每一個民族都有脆弱的小感情

這兩天，一句“殺光中國人”的童言引來了軒然大波。有人說，雖然是一句童言，但是孩子受到大人的指使，電視台有台詞腳本；也有的說，這其實反映了美國白人的普遍心理，是種族歧視。

這都好理解，畢竟每一個民族都有自己脆弱的小感情，這種感情傷不起。

一個世紀前，白種人主宰著世界，他們用堅船利炮四處掠奪，征服了世界的每一個角落。盎格魯撒克遜人曾經在他們的土地上能永遠看到不落的太陽。

然而近50年來，弱小的民族覺醒了，西方世界也逐漸走向了民主和現代文明，人類在不分種族，不分膚色平等地生活在同一星球的理念之下朝文明邁進。

說老實話，曾經不可一世的“上等人”在心理上是難以一時適應的，眼看著別人要超越自己，哪怕是弱小者稍微占了一點便宜，便會時不時發泄一下他們的不滿。

最近，加拿大溫哥華島上的一個小城鎮的一家媒體發表了二封讀者來信，立刻引發了一場軒然大波，同時遭到當地原住民的強烈抗議。這兩封讀者來信的主要觀點是：印第安民族的落後是曆史的原因，是他們自己的責任。過去白人是欺負了他們，但是那也是曆史。當年沒有什麽人權可言，弱肉強食，落後就要挨打。今天曆史已近翻過一頁，我們不應該再繼續糾纏曆史老帳，原住民更不應該老是因為曾經受到不公就以此為要挾，享受特殊待遇，使自己比其他國民更“公平”。

平心而論，這個觀點沒有大錯，生活在同一個國家中的國民都要朝前看，大家平等地擔負責任，平等地享受權利，一同努力奉獻社會。一部分人不應該總是糾纏於曆史而將自己的生活依附於另一部分人身上。

但是，由於來信中的部分措辭過於偏激，加上種族（民族）問題在任何社會都是一個敏感話題，這樣的觀點雖然可以自由表達，但是一個公共媒體公開發表這樣的言論就顯得不負責任。

民主，的確保護言論自由，但是從來沒有絕對的自由。民主的另一個真諦是多數人要尊重少數人的權利，強者要保護弱者的利益。許多言論，能否公開表達並不取決於言論本身的對與錯，而要看言論是否傷害了這部分人的利益或情感。

原住民當然憤怒了，他們抗議了，媒體終於道歉了。這是他們的權利。

但是，我不讚成他們動不動就搞大規模的集會遊行，動不動就阻斷交通靜坐示威——這片土地是我們的！？

曆史的一頁翻過去吧，別把自己弄得像三歲的孩子哭著鬧著討糖吃。成熟起來，站起來和其他民族一樣，努力，奮鬥，與社會融合起來，去開辟一片真正屬於自己的新天地。

回到“殺光中國人”的事件上，首先這個言論錯了，電視台公開播放更是錯。不管是不是孩子說的，不管其他孩子的反應如何，也不管主持人是否讚同，隻要我們想像一下把“中國人”換成“猶太人”，ABC就別想在美國混下去了。

華人有權利憤怒，更有權利抗議。但是，去白宮請願？大規模示威？杯葛迪斯尼？免了吧， 別把自己弄得和印第安人那樣可憐兮兮。咱就是這樣逼人家道歉了，人家心裏還是不服，不爽的。有這個時間，不如團結起來，向猶太民族學習，等到哪一天中國人不但擁有美國國債，而且把美國的經濟命脈和政治命脈都操縱在華裔手裏的時候，中國人才真正站起來了。對於一個站起來的人，別人如果不仰視你，至少也應該平視的。

雖然目前華裔還是弱勢群體，但是我們內心的情感要首先強大起來，我們的民族不叫印第安！

 

附：兩封讀者來信原文：

 

It was only 12,000 years ago, or less and this should be considered; in all those years the so called First Nations:

. Never "discovered" the wheel

. Never had a written language

. Never discovered astronomy

. Had no science or scientific discoveries

. Had no mathematics

. Made no medical discoveries

. Never had written music

. Only "figured out" a drum and a rattle for musical instruments

. Had no metallurgy

. Had no sails for boats (only had canoes)

. Created virtually no mechanical devices

. Possessed almost nothing that required hard manual labour over a period of time, i.e.: building with or carving out of stone

. Made almost no inventions

. Are just in the last 200 years getting caught-up to most of the rest of the world

. Have a history that is notable only for underachievement Are these people in trouble? Yes.

Do they need help? Yes.

Are they responsible enough to look after themselves and efficiently spend the billions the tax payers give them? Certainly not.

The only way to fix this situation is to bring them into society as equals. They should be getting jobs and paying taxes like the rest of us because in reality, they are no more special than any of the other hundred or more cultures that call Canada home.

Turn off the taps. Do away with this "traditional use" and "cultural" nonsense. Educate their children to become modern citizens.

Instead of finding their identity and source of pride in some folks who occupied the land 15,000 years ago. Let them stand or fall on their own account.

Just like the rest of us have to do.

Don Olsen Nanaimo

***********

 

I always have difficulty coming to grips with the condemnation of 21st century Canadians by aboriginals for injustice suffered by them in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

To be sure, North American aboriginals were treated terribly by those European nations that were compelled to spread their empires throughout the world and to subjugate any and all indigenous peoples who were perceived a threat to colonialism/imperialism as well as by fledgling Canadian governments, in essence extensions of those nations. North American aboriginals were not the only ones to suffer from the encroachment of foreign powers and the indignity visited upon those poor souls who were unable to withstand the onslaught.

It should be noted, however, that the world was a very different place in those eras. The class system was very much evident and practised throughout the world and tribal systems persisted.

The concept of human rights was virtually unknown; thus, the ruling class considered it their mandate and God-given right to subjugate the perceived lesser mortals who were considered unable to control their own destiny. Treaties were merely empty promises designed to overtly appease the indigenes while covertly exploiting them.

As our country matured and demographics changed through massive immigration and the evolution of our society, however, the playing field began to level.

Unfortunately, the First Nations in Canada have tenaciously clung to their tribal system, refusing to evolve as equal Canadian citizens and perpetuating the perceived notion that they remain under the heel of non-aboriginals.

This notion has been effectively used to develop a strategy for making outrageous demands for land and taxpayer money.

I'm not a great believer in the sins of the father being visited upon the sons. It is my opinion that no individual or groups of individuals should receive special treatment in Canada because of their ethnic, religious or historical backgrounds.

Having said that, I would tenaciously defend the right for those same individuals and groups to honour and display their heritage and to practise their religion, as long as it does not conflict with the democratic laws of our land or impose demands that once again tilt the relatively level playing field.

Bill McRitchie

Nanaimo