萬維（Creaders.net）網友趙曉來稿

“如果美國不再善良，美國就不再偉大”——昨天拙作發出後，好友成先生溫馨提醒，這句話來自里根的演說：

“誠如1983年裡根總統在著名的《邪惡帝國》演說中，引用美國建國先賢托馬斯・潘恩的箴言： ‘如果美國不再善良，美國就不再偉大’。”

找來了里根“邪惡帝國”的經典演說，裡面其實是這麼說的：

“阿歷克西·德·托克維爾(譯註:19世紀法國思想家，《論美國的民主》作者)，他在探究美國走向繁榮昌盛的奧秘時——寫道：‘直到我走入了美國的教堂，目睹了美國神職人員的正直虔誠，我才明白了美國崛起的奧秘...美國是一個善良的國家。如果美國不再善良，那她必定衰落。’”

里根引自的是托克維爾！里根想要表明：美國是一個善良的國家。但如果美國不再善良，那她必定衰落！

再次強調：這句話的出處或許重要，但更重要的是準確理解這句話的含意。

讓我們細細重溫里根的演講。他談到的“善良”，顯然不是我們中國人通常所理解的人文色彩的“善良”，學雷鋒做好事、與人為善之類，而是與“良善”的上帝緊緊相連所生出來的偉大品格：公義、慈愛、憐憫、熱愛真理以及尋求在真理里的真自由等等。

這裡的”善良“，也絕非今天“白左”表面上的道德高調，而是內心真正對上帝之律法、對真理的謙卑遵守。離開了上帝，人類的所謂善良、公義，都是污穢的衣裳。

“善良”的對立面，是“邪惡”。然而，這個“邪惡”，也不是我們一般人所理解“這人很壞”之類的含意，而是指遠離並抵擋良善與神聖的上帝，進而由此產生的“邪惡”，是必須從神學上才能完全理解的意思。

1983年3月8日，美國總統里根在著名的《邪惡帝國》演講中，就清晰而深刻地闡述了善與惡之間鮮明的對比。他提醒我們，”善良“之所以存在，是因為它植根於對上帝的虔誠信仰；而”邪惡“之所以蔓延，則因人類逐漸遠離了對於上帝的信仰。蘇聯帝國之所以是“邪惡帝國”，不僅是因為他壞，本質是因為它主張無神論，公然抵擋良善的上帝！

遠離、拒絕上帝的後果很嚴重，其中之一是失去自由。里根引用威廉·佩恩所言：“如果我們不在上帝治下，就只能在暴君治下。”里根再三強調，美國建國之初，先賢們明確地將自由、民主的基礎，建立在對上帝的敬畏之上。

里根深刻指出：“只有人民有信仰，認可在上帝治下依法生活，自由才能茁壯發展。”當社會拋棄上帝、追逐世俗主義，個體道德便開始墮落，集體的正義感也隨之消失。

這些話如同黃鐘大呂，敲醒今天多少“理中客”，夢中人、自由派！

從歐陸“啟蒙運動”，到中國“五四”時期的“非基運動”，到里根時代，再到我們今天，遠離、拒絕上帝，並試圖引領烏合之眾離開上帝的一直是古今中外的左派精英們。他們離開了上帝去尋找自由與善良，無異於緣木求魚。

里根在演講中提及C·S·路易斯的著作《地獄來鴻》，警醒我們最深沉的邪惡往往並非來自集中營、勞改營，正是來自這些衣冠楚楚、沉默不語的“左派精英”們。當良心遠離上帝，道德便淪陷為工具。

里根呼籲，善良的人們要起來與邪惡爭戰！面對當時蘇聯的威脅，里根明確指出妥協與綏靖政策的愚昧。他深知，人類歷史上真正的爭戰從未僅僅局限於軍事，根本上是精神與信仰的較量。他宣稱：“我們絕不會放棄自由。我們絕不拋棄對上帝的信仰。”因為他知道，只有堅守在上帝公義的法則之下，才能真正對抗邪惡的力量。

里根的演講可謂超級醒腦文。40多年彈指過去，這聲音從不過時，他清楚地告訴我們：

信仰上帝、親近良善的上帝，人類才有善良，國家才有善良；
拒絕上帝、抵擋良善的上帝，人類必然墮落，國家走向邪惡。

今天的我們，更加需要聽從里根的警醒與呼籲：“沒錯，你們能改變這個世界。”而改變的力量，必定源自我們對良善上帝的虔誠信仰，及對永恆真理的不懈追求。



附錄：里根總統《邪惡帝國》演講全文


（1983年3月8日，美國總統里根在美國福音派新教協會發表了本篇演說，因在演講中將蘇聯稱為“邪惡帝國”，故而得名。）


And, Reverend Clergy all, Senator Hawkins, distinguished members of the Florida congressional delegation, and all of you:

尊敬的全體神職人員，哈金斯參議員，尊敬的佛羅里達州議會代表團，全體來賓：

I can't tell you how you have warmed my heart with your welcome. I'm delighted to be here today.

