名人演讲：打破沉寂.doc

演讲稿 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，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，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,whyibelievethatthepathfromdexteravenuebaptistchurch-thechurchinmontgomery,alabama,whereibeganmypastorate-leadsclearlytothissanctuarytonight.ietothisplatformtonighttomakeapassionatepleatomybelovednation.thisspeechisnotaddressedtohanoiortothenationalliberationfront.itisnotaddressedtochinaortorussia.norisitanattempttooverlooktheambiguityofthetotalsituationandtheneedforacollectivesolutiontothetragedyofvietnam.neitherisitanattempttomakenorthvietnamorthenationalliberationfrontparagonsofvirtue,nortooverlooktheroletheymustplayinthesuccessfulresolutionoftheproblem.whiletheybothmayhavejustifiablereasonstobesuspiciousofthegoodfaithoftheunitedstates,lifeandhistorygiveeloquenttestimonytothefactthatconflictsareneverresolvedwithouttrustfulgiveandtakeonbothsides.tonight,however,iwishnottospeakwithhanoiandthenationalliberationfront,butrathertomyfellowedsicamericans,*who,withme,bearthegreatestresponsibilityinendingaconflictthathasexactedaheavypriceonbothcontinents.sinceiamapreacherbytrade,isupposeitisnotsurprisingthatihavesevenmajorreasonsforbringingvietnamintothefieldofmymoralvision.*thereisattheoutsetaveryobviousandalmostfacileconnectionbetweenthewarinvietnamandthestrugglei,andothers,havebeenwaginginamerica.afewyearsagotherewasashiningmomentinthatstruggle.itseemedasiftherewasarealpromiseofhopeforthepoor-bothblackandwhite-throughthepovertyprogram.therewereexperiments,hopes,newbeginnings.thencamethebuildupinvietnam,andiwatchedthisprogrambrokenandeviscerated,asifitweresomeidlepoliticalplaythingofasocietygonemadonwar,andiknewthatamericawouldneverinvestthenecessaryfundsorenergiesinrehabilitationofitspoorsolongasadventureslikevietnamcontinuedtodrawmenandskillsandmoneylikesomedemonicdestructivesuctiontube.so,iwasincreasinglypelledtoseethewarasanenemyofthepoorandtoattackitassuch.perhapsthemoretragicrecognitionofrealitytookplacewhenitbecamecleartomethatthewarwasdoingfarmorethandevastatingthehopesofthepoorathome.itwassendingtheirsonsandtheirbrothersandtheirhusbandstofightandtodieinextraordinarilyhighproportionsrelativetotherestofthepopulation.weweretakingtheblackyoungmenwhohadbeencrippledbyoursocietyandsendingthemeightthousandmilesawaytoguaranteelibertiesinsoutheastasiawhichtheyhadnotfoundinsouthwestgeorgiaandeastharlem.andsowehavebeenrepeatedlyfacedwiththecruelironyofwatchingnegroandwhiteboysontvscreensastheykillanddietogetherforanationthathasbeenunabletoseatthemtogetherinthesameschools.andsowewatchtheminbrutalsolidarityburningthehutsofapoorvillage,butwerealizethattheywouldhardlyliveonthesameblockinchicago.icouldnotbesilentinthefaceofsuchcruelmanipulationofthepoor.mythirdreasonmovestoanevendeeperlevelofawareness,foritgrowsoutofmyexperienceintheghettoesofthenorthoverthelastthreeyears-especiallythelastthreesummers.asihavewalkedamongthedesperate,rejected,andangryyoungmen,ihavetoldthemthatmolotovcocktailsandrifleswouldnotsolvetheirproblems.ihavetriedtoofferthemmydeepestpassionwhilemaintainingmyconvictionthatsocialchangeesmostmeaningfullythroughnonviolentaction.buttheyask-andrightlyso-whataboutvietnam?theyaskifourownnationwasntusingmassivedosesofviolencetosolveitsproblems,tobringaboutthechangesitwanted.theirquestionshithome,andiknewthaticouldneveragainraisemyvoiceagainsttheviolenceoftheoppressedintheghettoswithouthavingfirstspokenclearlytothegreatestpurveyorofviolenceintheworldtoday-myowngovernment.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;andicannotforgetthatthenobelprizeforpeacewasalsoamission-amissiontoworkharderthanihadeverworkedbeforeforthebrotherhoodofman.thisisacallingthattakesmebeyondnationalallegiances,butevenifitwerenotpresentiwouldyethavetolivewiththemeaningofmymitmenttotheministryofjesuschrist.tometherelationshipofthisministrytothemakingofpeaceissoobviousthatisometimesmarvelatthosewhoaskmewhyimspeakingagainstthewar.coulditbethattheydonotknowthatthegoodnewswasmeantforallmen-forcommunistandcapitalist,fortheirchildrenandours,forblackandforwhite,forrevolutionaryandconservative?havetheyforgottenthatmyministryisinobediencetotheonewholovedhisenemiessofullythathediedforthem?whatthencanisaytothevietcongortocastroortomaoasafaithfulministerofthisone?canithreatenthemwithdeathormustinotsharewiththemmylife?andfinally,asitrytoexplainforyouandformyselftheroadthatleadsfrommontgomerytothisplaceiwouldhaveofferedallthatwasmostvalidifisimplysaidthatimustbetruetomyconvictionthatisharewithallmenthecallingtobeasonofthelivinggod.beyondthecallingofraceornationorcreedisthisvocationofsonshipandbrotherhood,andbecauseibelievethatthefatherisdeeplyconcernedespeciallyforhissufferingandhelplessandoutcastchildren,ietonighttospeakforthem.thisibelievetobetheprivilegeandtheburdenofallofuswhodeemourselvesboundbyallegiancesandloyaltieswhicharebroaderanddeeperthannationalismandwhichgobeyondournationsself-definedgoalsandpositions.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.withthattragicdecisionwerejectedarevolutionarygovernmentseekingself-determinationandagovernmentthathadbeenestablishednotbychina-forwhomthevietnamesehavenogreatlove-butbyclearlyindigenousforcesthatincludedsomemunists.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.theywanderintothehospitalswithatleasttwentycasualtiesfromamericanfirepowerforonevietcong-inflictedinjury.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.howdotheyjudgeuswhenourofficialsknowthattheirmembershipislessthantwenty-fivepercentmunist,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.heknowsthebombingandshellingandminingwearedoingarepartoftraditionalpre-invasionstrategy.perhapsonlyhissenseofhumorandofironycansavehimwhenhehearsthemostpowerfulnationoftheworldspeakingofaggressionasitdropsthousandsofbombsonapoor,weaknationmorethan*eighthundred,orrather,*eightthousandmilesawayfromitsshores.atthispointishouldmakeitclearthatwhileihavetriedintheselastfewminutestogiveavoicetothevoicelessinvietnamandtou