中國文化的啟示 / Revelations About Chinese Civilisation

中國文化的啟示 鄭培凱	Revelations About Chinese Civilisation Pei-kai Cheng
“請告訴我誰是中國人， 啟示我，如何把記憶抱緊； 請告訴我這民族的偉大， 輕輕的告訴我，不要喧嘩。”	“Pray tell me who the Chinese are, Reveal to me, how memories to embrace; Pray tell me about this Nation’s grandeur, Tell me softly, without any fuss.”
這是聞一多早年詩作“祈禱”中的名句，展示了作為一個現代中國人所面的困境。詩人通過自身的感受，以敏銳的藝術直覺，吐露了發自心靈深處的迷惘：現代的中國人，內經動亂與革命的衝擊，外有西方強勢文化的震撼，和生於斯長於斯的中國文化不再相濡相生，與傳統發生了斷裂與離異。	THOSE oft-quoted lines from “Prayers”, penned by the late poet Wen I-to in his youth, well voiced the perplexity that seized him as a modern Chinese man. The bewilderment, so intuitively sensed by the artist-poet, was thus laid bare from the depth of his heart: — bewildered at how his compatriots in modern China, doubly shocked by the unrest and revolutions raging from within the country and by the powerful Western civilisations looming large from without, were feeling themselves torn off the culture wherein they had been born and brought up, and feeling estranged from their own traditions.
誰是中國人呢？流著祖宗遺傳下來的血液，就是中國人嗎？喪失了文化傳統的記憶，還算不算中國人呢？大聲喧嘩，揮舞著大刀長矛，就能造就出不卑不亢的中國人嗎？怎麼樣才能重拾文化的記憶？怎麼樣才能抱緊記憶中的輝煌與偉大？怎樣才能從偉大的過去吸取養料，創造光輝的未來？	Who, then, are the Chinese? Does the blood flowing down from their forefathers suffice to make them Chinese, or can they remain Chinese after losing memory of their cultural heritage? Then, can they build up their Chinese identity by raising a big fuss about it, brandishing swords and spears? Or, even if they can, are they then worthy of the name, neither humbly nor haughtily? How are the Chinese to recollect the forgotten culture, to embrace memories of the nation’s bygone greatness and grandeur? How are they to draw upon their glorious past to create a bright future?
我們創設中國文化科目，不擬大聲疾呼，只想輕輕告訴大家：	We have launched a series of courses in Chinese civilisation. We don’t mean to raise a big fuss; we just want to tell you softly:
中國的傳統不但有燦爛輝煌的往昔，有秦時明月漢時關，唐太宗的旌旗，成吉思汗的大纛。	That the wealth of China's heritage does record a splendid past –  Moonlight in the reign of Qin’s monarchs Shines on mountain passes in ages of Han; Flying banners amidst the Tang Emperor’s armies Then lead the mighty horsemen of Genghis Khan;
還有對自然的觀照，看到池塘生青草，細雨魚兒出，落霞孤鶩，秋水長天，古道西風瘦馬，杏花春雨江南。	That, also, this heritage cherishes contemplation of Nature's beauty –  Green grass sprouts about the pond; Fish surface to greet the falling drizzle; A solitary swan soars high in the evening glow Against a clear sky melting into the waters below; Down the timeworn road, a frail nag trudges in the chill wind; In the jolly Southland, almond blossoms bathe in vernal rain.
更有對人生處境的深刻體會，知道上善若水，否極泰來，人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，塞翁失馬焉知非福，亡羊補牢猶未為晚。	That the Chinese mind gains deep insights into human affairs and circumstances, understanding –     The highest good is like that of water; Out of the depth of woe peeps the tip of weal; As the Moon is full, then crescent, then dark, So Men rejoice, then grieve, then depart; He who’s lost a mare sees it may turn out a bliss; None too late to mend the sheepfold, though lambs are gone.
也懂得旖旎纏綿的情景，春蠶到死絲方盡，蠟炬成灰淚始乾，落紅不是無情物，化作春泥更護花。	And that the Chinese heart echoes to delicate sensibilities, appreciating –   Not till death does a silkworm stop lovesickness spinning; A candle’s tears dry out only when it’s burnt to ashes; Fallen petals died, yet not dead to feelings; Turned to soil, they’ll care for blooms of later springs.