感謝大家的熱烈歡迎，我對此受寵若驚，難以言表。我很高興今天能來到這裡。

Those of you in the National Association of Evangelicals are known for your spiritual and humanitarian work. And I would be especially remiss if I didn't discharge right now one personal debt of gratitude. Thank you for your prayers. Nancy and I have felt their presence many times in many ways. And believe me, for us they've made all the difference.

全國福音派新教協會的各位，都因你們高尚偉大的人道主義工作而享譽美名。如果我不在此表達個人感謝，顯然有失偏頗。感謝你們的祈福。我和南希(譯者注:里根總統的夫人)都能感受到大家的賜福。相信我，大家的祈福真的有用。

The other day in the East Room of the White House at a meeting there, someone asked me whether I was aware of all the people out there who were praying for the President. And I had to say, "Yes, I am. I've felt it. I believe in intercessionary prayer." But I couldn't help but say to that questioner after he'd asked the question that -- or at least say to them that if sometimes when he was praying he got a busy signal, it was just me in there ahead of him. I think I understand how Abraham Lincoln felt when he said, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." From the joy and the good feeling of this conference, I go to a political reception. Now, I don't know why, but that bit of scheduling reminds me of a story which I'll share with you.

前幾天，我們在白宮東房舉行會議時，有人問我，你有沒有發現那邊的人們都在為你祈禱。我說，“當然了，我不僅注意到了，我還感受到了。我相信祈禱真的有效。”然後他問完後，我沒忍住對他說——對我身後的所有人說，如果有人覺得他們的祈福沒有用的話，那是因為我站在你前面，不小心把你的福接住了。我覺得，我現在能理解亞伯拉罕·林肯總統說下這句話時的感受了，“我始終堅定着一個信念，那便是我無處可去。”這次會議讓我感到很開心，但在這之後，我很快就要帶着這種心情前往一次政治接待會。我也不知道為什麼，這個日程安排讓我想起了一個笑話，我講給你們聽。

An evangelical minister and a politician arrived at Heaven's gate one day together. And St. Peter, after doing all the necessary formalities, took them in hand to show them where their quarters would be. And he took them to a small, single room with a bed, a chair, and a table and said this was for the clergyman. And the politician was a little worried about what might be in store for him. And he couldn't believe it then when St. Peter stopped in front of a beautiful mansion with lovely grounds, many servants, and told him that these would be his quarters.

一個福音派牧師和一個政客同時抵達了天堂的大門。做完必要的手續後，聖彼得負責安排二人的事務，並帶他們去看看自己的住所。他先是把二人待到一個狹小的單人間，裡面只有一張床，一把椅子和一張桌子，聖彼得說，這是牧師的房間。然後政客立馬就開始慌了，心想自己的房間得是個什麼樣。然後聖彼得把他帶到一間大豪宅，裡面有漂亮的草坪，還有許多僕人，聖彼得告訴他，這是他的住所，他當場目瞪口呆。

And he couldn't help but ask, he said, "But wait, how -- there's something wrong -- how do I get this mansion while that good and holy man only gets a single room?" And St. Peter said, "You have to understand how things are up here. We've got thousands and thousands of clergy. You're the first politician who ever made it."

他忍不住問道，“這，怎麼可能呢——肯定是搞錯了——那位善良的牧師只能住在一個單人間，我為什麼能住豪宅？”然後聖彼得說，“你不了解天堂這邊的情況。天堂里的牧師多得數都數不清。但是政客里，你還真是第一個上來的。”

But I don't want to contribute to a stereotype. So I tell you there are a at many God-fearing, dedicated, noble men and women in public life, present company included. And yes, we need your help to keep us ever-mindful of the ideas and the principles that brought us into the public arena in the first place. The basis of those ideals and principles is a commitment to freedom and personal liberty that, itself is grounded in the much deeper realization that freedom prospers only where the blessings of God are avidly sought and humbly accepted.

但是我並不想宣揚這一刻板印象。所以我想跟大家講述一些信仰虔誠、高貴奉獻的男女政治家的故事，當然，這些人也包括在場的各位。是的，我們需要大家的不斷提醒，才能不忘步入政壇伊始所懷揣的理想和原則。這些理想原則的基礎，便是為自由事業和個人自由英勇獻身，而自由事業本身想要發展繁榮，就必須根植於虔誠信仰上帝，謙卑接受上帝賜福的土地。

The American experiment in democracy rests on this insight. Its discovery was the great triumph of our Founding Fathers, voiced by William Penn when he said: "If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants." Explaining the inalienable rights of men, Jefferson said, "The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And it was George Washington who said that "of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

美國的民主制度實驗正是在這一基礎認知上進行的。我們的開國元勛們都意識到了這關鍵一點，威廉·佩恩曾說過：“如果我們不在上帝治下，就只能在暴君治下。”傑斐遜總統在解釋天賦人權時，說過，“上帝賦予我們生命的同時，也賦予了我們自由。”喬治·華盛頓總統也說過，“在所有走向繁榮的因素和習慣中，宗教與道德都是必不可少的支持。 ”(譯者註：出自華盛頓總統告別演說)

