Andre Vitchek - A letter to the young people of Hong Kong

*A letter to the young people of Hong Kong*

By Andre Vltchek

Friday, January 03, 2020

给香港青年人的一封信

作者 安德烈·弗尔切克

2020年 一月三日 星期五

安德烈·弗尔切克是前苏联出生的美籍小说家、诗人、政治评论员、记者、摄影家和电影制作人。费尔切克曾是一位战地记者，足迹遍布十多个战火地区，从波斯尼亚到秘鲁到斯里兰卡，从刚果（金）到东帝汶。

Now that your city has been in flames for more than six months, your families divided, and no end to the violence is in sight, I have decided to write this short essay, in the form of an open letter, to the young people of Hong Kong.

现在你们的城市既然已经焚烧了六个多月，你们的家庭也分裂了，但暴力的终结还未在望，我决定用公开信的形式，撰写这篇短文给香港的年轻人。

First of all, I want to ask: Why?

首先，我想问：为什么？

Why all this smoke and fire, anger and violence? Were your lives, before the so-called “protests”, or “riots”, really so dismal? 

为什么有这么多烟，火，愤怒和暴力呢？在这些所谓“抗议”，或“暴动”发生之前，你们的生活真的是那么糟糕吗？

You have been living in one of the richest cities on Earth. Even according to Western evaluations, Hong Kong has one of the highest “freedom indexes”, higher than that of most of Western countries.

你们一直生活在地球上最富有的城市之一。就算用西方的尺度来衡量，香港的“自由指数”也是最高之一，比起大部分的西方国家还要高。

Water that comes from your taps is clean, the internet is extremely fast, and public transportation is cheap and one of the best in the world. You can enjoy an exciting cultural life, as well as great public spaces constructed along your impressive coasts.

从你们的水喉流出来的水是洁净的，互联网速度极高，公共交通便宜，也是世界最好之一。你们可以享受多姿多彩的文化生活，和沿着你们的令人印象深刻海岸线建设的优美公共空间。

Naturally, Hong Kong is not a perfect place, as there are no perfect places on this planet.

当然，香港不是一个完美的地方，因为这个地球上是没有完美的地方的。

Your housing is some of the most expensive in the world. Job opportunities for college graduates are not really excellent. Some cities on the Chinese mainland are now more exciting places to live, to create, and to dream than “good old” Hong Kong. But still, it is a fascinating, solid city, with its own culture, mindset and complex history. And in many ways, it is a beautiful city; beautiful and unique.

你们的房屋是世上最昂贵之一。大学生的就业机会也真的不是那么理想。现在， 在中国大陆的一些城市里生活，创作，造梦，比起在香港这个“老名牌”，更带劲。但这仍然是令人向往，有实质的城市，有自己的文化，思维，和错综复杂的历史。

So, why? What happened? Why suddenly such anger, and such frustration?

所以，为什么呢？发生了什么事？为什么突然这么愤怒，不满？

Should we talk? Please let’s.

我们应该对话吗？请吧。

When waving the UK flags, nostalgically recalling your British masters and their rule over Hong Kong, do you even think about some of the most monstrous crimes committed in the history of humankind?

在挥动着英国国旗，依依不舍地怀念你们过去的英国主子和他们管有香港的时期，你们有没有一丁点儿想过人类历史上犯下的一些滔天大罪呢？

I have worked in around 160 countries and territories, on all continents. I have written about and filmed many wars and conflicts. I have been covering revolutions and rebellions, but also terrible riots ignited by Western countries. You probably have heard about the so-called “color revolutions”, or the “Arab Spring”.

我在所有四大洲约一百六十个国家地区工作过。我曾经制作过很多关于战争和纠纷的录像和文章。我采访过革命，叛乱，但也有西方国家煽动的可怕暴动。你们可能听过所谓“颜色革命”，或那“阿拉伯之春”。

I have witnessed, first hand, the fate of countries that have been occupied and then thoroughly destroyed by the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Afghanistan and Syria, Iraq and Colombia, to name just a few. I have seen millions of ruined lives in nations where the West overthrew left-wing governments, and then injected fascism: places like Indonesia (1965), and Chile (1973). Now there is nothing left of Indonesia; its nature is thoroughly ruined and the great majority lives in misery. In Chile, people have stood up, and are proudly fighting and dying for socialism which was stolen from them by Western governments and corporations.

