明白自己做的事情

and I understood that.

伤害了很多人的感受。

Of course, no one likes being offended,

当然，没有人喜欢被冒犯，

and I certainly don't like hearing controversial speakers

我当然也不喜欢听到 有争议的演讲者

argue that feminism has become a war against men

认为女性主义是一场对男性的战争，

or that blacks have lower IQs than whites.

或者黑人的智商比白人低。

I also understand

我也明白

that some people have experienced traumatic experiences in their lives.

有些人在生活中经历了巨大的创伤。

And for some, listening to offensive views

听到这些冒犯的观点，

can be like reliving the very traumas that they've worked so hard to overcome.

就如同重温曾经努力克服的创伤。

Many argue that by giving these people a platform,

许多人认为给极具争议的人 提供平台来发声，

you're doing more harm than good,

是弊大于利的，

and I'm reminded of this every time I listen to these points of view

但每次我听到这样的提醒，

and feel my stomach turn.

都感到很痛心。

Yet, tuning out opposing viewpoints doesn't make them go away,

压制反对观点并不会让意见消失，

because millions of people agree with them.

因为它们背后仍有数百万的支持者。

In order to understand the potential of society

为了了解社会向前

to progress forward,

迈进的潜力，

we need to understand the counterforces.

我们需要了解反面的力量。

By engaging with controversial and offensive ideas,

通过参与带有争议和冒犯的想法，

I believe that we can find common ground,

我相信我们可以找到共同的基础，

if not with the speakers themselves,

如果不来自演讲者本身，

then with the audiences they may attract or indoctrinate.

就会来自被他们所吸引 或感化的观众。

Through engaging, I believe that we may reach a better understanding,

通过积极参与，我相信我们 彼此间可以达成更好的理解，

a deeper understanding,

更深入地了解

各自的信仰，

of our own beliefs

and preserve the ability to solve problems,

并保留解决问题的能力，

which we can't do if we don't talk to each other

如果我们彼此间不能坦诚交流，

and make an effort to be good listeners.

不能耐心地倾听他人， 就没法做到这一点。

But soon after I announced

但在我宣布约翰‧德比希尔

that John Derbyshire would be speaking on campus,

将在校园发表演讲后不久， 社交媒体上就出现了

student backlash erupted on social media.

学生们铺天盖地的反对之声。

The tide of resistance, in fact, was so intense,

抵制的情绪如此激烈，

that my college president rescinded the invitation.

我们大学的校长不得不 取消了这次邀请。

I was deeply disappointed by this because, as I saw it,

我为此深感失望，因为这样一来，

there would be nothing that any of my peers or I could do

我和我的任何同学都无法做到

to silence someone who agreed with him

在未来的工作环境中

in the office environment of our future employers.

让赞同他的人保持沉默。

I look out at what's happening on college campuses,

我在大学校园发生的事情中

and I see the anger.

看到了愤怒。

And I get it.

我非常理解。

But what I wish I could tell people is that it's worth the discomfort,

但我希望告诉人们的是， 这种令人不适的体验是值得的，

it's worth listening,

去聆听是有意义的，

and that we're stronger, not weaker, because of it.

这样并不会削弱我们的力量， 反而会让我们更强大。

When I think about my experiences with uncomfortable learning,

当我想到过去那些 不愉快的学习经历时，

and I reflect upon them,

我认真进行了反思，

I've found that it's been very difficult to change the values

发现要改变自己身处的知识界

存在的偏见，是非常困难的。

of the intellectual community that I've been a part of.

But I do feel a sense of hope

但我感到还有希望，

when I think about the individual interactions that I've been able to have

当我想到跟学生的个人互动时，

with students who both support the work that I'm doing

他们有的支持，有的拿不定主意，

and who feel challenged by it and who do not support it.

还有的表示了反对。

What I've found is that,

我发现，

while it can be difficult to change the values of a community,

尽管很难去改变整个社区的价值观，

we can gain a lot from individual interactions.

但个人互动可以让我们受益匪浅。

While I didn't get to engage with John Derbyshire

由于校长取消了我的邀请，

due to my president's disinvitation,

我无缘与约翰‧德比希尔会面，

I was able to have dinner with Charles Murray before his talk.

但在查尔斯‧默里的演讲之前， 我可以和他共进晚餐。

I knew the conversation would be difficult.

我知道这个谈话会很困难，

And I didn't expect it to be pleasant.

也没奢望这个过程会是愉快的。

But it was cordial, and I did gain a deeper understanding of his arguments.

但事实上，谈话的气氛非常热情友好， 我对他的论点也有了更深入的理解。

I found that he, like me, believed in creating a more just society.

我发现他和我一样， 想建立一个更加公正的社会。

The thing is, his understanding of what justice entailed

问题是，他理解的正义

was very different from my own.

与我自己的理解非常不同。

The way in which he wanted to understand the issue,

他看问题的方式，

the way in which he wanted to approach the issue of inequality

解决不平等问题的方式

also differed from my own.

也与我不同。

And I found that his understanding of issues like welfare

我发现他对福利等问题和

and affirmative action

平权行动的理解，

was tied and deeply rooted

深深根植并被束缚于

in his understanding of various libertarian and conservative beliefs,

他的自由主义和保守的信仰中，

what diminishes and increases their presence in our society.

什么因素会减少和增加 他们在社会中的存在感。

While he expressed his viewpoints eloquently,

虽然他雄辩地表达了自己的观点，

I remained thoroughly unconvinced.

我却始终不敢苟同。

But I did walk away with a deeper understanding.

但对此我的确有了更深的了解。

It's my belief

这是我的信念，

that to achieve progress in the face of adversity,

为了在逆境中取得进步，

we need a genuine commitment

我们需要一个真正的承诺，

to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity.

深入了解人性。

I'd like to see a world with more leaders

我希望可以看到一个

who are familiar with the depths of the views

有更多领导者能深度了解

of those they deeply disagree with,

对立群体的意见的世界。

so that they can understand the nuances of everyone they're representing.

这样他们就能够理解 所代表的每个人的细微差别。

I see this as an ongoing process involving constant learning,

这是一个持续不断的学习过程，

and I'm confident that I'll be able to add value down the line

而我相信，如果继续 构建我的同理心和理解，

if I continue building empathy and understanding

并投身学习自己所 不了解的那些观点，

through engaging with unfamiliar perspectives.

我就能够为此贡献自己的一份力量。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）