And finally, that shrewdest of all observers of American democracy, Alexis de Tocqueville, put it eloquently after he had gone on a search for the secret of America's greatness and genius—and he said: "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the greatness and the genius of America. . . . America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

最後還有觀察美國民主制度的集大成者，阿歷克西·德·托克維爾(譯者注:19世紀法國思想家，《論美國的民主》作者)，他在探究美國走向繁榮昌盛的奧秘時——寫道：“直到我走入了美國的教堂，目睹了美國神職人員的正直虔誠，我才明白了美國崛起的奧秘...美國是一個善良的國家。如果美國不再善良，那她必定衰落。”

Well, I'm pleased to be here today with you who are keeping America great by keeping her good. Only through your work and prayers and those of millions of others can we hope to survive this perilous century and keep alive this experiment in liberty, this last, best hope of man.

而今天，我很高興能和各位見面，正是各位讓美國保持善良，從而使她偉大。美國，這一自由制度的偉大實驗，這一人類文明的最後希望，想要能度過這一風起雲湧的一個世紀，離不開在場各位和成百上千萬信徒的努力工作和虔誠祈禱。

I want you to know that this administration is motivated by a political philosophy that sees the greatness of America in you, her people, and in your families, churches, neighborhoods, communities—the institutions that foster and nourish values like concern for others and respect for the rule of law under God.

我要告訴各位，本屆政府正是從你們人民，從你們的家庭、教堂、街區和社群——這些群體組織一直捍衛着美國“上帝至上，法律至上”的價值觀，我們正是從中看到了美國偉大的奧秘，從而確立了我們的執政理念。

Now, I don't have to tell you that this puts us in opposition to, or at least out of step with, a prevailing attitude of many who have turned to a modern-day secularism, discarding the tried and time-tested values upon which our very civilization is based. No matter how well intentioned, their value system is radically different from that of most Americans. And while they proclaim that they're freeing us from superstitions of the past, they've taken upon themselves the job of superintending us by government rule and regulation. Sometimes their voices are louder than ours, but they are not yet a majority.

但是，想必我無需多說，大家也知道，我們的觀念與當前盛行的現代世俗主義處於對立面，起碼是二者不怎麼合得來，他們決定拋棄美利堅文明的立足根基，拋棄我們久經歷練的價值觀。無論他們本意多麼美好，他們激進的價值理念已讓他們和大多數美國人涇渭分明。他們嘴上說着要破除迷信，解放思想，身體上卻做着讓政府主權壓過人民主權的工作。即便有時他們的聲音會蓋過我們，但是他們終究不是多數。

An example of that vocal superiority is evident in a controversy now going on in Washington. And since I'm involved, I've been waiting to hear from the parents of young America. How far are they willing to go in giving to government their prerogatives as parents?

當前華盛頓正在爭論的話題，就是他們聲浪蓋過我們的典例。自從我了解到該話題以來，我就一直想聽聽美國年輕人父輩們的聲音。他們願意將自己身為父母所具有的權利，從中挑選出部分轉交給政府嗎？

Let me state the case as briefly and simply as I can. An organization of citizens, sincerely motivated and deeply concerned about the increase in illegitimate births and abortions involving girls well below the age of consent, sometime ago established a nationwide network of clinics to offer help to these girls and, hopefully, alleviate this situation. Now, again, let me say, I do not fault their intent. However, in their well-intentioned effort, these clinics have decided to provide advice and birth control drugs and devices to underage girls without the knowledge of their parents.

我簡明扼要地舉個例子。有一個公民組織，他們十分關切婚外孕問題和未滿墮胎同意年齡女孩的墮胎問題，他們不久前建立了一套全國診所網，為這些女孩提供幫助，以緩解這一現象。我再次強調，我相信他們的意圖是好的。雖然他們好心，但是他們為未成年女孩提供了各種建議、避孕藥和避孕措施，但卻未經其父母同意。

For some years now, the federal government has helped with funds to subsidize these clinics. In providing for this, the Congress decreed that every effort would be made to maximize parental participation. Nevertheless, the drugs and devices are prescribed without getting parental consent or giving notification after they've done so. Girls termed "sexually active"—and that has replaced the word "promiscuous"—are given this help in order to prevent illegitimate birth or abortion.

聯邦政府這幾年都在加大資金投入，以糾正診所的此類情況。與此同時，國會也通過法令宣布，會讓儘可能父母參與此類問題。但是未經父母同意、未通知父母就提供避孕藥、避孕工具的現象依然存在。有些姑娘喜歡用“性活躍”一詞——代替我們常說的“濫交淫亂”——而她們就是上述診所的目標人群，以減少出現婚外孕和墮胎情況。

Well, we have ordered clinics receiving federal funds to notify the parents such help has been given. One of the nation's leading newspapers has created the term "squeal rule" in editorializing against us for doing this, and we're being criticized for violating the privacy of young people. A judge has recently granted an injunction against an enforcement of our rule. I've watched TV panel shows discuss this issue, seen columnists pontificating on our error, but no one seems to mention morality as playing a part in the subject of sex.

