总是人生，总是旅程

几天前的一个晚上，因为一个共同话题，跟HD唱起这么两句。

 

突然的，在这样的一个夜晚，一个突如其来的电话，把那么些小心收藏的感情放大。这个意外来电引发的第二个电话以及失望，这份小心翼翼的声音与交谈，让我也找到了一分熟悉，平添了一分感叹。

太久没上来了，是时候剪个草。

 

昨晚去中山纪念堂看《音乐之声》。因为是最爱的一部音乐剧，所以很雀跃。下班后一个人走在路上，想着很快就可以看到的音乐剧，突然的，几阵风吹过来，拂开我的头发，卷起路边的紫荆树叶子，扫过广场上的人群。也就这么突然的，想起了莱斯特、伦敦、木一……是因为风吗？还是因为期待着去看音乐剧的这份心情？依然，是怀念。

地震带给心灵的震撼是不期而巨大的，即使不能身临其境甚至不敢存念试想，单是那些图片和消息，已经让人感受无比的恐惧、悲恸。痛定思痛，就有了以下的想法和决心。

 

1. 从今天起，珍惜资源、保护环境。节约用电、不浪费粮食、少用塑料袋。

 

2. 关心家人和朋友。多为父母着想，多帮他们做事，尽量不让他们操心，多和朋友们联系。

 

3. 认真而积极地工作。不懒惰不拖沓不找借口。

 

4. 用平和的心对待身边的物、事、人，懂得欣赏和感恩。

2008年5月19日，四川地震遇难者的头七，也是全国哀悼日的第一天。下午2点28分，举国默哀三分钟。

 

在我的经验里，头七这一天，为逝者超度的法事结束，礼生和道士收起他们的唱词，亲戚朋友在夜晚等待逝者的灵魂回家，自此擦干眼泪重新开始生活。

 

我想，这为期三天的举国哀悼，不单是对逝者的缅怀和悼念，也是对生者的告慰和鼓励。惟愿，逝者自此安息，生者自此重生。

2008，对于中国，是太不寻常的一年。不仅仅因为即将到来的荣耀，更因为已经过去的焦灼、悲愤，正在经历的苦痛、哀伤。

 

网友们写下这样的2008童谣：

今年的雪，特别的大，
爸爸还有妈妈，回不了家。

有群坏人，来把人吓，
烧了我的学校，砸我的花。

那个喇嘛，叽里呱啦，
长鼻子的洋人，假装眼瞎。

巴黎铁塔，伦敦警察，
抱火炬的姐姐，人见人夸。

汽笛嘟嘟，铁轨哗哗，
去天堂的列车，还没到达。

龙又翻身，大地垮塌，
教室的瓦砾下，埋了童话。

重重的墙，将老师压，
我们在他身下，都很听话。

没过很久，听到喇叭，
外面有个爷爷，叫我别怕。

叔叔的手，使劲地挖，
解放军的飞机，送我回家。

经过灾难，我已长大，
永远不会忘记，二零零八...

那个爷爷说过：
　　一个很小的问题，乘以13亿，都会变成一个大问题；
　　一个很大的总量，除以13亿，都会变成一个小数目。
现在我们要说：
　　一点很小的善心，乘以13亿，都会变成爱的海洋；
　　一个很大的困难，除以13亿，都会变得微不足道。

为什么我的眼里常含泪水

因为我对这土地爱得深沉

5月14日早上，我收到莱斯特大学中国学联第一次用中英双文发来的信，题为Earthquake。

 

亲爱的同胞们：

      相信大家这两天都在关注祖国的地震灾情。到目前为止，据官方统计数据，遇难的同胞已到达了12000人。虽然我们身在异国他乡，但我们相信，大家的心都和祖国的亲人、朋友、以及千千万万素不相识的人连在一起。
      我们莱斯特大学的中国学生来自五湖四海，也许有些同学的家乡现在正在遭受这次近几十年来最大的灾难，他们的亲人朋友正深陷于灾区，而他们的内心也一定焦急万分。希望你们的亲人朋友一切平安，希望你们的家乡平安，希望我们的祖国平安。
      在此灾难当头之际，我们除了默默祈祷遇难人数不要再有所增加、灾难不要再降临到我们的祖国以外，我们还能做的就是相互鼓励，相互扶持，共同与祖国的同胞们度过难关。我们中国学生会希望能成为大家在莱斯特的一个家，如果你需要任何帮助，请与我们的学生会干部联系，我们将竭尽所能为大家分忧解难。
      零八年可以说是多灾多难的一年，我们每一个中国人都经历了很多，但是我们相信，我们的信心、勇气、力量、和希望永远都不会被灾难摧毁！祝我们的祖国一切都好！


