论文部分内容阅读
Do American have any morals?That’s a good question.Many people insist that ideas about right and wrong are merely personal opinions.Some voices， though，are calling Americans back to traditional moral values.William J. Bennett， former U.S.Secretary of Education，edited The Book of Virtues in 1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can build character.The success of Bennett’s book shows that many Americans still believe in moral values. But what are they?
To begin with， moral values in America are like those in any culture.In fact，many aspects of morality are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to each culture.Not only that， but culture influences how people show these virtues.
One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father’s favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet.When his father asked him about it， George said： “I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment，George received praise for telling the truth.Sometimes American honesty—being open and direct—can offend people. But Americans still believe that “honesty is the best policy”.
Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop’s fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race?The rabbit thought he could win easily， so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill. The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling， all the while saying，“I think I can， I think I can.” At last， the train was over the top of the hill， “I thought I could，I thought I could，” chugged the happy little train.
Compassion may be the queen of American virtues.The story of The Good Samaritan from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city， a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan，instead of just passing by，stopped to help this person in need. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle. In fall 1992， people in Iowa sent water by truck to help Floridians who had been hit by a hurricane. The next summer，during the Midwest flooding，Florida returned the favor.In less dramatic ways，millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.
In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans.Courage，responsibility，loyalty， gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact，Bennett’s bestseller—over 800 pages—highlights just 10 virtues.Even Bennett admits that he has only scratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list is， moral values are invaluable. They are the foundation of American culture—and any culture.
美国人还有道德观吗？这是个好问题。许多人坚持认为对与错是个人的观点。但是，还是有些人在呼唤美国人回到传统的道德价值观里去。美国前任教育部部长威廉·班奈特为此在1993年编写了《美德》一书。编者认为伟大的道德故事可以铸造性格。而该书的成功表明了许多美国人仍然相信道德的价值。但是它们到底是指什么呢？
首先，道德价值观在美国就像在其它任何文化中一样。事实上，许多道德观点是世界性的。只是在不同的文化里，用来教育人们的故事和传统也各有特色。不仅如此，文化也影响了人们如何表现这些美德。
美国人最基本的道德价值观之一是诚实。众所周知的乔治·华盛顿和樱桃树的故事，就让人很清楚地领悟到了这一道德观。小乔治在试他的新斧头时砍倒了爸爸最心爱的樱桃树。当爸爸问他的时候，乔治说：“我不说谎，我用我的斧头砍倒了它。”乔治非但未被惩罚，反而因为诚实而被赞赏。虽然有时候美国式的诚实，坦率而直接，也可能触犯他人，但美国人仍然相信“诚实是最上策”。
另外一个为美国人所尊崇的美德是坚忍。记得龟兔赛跑这则伊索寓言吗？兔子以为它可以赢得很轻松，便小睡了一会儿，而乌龟并没有放弃，最终赢得了这场比赛。另一个故事讲到一列必须爬过陡峭山头的小火车。山头很陡，小火车爬得很艰难，但是它仍不断地爬，并不停地说：“我想我能做到，我能做到。”最后，小火车终于爬过了山头，“我就知道我可以，我就知道我能做到。”这列快乐的小火车突突地继续前行。
同情心，可能是美国人的道德观之最高境界了。圣经中《好撒玛利亚人》的故事，就刻画了一个充满同情心的人。一个撒玛利亚人在去某城市的途中，看到一个可怜的旅客躺在路旁，他曾遭到鞭笞和抢劫，但这个仁慈的撒玛利亚人并没有视而不见，而是停下来帮助这个需要帮助的人。同情心还可以形成良性循环。1992年秋，爱荷华州的居民用卡车运水到受飓风侵袭的佛罗里达州；而就在第二年夏天，当中西部闹水灾的时候，佛州人便投挑报李。数以百万计的美国人正在用这种并不张扬的方式悄然回报人们向他们表示的善意。
一篇短短的文章，无论如何也不能将美国人所尊崇的道德观讲述完全。勇气、责任心、忠诚、感恩之心，还有许多其它可以讨论的。事实上，连班奈特的畅销书长达800页也仅谈到了10种美德。即使是班奈特也承认他只谈到了皮毛而已。但是不论这张道德表有多长或多短，道德的价值都是无法估量的。它们是美国文化——也是其它任何一种文化的根基。
To begin with， moral values in America are like those in any culture.In fact，many aspects of morality are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to each culture.Not only that， but culture influences how people show these virtues.