我們會為這些診所發放資金補貼，前提是他們在提供避孕措施後，必須通知女方父母。我國一家巨頭報社在寫稿時，發明了“告密制”一詞來抨擊我們，說我們侵犯了青年人的隱私權。近期還有一名法官發布了法院警告令，反對我們這一措施的實施。我看電視上，還有節目邀請許多作家，自顧自地批評政府在性問題上的不當舉措，但是卻對其中的道德問題隻字不提。

Is all of Judeo-Christian tradition wrong? Are we to believe that something so sacred can be looked upon as a purely physical thing with no potential for emotional and psychological harm? And isn't it the parents' right to give counsel and advice to keep their children from making mistakes that may affect their entire lives?

難道千年來的猶太基督傳統都是錯誤的嗎？難道我們真的應該相信，有那麼些事情已經神聖到了不可侵犯，只要其不造成實質傷害，我們就要徹底忽略其潛在的心理健康危害，是這樣嗎？難道父母沒有權利給予自己的孩子建議，防止他們犯下後悔一生的錯誤嗎？

Many of us in government would like to know what parents think about this intrusion in their family by government. We're going to fight in the courts. The right of parents and the rights of family take precedence over those of Washington-based bureaucrats and social engineers.

我們政府中的許多官員都很想知道，父母怎麼看待政府插手他們的家庭事務。我們會在法庭上為父母發聲。我們堅持認為，父母的權利、家屬的權利比那些高居華盛頓的官僚和社會改良家更加重要。

But the fight against parental notification is really only one example of many attempts to water down traditional values and even abrogate the original terms of American democracy. Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. When our Founding Fathers passed the first amendment, they sought to protect churches from government interference. They never intended to construct a wall of hostility between government and the concept of religious belief itself.

但是，對我們傳統價值觀的攻擊，甚至是企圖顛覆美國民主制度初始條規的企圖還有許多，反對父母知情權只是其中一種形式。只有人民有信仰，認可在上帝治下依法生活，自由才能茁壯發展。我們的開國元勛通過第一份憲法修正案，為的就是防止政府干涉攻擊宗教事務。而不是要讓政府和宗教走向敵對。

The evidence of this permeates our history and our government. The Declaration of Independence mentions the Supreme Being no less than four times. "In God We Trust" is engraved on our coinage. The Supreme Court opens its proceedings with a religious invocation. And the members of Congress open their sessions with a prayer. I just happen to believe the schoolchildren of the United States are entitled to the same privileges as Supreme Court Justices and Congressmen.

宗教貫穿了我國歷史和美國政府。《獨立宣言》中曾不下4次提到至高上帝。我國的貨幣上都赫然印着“信仰上帝”。最高法院都要先進行宗教禱告，才能正式開始司法程序。國會議員們在就任時也要向上帝祈禱。我就認為，美國上學的孩子們同樣應該享有信仰上帝的權利，就像最高法院法官和國會議員一樣。

Last year, I sent the Congress a constitutional amendment to restore prayer to public schools. Already this session, there's growing bipartisan support for the amendment, and I am calling on the Congress to act speedily to pass it and to let our children pray.

去年，我在國會提出了一份憲法修正案，旨在恢復公立學校的祈禱制。而本屆國會上，支持該修正案的兩黨議員數量不斷增加，我在此呼籲國會儘快通過該修正案，讓我們的孩子早日向上帝祈禱。

Perhaps some of you read recently about the Lubbock school case, where a judge actually ruled that it was unconstitutional for a school district to give equal treatment to religious and nonreligious student groups, even when the group meetings were being held during the students' own time. The first amendment never intended to require government to discriminate against religious speech.

興許大家不少人最近都聽說了拉伯克校園案，學校平等對待信仰宗教學生和無神論學生，竟然被一位法官裁定為違憲，甚至學生私下在私人聚會時，都不許發表宗教言論。憲法第一修正案的意圖，從來都不是讓政府干涉人民的宗教言論。

Senators Denton and Hatfield have proposed legislation in the Congress on the whole question of prohibiting discrimination against religious forms of student speech. Such legislation could go far to restore freedom of religious speech for public school students. And I hope the Congress considers these bills quickly. And with your help, I think it's possible we could also get the constitutional amendment through the Congress this year.

丹頓和哈特菲爾德兩位參議員已經在國會上提議採取立法措施，全面禁止政府干涉學生的宗教言論。該法令會保護公立學校內學生的言論自由和信仰自由。因此我希望國會儘快審議此類法令。而且在大家的幫助下，我相信我們有望在今年讓國會通過憲法修正案。

More than a decade ago, a Supreme Court decision literally wiped off the books of 50 states statutes protecting the rights of unborn children. Abortion on demand now takes the lives of up to one and a half million unborn children a year. Human life legislation ending this tragedy will some day pass the Congress, and you and I must never rest until it does. Unless and until it can be proven that the unborn child is not a living entity, then its right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must be protected.