                                                                                                            中国学生会

 

当天晚上，第二封信又发了过来：China Earthquake Disaster Help Available at the University‏。

Dear brothers and sisters,

Following our last email, we are writing to let you know that the University Welfare Office has sent its condolence to our Chinese Society Committee. The University is now offering a number of counseling services to help those who are particularly affected by the tragedy. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to check the following link and contact the staff in these services or refer others to them.

http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/bulletin-board/2000-2009/2008/05/nparticle.2008-05-13.1111858097

Best wishes to you and China,

某鼠年运程书批戊子年“天灾横祸肆虐”——“今年天灾横祸特别多……特别容易发生山泥倾泻、倒塌危机、高空意外等……大型地震、海啸将有机会再现，杀伤力也颇强……天气十分反常，不但超级台风肆虐，大型交通事故也容易出现，航空业尤其要留意。影响所及，今年水质也容易出现问题”；“二黑病星入乾宫”——“流感、病毒的力量也不弱，医疗需求持续……今年娱乐圈会容易有互骂的局面出现，是非与麻烦之事也不断出现，正是一波未平一波又起。除了娱乐圈，有关宗教的是非也会经常发生……今年会再次出现有关宗教的各种出位言论，引来不少是非争议，也要慎防异端信仰影响民生。”

 

今天，四川汶川下午2点多发生7.8级地震，全中国甚至香港、台北到泰国、越南都有震感。我们所在办公楼虽没有感觉，但周围高盛、建和都紧急疏散了。一个下午，同事们都嚷着头晕。截止晚上10点，中央一台提供的死亡人数是7651人。7.8这个数字，让人联想起唐山大地震，不寒而栗。下午QQ群上的人们还在半开玩笑的说，今天距离8月8号的北京奥运会刚好还有88天，全国人们共同震撼迎奥运。但听到具体的死亡人数时，内心充满的只有恐惧和难过。

 

突然想起了那本鼠年运程书，翻开最前面的“戊子年大势总论”，看到上面的那些话，再回想起开年以来的天灾人祸，难道真是流年？

 从昨天我就开始盘算，今天下午会放假吗？因为——奥运圣火今天到广州了！下午6点将来到我办公室旁边的广州体育中心！

 

也不知为什么，今天同事们都到得很早，连平时踩着点到的Paul和Nova都在8点40来分就到了公司。Paul买了4、5面小国旗和奥运旗（香港人真爱国啊），Nova也穿了一件红彤彤的上衣。一到公司，大家就议论着下午能否放假去看圣火的事情。好不容易熬过了中午，顾总回公司，Nova和Betty到她办公室谈工作。一会，只见Nova拉开房门，说着：“你看，阿Paul连旗子都买好了……”“是吗？圣火什么时候到体育中心啊？那你们一会都下去迎圣火吧……最好统一一下服装……”“Oh~~~~~~~~~~~~” 我们全部开心得大叫，大家还提议把我们凤凰的logo也贴到衣服上。

 

3点半，我们进到体育中心，里面已是里三层外三层。但我们Yoyo很快占领了一个路边的乒乓球台，于是大家都挤了上去。接下来的时间，我们从兴奋到无奈，一会坐一会站地苦等了两个半小时，才终于迎来了圣火。彼时，体育中心的树上、墙上、栏杆上、架子上早已超负荷地挤满了人，我们的乒乓球台更是几次被人意图侵占，但在火炬手来到我们面前的那一刻，所有人迸发的是一个声音：“中国加油！”那一刻，我们在烈日炎炎下的苦等变得那么值得，是为了这30秒钟的亲眼目睹圣火吗？不，更多的是为了发出我们的声音，为了我们在这一刻的参与，为了我们是中国人。

Thousands of Chinese students and expatriates demonstrated on April 19 in Paris' Place de la Republique, to support the upcoming Beijing Olympics and denounce sections of the French media for their distorted reports on the March 14 Lhasa riots.