如何把記憶緊抱？如何把記憶內化，轉為創造未來的資源與動力？這就有待我們共同的努力，通過學習、理解與珍惜，成為塑造自我人格的養份。孔子說過，「知之者不如好之者，好之者不如樂之者。」當學習到了樂此不疲的地步，文化傳統也就與自我成為一體，不可分割了。	How are we to embrace such memories, and internalise them into resources and impetus for the creation of a fresh future? It takes efforts of us together to chew them over and digest them, and treasure the nourishment thus absorbed to aid our character-building. As Confucius says, “Better be fond of something than merely knowing it, and even better to find joy in it than merely being fond of it.” Once learning turns into a joy, our cultural tradition will become part of our being, inseparable ever after.
那時，我們就不必擔心「聞道有先後，術業有專攻」是否有現代處境的矛盾。那時，我們就可告慰九泉之下的聞一多先生，我們無愧於歷史傳統，無懼於未來的挑戰，我們是堂堂正正的中國人。	Then we shall have no worry about the validity of that ancient adage in today’s modern world – “Truth becomes known to us, early or late; Each excels in his field, career or trade.” And then also, we shall be happy to tell poet Wen I-to now in heaven that we are worthy of our history and civilisation, that we are brave to face the challenges ahead, and that we ARE Chinese – with pride and confidence.
[源文載於《中國文化導讀》(第二版)，香港城市大學出版社，2001]	[ The source text is from Chinese Civilisation: A Source Book (Second edition), Hong Kong,: City University of Hong Kong Press, 2001 ] (Translated by Allen Zhuang)

中國歷史地理系列講座 / Serial Lectures on Historical Geography of China

中國歷史地理系列講座 汪前進	Serial Lectures on Historical Geography of China Wang Qianjin
(1) 「黃河清，聖人出」── 中國古代地理災異思想研究	(1) “The Yellow River Clears; the Sage-King Reigns”: Concepts of Unusual Geo-Phenomena of the Ancient Chinese
(2) 古代中國人的世界地理觀	(2) Concepts of World Geography of the Ancient Chinese
(3) 身體之喻與中國古代軍事地理思想	(3) Concepts of Military Geography in Ancient China: The Human Body as a Metaphor
[ 汪前進研究員為香港城市大學中國文化中心2007-08學年第一學期所作之系列演講題]	[ Serial lectures by Mr Wang Qianjin, Research Fellow, at the Chinese Civilisation Centre, CityU of Hong Kong, for Semester A, 2007-08 ] (Translated by Allen Zhuang)

新加坡印象 / Impressions of Singapore

實在的美麗與飄忽的缺憾：新加坡印象 于海生	Impressions of Singapore: Beauty and Drawback Yu Hai Sheng
作者是《聯合早報》北京辦事處職員，這是他最近來新加坡訪問後的觀感。	The author is a staffer of Lianhe Zaobao’s Beijing Bureau. He shares his observations on a recent visit to Singapore.
提起新加坡，許多中國人會聯想到高效政府、良好秩序、美食、旅遊勝地 —— 這些正面的標籤已被不少遊記、隨筆和考察報告貼在了這個接近赤道的島國身上。	TO MANY people in China, Singapore is associated with efficient government, good order, tasty foods, and tourist’s attractions — attributes given to the equatorial island-state by numerous travels, essays, and inspection tour reports.
7月中旬的一天，我從夏日炎炎的北京飛抵樟宜機場，來到心儀已久的島國，開始了新加坡之旅。	One hot day in mid-July, the aeroplane from Beijing having touched down at Changi Airport, I started my tour of Singapore, a land I had longed to visit.
幾天的走馬觀花下來，即使用最挑剔的眼光，我對新加坡的基本評價也還是一個簡單的字：好。用一句有中國特色的話說就是：這個年輕的國家，實實在在地取得了物質文明和精神文明建設的雙豐收。	A few days’ cursory sightseeing has left me — even with the most critical eye — only one simple word to describe the country with: Good. Or, to borrow a set phrase from China, this young country has verily attained a high degree of civilisation in both material and non-material senses.
