名人演讲：打破沉寂.doc

名人演讲：打破沉寂 我们都知道马丁路德金是美国的民权运动领袖他为黑人谋求平等甚至献出了自己的生命被誉为是“黑人的麦加”而与此同时马丁路德金也是一名卓越的反战斗士他关心的不仅仅是“小我”的权利而且还有“大我”的和平、自由如果你一直以来只是把马丁路德金看成一个黑人运动领袖那么下面的这篇演讲相信会让你对他有新的认识马返隆鸬奈按笕烁裰档梦颐敲恳桓鲅鍪幼鹁础?br 本演讲发表于1967年4月4日是马丁路德金在“忧世教士和俗人协会”的一个反越站的集会上的演讲集会的地点是纽约著名的河边大教堂（RiversideChurch） 我之所以跨入此间宏伟的教堂是因为我的良心让我别无选择我加入你们的集会则是因为我对这个聚合我们的组织“忧世教士和俗人协会”关注越南的工作和主旨非常认同我对你们执委会最近的声明深有同感当我阅读到它的开场白的时候就甚有共鸣：“这是一个沉默即是背叛的时刻” Ietothismagnificenthouseofworshiptonightbecausemyconscienceleavesmenootherchoice.IjoinyouinthismeetingbecauseIamindeepestagreementwiththeaimsandworkoftheorganizationwhichhasbroughtustogether:ClergyandLaymenConcernedaboutVietnam.Therecentstatementsofyourexecutivemitteearethesentimentsofmyownheart,andIfoundmyselfinfullaccordwhenIreaditsopeninglines:Atimeeswhensilenceisbetrayal. 演讲全文：ATimetoBreakSilencebyMartinLutherKing,Jr. Ietothismagnificenthouseofworshiptonightbecausemyconscienceleavesmenootherchoice.IjoinyouinthismeetingbecauseIamindeepestagreementwiththeaimsandworkoftheorganizationwhichhasbroughtustogether:ClergyandLaymenConcernedaboutVietnam.Therecentstatementsofyourexecutivemitteearethesentimentsofmyownheart,andIfoundmyselfinfullaccordwhenIreaditsopeninglines:Atimeeswhensilenceisbetrayal.AndthattimehaseforusinrelationtoVietnam. Thetruthofthesewordsisbeyonddoubt,butthemissiontowhichtheycallusisamostdifficultone.Evenwhenpressedbythedemandsofinnertruth,mendonoteasilyassumethetaskofopposingtheirgovernmentspolicy,especiallyintimeofwar.Nordoesthehumanspiritmovewithoutgreatdifficultyagainstalltheapathyofconformistthoughtwithinonesownbosomandinthesurroundingworld.Moreover,whentheissuesathandseemasperplexedastheyoftendointhecaseofthisdreadfulconflict,wearealwaysonthevergeofbeingmesmerizedbyuncertainty;butwemustmoveon. Andsomeofuswhohavealreadybeguntobreakthesilenceofthenighthavefoundthatthecallingtospeakisoftenavocationofagony,butwemustspeak.Wemustspeakwithallthehumilitythatisappropriatetoourlimitedvision,butwemustspeak.Andwemustrejoiceaswell,forsurelythisisthefirsttimeinournationshistorythatasignificantnumberofitsreligiousleadershavechosentomovebeyondtheprophesyingofsmoothpatriotismtothehighgroundsofafirmdissentbaseduponthemandatesofconscienceandthereadingofhistory.Perhapsanewspiritisrisingamongus.Ifitis,letustraceitsmovementsandpraythatourowninnerbeingmaybesensitivetoitsguidance,forwearedeeplyinneedofanewwaybeyondthedarknessthatseemssoclosearoundus. Overthepasttwoyears,asIhavemovedtobreakthebetrayalofmyownsilencesandtospeakfromtheburningsofmyownheart,asIhavecalledforradicaldeparturesfromthedestructionofVietnam,manypersonshavequestionedmeaboutthewisdomofmypath.Attheheartoftheirconcernsthisqueryhasoftenloomedlargeandloud:Whyareyouspeakingaboutthewar,Dr.King?Whyareyoujoiningthevoicesofdissent?Peaceandcivilrightsdontmix,theysay.Arentyouhurtingthecauseofyourpeople,theyask?AndwhenIhearthem,thoughIoftenunderstandthesourceoftheirconcern,Iamneverthelessgreatlysaddened,forsuchquestionsmeanthattheinquirershavenotreallyknownme,mymitmentormycalling.Indeed,theirquestionssuggestthattheydonotknowtheworldinwhichtheylive. Inthelightofsuchtragicmisunderstanding,Ideemitofsignalimportancetotrytostateclearly,andItrustconcisely,whyIbelievethatthepathfromDexterAvenueBaptistChurchthechurchinMontgomery,Alabama,whereIbeganmypastorateleadsclearlytothissanctuarytonight. Ietothisplatformtonighttomakeapassionatepleatomybelovednation.ThisspeechisnotaddressedtoHanoiortotheNationalLiberationFront.ItisnotaddressedtoChinaortoRussia.NorisitanattempttooverlooktheambiguityofthetotalsituationandtheneedforacollectivesolutiontothetragedyofVietnam.NeitherisitanattempttomakeNorthVietnamortheNationalLiberationFrontparagonsofvirtue,nortooverlooktheroletheymustplayinthesuccessfulresolutionoftheproblem.WhiletheybothmayhavejustifiablereasonstobesuspiciousofthegoodfaithoftheUnitedStates,lifeandhistorygiveeloquenttestimonytothefactthatconflictsareneverresolvedwithouttrustfulgiveandtakeonbothsides. Tonight,however,IwishnottospeakwithHanoiandtheNationalLiberationFront,butrathertomyfellowedsicAmericans,*who,withme,bearthegreatestresponsibilityinendingaconflictthathasexactedaheavypriceonbothcontinents. SinceIamapreacherbytrade,IsupposeitisnotsurprisingthatIhavesevenmajorreasonsforbringingVietnamintothefieldofmymoralvision.*ThereisattheoutsetaveryobviousandalmostfacileconnectionbetweenthewarinVietnamandthestruggleI,andothers,havebeenwaginginAmerica.Afewyearsagotherewasashiningmomentinthatstruggle.Itseemedasiftherewasarealpromiseofhopeforthepoorbothblackandwhitethroughthepovertyprogram.Therewereexperiments,hopes,newbeginnings.ThencamethebuildupinVietnam,andIwatchedthisprogrambrokenandeviscerated,asifitweresomeidlepoliticalplaythingofasocietygonemadonwar,andIknewthatAmericawouldneverinvestthenecessaryfundsorenergiesinrehabilitationofitspoorsolongasadventureslikeVietnamcontinuedtodrawmenandskillsandmoneylikesomedemonicdestructivesuctiontube.So,Iwasincreasinglypelledtoseethewarasanenemyofthepoorandtoattackitassuch. Perhapsthemoretragicrecognitionofrealitytookplacewhenitbecamecleartomethatthewarwasdoingfarmorethandevastatingthehopesofthepoorathome.Itwassendingtheirsonsandtheirbrothersandtheirhusbandstofightandtodieinextraordinarilyhighproportionsrelativetotherestofthepopulation.WeweretakingtheblackyoungmenwhohadbeencrippledbyoursocietyandsendingthemeightthousandmilesawaytoguaranteelibertiesinSoutheastAsiawhichtheyhadnotfoundinsouthwestGeorgiaandEastHarlem.AndsowehavebeenrepeatedlyfacedwiththecruelironyofwatchingNegroandwhiteboysonTVscreensastheykillanddietogetherforanationthathasbeenunabletoseatthemtogetherinthesameschools.Andsowewatchtheminbrutalsolidarityburningthehutsofapoorvillage,butwerealizethattheywouldhardlyliveonthesameblockinChicago.Icouldnotbesilentinthefaceofsuchcruelmanipulationofthepoor. Mythirdreasonmovestoanevendeeperlevelofawareness,foritgrowsoutofmyexperienceintheghettoesoftheNorthoverthelastthreeyearsespeciallythelastthreesummers.AsIhavewalkedamongthedesperate,rejected,andangryyoungmen,IhavetoldthemthatMolotovcocktailsandrifleswouldnotsolvetheirproblems.Ihavetriedtoofferthemmydeepestpassionwhilemaintainingmyconvictionthatsocialchangeesmostmeaningfullythroughnonviolentaction.ButtheyaskandrightlysowhataboutVietnam?Theyaskifourownnationwasntusingmassivedosesofviolencetosolveitsproblems,tobringaboutthechangesitwanted.Theirquestionshithome,andIknewthatIcouldneveragainraisemyvoiceagainsttheviolenceoftheoppressedintheghettoswithouthavingfirstspokenclearlytothegreatestpurveyorofviolenceintheworldtodaymyowngovernment.Forthesakeofthoseboys,forthesakeofthisgovernment,forthesakeofthehundredsofthousandstremblingunderourviolence,Icannotbesilent. Forthosewhoaskthequestion,Arentyouacivilrightsleader?andtherebymeantoexcludemefromthemovementforpeace,Ihavethisfurtheranswer.In1957whenagroupofusformedtheSouthernChristianLeadershipConference,wechoseasourmotto:TosavethesoulofAmerica.Wewereconvincedthatwecouldnotlimitourvisiontocertainrightsforblackpeople,butinsteadaffirmedtheconvictionthatAmericawouldneverbefreeorsavedfromitselfuntilthedescendantsofitsslaveswereloosedpletelyfromtheshacklestheystillwear.InawaywewereagreeingwithLangstonHughes,thatblackbardofHarlem,whohadwrittenearlier: O,yes, Isayitplain, AmericaneverwasAmericatome, AndyetIswearthisoath Americawillbe Now,itshouldbeincandescentlyclearthatnoonewhohasanyconcernfortheintegrityandlifeofAmericatodaycanignorethepresentwar.IfAmericassoulbeestotallypoisoned,partoftheautopsymustread:Vietnam.Itcanneverbesavedsolongasitdestroysthedeepesthopesofmentheworldover.SoitisthatthoseofuswhoareyetdeterminedthatAmericawillbeareleddownthepathofprotestanddissent,workingforthehealthofourland. AsiftheweightofsuchamitmenttothelifeandhealthofAmericawerenotenough,anotherburdenofresponsibilitywasplaceduponmein1954*sic;andIcannotforgetthattheNobelPrizeforPeacewasalsoamissionamissiontoworkharderthanIhadeverworkedbeforeforthebrotherhoodofman.Thisisacallingthattakesmebeyondnationalallegiances,butevenifitwerenotpresentIwouldyethavetolivewiththemeaningofmymitmenttotheministryofJesusChrist.TometherelationshipofthisministrytothemakingofpeaceissoobviousthatIsometimesmarvelatthosewhoaskmewhyImspeakingagainstthewar.CoulditbethattheydonotknowthatthegoodnewswasmeantforallmenforCommunistandcapitalist,fortheirchildrenandours,forblackandforwhite,forrevolutionaryandconservative?HavetheyforgottenthatmyministryisinobediencetotheOnewholovedhisenemiessofullythathediedforthem?WhatthencanIsaytotheVietcongortoCastroortoMaoasafaithfulministerofthisOne?CanIthreatenthemwithdeathormustInotsharewiththemmylife? Andfinally,asItrytoexplainforyouandformyselftheroadthatleadsfromMontgomerytothisplaceIwouldhaveofferedallthatwasmostvalidifIsimplysaidthatImustbetruetomyconvictionthatIsharewithallmenthecallingtobeasonofthelivingGod.Beyondthecallingofraceornationorcreedisthisvocationofsonshipandbrotherhood,andbecauseIbelievethattheFatherisdeeplyconcernedespeciallyforhissufferingandhelplessandoutcastchildren,Ietonighttospeakforthem. ThisIbelievetobetheprivilegeandtheburdenofallofuswhodeemourselvesboundbyallegiancesandloyaltieswhicharebroaderanddeeperthannationalismandwhichgobeyondournationsselfdefinedgoalsandpositions.Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forthevictimsofournationandforthoseitcallsenemy,fornodocumentfromhumanhandscanmakethesehumansanylessourbrothers. AndasIponderthemadnessofVietnamandsearchwithinmyselfforwaystounderstandandrespondinpassion,mymindgoesconstantlytothepeopleofthatpeninsula.Ispeaknownotofthesoldiersofeachside,notoftheideologiesoftheLiberationFront,notofthejuntainSaigon,butsimplyofthepeoplewhohavebeenlivingunderthecurseofwarforalmostthreecontinuousdecadesnow.Ithinkofthem,too,becauseitiscleartomethattherewillbenomeaningfulsolutionthereuntilsomeattemptismadetoknowthemandheartheirbrokencries. TheymustseeAmericansasstrangeliberators.TheVietnamesepeopleproclaimedtheirownindependence*in1954*in1945*rather*afterabinedFrenchandJapaneseoccupationandbeforethemunistrevolutioninChina.TheywereledbyHoChiMinh.EventhoughtheyquotedtheAmericanDeclarationofIndependenceintheirowndocumentoffreedom,werefusedtorecognizethem.Instead,wedecidedtosupportFranceinitsreconquestofherformercolony.OurgovernmentfeltthenthattheVietnamesepeoplewerenotreadyforindependence,andweagainfellvictimtothedeadlyWesternarrogancethathaspoisonedtheinternationalatmosphereforsolong.WiththattragicdecisionwerejectedarevolutionarygovernmentseekingselfdeterminationandagovernmentthathadbeenestablishednotbyChinaforwhomtheVietnamesehavenogreatlovebutbyclearlyindigenousforcesthatincludedsomemunists.Forthepeasantsthisnewgovernmentmeantreallandreform,oneofthemostimportantneedsintheirlives. Fornineyearsfollowing1945wedeniedthepeopleofVietnamtherightofindependence.FornineyearswevigorouslysupportedtheFrenchintheirabortiveefforttorecolonizeVietnam.BeforetheendofthewarweweremeetingeightypercentoftheFrenchwarcosts.EvenbeforetheFrenchweredefeatedatDienBienPhu,theybegantodespairoftheirrecklessaction,butwedidnot.Weencouragedthemwithourhugefinancialandmilitarysuppliestocontinuethewarevenaftertheyhadlostthewill.Soonwewouldbepayingalmostthefullcostsofthistragicattemptatrecolonization. AftertheFrenchweredefeated,itlookedasifindependenceandlandreformwouldeagainthroughtheGenevaAgreement.ButinsteadtherecametheUnitedStates,determinedthatHoshouldnotunifythetemporarilydividednation,andthepeasantswatchedagainaswesupportedoneofthemostviciousmoderndictators,ourchosenman,PremierDiem.ThepeasantswatchedandcringedasDiemruthlesslyrootedoutallopposition,supportedtheirextortionistlandlords,andrefusedeventodiscussreunificationwiththeNorth.ThepeasantswatchedasallthiswaspresidedoverbyUnitedStatesinfluenceandthenbyincreasingnumbersofUnitedStatestroopswhocametohelpquelltheinsurgencythatDiemsmethodshadaroused.WhenDiemwasoverthrowntheymayhavebeenhappy,butthelonglineofmilitarydictatorsseemedtooffernorealchange,especiallyintermsoftheirneedforlandandpeace. TheonlychangecamefromAmerica,asweincreasedourtroopmitmentsinsupportofgovernmentswhichweresingularlycorrupt,inept,andwithoutpopularsupport.Allthewhilethepeoplereadourleafletsandreceivedtheregularpromisesofpeaceanddemocracyandlandreform.Nowtheylanguishunderourbombsandconsiderus,nottheirfellowVietnamese,therealenemy.Theymovesadlyandapatheticallyasweherdthemoffthelandoftheirfathersintoconcentrationcampswhereminimalsocialneedsarerarelymet.Theyknowtheymustmoveonorbedestroyedbyourbombs. Sotheygo,primarilywomenandchildrenandtheaged.Theywatchaswepoisontheirwater,aswekillamillionacresoftheircrops.Theymustweepasthebulldozersroarthroughtheirareaspreparingtodestroytheprecioustrees.TheywanderintothehospitalswithatleasttwentycasualtiesfromAmericanfirepowerforoneVietconginflictedinjury.Sofarwemayhavekilledamillionofthem,mostlychildren.Theywanderintothetownsandseethousandsofthechildren,homeless,withoutclothes,runninginpacksonthestreetslikeanimals.Theyseethechildrendegradedbyoursoldiersastheybegforfood.Theyseethechildrensellingtheirsisterstooursoldiers,solicitingfortheirmothers. Whatdothepeasantsthinkasweallyourselveswiththelandlordsandaswerefusetoputanyactionintoourmanywordsconcerninglandreform?Whatdotheythinkaswetestoutourlatestweaponsonthem,justastheGermanstestedoutnewmedicineandnewtorturesintheconcentrationcampsofEurope?WherearetherootsoftheindependentVietnamweclaimtobebuilding?Isitamongthesevoicelessones? Wehavedestroyedtheirtwomostcherishedinstitutions:thefamilyandthevillage.Wehavedestroyedtheirlandandtheircrops.Wehavecooperatedinthecrushingofthenationsonlynonmunistrevolutionarypoliticalforce,theunifiedBuddhistChurch.WehavesupportedtheenemiesofthepeasantsofSaigon.Wehavecorruptedtheirwomenandchildrenandkilledtheirmen. Nowthereislittlelefttobuildon,savebitterness.*Soontheonlysolidphysicalfoundationsremainingwillbefoundatourmilitarybasesandintheconcreteoftheconcentrationcampswecallfortifiedhamlets.ThepeasantsmaywellwonderifweplantobuildournewVietnamonsuchgroundsasthese.Couldweblamethemforsuchthoughts?Wemustspeakforthemandraisethequestionstheycannotraise.These,too,areourbrothers. Perhapsamoredifficultbutnolessnecessarytaskistospeakforthosewhohavebeendesignatedasourenemies.