美國人對人權的看法
Human Rights
美國人對人權的看法
The time is 1905. A steamship sails on a vast ocean. "Daddy, will we ever get to America?" asks a weary lad. "Soon, my child, soon," his father replies. "We've been on this ship for weeks. I wish we were back home in Russia," complained the boy. "Son, you know how they persecute Jews there. We can never go back," the father reminded him. "Will things be better in America?" the young boy asked. "I hope so," his father sighed. "Look! The Statue of Liberty!" the boy shouted. "Just like in the picture!" His father smiled. "Yes, my son," he said. "I think she's waving to us."
時間是在一九○五年，一艘汽船航行在浩瀚的大海上。「爹地，我們到底到不到得了美國啊？」一個小男孩疲憊地問道。「快到了，我的孩子，快到了。」他的父親回答。「我們已經坐了好幾個禮拜的船了，我真希望我們現在是在蘇俄的家裏。」男孩抱怨着。「孩子，在那兒他們怎麼迫害猶太人，你是知道的，我們絕對不能回去。」這位父親提醒着他。「在美國情況會比較好嗎？」小男孩問道。「希望如此。」他的父親嘆氣道。「你看！自由女神！」男孩喊着：「跟圖片裏的一模一樣！」他的父親微笑着說：「是啊，孩子。我想她正向我們招手呢。」
America has long been a haven for immigrants from around the world. Until the 19th century, the majority of immigrants were from northern Europe. By the mid-20th century, they were coming from all over the globe. In recent years, scores of refugees from Southeast Asia and Latin America have fled to American shores. Why? To find a sanctuary--a place where human rights are respected.
美國長久以來一直是世界各地移民們的避難所, 在十九世紀之前, 移民主要來自北歐. 到了二十世紀中期, 移民則來自全球各地. 近幾年來, 很多來自東南亞和拉丁美洲的難民都逃往美國. 這是爲什麼呢? 爲了要尋找一個避難所 -- 尊重人權的地方.
The American idea of respecting human rights came from several sources. First, the colonists had been persecuted and deprived of their rights in the Old World. They realized that people's rights must be preserved. Moreover, the Bible and literature from Greece and Rome taught that people are born with basic rights. English writer John Locke emphasized that governments should protect these rights. As a result, the Declaration of Independence reflected the belief that God created all people equal. The U.S. Constitution included 10 amendments to guarantee citizens' basic rights. This "Bill of Rights" promised freedom of religion, freedom of speech and of the press, the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial.
美國人尊重人權的概念有幾個起源。首先，移民們在歐洲的舊世界中曾被迫害並被剝奪權利，因此他們深覺保護人權的必要。再者，聖經以及希臘羅馬文學中都教導他們人類與生俱來的一些基本權利。英國作家約翰?洛克強調政府應保障人民這些權利。於是，獨立宣言中便反映出神造世人、生而平等的意念。美國憲法中包含了十項保障國民基本人權的修正案，這些權利法案承諾給予人民信仰的自由、言論及新聞的自由、擁有武器的權利，以及擁有公平審判的權利。
Throughout American history, the belief in individual human rights has influenced government policies and laws. Slavery opponents argued that even slaves had rights as human beings. Finally, after the Civil War, slavery was outlawed. As industries developed, many people protested the poor working conditions.
縱觀美國曆史，尊重個人人權的信念一直影響着政府的政策和法律。反黑奴政策者認爲甚至連奴隸都該擁有作爲人的基本權利。終於在美國南北戰爭之後，法律便禁止奴隸制度的存在。隨着工業的發展，很多人抗議不良的工作條件。
Eventually, laws were passed guaranteeing workers fair wages and working hours and prohibiting child labor. The Civil Rights Movement used human rights arguments in the fight against discrimination. Even today, U.S. trade relations with other countries depend on their having a positive human rights record.
最後，終於通過法案保障工人合理的工資、工時、並且禁用童工。在美國民權運動中，也以人權的基本論點來抗議各樣的歧視和差別待遇。甚至在今天，美國與其它國家的貿易關係如何，也視對方是否擁有良好的人權記錄而定。
Human rights have become a global concern. The cruelty of Nazi Germany illustrated the danger of not protecting human rights. As a result, the United Nations was established in 1945 with a belief in the basic human rights of all people. Three years later, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document stated that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Later, groups like Amnesty International were formed to keep an eye out for human rights abuses wherever they occur.
人權已成爲全球各國關注的焦點，德國納粹黨的殘酷史實即說明了罔顧人權的危險。於是，聯合國在一九四五年設立，該組織深信所有人類都應擁有基本人權。三年之後，聯合國正式通過世界人權宣言。這一份文件提出「所有人類生而擁有尊嚴及權利的平等和自由」。稍後，國際特赦組織成立，以監督防止任何違反人權的事件發生。
Most nations in the world today would agree that human beings have basic rights. Of course, different countries have different perspectives about the issue. Some governments feel the need to restrict individual rights to protect the rights of society. They resent being forced to accept America's definition of human rights. But to Americans, no matter how you define the issue, people deserve to be treated like people.
今天，世界上大部分的國家都認同人類應擁有基本的權利。當然，不同的國家會用不同的角度來看這件事。有些政府覺得有必要以限制個人權利來保障社會權利；他們痛恨被迫接受美國的人權定義。然而對美國人而言，無論你如何定義這個主題，只要是人就應該以人的方式對待他。