作為一個國家，新加坡很小，小到你只需幾天就能遊遍她所有的景點。但作為一個多種族並存、高度開放的社會，新加坡很大，大到能夠容納各種文化在這裡並行繁衍。	Singapore is so small a country that you can exhaust all her scenic spots within a few days, and yet it is such an open and expansive society that races live in harmony and cultures flourish side by side.
新加坡的美麗和熱情，對大多數的觀光客是難以抗拒的誘惑。但或許是這些美麗和熱情原本就在預料之中，我在領略她美好一面的同時，卻又儘量想去發現她有哪些缺憾。	Tourists are captivated by this land of irresistible beauty and warmth. Yet, perhaps taking all this as expected, while admiring its many attractive aspects, I tried to find out whether there was a flaw in the jewel.
新加坡有缺憾嗎？回答應該是肯定的，因為一個沒有缺憾的社會也就失去了進步的動力。	Indeed, are there drawbacks in Singapore at all? Yes, I think so, for society would turn stale and stagnant if it were flawless.
不過對新加坡這樣比較成熟的社會，你很難簡單地用“好”或是“不好”去下斷語。有人抱怨新加坡管理太嚴，是個“罰款的國家”，說這裡有不少“清規戒律”，一不留神就會被“罰”。	However, as Singapore is a grown-up society, one can hardly fix a simplistic tag of “good” or “bad” to it. For example, some people grumble about harsh rules and regulations in this “fine country”, as Singapore is dubbed. Here one is liable to “fines” unless he is very careful, they warn, because of all those “don’ts and mustn’ts”.
剛到新加坡時，我還提醒自己千萬不要“一不留神”。但幾天的聞見所及，發現外界的傳聞並不確切。這裡的空氣清新自由，人們的神態輕鬆安詳，公共場所也未見執法人員顧盼招搖，何須緊張？如果對隨地吐痰、亂穿馬路、高樓拋物的懲罰也算是“清規戒律”，我倒願意“受戒”。	Upon arrival, I reminded myself to always remain “very careful”. But a few days later, I began to doubt the truth of what I had been told. Instead, I found the atmosphere free and casual, and people around calm and relaxed, and I saw no law enforcement officers prowling about in public places. Hence no need to be nervous. Actually, if those “don’ts and mustn’ts” are meant to prevent such nuisances as spitting, reckless jaywalking, and killer-littering, I would rather accept them willingly.
對我來說，新加坡的缺憾是一種飄忽的感覺，不那麼強烈卻又真實地潛藏在我心中。	Yet I did sense a drawback of Singapore, a feeling not strong but yet real in me.
新加坡的文化生活似乎很難給人留下深刻印象，幾位長期在這裡工作的中國人都有“孤獨”的感覺，他們說，這種孤獨表面上是缺乏朋友之間的交流，實際上折射了這裡文化生活的寂寞。	Entertainment in Singapore seems less than impressive. Some China nationals who have long resided and worked here feel “lonely”, apparently for lack of friends’ company — they say — but actually because not much cultural pastime is available.
新加坡人睡覺的時間好像很晚，但這裡的夜生活除了不少美食場所外，人們似乎並沒有太多的選擇。我的幾位新加坡朋友都提到在芽籠一帶有管理規範的“紅燈區”，似乎可以證明新加坡也是“多姿多彩”，但“紅燈區”並不能代表夜生活的豐富，我感覺這裡缺少一種現代國際都市的活潑與浪漫。	Generally, the local people stay up until very late, but they have limited options in spending the night hours besides dining out in the ubiquitous eating centres. True, there are well-regulated red-light districts in Geylang and other places, as some Singaporean friends told me to suggest that life is “colourful” in Singapore. Yet such night-spots can hardly epitomise the variegated nightlife that would lend charm and vigour to a modern metropolis.
