悉尼邮报专访前总理陆克文谈种族主义谈假新闻认为中美关系仍有出路

【Sydpost】本报讯，5月12日，《THE SYDNEY POST悉尼邮报》网络采访了澳大利亚前总理陆克文先生，老陆（华人对陆克文先生的昵称）对邮报诸多提问进行了英中文回答，据知，这次是老陆近年首次接受澳洲华人媒体专访，也是对本土华人媒体包括《悉尼邮报》的充分肯定。详文如下。

please see below a statement from Mr Rudd

RESPONSE

As Prime Minister of Australia and now as President and CEO of Asia Society in New York, I have benefitted from hearing the perspectives of Asian-Australians and Asian-Americans. They always speak highly of the opportunity and prosperity we all enjoy in Australia and the United States.

However, when the topic of racism is raised, it is usually marked by the solemn reflection that, yes, hatred and discrimination is also part of their lived experience. It has been an undertone of everyday life for some. Many can recount chilling stories of threats and abuse in their own lives.

This is more than regrettable. We all have a responsibility to oppose this hatred. It undermines our cohesion as a society.

Especially against the backdrop of tension between the US and China, we must be very clear about our beliefs:

We condemn racism and discrimination in all its forms, wherever it occurs and against whomever it occurs.

We stand side-by-side as citizens with those who have migrated here and are making their contribution to our community, as well as their children and grandchildren. We are equal under the law.

We will call out those who seek to undermine our society by spreading hatred.

I abhor the reported rise in racism toward Asian-Australians and Asian-Americans.

Last year, Asia Society heard from US Congressman Ted Lieu. Mr Lieu has served his new home, the United States, with distinction. He told us that xenophobia is fuelled in large part by political rhetoric. He made these remarks in May 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic.

It is unfortunate to say that, yes, the rise of anti-Asian discrimination and the commentary around COVID-19 were linked. Some may debate the extent of this link, but the fact of a link is, in my view, undeniable.

We must have the wisdom to separate instances of individuals criticising foreign governments, which is perfectly legitimate in the spirit of democracy, from thinly veiled attacks against an entire races of good, hard-working people.

We must ensure our media, whoever the owner may be, is aware of the risks of misreporting the facts on our broader society. In Australia, I have taken a very firm stance on disinformation wherever I see it presented in media reporting.

At the Asia Society, we are active in pushing back against this tide of discrimination. We are standing in solidarity against hatred. It is central to our purpose, which is to increase understanding between the East and West, especially China and the United States.

I am, by nature, an optimist. I believe there is a path through these tensions between the United States and China. I think it also follows that reduced tension between these two superpowers would relax, to some extent, the social tensions which Asian-Americans and Asian-Australians have to live with everyday. But we cannot be complacent in achieving this mutual understanding.

I am proud that Australia is a country of vibrant multiculturalism and mutual understanding. But there is always more to do. Representation in Australia’s positions of power is lacking among many large ethnic minorities. Correcting for this under-representation is just one part of the greater challenge we have ahead of us. I have faith that our multi-ethnic communities will continue to coexist in peace and harmony.

TRANSLATION

身为澳大利亚前国家总理，和亚洲协会全球会长，我总能在亚裔澳洲人和亚裔美国人那听到他们高度赞扬澳大利亚和美国所提供的机会和繁荣。

然而，当提到种族主义问题时，人们也通常会严肃地认为仇恨和歧视也是他们生活经历中不可忽略的部分。对于部分人来说，这成为了他们生活的不幸底色。

我痛恨关于亚裔澳洲人和亚裔美国人种族主义加剧的报道。我也听到不少人和我详细描述他们所经历过的被歧视，被威胁，甚至被虐待的故事。这些都是让人非常难过的，也从根本上破坏我们社会的凝聚力，所以我们所有人都有责任反对这种歧视和仇恨。

特别是在中美关系紧张的背景下，我们必须有坚定清晰的信念：

强烈谴责一切形式的种族主义和歧视，无论在何处，无论是对谁！

我们与那些为社区做出贡献的移民们在一起，与他们的子孙站在一起。

在法律面前我们是平等的。我们的人格是平等的。我们的尊严是平等的。

我们呼吁那些企图通过散播仇恨来破坏社会和谐的人停止这般恶劣行径！

2020年，亚洲协会收到了美国国会议员刘云平(Ted Lieu)的来信（刘先生为他的“新家”美国作出了杰出的贡献）。

他在新冠大流行开始时告诉我们，在很大程度上，仇外心理是由政治言论助长的。不幸的是，反亚洲歧视的兴起与针对新冠的恶意评论有着密切关系。有人可能会争论这种关联的程度，但我认为其存在的事实是不可否认的。

有人批评外国政府，而有人毫不掩饰地攻击一整个善良且勤劳的民族。此两者是完全不同的，我们必须明智地将它们区分开。这是民主精神的题中应有之义。