On World Peace

On World Peace (Excerpt)

论世界和平（节选）

   --by Kofi Annan

The idea that there is one people in possession ofthe truth, one answer to the world’s ills, or one solution to humanity’s needs,has done untold harm throughout history—especially in the last century. Today,however, even amidst continuing ethnic conflict around the world, there is agrowing understanding that human diversity is both the reality that makesdialogue necessary, and the very basis for that dialogue.

有一种观点认为，掌握真理的民族只有一个，消除世界弊病的答案只有一种，或满足人类需要的解决方案只有一个，这种想法在整个历史中造成了无尽祸害，特别是在上个世纪。然而，今天即使在世界各地不断发生种族冲突，人们日益认识到，人类多样性不仅是促成对话的事实，也是这对话的基础。

We understand, as never before, that each of us isfully worthy of the respect and dignity essential to our common humanity. Werecognize that we are the products of many cultures, traditions and memories;that mutual respect allows us to study and learn from other cultures; and thatwe gain strength by combining the foreign with the familiar.

我们从未如此了解到，每个人都完全应该获得对我们全人类必要的尊重和尊严。我们认识到我们是多种文化、传统和记忆的产物，相互尊重让我们学习和借鉴其他文化，把陌生和熟悉结合起来，我们就会更具力量。

In every great faith and tradition one can find thevalues of tolerance and mutual understanding. The Qur’an, for example, tells usthat “We created you from a single pair of male and female and made you intonations and tribes, that you may know each other.” Confucius urged hisfollowers: “when the good way prevails in the State, speak boldly and actboldly. When the State has lost the way, act boldly and speak softly.” In theJewish tradition, the injunction to “love thy neighbour as thyself,” isconsidered to be the very essence of the Torah.

在每一个伟大的信仰和传统中，人们可以发现宽容和相互理解的价值。例如，《可兰经》告诉我们“我们从一对男女中创造你们，让你们成为民族和部落，以便你们互相认识。”孔子敦促其门徒，认为：“邦有道，危言危行；邦无道，危行言孙。”在犹太传统中，“爱人如爱己”的戒令被认为是《托拉》的精髓。

This thought is reflected in the Christian Gospel,which also teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who wish topersecute us. Hindus are taught that “truth is one, the sages give it variousnames.” And in the Buddhist tradition, individuals are urged to act withcompassion in every facet of life.

这样的思想也反映在了基督教的《福音书》中，它也教导我们爱我们的敌人，为那些想迫害我们的人祈祷。印度教告诉其门徒“真理只有一个，但贤者给予了它不同的名字。”佛教传统敦促个人在生活的方方面面慈悲济世。

Each of us has the right to take pride in ourparticular faith or heritage. But the notion that what is ours is necessarilyin conflict with what is theirs is both false and dangerous. It has resulted inendless enmity and conflict, leading men to commit the greatest of crimes inthe name of a higher power.

我们每个人都有权利对自己特有的信仰或遗产感到自豪。但有一种观点认为，属于我们的必然和属于他们的相冲突，这种看法不仅是错误的，而且是危险的。这种看法导致了无休止的敌对和冲突，导致人们以至高存在者的名义犯下莫大罪行。

It need not be so. People of different religionsand cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most ofus have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. Wecan love what we are, without hating what –- and who -- we are not. We canthrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respecttheir teachings.

不一定非要这样。不同信仰、不同文化的人们几乎在世界每一个地方并存。我们大部分人都有重叠的身份，这些身份将我们和极为不同的群体联合起来。我们可以爱自我，而不去恨他我和他人。即便我们从他人那里学习并尊重他人的教导，我们也可以在自己的传统中繁荣发展。                          

                                 （译者：Chronus）

原文作者简介：科菲·安南（1938年4月8日-2018年8月18日）是一名加纳外交官，从1997年1月-2006年12月担任第七任联合国秘书长。安南和联合国一起接受了2001年的诺贝尔和平奖。

本文作者：Chronus，北京外国语大学高级翻译学院口译专业研究生毕业；曾就职于大型国有金融机构；现为职业译员，兼职中国外文局、北京外国语大学继续教育学院口译讲师，教授过不同年龄段、职业和背景的学生。有多年口笔译实践和审校经验，为联合国、世界银行等国际组织、中国公安部、交通部等国家部委、央视、喜马拉雅等媒体、中国建设银行、美国银行等金融机构，以及世界五百强企业、高校提供过口译服务；已有合作译著《英国向社会组织定制和采购公共服务》出版。