在法治和現代化建設上，新加坡堪稱世界一流。用一個不太確切的比喻，新加坡真正達到了過去許多中國人夢寐以求的“中學為體、西學為用”的理想境界。這種境界應該是誕生華人先鋒文化的理想土壤，但遺憾的是，新加坡的文化產品在全球華人社會中影響遠不及香港和臺灣，這裡電視上播放的文娛節目也大多是舶來品。	Singapore leads many other countries with its sound legal system and outstanding economic growth. In a sense, many people in China look up to it as a materialisation of their dream of utopia guided ideally by traditional Chinese values aided with modern Western management and technology. Such a milieu would have been perfect soil for a fresh culture to germinate and grow out of the Chinese heritage. Yet regrettably Singapore still lags behind Hong Kong and Taiwan in turning out cultural products. Even those shown on local TV are mostly produced abroad.
我想起美國夏威夷的檀香山，那也是個東西方文化交融的城市，人們通過慶祝名目繁多的節日，不時地給當地增添歡樂的氣氛。物質生活不亞於美國的新加坡，為什麼會讓人感到孤獨呢？	That reminds me of Honolulu, capital of Hawaii, an American city where cultures of East and West converge. People there celebrate numerous festivals, adding to the holiday mood of the island from time to time. Now, since Singapore enjoys a living standard comparable to that of the US, it ought to have done better than make people feel lonely.
我很欣賞這裡電視上的一句公益廣告詞：新加坡，我的家，我們的未來。我也相信新加坡能夠給在這片土地上生活、工作甚至旅遊的人們開創出更加絢麗的文化天地。	A message on the local TV has won my admiration: “Singapore, my home, our future.” I believe that, in time, the country will be able to create a brilliant cultural life for all those who live and work on the island — or just come for a visit. (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[ 原載新加坡《聯合早報》2000-08-27 社論/言論/天下事 (Bilingual Section) ]

同學們，要惜福 / Cherish Your Blessings, Dear Students

同學們，要惜福 鄭培凱	Cherish Your Blessings, Dear Students Pei-kai Cheng
每年暑期，城大中國文化中心都會組織遊學團，和内地的重點大學合作，讓我們的同學進駐國内的校園，請當地的名教授講課，與當地的學生打成一片，還安排文化考察活動，實地走訪當地的文化古跡，引導他們親身體會中華大地是如何滋育了輝煌的古文明，更要求同學思考中華文明在近代的衰落、中國近百年來遭遇的侵略與磨難、以及當前面臨的發展新機與困境。期望同學們作爲香港的中國人，了解自己身處的這片山河大地是如何經歷了歷史的淬礪，了解自己該如何安身立命，為中國文化的未來盡一分心力。 我們今年合作的夥伴有四，分別是四川大學、西安交通大學、武漢大學、山東大學，共同設計了詳細的學習方案，讓同學深入了解中國的區域文化：四川的巴蜀文化、陝西的關中文化、武漢的楚湘文化、山東的齊魯文化。 同學們踴躍報名，積極爭取有限的名額，最後是十裏挑一，有一百六十個同學通過甄選，興高采烈地安排行裝，準備在五月中出發。	EACH summer, some students from City University of Hong Kong will spend time in mainland China on study tours organised by CityU’s Chinese Civilisation Centre (CCIV) in cooperation with leading Chinese institutions. They will stay on campus at the host universities, attending lectures by famous professors there while living and studying among the local students. Such tours also feature visits to sites of cultural and historical interest in the localities. The fieldwork will give the participants a first-hand knowledge of how the vast country of China has nurtured a once-glorious civilisation. It will lead the youngsters to ponder over the decline of Chinese civilisation in recent history, the aggressions and civil turmoil that China has suffered over the past century, and the opportunities alongside difficulties arising for the nation right now. Expectedly, the students – as Chinese citizens from Hong Kong – will come to feel how the very land under their feet has emerged from all the tempering hardships over history. And they will realise how they should live a worthy life to do their bit for the future of Chinese civilisation. As usual, for the summer of 2008, CCIV has arranged for study tours along with four partners: Sichuan University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Wuhan University, and Shandong University. With their help, plans were mapped out for studies during the tours, complete with visits to some areas across China with characteristic regional culture, namely those in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Shandong Provinces, and that around Wuhan City. CityU students eagerly signed up for the tours, grabbing at the limited places. One out of ten was picked as 160 students passed selection, who then happily got things ready for the tours scheduled for departure in the middle of May.
