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

譯者: Chen Chi-An 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

In 1994,

1994 年，

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

查爾斯·莫里

和理察·赫恩斯坦

共同寫下了《鐘形曲線》，

an extremely controversial book

這是本非常有爭議的書，

which claims that on average,

聲稱平均而言，

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

有些種族比較聰明， 也較容易成功。

Murray and Herrnstein also suggest

莫里和赫恩斯坦也暗指

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

智力明顯較低的情況 能解釋為什麼大部分的暴力犯罪

in poor African-American communities.

發生在貧窮的非裔美籍社區。

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

查爾斯·莫里和理察·赫恩斯坦 不是唯一這樣想的人。

In 2012,

2012 年，

a writer, journalist and political commentator named John Derbyshire

身兼作家、記者 和政治評論員的德比夏爾

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

寫篇文章給非黑人族群，

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

但許多黑人父母覺得 這也適用於他們的小孩：

advice on how to stay safe.

保持安全的建議。

In it, he offered suggestions such as:

文章中，他說例如：

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

「別參加可能吸引 一群黑人的活動。」

"Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods"

「離黑人多的社區遠一點。」

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

及「別對處在 急難之中的黑人太好心。」

And yet, in 2016, I invited John Derbyshire

而 2016 年，我邀請德比夏爾

as well as Charles Murray

和查爾斯·莫里

to speak at my school,

來我的學校演講，

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

他們完全清楚，我會給他們舞台，

for ideas that I despised and rejected.

讓他們說那些我鄙視 和我拒絕的想法。

But this is just a further evolution

但這只是我人生中 不舒服學習的演變。

of a journey of uncomfortable learning throughout my life.

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

當我十歲時，我媽 被診斷思覺失調症，

a mental illness characterized by mood swings and paranoid delusions.

這是一種精神疾病， 特徵是情緒波動和偏執妄想。

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

我人生中，媽媽的憤怒 會把我們的小屋

into a minefield.

變成地雷區。

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

儘管我對她每天的憤怒感到害怕，

I also learned so much from her.

我也從她那學到很多。

Our relationship was complicated and challenging,

我們的關係複雜且有挑戰性，

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

我 14 歲時， 被判定必須和她分開住。

But over the years,

幾年後，我開始欣賞

I've come to appreciate some of the important lessons

我媽教我的那些 有關人生的重要課程。

my mother taught me about life.

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

她是第一個跟我說 要從反面學習的人，

And she, like me, was born and raised

她跟我一樣，出身在 一個自由民主的家庭裡。

in a family of committed liberal democrats.

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

然而，她鼓勵我把世界 及世界上正面對的問題

as complex, controversial and ever-changing.

看作複雜、有爭議及不斷變動的。

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

有天，我在一本書中看到 「平權行動」這詞，

in a book I was reading.

And when I asked her what the term meant,

當我問我媽這是什麼意思，

she spent what felt like an hour

她說了彷彿一小時

giving me a thorough and thoughtful explanation

給我一個完整及深刻的解釋，

that would make sense to a small child.

而這能讓小朋友理解。

She even made the topic sound at least as interesting

她甚至讓這題目聽起來

至少和我的教授上課一樣有趣。

as any of my professors have.

She explained the many reasons why people of various political views

她解釋許多原因， 為什麼不同政治觀點的人

challenge and support affirmative action,

挑戰或支持平權運動，

stressing that, while she strongly supported it herself,

她強調，雖然她很堅持自己的主張，

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

但同時很重要的，是把這議題 看成一個長期的爭議、

with a long history,

a questionable future

一個有疑慮的未來

and a host of complicating factors.

及一系列複雜的因素。

While affirmative action can increase the presence of minorities

儘管平權運動能增加弱勢族群 在精英教育機構的比例，

at elite educational institutions,

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

她認為這也對不同族群、 來自富裕背景的努力人士不利。

from more affluent backgrounds.

My mom wanted me to understand

我媽希望我了解，

that I should never just write off opinions

我不該總是只寫下不同意 或不喜歡的意見，

that I disagreed with or disliked,

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

因為人總能從不同觀點學到東西，

even when doing so might be difficult.