One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father’s favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet.When his father asked him about it， George said： “I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment，George received praise for telling the truth.Sometimes American honesty—being open and direct—can offend people. But Americans still believe that “honesty is the best policy”.
Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop’s fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race?The rabbit thought he could win easily， so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill. The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling， all the while saying，“I think I can， I think I can.” At last， the train was over the top of the hill， “I thought I could，I thought I could，” chugged the happy little train.
Compassion may be the queen of American virtues.The story of The Good Samaritan from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city， a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan，instead of just passing by，stopped to help this person in need. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle. In fall 1992， people in Iowa sent water by truck to help Floridians who had been hit by a hurricane. The next summer，during the Midwest flooding，Florida returned the favor.In less dramatic ways，millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.
In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans.Courage，responsibility，loyalty， gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact，Bennett’s bestseller—over 800 pages—highlights just 10 virtues.Even Bennett admits that he has only scratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list is， moral values are invaluable. They are the foundation of American culture—and any culture.
美国人还有道德观吗？这是个好问题。许多人坚持认为对与错是个人的观点。但是，还是有些人在呼唤美国人回到传统的道德价值观里去。美国前任教育部部长威廉·班奈特为此在1993年编写了《美德》一书。编者认为伟大的道德故事可以铸造性格。而该书的成功表明了许多美国人仍然相信道德的价值。但是它们到底是指什么呢？
首先，道德价值观在美国就像在其它任何文化中一样。事实上，许多道德观点是世界性的。只是在不同的文化里，用来教育人们的故事和传统也各有特色。不仅如此，文化也影响了人们如何表现这些美德。
美国人最基本的道德价值观之一是诚实。众所周知的乔治·华盛顿和樱桃树的故事，就让人很清楚地领悟到了这一道德观。小乔治在试他的新斧头时砍倒了爸爸最心爱的樱桃树。当爸爸问他的时候，乔治说：“我不说谎，我用我的斧头砍倒了它。”乔治非但未被惩罚，反而因为诚实而被赞赏。虽然有时候美国式的诚实，坦率而直接，也可能触犯他人，但美国人仍然相信“诚实是最上策”。
另外一个为美国人所尊崇的美德是坚忍。记得龟兔赛跑这则伊索寓言吗？兔子以为它可以赢得很轻松，便小睡了一会儿，而乌龟并没有放弃，最终赢得了这场比赛。另一个故事讲到一列必须爬过陡峭山头的小火车。山头很陡，小火车爬得很艰难，但是它仍不断地爬，并不停地说：“我想我能做到，我能做到。”最后，小火车终于爬过了山头，“我就知道我可以，我就知道我能做到。”这列快乐的小火车突突地继续前行。
同情心，可能是美国人的道德观之最高境界了。圣经中《好撒玛利亚人》的故事，就刻画了一个充满同情心的人。一个撒玛利亚人在去某城市的途中，看到一个可怜的旅客躺在路旁，他曾遭到鞭笞和抢劫，但这个仁慈的撒玛利亚人并没有视而不见，而是停下来帮助这个需要帮助的人。同情心还可以形成良性循环。1992年秋，爱荷华州的居民用卡车运水到受飓风侵袭的佛罗里达州；而就在第二年夏天，当中西部闹水灾的时候，佛州人便投挑报李。数以百万计的美国人正在用这种并不张扬的方式悄然回报人们向他们表示的善意。
一篇短短的文章，无论如何也不能将美国人所尊崇的道德观讲述完全。勇气、责任心、忠诚、感恩之心，还有许多其它可以讨论的。事实上，连班奈特的畅销书长达800页也仅谈到了10种美德。即使是班奈特也承认他只谈到了皮毛而已。但是不论这张道德表有多长或多短，道德的价值都是无法估量的。它们是美国文化——也是其它任何一种文化的根基。