突然，五月十二日，山崩地裂，四川發生了汶川大地震，高山為谷，深谷為陵，五六萬人喪生，上百萬人無家可歸。 生活在香港的人，雖然沒有直接受難，但是我們日日夜夜守在電視機前，眼看著自己的同胞活生生掩埋在瓦礫之中，胼手胝足建起的房舍與家園埋沒在滑坡的山體之下，成千上萬的人頓時喪失了自己的父母兒女、兄弟姐妹、親朋好友、鄰里同事。還眼看著壓在斷壁殘垣之下五六天的人，念叨“我要堅強，我要堅強，我還有妻兒，還有家人等著我”；聽到壓在斷壁下面必須截肢才能救出的孩子，喊著“叔叔，不要切除我的腿，我還要上舞蹈學校，將來還要跳舞賺錢，養活我父母”，我們都落淚了。 四川的苦難牽動了我們的惻隱之心，牽動了我們血濃於水的同胞感情，牽動了許多香港人長期壓抑的祖國情懷。	Out of the blue, on May 12th an earthquake struck Sichuan. Mountains slid, land cracked, and houses collapsed. At least 68,000 people were killed and over one million made homeless. People in Hong Kong, though safe from the quake, have experienced the pangs while staying day and night with eyes fixed on the TV, watching how their countrymen far away had got buried alive under the rubble, how their homes and gardens built with blood-and-sweat toil had been engulfed by landslides, and how tens of thousands of people had lost their parents, siblings, children, friends, and neighbours, all in an instant. Hongkongers wept when they heard a man pinned in rubble for five or six days murmuring “I must hold on; I must tough it out; I’ve got a family to feed; my people are expecting me…”, or saw the child trapped under fallen walls, facing amputation to be brought out, crying “Uncle, please don’t cut my legs off! I’ll go to a dancing school; I’ll dance to earn money and feed my parents…” The sufferings in Sichuan have touched our hearts of compassion, awakened a blood-thicker-than-water feeling for our compatriots, and set free a long-pent-up emotion of tenderness in many hongkongers towards their homeland.
老師與同學在震驚之餘，趕緊聯繫四川大學，知道學校大體安全，但一切學術交流計劃的安排全都打亂了。西安與武漢方面也面臨了相同的情況，都怕餘震是否會波及臨近省份，甚至威脅沿海地震帶的安全。我們與各校緊急協商，考慮到同學的安全，以及主辦單位目前面臨的地震災難，一致決定，取消今年同學的學術交流與考察。 同學的反應是充滿了理解，完全體諒取消的決定，絲毫不計較個人是否會有什麽損失。不過，同學問，我們還可以做什麽？	While still shocked, teachers and students of CityU rushed to contact Sichuan University, and were told that the plans for academic exchanges had all been disrupted although the campus there remained largely safe. Our partner universities in Xi’an and Wuhan were in a similar situation, both fearing that aftershocks may keep spreading to adjacent provinces, and even to the quake-prone coastal regions. We had emergency discussions with our partners in China. Then all the universities concerned came to the decision that, considering safety for the students and difficulties facing the host institutions following the earthquake, the study tours and academic exchanges for this summer should be cancelled. CityU students responded with complete understanding, without the slightest complaint about any losses on their own part. Yet, they asked, “What can we do to help?”