*WhatoftheNationalLiberationFront,thatstrangelyanonymousgroupwecallVCormunists?WhatmusttheythinkoftheUnitedStatesofAmericawhentheyrealizethatwepermittedtherepressionandcrueltyofDiem,whichhelpedtobringthemintobeingasaresistancegroupintheSouth?Whatdotheythinkofourcondoningtheviolencewhichledtotheirowntakingupofarms?HowcantheybelieveinourintegritywhennowwespeakofaggressionfromtheNorthasiftherewerenothingmoreessentialtothewar?HowcantheytrustuswhennowwechargethemwithviolenceafterthemurderousreignofDiemandchargethemwithviolencewhilewepoureverynewweaponofdeathintotheirland?Surelywemustunderstandtheirfeelings,evenifwedonotcondonetheiractions.Surelywemustseethatthemenwesupportedpressedthemtotheirviolence.Surelywemustseethatourownputerizedplansofdestructionsimplydwarftheirgreatestacts. Howdotheyjudgeuswhenourofficialsknowthattheirmembershipislessthantwentyfivepercentmunist,andyetinsistongivingthemtheblanketname?WhatmusttheybethinkingwhentheyknowthatweareawareoftheircontrolofmajorsectionsofVietnam,andyetweappearreadytoallownationalelectionsinwhichthishighlyorganizedpoliticalparallelgovernmentwillnothaveapart?TheyaskhowwecanspeakoffreeelectionswhentheSaigonpressiscensoredandcontrolledbythemilitaryjunta.Andtheyaresurelyrighttowonderwhatkindofnewgovernmentweplantohelpformwithoutthem,theonlypartyinrealtouchwiththepeasants.Theyquestionourpoliticalgoalsandtheydenytherealityofapeacesettlementfromwhichtheywillbeexcluded.Theirquestionsarefrighteninglyrelevant.Isournationplanningtobuildonpoliticalmythagain,andthenshoreitupuponthepowerofnewviolence? Hereisthetruemeaningandvalueofpassionandnonviolence,whenithelpsustoseetheenemyspointofview,tohearhisquestions,toknowhisassessmentofourselves.Forfromhisviewwemayindeedseethebasicweaknessesofourowncondition,andifwearemature,wemaylearnandgrowandprofitfromthewisdomofthebrotherswhoarecalledtheopposition. So,too,withHanoi.IntheNorth,whereourbombsnowpummeltheland,andourminesendangerthewaterways,wearemetbyadeepbutunderstandablemistrust.TospeakforthemistoexplainthislackofconfidenceinWesternwords,andespeciallytheirdistrustofAmericanintentionsnow.InHanoiarethemenwholedthenationtoindependenceagainsttheJapaneseandtheFrench,themenwhosoughtmembershipintheFrenchCommonwealthandwerebetrayedbytheweaknessofParisandthewillfulnessofthecolonialarmies.ItwastheywholedasecondstruggleagainstFrenchdominationattremendouscosts,andthenwerepersuadedtogiveupthelandtheycontrolledbetweenthethirteenthandseventeenthparallelasatemporarymeasureatGeneva.After1954theywatchedusconspirewithDiemtopreventelectionswhichcouldhavesurelybroughtHoChiMinhtopoweroveraunitedVietnam,andtheyrealizedtheyhadbeenbetrayedagain.Whenweaskwhytheydonotleaptonegotiate,thesethingsmustberemembered. Also,itmustbeclearthattheleadersofHanoiconsideredthepresenceofAmericantroopsinsupportoftheDiemregimetohavebeentheinitialmilitarybreachoftheGenevaAgreementconcerningforeigntroops.TheyremindusthattheydidnotbegintosendtroopsinlargenumbersandevensuppliesintotheSouthuntilAmericanforceshadmovedintothetensofthousands. HanoiremembershowourleadersrefusedtotellusthetruthabouttheearlierNorthVietnameseoverturesforpeace,howthepresidentclaimedthatnoneexistedwhentheyhadclearlybeenmade.HoChiMinhhaswatchedasAmericahasspokenofpeaceandbuiltupitsforces,andnowhehassurelyheardtheincreasinginternationalrumorsofAmericanplansforaninvasionoftheNorth.Heknowsthebombingandshellingandminingwearedoingarepartoftraditionalpreinvasionstrategy.Perhapsonlyhissenseofhumorandofironycansavehimwhenhehearsthemostpowerfulnationoftheworldspeakingofaggressionasitdropsthousandsofbombsonapoor,weaknationmorethan*eighthundred,orrather,*eightthousandmilesawayfromitsshores. AtthispointIshouldm