我曾亲眼见证了那些被美国，北约国家占领，随着彻底破坏的国家的命运：阿富汗和叙利亚，伊拉克和哥伦比亚，举几个例。我见过一些国家的左翼政府被西方推翻，随着注入纳粹主义后，数以百万计的人生被摧毁：像印尼(1965), 和智利 (1973)等地方。现在印尼什么也没有了；它的生态被彻底破坏，大部分人生活在困苦中。在智利，人民站起来，骄傲地，为被西方国家和集团盗去的社会主义奋斗，牺牲。

I have lived and worked all over the African continent, the most devastated part of the world, colonized and terrorized first by Europe, and later by the US, for many centuries.

我曾经在非洲多处地方生活工作过。那是世上被蹂躏得最彻底的地方：多个世纪以来最初被欧洲，后来被美国施加殖民，恐怖统治。

In Hong Kong, I see you waving flags of the US. You want that country to “save you from China” — from your own nation, in essence. I have read a translation of your school curriculum. It smears China, and it glorifies the West. Were you told, ever, that in the name of that flag, consisting of the stars and stripes, tens of millions of people, worldwide, were murdered, democracies raped, and freedom of expression horrendously oppressed? Or are you reading only what is brought to you by Reuters and other Western press agencies?

在香港，我见到你们挥动着美国国旗。你们想那国家把你们“从中国拯救出来”，即是，从你们自己的国家。我曾经读过你们学校课程的译本。它诋毁中国，歌颂西方。它从来有没有告诉过你们，以这星条旗的名义，数以千万计的人在世界各地被杀戮，民主被强奸，表达自由被无情压抑？或者你们是不是一直只是阅读路透社和其他西方报社带给你们阅读的？

When waving the UK flags, nostalgically recalling your British masters and their rule over Hong Kong, do you even think about some of the most monstrous crimes committed in the history of humankind? On all continents of the world, the British Empire murdered, humiliated, violated and plundered hundreds of millions of people. Human beings were reduced to slaves. Their lives, identities were reduced to nothing.

在挥动着英国国旗，依依不舍地怀念你们过去的英国主子和他们管有香港的时期，你们有没有一丁点儿想过人类历史上犯下的一些滔天大罪呢？在世界所有四大洲，英国帝国杀戮，羞辱，侵犯，抢掠了数以亿计的人。有尊严的人被贬为奴隶。他们的生命，身份被贬成一无所有。

Were you told this? Do you realize it? When you wave these flags, when your leaders are taking bribes from the US and the EU establishment, do you ever think what kind of money you are touching? Do you ever consider that this money is soaked in blood?

他们对你们有说过吗？你们知道吗？当你们挥动这些旗，当你们的领袖收取美国和欧盟当局的贿赂，你们有没有想过你们碰的是什么类型的钱？你们曾否考虑过这些钱是浸过在血中的呢？

I saw several of you demanding “independence from China”. I even witnessed some of you calling China a “terrorist” state.

我见到你们有几个人要求“脱离中国独立”。我甚至见证你们一些人称中国是一个“恐怖主义” 国家。

Have you ever, seriously, compared the Chinese political system to that so-called “democracy” of the West?

你们有没有认真地比较过中国的政治制度与西方的所谓“民主”呢？

Let me give you a simple quiz: In the last decades, how many countries have been attacked by China, and how many by the West? Just do a simple calculation, please. It is so simple; so clear. How many countries have been bombed to the ground, and thoroughly ruined by China, and how many by the West?

让我给你们一个简单的提问：过去几十年，有多少国家给中国攻击过，多少给西方攻击过？就做一个简单的计算吧，请。就是那么简单；那么清晰。有多少国家给中国炸成平地，彻底被摧毁；多少给西方的？

And democracy? In China, the government listens to its people. In reality, democracy means nothing more than the direct translation from Greek — rule of the people. In the People’s Republic of China, the government is working to improve the lives of its citizens, while building a global infrastructure for all (the Belt and Road Initiative). Now, look at the West: Most of the citizens in North America and Europe hate their system, but cannot get rid of it. Some of you regularly travel to the West: Don’t you hear what the people are saying there?