 

Li Huan, a Chinese student, delivered a long and powerful speech in fluent French at the rally. The speech, delivered in mellow and passionate tones, combined philosophical wisdom with logical thinking, and was cheered long and loud by the Chinese students and expatriates.

 

The speech was written in French by Li Huan himself.

 

Full text:

Ladies and Gentlemen, French and Chinese friends,

Greetings,

I would like first of all to thank the people of Paris and the prefecture of Paris, for having provided the opportunity to hold this meeting and for making this space available. This is a very special occasion, one of the largest assemblies of Chinese people ever to take place in France, indeed in Europe.

I would like to say a few words on behalf of the students who have traveled hundreds of kilometers by bus, train or car to be here. And I would like to pass on the greeting of many others who although they could not be here today, share our attachment to China, to France, to the French people, and to Franco-Chinese friendship.

During the recent campaign of disinformation and demonization of China we students have felt very upset; our feelings have been hurt, but we do not blame you, the French people, because the responsibility lies not with you but with certain irresponsible media organizations and professional agitators.

Like all professions, journalism has professional ethics that ought to be respected. Journalism requires impartiality, objectivity, checking and verification of information, moderation in commentary. Calumny, unproved accusations and distortion of the facts should never be permitted.

But during the recent events certain journalists have departed from their proper role, which ought to be to inform, and have turned into vigilantes possessed of an innate truth, a truth, furthermore, of a delusional simplicity. They have recounted a fable of a gentle victim and a merciless bully; the roles, moreover, were assigned at the outset.

Having assigned these roles a priori they then tried by any and all means to justify their depiction of events. Selectively citing historical facts, they portrayed what was part of the Chinese revolution as an invasion of an integral part of China, making no mention of the obscure theocracy that oppressed 95% of the Tibetan population. They speak about peaceful demonstrations by Tibetan monks, they confuse Nepalese police with Chinese police, pass off 20 year old images as today's, publish information without any pretence at verification, exaggerate death tolls, rely on unreliable witness reports etc.

The testimony of foreign tourists including video footage shot by them showing violence inflicted on innocent people, of innocent passers-by lynched by young rioters, was, apart from a few still pictures, completely ignored. Even worse, certain irresponsible media organizations invented and imposed on us the hypothesis of a bloody repression carried out by the authorities, without, of course, supplying any impartial or credible evidence.

Very few Chinese were interviewed by the press, and the few that appeared were usually put in the position of a defendant outnumbered and surrounded by hostile magistrates.

Yes.

By all means criticize the Chinese government for blocking and controlling information but not by inventing facts.

The way the media have treated news of the Tibet riots amounts to

- Media aggression
- Hype and ideological trickery
- An attempt to impose hegemony of discourse
- A campaign of disinformation
- A gross calumny

The primary victims are the fraternal and compassionate French people, who put their trust in the media, but have unfortunately been manipulated.

A news system that had been a model for us, for the future of China is no longer that. Public opinion is not an object be manipulated, neither in China nor elsewhere. What we have witnessed is nothing more or less than a form of censorship operating within the system of a free press.

And the intellectual laziness of certain politicians, the elite of France, has astonished us.

Human rights has become for some people, I mention in particular Mr. Robert Menard, a sort of crusade and the excuse for all sorts irresponsible agitation undertaken for political ends.

Why was he nowhere to be found during the repeated torture of the inmates of Guantanamo, or when Iraqi prisoners were being subjected to outrages by American soldiers? Isn't this a sort of selective blindness?

UNESCO has called a halt to its support for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and has explained in a declaration that RSF had repeatedly shown a lack of objectivity in dealing with certain countries.

Why might that be?

Let us look at information readily available on the Internet, and furthermore acknowledged and admitted to by our Robert, that RSF is financed by organizations close to the CIA. What does the CIA do? It subverts states hostile to United States' hegemony, or simply blackens their image to further the interests of the USA.

Robert Menard, you are a nothing more than a lackey of the American neo-conservatives; tell your masters the world belongs to those who value love and peace, and will never belong to the American neoconservative promoters of hatred and war.

We, Chinese students overseas, we feel very upset, our feelings have been hurt, but we do not blame the French people. We are the bridge of information and exchange between two very different worlds who find ourselves the first victims of this cultural, ideological, and above all political conflict.