是的，同學可以做什麽？充滿激情的年輕人可以上火綫，參加志願救援隊伍，幫助瓦礫中重生的人們重建家園。無法離開香港、無法離開學習崗位的同學可以捐款救災，盡一份自己的薄力。 但是，最重要的，也是大家必須記住的是，要珍惜自己的生命，要珍惜自己的福份，善於利用自己生命的每一分每一秒，好好學習，認真充實自己，在有生之年為社會貢獻一份力量。我們生活在香港，生活在富裕的環境，沒有生命危險，沒有死亡威脅，要時常居安思危，想到四川的地震，想到人間的災難，想到受苦的人們，千萬不可身在福中不知福，斤斤計較雞毛蒜皮的家庭口角，想方設法吃喝嫖賭，虛耗自己的生命。 四川大地震給我們一個清楚的提示，活着最重要，活着就要珍惜生命，珍惜福份，為自己，也為別人。好好學習，天天向上。	A good question, indeed. What can our students do? Well, those young and passionate can march on to the front line and join the armies of volunteers helping the quake survivors to rebuild their homes. Those who can’t leave Hong Kong or quit studying can do their bit by making donations to aid the rescue and relief efforts. Yet, most importantly, all of us must remember to treasure our lives and cherish our blessings by making the best use of each and every moment we’re allowed to live – spending it well on studying and improving ourselves so as to make a worthy contribution to society in our lifetime. Living in Hong Kong, amidst affluence and away from danger of death, we ought to think of times of adversity even while enjoying prosperity. Remember the earthquake in Sichuan and other calamities in this world, and keep in mind our fellow beings who suffer. Then we’ll see we have absolutely no right to be unmindful of the happiness we are blessed with, or calculating about trivialities, or wasteful of our days and years while indulging in all those wicked pleasures. For us, the Sichuan earthquake has conveyed a message loud and clear: Life is precious, so treasure life while it lasts; meanwhile cherish your blessings, not only for yourselves but for others as well, by studying hard and doing better day by day.
[本文為香港城市大學中國文化中心的2008年暑期講座概覽之前言“主任的話”。]	[This is CCIV Director’s Message, or foreword to the catalogue of lectures for summer semester of 2008 at CCIV, CityU of Hong Kong.] (Translated by Allen Zhuang)

瑞士精神 / Spirit of Switzerland

瑞士精神 梁文寧	Spirit of Switzerland Liang Wern Ling
作者是《聯合早報》執行級記者，上個月以新加坡瑞士青年交流計畫訪問 團成員的身分，到瑞士多個地方參觀、交流。	The author, a Lianhe Zaobao correspondent, visited various parts of the Alpine country last month on the Singapore-Switzerland Youth Exchange Programme.
除了延綿不絕的高山以及清幽綺麗的風光，瑞士究竟有什麼特點 值得我們嚮往？對筆者來說，瑞士的最大特色在於——他們的人民。	Apart from the extending mountain ranges and the breathtaking beauty of nature, what does Swiss Confederation possess that commands admiration? To the author, the country owes its distinctive charm chiefly to — its people.
在瑞士經歷了許多的第一次。	I HAD many first-time experiences while touring Switzerland.
第一次拿重達16公斤的機關槍，第一次跟外國人很深入地談政治、民生、環保等課題（採訪工作不算），第一次進入另一個國家的國會大廈、第一次在不超過400公尺的距離觀看軍事演習、第一次在機場飛機停泊處自由行走（從地面登機的經驗不算）等等。	For the first time in my life, I lifted a machine-gun weighing 16 kg, and for the first time I watched military exercises within a distance of 400 metres. I had my first in-depth discussions on politics, people’s livelihood, and environment issues with foreigners, not counting interviews I had conducted as a reporter. I paid my first visit to the parliament premises of a foreign country. I took my first free walk on the parking apron of an airport rather than boarding for a flight.
這種種的“第一次”，一再體現了瑞士人的開放和民主，以及好客的熱情態度。	These fresh experiences speak volumes about the openness, democracy, and warm hospitality of the Swiss people.
到軍事演習現場，輕鬆自在，不會有戒備森嚴之感；當天除了我們，還有一群受司令邀請的退役老軍人也到場參觀。	I felt relaxed on the scene of the army exercises, happily oblivious to the heavily guarded military facilities around. Along with us, there were some elderly veterans invited by the commander to the event.
我們在一所看似棧房的屋子聆聽軍官講解彙報，過後才聽說那所房子其實是民房。每當一營兵隊到那裏訓練，它就被充作聯絡和指揮基地。	The visitors were given a briefing by an officer in a construction that looked like a barn. Later we learnt that it was a civilian house, which would become a centre of military communications and command whenever there was an army unit under training there.
很難想像新加坡有任何人會大方借出自己的房子，也不能想像我們的軍人會要用人民的房地產。這裏頭牽涉到文化和觀念的問題。	It is scarcely imaginable in Singapore that people could be so generous as to lend the army their houses, or that the military would have to use civilian properties. Herein one can find differences in culture and ideas.