十多年前，最高法院通過了的一項決議，實際上剝奪了全美50州所有未出生兒童的人權(譯者注:指1972年羅訴韋德案，致使美國全境廢除墮胎禁令，該判決已於2022年被推翻)。現在每年因放開墮胎而失去生命的兒童數量達到了150萬。我們的救命法案會終結這場悲劇，終有一天，此類法案會在國會上通過，而在那一天來臨之前，我們絕不停止鬥爭。除非有證據證明，未出生的孩子不是活體，不是活生生的人命，否則他們的生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利就必須得到保障。

You may remember that when abortion on demand began, many, and, indeed, I'm sure many of you, warned that the practice would lead to a decline in respect for human life, that the philosophical premises used to justify abortion on demand would ultimately be used to justify other attacks on the sacredness of human life—infanticide or mercy killing. Tragically enough, those warnings proved all too true. Only last year a court permitted the death by starvation of a handicapped infant.

大家應該還記得，在墮胎放開時，許多人都警告稱，這種行為會導致對人類生命的漠視，這种放開墮胎的思想，最終會一發不可收拾，導致更多殺人悲劇發生——比如殺嬰或安樂死。而很遺憾，大家的警告全部應驗了。就在去年，某地法院眼睜睜看着一個殘疾嬰兒被活活餓死。

I have directed the Health and Human Services Department to make clear to every health care facility in the United States that the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects all handicapped persons against discrimination based on handicaps, including infants. And we have taken the further step of requiring that each and every recipient of federal funds who provides health care services to infants must post and keep posted in a conspicuous place a notice stating that "discriminatory failure to feed and care for handicapped infants in this facility is prohibited by federal law." It also lists a 24-hour, toll-free number so that nurses and others may report violations in time to save the infant's life.

我已經向衛生和公共服務部下達指示，昭告全美的醫保機構遵從《1973年康復法》，保護全體殘疾人士不受區別對待，當然也包括嬰兒在內。我們也採取了進一步措施，要求全國所有接受聯邦資助的嬰兒衛生機構，在顯眼位置張貼上標語“根據聯邦法律，本機構嚴禁因歧視殘障而拒絕養育嬰兒”。標語旁還必須附上24小時機構熱線，這樣護士或者其他人發現了違法行為之後，才能及時報告，挽救嬰兒的生命。

In addition, recent legislation introduced in the Congress by Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois not only increases restrictions on publicly financed abortions, it also addresses this whole problem of infanticide. I urge the Congress to begin hearings and to adopt legislation that will protect the right of life to all children, including the disabled or handicapped.

此外，伊利諾伊州的亨利·海迪眾議員近期在國會提案，要求不僅要大力限制公共機構的墮胎，而且還要還把墮胎問題稱為“殺嬰問題”。我督促國會召開聽證會，並採取立法措施，保護全體兒童的生命權，包括殘障兒童。

Now, I'm sure that you must get discouraged at times, but you've done better than you know, perhaps. There's a great spiritual awakening in America, a renewal of the traditional values that have been the bedrock of America's goodness and greatness.

我知道，大家現在比較氣餒，但是大家或許不知道，你們做出的實際貢獻超乎自己的想象。美國人民正在覺醒，美國傳統價值觀正在復興，它們將構成美國善良偉大的根基。

One recent survey by a Washington-based research council concluded that Americans were far more religious than the people of other nations; 95 percent of those surveyed expressed a belief in God and a huge majority believed the Ten Commandments had real meaning in their lives. And another study has found that an overwhelming majority of Americans disapprove of adultery, teenage sex, pornography, abortion, and hard drugs. And this same study showed a deep reverence for the importance of family ties and religious belief.

前不久，華盛頓調查理事會的一份報告顯示，美國人比全世界所有國家都更加虔誠；95%的調查參與者表示自己信仰上帝，大多數人認為摩西十戒對他們的生活意義非凡。另一份調查報告中，絕大多數美國人都對通姦、青年性愛、色情作品、墮胎和毒品持反對態度。這份報告還表明，美國人民十分重視家庭紐帶和宗教信仰。

I think the items that we've discussed here today must be a key part of the nation's political agenda. For the first time the Congress is openly and seriously debating and dealing with the prayer and abortion issues—and that's enormous progress right there. I repeat: America is in the midst of a spiritual awakening and a moral renewal. And with your biblical keynote, I say today, "Yes, let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream."

我認為，我們今天討論的事務必須被提上國家政治議程，而且要是重中之重。這會是國會有史以來首次公開嚴肅就祈禱問題和墮胎問題進行討論決議——而這標誌着我們事業向前邁進一大步。我重申：美國人民已經覺醒，我們會重拾精神道德。在此，我借用《聖經》中的名句，“惟願公平如大水滾滾、使公義如江河滔滔。”

Now, obviously, much of this new political and social consensus I've talked about is based on a positive view of American history, one that takes pride in our country's accomplishments and record. But we must never forget that no government schemes are going to perfect man. We know that living in this world means dealing with what philosophers would call the phenomenology of evil or, as theologians would put it, the doctrine of sin.