儘管這麼做可能很難。

But life at home with my mom

和我媽相處的時光，

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

不是唯一造就我又令我 感到不舒服的過程。

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

四年級時，她決定讓我讀私立學校，

in order to receive the best education possible.

如此我能得到最好的教育機會；

As a black student attending predominantly white private schools,

身為黑人學生，進入 白人為主的私立學校，

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

我面對一些反映了種族 刻板印象的態度和行為。

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

有很多我朋友的爸媽 才見到我幾分鐘，

that my best skill was playing basketball.

就假定我最擅長的是籃球，

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

這讓我很挫折，因為 種族因素使其他人

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

認為我喜愛閱讀、書寫 和演講難以想像。

Experiences like this motivated me to work tirelessly

這種經驗激發我不眠不休的工作，

to disprove what I knew people had assumed.

來推翻別人的成見。

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

我媽甚至說，為了更加往前邁進，

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

我要有耐心、機警及行為極為端正。

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

為了證明我並非圈外人， 我要展現優雅和自信，

以及表達和傾聽的能力。

the ability to speak well and listen closely.

只有這樣我的同儕才會認為 我和他們一樣夠格待在那裡。

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

as much as they did.

Despite this racial stereotyping and the discomfort I often felt,

儘管經常感到種族刻板印象和不適，

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

我在菁英私立學校裡 學到不同的觀點，

were incredibly valuable.

而這非常有價值。

I was encouraged by my teachers to explore my curiosity,

我的老師鼓勵我探索感興趣的事物、

用新方式挑戰自我，

to challenge myself in new ways

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

並增進有興趣科目的知識。

And going to college was the next step.

進大學是下一步。

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

我很開心能把思想動力和興趣 帶進思想界的下一階段，

to the next level.

我渴望參與和同儕及教授的討論，

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

and with outside speakers;

以及和外來的講者對談，

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

去聽、去學、以及更深刻 了解自我和他人。

and of others.

While I was fortunate to meet peers and professors

然而當幸運遇見喜歡 做同樣事情的同儕和教授時，

who were interested in doing the same thing,

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

我投入困難想法的渴望 也碰到了阻力。

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

為了準備好自己參與 真實世界的矛盾，

I joined a group that brought controversial speakers to campus.

我加入一個團體， 他們邀請爭議講者進校園，

But many people fiercely opposed this group,

但許多人強烈反對這個團體，

and I received significant pushback

而我遭受巨大阻力，

from students, faculty and my administration.

那些從學生、教職員 及行政部門來的阻力。

For many, it was difficult to see

對許多人來說，很難了解

how bringing controversial speakers to campus could be valuable,

把爭議講者帶進校園的價值，

when they caused harm.

因為他們可能造成傷害；

And it was disappointing to me facing personal attacks,

對我來說，我很失望 要面對人身攻擊，

having my administration cancel speakers

行政部門取消講者

and hearing my intentions distorted by those around me.

並聽聞那些被旁人扭曲的初衷。

My work also hurt the feelings of many,

我的工作也傷害很多人的感受，

and I understood that.

我知道的。

Of course, no one likes being offended,

當然，沒人喜歡被冒犯，

and I certainly don't like hearing controversial speakers

我絕對不喜歡聽到爭議講者

argue that feminism has become a war against men

爭論女性主義已經變成 一場對男人的戰爭，

or that blacks have lower IQs than whites.

或是黑人比白人智商低的言論。

I also understand

我也了解，

that some people have experienced traumatic experiences in their lives.

有些人經歷過創傷經驗。

And for some, listening to offensive views

對有些人來說，聽到冒犯性的觀點

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

就像重新經歷創傷， 那些他們努力克服的創傷。

Many argue that by giving these people a platform,

許多人爭論給這些人 舞台是弊大於利，

you're doing more harm than good,

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

每當我聽到這個觀點

and feel my stomach turn.

就覺得很反胃。

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

然而，屏除反對觀點在外 並不會讓它消失，

because millions of people agree with them.

因為仍有上百萬人認同。

In order to understand the potential of society

為了理解社會邁向進步的潛能，

to progress forward,

we need to understand the counterforces.