The Chinese in China place great worth on the views of their students in foreign lands about what is happening abroad. China's perception of foreigners depends largely on the sentiments of this expatriate community.

In the face of the western's media's campaign of invention and disinformation, many among our student fraternity have entered the internet fray to proclaim the truth. It is evident to us all that the French are victim to profound misconceptions about China, fed by certain among their domestic media.

The failure of these well-intentioned efforts pains us, the more so as the participants find themselves mocked and ridiculed. They, of all Chinese the most westernized, are accused of being agents of Peking – 'Red Communist Guards'.

Under the clamor to boycott the Olympics, boycott China, free Tibet, a mistrust and resentment of the Chinese towards the West is growing.

The Chinese Government is far from perfect, but it is as absurd to call it the best in the world as to call it the worst. Our generation, the 20 to 30 year olds, have benefited since childhood from China's improvements in standard of living and individual liberty.

We struggle to understand why now, when things are moving in the right direction, suddenly there are so many in foreign lands eager to save us from 'the greatest dictatorship in the world'. Where were you before?

We, the most westernized of the Chinese, have faith in our future. Our country still has far to travel but we, the Chinese, are ready for the journey.

China has its own culture, its own history, its own spirit. Sociology is not an exact science like mathematics – there are far too many variables to arrive at any 'universal model' of absolutes in this sphere.

China is evolving and the people of China are evolving. The Communist Party too is evolving. Old school conservatives are moving on, and being replaced by a younger generation that is much more open and pragmatic. Allow us a little time, and leave the development of China in our hands, in the hands of the young Chinese in foreign lands who will bring back from their travels the best of the West's systems and structures to China.

Go yourselves to China to see the whole story – a China that is not shown to you by so much of the Western media. Go to Tibet and look with your own eyes on the 'cultural genocide', if you can find it. See for yourselves if the Tibetan language is facing extinction. Find out for yourselves whether the monks are free to practice their religion, whether the Tibetans do not fare better than under the Theocracy of the Dalai Lama - talk to older Tibetans about that unforgettable 'Buddhist paradise'.

We must have more direct communication and a better mutual understanding, and we are ready to make our contribution.

The Olympic Games have the support of we students, and they have the support of this people that makes up one fifth of humanity.

To whom do the Olympics truly belong?

To you, to me, to us, to all of us, to all the peoples of the world. They are not a political plaything. Leave them alone, you politicians and your lackeys, and you anti-Chinese movements. Leave them alone, they belong to us. Stop trying to wreck these Games.

China as host country wants to offer the finest of gifts to the world. Millions of Chinese have worked for years to this end. With open arms they have prepared a welcome for the whole of the world.

As the flame travels the world the simple and heartfelt message it carries is this: Come. The people of China have prepared for you a celebration for all of humanity.

When certain media gloat over the blow to China's esteem after the undignified passage through Paris of that torch of peace and friendship between peoples, they are in a sense right. But the blow was not to China, but to the people of China, and to the people of France, and to all those who love the Olympic Games.

Many fear China, and this fear is born of ignorance. All the more reason, then, for direct exchanges through we who represent this solid and faithful bridge of friendship.

We consider that China's culture is one of peace. Our history shows that we have been repeatedly subject to aggression, invaded by peoples who almost invariably themselves became assimilated into China.

I think that this is the core of the strength of a culture that has endured through five thousand years. Intimidating? Perhaps, but a culture is an evolving entity. Whenever you use your chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant, or in any oriental restaurant, the culture of China is opening itself to you. The demonization of China will estrange the Chinese from the West and place distance between peoples. Please, let us speak to each other! We have a sincere message to offer to you: Between our countries, between our peoples, we, the Chinese students, want no part in a conflict that is POINTLESS, AND THAT SERVES NO PURPOSE! Possessing elements of both cultures, we wish to be a bridge, a channel of communication between two peoples. We will speak to you of the feelings and hopes of the people of China, and we will take to China the goodwill of people of France. Trust me, this bridge will be a solid structure, now more than ever, now when it is needed more than ever, in a situation as critical as the present. Hear me, my French friends, I welcome you to my home – yes, even those who wish only to create strife in Beijing. We will offer the same warm welcome to you all. To Beijing then, my good friends… Thank you! Thank you sincerely! (China.org.cn, translated by John Sexton & David Ferguson April 21, 2008)