民主吗？在中国，政府聆听人民。实际上，民主的意思就是直接从希腊文翻译过来的－人民作主的意思。在中华人民共和国，政府致力改善自己人民的生活，同时也为所有人建造一个全球性的架构(一带一路倡议)。现在看看西方。北美和欧洲的大部分人民都憎恨他们的政治制度，但不能革除它。你们当中有定期去西方的，你们没有听过那里的人说什么吗？

In the last two decades, China has lifted up hundreds of millions out of poverty. In the West, the governments have buried billions of people in misery in all their colonies. Despite of the terrible plunder of the world, tens of millions are destitute at home, in both North America and Europe.

过去二十年，中国已经把数以亿计的人从贫困中解救出来。而西方国家则把数以十亿计的人埋葬在它们的殖民地里。虽然他们可怕地掠夺了整个世界，北美和欧洲本土仍有数以千万计的贫困人口。

Despite of the not-too-high GDP per capita, China has almost no misery, while tens of millions of the US citizens are living in poverty. There are many more prisoners (per capita) in the US prisons, than in the Chinese ones. 

虽然人均国内生产总值不是很高，中国几乎没有极度贫困，但数以千万计的美国人生活贫困。以人均计算，困在美国监狱里的囚犯要比中国的多得多。

Many US prisons are now privatized: It is a big business. The more that are held behind bars, the bigger the profit!

现在很多美国监狱已经私有化：这是一门大生意。越多人收监，盈利越高。

Is this a system in which you’d want to live? Is it, really?

你们是想生活在这个制度中吗？是真的吗？

I know the West very well. And I know China. These days, in Hong Kong, some of you are waving Western flags, while insulting Beijing.

我对西方很熟悉。也认识中国。这些日子里，在香港，你们当中有些人挥动着西方旗帜，同时侮辱北京。

The West has the most powerful propaganda on Earth. It has the ability to twist everything, to call black white, and vice versa.

西方有地球上最有力的宣传工具。它有能力扭曲任何事情，指黑为白，或相反。

But frankly, it is Beijing that has the ability and desire to help solve the problems of Hong Kong.

但坦白说，有能力和有心解决香港问题的是北京。

Do you really think that Washington, London or Berlin are genuinely interested in helping your city? I am convinced that they only want to break China, and to continue ruling over the world.

你们真的以为华盛顿，伦敦，柏林有诚意帮助你们的城市吗？我深信他们只想打垮中国，继续统治世界。

To conclude this letter, let me say what has to be said. After speaking to people that are now angrily waving black banners, as well as US and UK flags, I realized that they know very little about the state of the world. And, they do not want to listen to different points of view. When confronted intellectually, they become violent.

最后，让我讲一定要讲的话。和一些愤怒地挥动黑橫額, 和美国英国国旗的人谈过后，我发觉他们对世局认识很少。还有，他们不想聆听不同的观点。面对理性质询，会变得暴力。

That is not a democratic approach; not at all.

这不是民主方式，一点也不是。

I suggest we talk. Publicly. Let us debate the very definitions of democracy. Let us discuss who has done more harm to the world: China or the West? I am ready, anytime.

我建议我们对话。公开对话。让我们辩论民主的定义。让我们讨论谁给世界造成更大伤害：中国或西方？我准备好了，随时。

If the leaders of Hong Kong riots, or “protests”, are confident that they are correct, let us face each other, in front of microphones and cameras.

如果香港的暴动，或“抗议者”的领袖有信心他们是对的，让我们在咪和相机前，面对大家。

I love your city. I love Hong Kong. I love China. And I strongly believe that China and Hong Kong are one beautiful, inseparable entity. 

我爱你们的城市。我爱香港。我爱中国。我还深信中国和香港是一个美丽的，不可分离的个体。

I am ready to give my best proving that point.

我已准备为证明这点，尽我的力做得最好。

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