然而，在親眼見到瑞士軍人和平民打成一片，親身體會軍官一一回答我們的問題的誠意之後，不禁有所感悟：有時越神秘，對彼此的信心和信任就會越來越少。	Yet something dawned on me when I witnessed the Swiss servicemen mingling so amiably with the civilians and answering our questions so sincerely – that secrecy may backfire, gradually undermining the mutual faith and trust among people.
不要以為這樣的開放沒什麼大不了，又或者覺得這是西方國家的玩意兒；對一個彈丸小國來說，政府／官方與人民之間，如果凡事皆能坦誠相對，再大的矛盾也可以化成進步的泉源。	Please don’t dismiss such openness as nothing remarkable or a mere public relations exercise by the West. For a small country, frank and honest interactions between the authorities and the public would turn whatever discord between them, if any, into harmony conducive to progress.
瑞士航空公司可以在不搜身的情況下帶我們這些外國人進入機場重地，那是你信任我、尊重我，我也當然會以相同的態度對你。	SwissAir allowed foreign visitors, myself included, to enter the airfield without undergoing body frisking. This is because people who are trusted and respected will treat others in the same way.
在行程中結識的瑞士朋友都對自己的國家感到自豪，談起瑞士政府推行的政策，即使他們也不一定贊同，可是你不會感覺到那種有時新加坡人提起我國一些制度時會流露的無奈。	Another thing that impressed me is that all the Swiss friends I met on the tour take pride in their motherland. Talking of their government’s policies, even those they are not very happy about, they would not show any helplessness which Singaporeans sometimes would betray about certain systems of their island-state.
或許正因為對國家、政府有信心，也很清楚自己作為一個公民的責任，瑞士人縱使欣賞他國的一些作法，也絕不會“長他人志氣，滅自己威風”，而是很理性地嘗試瞭解他人是怎麼辦得到的。	Meanwhile, probably because they have faith in their country and government and understand their responsibilities as citizens, the Swiss people would not laud other countries’ achievements at the expense of their own despite their sincere admiration. Instead, they try to understand how others have succeeded.
反觀不少新加坡人，總是很盲目地大贊別人的好，再把自己國家貶得一文不值，也沒去作進一步的分析，探討其中的差異。	By contrast, we can find some Singaporeans who praise other countries to the skies while condemning their own as worthless, without much understanding of the differences involved.
令筆者有些啼笑皆非的是，一些國人卻是另一種極端，認為新加坡是獨一無二，高高在上，高唱“世界只有你最好”。	Or, at the opposite extreme, there are those who believe Singapore is the best country on earth, eulogising it as “second to none, under the sun”.
其實，我國在一些方面的成就確實已可跟瑞士平起平坐，比如經濟表現，或甚至超越它，比如社區設施的完善。可是，社會是由人組成，人民的素質、文化修養可以使一個國家變得更具魅力，更加優雅。	To be fair, Singapore is on a par with Switzerland in such fields as economic growth, and even leads the latter in community amenities and some other respects. Yet society is made up of individuals. A good country can be crowned with charm and grace by a people who are cultured and refined.
同團一名在銀行工作的執行員就曾對筆者說：“大概是因為接近高山，所以瑞士人比較懂得愛惜大自然，也比較有閒情逸致，享受生活。”	“The Swiss people can better appreciate Nature and enjoy a leisurely life,” remarked a fellow visitor from Singapore, “probably because they live close to the Alps.”
你看到很多新加坡人每年必會出國旅遊，說是鬆懈身心，卻因“怕輸”而要求在最短時間內參觀最多的景點，購買最便宜的東西。那種無形又跟自己形影不離的壓迫感，可怕可怕。	We see many Singaporeans make a point of vacationing abroad every year for rest and relaxation. Yet, fearing to lose out to others, they would rush to cover as many scenic spots as possible within the shortest time and hurry around shopping for the best bargain. What a sad existence for those obsessed with such an urge to push forward!
與新加坡同胞共勉。	Here is food for thought for my fellow Singaporeans. (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[ 原載新加坡《聯合早報》2000-08-01社論/言論/天下事 (Bilingual Section) ]