很顯然，我剛才談論這一新政治社會問題，是站在肯定美國歷史的角度上，我對美國的歷史和成就感到深深自豪。但是我們要牢記，政府再怎麼做，也不可能讓人盡善盡美。我們都知道，人生於世，就註定要對抗哲學家口中的“邪惡現象”，或者神學家口中的“罪惡教條”。

There is sin and evil in the world, and we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might. Our nation, too, has a legacy of evil with which it must deal. The glory of this land has been its capacity for transcending the moral evils of our past. For example, the long struggle of minority citizens for equal rights, once a source of disunity and civil war, is now a point of pride for all Americans. We must never go back. There is no room for racism, anti-Semitism, or other forms of ethnic and racial hatred in this country.

而世界上，罪惡和邪惡橫行，我等手握《聖經》，信仰天主的信徒正在全力以赴地對抗他們。我們國內當然也有邪惡問題尚未處理。美國之所以偉大光榮，就是因為我們過去能驅散道德罪惡。比如說，我們曾長期為少數族裔公民爭奪平等權，為此導致了國家分裂和一場內戰，但是今天的美國人為此感到自豪。我們絕不能跟隨歷史倒退逆流。我們不允許種族主義、反猶主義等民族種族仇恨思想荼毒這個國家。

I know that you've been horrified, as have I, by the resurgence of some hate groups preaching bigotry and prejudice. Use the mighty voice of your pulpits and the powerful standing of your churches to denounce and isolate these hate groups in our midst. The commandment given us is clear and simple: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

我知道大家很擔憂，我也是一樣，這些宣揚保守偏見的仇恨組織捲土重來，讓我們感到坐立難安。我們要運用教堂教會神聖強大的聲音，譴責並阻絕這些散播仇恨的害群之馬。《聖經》戒條已經給了我們簡潔明了的指示：“要愛人如愛己。”

But whatever sad episodes exist in our past, any objective observer must hold a positive view of American history, a history that has been the story of hopes fulfilled and dreams made into reality. Especially in this century, America has kept alight the torch of freedom, but not just for ourselves but for millions of others around the world.

儘管歷史上發生了許多不幸，但任何一個客觀學者，都會對美國歷史持肯定態度，我們國家的歷史就是一群人滿懷希望，將夢想變為現實的過程。尤其是本世紀以來，美國就一直捍衛着自由火炬，自由的光芒不僅閃耀着美國，還照亮了世界數以億計的人民。

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as President, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas—that's their name for religion—or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old, exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat.

而這就引出了我今天要談論的以後一點。在我就任總統之後的首個新聞發布會上，我在回答記者的問題時說道，蘇聯領導人不愧是合格的馬列主義者，他們公開宣稱，自己只認可能夠推進他們事業的道德理論，即世界革命。我要聲明一下，我只是在引用他們精神領袖列寧的原話罷了，列寧在1920年曾說過，他們否定一切唯心主義理念道德——這個詞就是他們對宗教的稱呼——也不承認階級理論之外的任何思想。道德要為階級鬥爭而服務。只要能打破舊剝削世界，團結無產階級，沒有什麼事情是不能做的。

Well, I think the refusal of many influential people to accept this elementary fact of Soviet doctrine illustrates an historical reluctance to see totalitarian powers for what they are. We saw this phenomenon in the 1930s. We see it too often today.

我想，很多有頭有臉的大人物都難以接受蘇聯主義的這一本質，這也證明了，歷史反對極權主義。我們早在30年代就觀察到了這種歷史大勢所趨。現在這一趨勢愈加明顯。

This doesn't mean we should isolate ourselves and refuse to seek an understanding with them. I intend to do everything I can to persuade them of our peaceful intent, to remind them that it was the West that refused to use its nuclear monopoly in the forties and fifties for territorial gain and which now proposes 50-percent cut in strategic ballistic missiles and the elimination of an entire class of land-based, intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

這不代表我們就應該與他們分道揚鑣，不再尋求與他們和解。我會竭盡所能讓蘇聯相信我們的和平意願，並提醒他們，四五十年代的時候，擁有核壟斷優勢的是西方，當時沒有利用核優勢侵占他國領土的也是西方，現在提出削減50%戰略彈道導彈的還是西方，提議徹底銷毀各級路基中程核導彈的也是西方。

At the same time, however, they must be made to understand we will never compromise our principles and standards. We will never give away our freedom. We will never abandon our belief in God. And we will never stop searching for a genuine peace. But we can assure none of these things America stands for through the so-called nuclear freeze solutions proposed by some.

但與此同時，蘇聯也必須清楚，我們在原則問題上絕不會妥協讓步。我們絕不會放棄自由。我們絕不拋棄對上帝的信仰。我們絕不停止尋求真正和平。但我們僅靠某些人提出的所謂核凍結方案，是沒辦法捍衛美國所象徵的一切的。

The truth is that a freeze now would be a very dangerous fraud, for that is merely the illusion of peace. The reality is that we must find peace through strength.

