劉曉波:"A hard stone in the wilderness" ( 2010-11-04 ) 文︰林仕功 因為《O八憲章》事件被判刑11年的劉曉波獲諾貝爾和平獎,讓外間重新注意這位中國異見人士。今日大家都說劉曉波因為以和平方式呼籲中國要走向民主而獲諾獎,但其實他的主張不止於中國要發展西式民主。上世紀80年代劉曉波初冒起時,力主"全盤西化",並以《選擇的批判:與(思想領袖)李澤厚對話》一書而名噪一時,那時候他被譽為知識界的一匹黑馬。 自由不抽象 最近搬家,從舊書堆中發現了過去讀過的《選擇的批判》,拿出來又讀了一會。最打動我的不是劉曉波支持全盤西化的論據,或是他對美學家李澤厚的批判,而是他流露在字裏行間的熱情。如他在此書中說,自由不僅是抽象的的理念: "如果沒有一種本能的、氣質的、人格的對自由的狂熱和虔誠,如果自由還僅僅是一種書本中的觀念,而沒有滲透到日常的生活中,變成每個人的血液、神經、肌肉,變成一種生理上的衝動,即便給予你以自由也無濟於事。" 須忍受孤獨 有人認為,與其說《選擇的批判》是美學著作,不如說是自由宣言。劉曉波認為,只有當個人從集體束縛中解放出來,才有可能達到真正的自由,但自由的代價是要面對孤獨: "自由意味着必須忍受孤獨,忍受離開母體後來自陌生的世界的威脅。自由就是冒險,是獨自一人面對世界。" 讀到這裏,稍稍明白為何他不懼怕牢獄之災,因他早知自由的代價是孤獨。他在書中狠批中國人太害怕孤獨: "中國人就是太怕孤獨、幻滅,太容易接受他人、群眾、在上者的恩賜、同情和蹂躪,太容易沉溺於虛幻的自我陶醉之中,中國知識分子、特別是封建時代的士大夫更是如此。" 劉曉波好像早就認定了自己為了爭取自由而必然面對的悲劇命運: "我也許會失敗,但我並不悲哀,我為自己能夠投身於反封建運動的激流之中而慶幸。" 這話也令我開始明白為何在獄中的劉曉波沒有為自己感到悲哀,並能寫出感人肺腑的詩句給愛妻劉霞:"即使我被碾成粉末,我也會用灰燼擁抱你!"這兩句出自2009年劉曉波入獄前夕寫下的〈我沒有敵人——我的最後陳述〉答辯文。 文中劉曉波形容自己是:"荒野中的頑石,任由狂風暴雨的抽打,冷得讓人不敢觸碰。"所描繪的一片荒涼境界,道出了他孤獨的處境,讀之令人落淚。難怪英國 《 經濟學人 》周刊( The Economist )的Banyan欄目最近討論劉曉波案的文章也以"A hard stone in the wilderness"(〈荒野中的頑石〉)為題。欄目作者以其美麗的英語翻譯了劉曉波的名句: "A hard stone in the wilderness, putting up the pummeling of raging storms and too cold for anyone to dare touch." 然而,劉曉波不以悲涼作結,他緊接着說:"我的愛是堅硬的、鋒利的,可以穿透任何阻礙。即使我被碾成粉末,我也會用灰燼擁抱你。" |
Friday, November 12, 2010
劉曉波:"A hard stone in the wilderness"
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
World Travel Awards announced by SkyTrax
SkyTrax announced its "World Travel Awards" on Sunday, including the world's top 10 airlines. Regrettably, none of the 10 operates passenger flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Here's the list: 1. Asiana Airlines 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Qatar Airways 4.Cathay Pacific 5. Air New Zealand 6. Etihad Airways 7.Qantas Airways 8. Emirates 9. Thai Airways 10. Malaysia Airlines The WTAs have a lot of categories. One U.S. airlines was named "best" -Virgin America, best low-cost airline in North America. Oneworld, the global alliance which has American Airlines as a principal member, was named best airline alliance. Looking at North America only, Air Canada was named the best airline, followed by Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines . Virgin America was the best low-cost carrier, followed by WestJet and Southwest Airlines. Again for North America only, WestJet was tops for airline staff service excellence, followed by Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. Here's some award background from SkyTrax: "More than 17.9 million air travellers from over 100 different nationalities took part in the 10 month survey, July 2009 to April 2010. ... The survey measures over 38 items of airline product and service standards. Assessing the customer experience across Airport and Onboard environments - check-in to boarding - onboard seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, IFE and staff service." For a complete list of first-place finishers, keep reading.
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