我們要了解反對的力量。

By engaging with controversial and offensive ideas,

藉由探討有爭議和有攻擊性的想法，

I believe that we can find common ground,

我相信我們能找到共同點，

if not with the speakers themselves,

除了演講者本身，

then with the audiences they may attract or indoctrinate.

也包括被他們吸引 或灌輸觀念的觀眾。

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

藉由參與，我相信我們能

更加且更深入的了解

a deeper understanding,

of our own beliefs

各自的想法，

and preserve the ability to solve problems,

以及維持解決問題的能力，

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

我們不能解決問題， 如果不和彼此溝通

and make an effort to be good listeners.

又不努力成為好聽眾。

But soon after I announced

但在我宣布

that John Derbyshire would be speaking on campus,

德比夏爾要來校園演講不久，

student backlash erupted on social media.

學生在社交媒體上反彈，

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

事實上，抵抗潮非常強烈，

that my college president rescinded the invitation.

我大學校長因此取消邀請。

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

對此我很失望，因為我發現，

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

在我們未來雇主的辦公環境中，

to silence someone who agreed with him

我的同儕或我都無法讓 與校長持有相同意見的人沉默。

in the office environment of our future employers.

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

當我看看大學校園 發生了什麼事時，

and I see the anger.

我看到憤怒，

And I get it.

且領受到了，

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

但我希望跟大家說， 不舒服是值得的，

it's worth listening,

聆聽是值得的，

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

而因為如此，我們變得 更堅強而非軟弱。

When I think about my experiences with uncomfortable learning,

當我思考讓自己不舒服的學習經驗

and I reflect upon them,

並反思時，

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

我發現很難改變 我所屬知識社群的固有價值觀。

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

But I do feel a sense of hope

但我感到一點希望，

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

當我想起自己的個人互動，

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

那些支持我工作的學生、

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

那些感到受到挑戰的人 和那些反對者。

What I've found is that,

我了解到

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

改變一個團體的價值觀很難，

we can gain a lot from individual interactions.

但我們可以從個人互動中獲得很多。

While I didn't get to engage with John Derbyshire

儘管我沒辦法和德比夏爾對談——

due to my president's disinvitation,

因為校長取消邀請——

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

我還是和查爾斯·莫里 在演講前共進晚餐。

I knew the conversation would be difficult.

我知道對話很困難，

And I didn't expect it to be pleasant.

我也不期待會很愉快，

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

但那晚很平順，且我確實 更了解他的論點。

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

我發現他和我一樣， 相信能建造一個更公正的社會，

The thing is, his understanding of what justice entailed

關鍵是，他認知的正義

was very different from my own.

和我的非常不同；

The way in which he wanted to understand the issue,

他想了解這議題的方式、

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

他想解決不平等議題的方式，

also differed from my own.

也和我的不同。

And I found that his understanding of issues like welfare

我發現他對於像福利 和平權運動議題的認識

and affirmative action

was tied and deeply rooted

與他對自由主義 和保守信仰的理解緊密相連，

in his understanding of various libertarian and conservative beliefs,

what diminishes and increases their presence in our society.

而它們或多或少存在社會裡。

While he expressed his viewpoints eloquently,

雖然他振振有詞地解釋他的觀點，

I remained thoroughly unconvinced.

我依然沒被說服，

But I did walk away with a deeper understanding.

但對談後我確實有更深入的理解。

It's my belief

我相信，

that to achieve progress in the face of adversity,

要在逆境中得到成長，

we need a genuine commitment

我們需要真正的投入，

to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity.

去更深入了解人性。

I'd like to see a world with more leaders

我想看到的世界是有更多領導者

who are familiar with the depths of the views

熟悉那些他們強烈反對的觀點，

of those they deeply disagree with,

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

如此他們能了解 每個人代表的細微差異。

I see this as an ongoing process involving constant learning,

我認為這是不斷學習的過程，

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

且我有信心能不斷提升其價值，

if I continue building empathy and understanding

如果我一直嘗試 去建立同理心及理解他人，

through engaging with unfamiliar perspectives.

藉由探究那些不熟悉的觀點。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）