事實是，核凍結會營造一種危險的和平假象。我們必須以實力捍和平。

I would agree to a freeze if only we could freeze the Soviets' global desires. A freeze at current levels of weapons would remove any incentive for the Soviets to negotiate seriously in Geneva and virtually end our chances to achieve the major arms reductions which we have proposed. Instead, they would achieve their objectives through the freeze.

如果凍結核武器的同時，也能凍結蘇聯人征服世界的野心，那我當然雙手贊成。現階段水平的武器凍結，只能讓蘇聯在日內瓦會議上更加輕蔑傲慢，從而不利於我們提出的主要軍備削減計劃。這反而會幫助蘇聯達成他們的目標。

A freeze would reward the Soviet Union for its enormous and unparalleled military buildup. It would prevent the essential and long overdue modernization of United States and allied defenses and would leave our aging forces increasingly vulnerable. And an honest freeze would require extensive prior negotiations on the systems and numbers to be limited and on the measures to ensure effective verification and compliance. And the kind of a freeze that has been suggested would be virtually impossible to verify. Such a major effort would divert us completely from our current negotiations on achieving substantial reductions.

蘇聯擁有規模巨大、難以比擬的常規軍事力量，核凍結能讓蘇聯大展拳腳。美國及其盟國的國防力量缺乏必要的現代化軍事改革，我們落後的軍隊愈加脆弱，核凍結也將使得我們的軍事改革難以開展。何況要實現真正的核凍結之前，我們還得進行數不清的談判，商議核武限制制度，核武限制數量，採用什麼方法確保核凍結行而有效，怎麼讓各國遵守相關規定。這種核凍結恐怕是根本不可能實現的。而且還會分散我們的精力，讓我們難以完成當前的軍備削減談判。

A number of years ago, I heard a young father, a very prominent young man in the entertainment world, addressing a tremendous gathering in California. It was during the time of the cold war, and communism and our own way of life were very much on people's minds. And he was speaking to that subject. And suddenly, though, I heard him saying, "I love my little girls more than anything——" And I said to myself, "Oh, no, don't. You can't—don't say that." But I had underestimated him. He went on: "I would rather see my little girls die now, still believing in God, than have them grow up under communism and one day die no longer believing in God."

很多年前，我曾聽過一位同在娛樂圈，且年少有為的父親在加州大型集會上演講。當時已是冷戰時期，共產主義和美國生活方式正在思想界一決高下。這也是他當時演講的主題。但我突然聽到他說了這麼一句話，“我愛我的女兒，勝過世間一切——”當時我就想，“啊，別來這一套吧。你可別——別說你會為了她而屈服。”但我低估了他。他接着說：“但我寧可讓我的女兒在仍信仰上帝時離開人世，也不願讓她在共產主義無神論世界中苟活。”

There were thousands of young people in that audience. They came to their feet with shouts of joy. They had instantly recognized the profound truth in what he had said, with regard to the physical and the soul and what was truly important.

那場集會上有成千上萬青年人。現場爆發出山呼海嘯般的掌聲。他們當即認識到，他所言便是真理，跟肉體比起來，靈魂才是真正可貴的。

Yes, let us pray for the salvation of all of those who live in that totalitarian darkness—pray they will discover the joy of knowing God. But until they do, let us be aware that while they preach the supremacy of the state, declare its omnipotence over individual man, and predict its eventual domination of all peoples on the Earth, they are the focus of evil in the modern world.

當然，我們為所有不幸生活在極權主義黑暗統治之下的人民祈禱，願他們早日得到救贖——願他們早日享受到信仰上帝的福祉。但在那之前，我們必須警惕他們宣揚的國家至上思想、國家高於個人思想，以及他們聲稱自己終將赤旗插遍全球的野心，他們便是當代邪惡的集中體現。

It was C.S. Lewis who, in his unforgettable "Screwtape Letters," wrote: "The greatest evil is not done now in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is not even done in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice."

C·S·路易斯在他的永世經典之作《地獄來鴻》中曾寫道：“現在，世間最大的悲劇不是狄更斯筆下那些衣冠禽獸的暴行。也不是集中營和勞改營中的苦難。這些只是悲劇帶來的結果。最大的悲劇，是那些在辦公室正襟危坐，打扮得衣冠楚楚之人，他們目睹一切，卻一言不發。”

Well, because these "quiet men" do not "raise their voices," because they sometimes speak in soothing tones of brotherhood and peace, because, like other dictators before them, they're always making "their final territorial demand," some would have us accept them at their word and accommodate ourselves to their aggressive impulses. But if history teaches anything, it teaches that simple-minded appeasement or wishful thinking about our adversaries is folly. It means the betrayal of our past, the squandering of our freedom.

因為這些“衣冠楚楚之人”選擇“一言不發”，因為他們喜歡高歌和平與四海兄弟情，因為他們和此前的獨裁者們一樣，反覆提出“最後的領土主張”，有些人就讓我們相信他們的話，學會適應他們的侵略欲望。但是歷史最起碼告誡了我們這一教訓：不能一廂情願地對敵人採取綏靖政策，這種行為愚不可及。這是對我們歷史的背叛，這是對我們自由的褻瀆。


So, I urge you to speak out against those who would place the United States in a position of military and moral inferiority. You know, I've always believed that old Screwtape reserved his best efforts for those of you in the church. So, in your discussions of the nuclear freeze proposals, I urge you to beware the temptation of pride—the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil.

所以我希望大家，再遇到有人說美國軍事力量虛弱，或美國站在了道義對立面，就大聲反駁他們。眾所周知，我一直相信，魔鬼無法施展全力，是因為大家在教堂的祈禱。所以，在大家討論核凍結時，一定要注意不被自負心態誘惑——有些人會誤導大家，仿佛我們置身這場鬥爭之外，他們會稱美蘇雙方有同等錯誤，而絲毫不提及歷史事實和那個邪惡帝國的欲望，他們會簡簡單單地說，這場軍備競賽是一場大誤會，從而使大家放棄這場正邪之間的鬥爭。

I ask you to resist the attempts of those who would have you withhold your support for our efforts, this administration's efforts, to keep America strong and free, while we negotiate real and verifiable reductions in the world's nuclear arsenals and one day, with God's help, their total elimination.

某些別有用心的人不希望大家支持政府的事業，大家一定不要被這種說辭所誤導，我們要維護美國的自由和力量，與此同時，我們也會就如何真實有效地削減世界核武庫進行談判會晤，直到全面銷毀核武器，願上帝保佑我們。

While America's military strength is important, let me add here that I've always maintained that the struggle now going on for the world will never be decided by bombs or rockets, by armies or military might. The real crisis we face today is a spiritual one; at root, it is a test of moral will and faith.

美國的軍事力量固然重要，但我要補充，我一直認為，現在全世界進行的這場鬥爭，其決定因素從來都不是導彈炸彈，軍事力量只是次要因素。我們現在面臨的真正危機，來自思想領域；歸根結底，這場鬥爭，就是檢驗雙方誰的道德感更強，信仰更堅定。

Whittaker Chambers, the man whose own religious conversion made him a witness to one of the terrible traumas of our time, the Hiss-Chambers case, wrote that the crisis of the Western World exists to the degree in which the West is indifferent to God, the degree to which it collaborates in communism's attempt to make man stand alone without God. And then he said, for Marxism-Leninism is actually the second oldest faith, first proclaimed in the Garden of Eden with the words of temptation, "Ye shall be as gods."

惠特克·錢伯斯(譯者注:蘇聯叛逃間諜)，他對上帝的信仰使得他曝出了我們時代最大的悲劇之一，希斯—錢伯斯案件(譯者註：蘇聯大肅反時期，錢伯斯叛逃美國，並供出潛伏在美國的間諜同事阿格斯·希斯)，他曾寫過，西方世界面臨的巨大危機，與對上帝信仰的漠視有直接關係，共產陣營會趁此機會，建設出一個人類獨尊的無神論世界。他還說，馬列主義其實算是世界第二古老的邪教，僅次於伊甸園中“你們便如神”的邪教。

The Western World can answer this challenge, he wrote, "but only provided that its faith in God and the freedom He enjoins is as great as communism's faith in Man."

而西方世界可以應對這次挑戰，他寫到，“但有個前提，那就是西方世界對上帝的信仰、對上帝恩惠自由的信念，不能遜色於共產主義世界對人類的信念。”

I believe we shall rise to the challenge. I believe that communism is another sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages even now are being written. I believe this because the source of our strength in the quest for human freedom is not material, but spiritual. And because it knows no limitation, it must terrify and ultimately triumph over those who would enslave their fellow man. For in the words of Isaiah: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increased strength. . . . But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary. . . ."

我相信，我們要直面這場挑戰。我相信，共產主義是人類歷史又一個本不該出現的悲劇，而時至今日，它已經步入末路。因為我們對人類自由的追求，不是一場物質追求，而是精神追求。因此其前途無量，力量無窮，能震懾住那些企圖奴役自己人類同胞的壞人，能幫助我們最終戰勝他們。這早在以賽亞的話語中，就有預示：“疲乏的、他賜能力。軟弱的、他加力量...但那等候耶和華的、必從新得力、他們必如鷹展翅上騰、他們奔跑卻不睏倦、行走卻不疲乏...”

Yes, change your world. One of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine, said, "We have it within our power to begin the world over again." We can do it, doing together what no one church could do by itself.

沒錯，你們能改變這個世界。我國開國元勛之一托馬斯·潘恩曾說過，“我們有能力打造新世界。”(譯者注:出自托馬斯·潘恩《常識》)我們有這個能力，但是任何教會單打獨鬥都是不行的，我們必須齊心協力。

God bless you, and thank you very much.

願上帝保佑大家，謝謝。