kicering(hexun.com/kicering)
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这是一篇CNN的记者John Vause从抗震第一线发回的报道，在美国引起震动，特别是那些受灾的老百姓静静地等待政府救助的平和，让习惯了抗议和抱怨的美国人深为震撼，"Eat Bitterness"(吃苦)或许会成为美国新的俚语。
我努力把原文翻译出来，还有一些留言，目的当然不是因为作为中国人听人说几句好话洋洋自得，而是让国人进一步了解国外媒体。事实上，如果我们的政府信息足够透明和开放，就象这次地震中所做的那样，那么切身经历的国外媒体是会客观报导中国的；相反，如果我们自己不透明，而境外媒体因为这种不透明做出了偏颇报导，我们反过来却鼓动民族情绪骂他们不公正，这是多么无药可救的恶性循环。透明的信息环境不仅可以让外国人更清楚地认识中国，也可以让中国人自己更加自信和理智，减少成为愤青的可能，从而减少对抗，增进文明。毕竟，融入国际社会是中国走向现代化的必然之路。
从留言上看到，我们政府这次反应迅速，信息透明，老百姓互相救助，在世界上赢得了尊重。一个民族要想得到别人的认可，只有做出了让人认可的事情才有可能；反过来，如果事事藏头露尾，动辄用阶级斗争的方式解决问题，不仅不能被人尊重，反而更人反感和鄙弃。比如，如果真象有些愤青说的那样禁止CNN进入中国，这些客观的报导又怎么能传到世界各地，引起世界人民的同情和援助呢？如果中国的老百姓看不到CNN真实的报导，又怎么能化解积怨呢？
另外，John的这篇报导如此动容，又一次让我潸然泪下。
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车家洼， 中国 (CNN)
车家洼，那些在袭击中国中部的可怕地震中幸存下来的人们静静地等待援助物资的到来。他们没有埋怨。
这些人中间，有一个背部受伤的女人，她已经无法行走，大声呻吟着。士兵们最后找到了她带她离去。
一些塑料板为这些受难的人挡雨，这些雨从地震后就这么下着。虽然缺乏食物、饮用水、电话服务，大多数灾民们并没有过多要求，也没有埋怨--有些靠打扑克打发时间--他们相信会有人管他们的。
我们听到的唯一抱怨就是政府为什么没有在地震迫近前给出一些警示，在1976年的那次大地震中官方就是这么做的，那次地震基本上摧毁了一个唐山市，造成至少24万人的丧生。
我们遇到的很多人依然处在恐惧中。“太可怕了，到处是房倒屋塌，”一名妇女说。
中国有个词叫“吃苦”，翻译成英语就是"Grin and bear it"。我们所见到的中国人是对这个词的最好诠释。
一些极为热心的人们帮了我们大忙。有一个人看到我们在报导抗震消息，拿了一袋饼干来跟我们一起吃。
在一个有配额的加油站，每次加油的限额是13美元，但一个妇女过来帮我们的忙，给我们两辆SUV加满了100美元的油。事实上加油站有士兵站岗来分配加油。
范文春(译音)，我们的制作人，和我一起尽最大努力在被滑坡和废墟阻塞的道路上四面查看。我们看到发生在周一的这次7.9级地震的灾难后果。这次地震的中心距离四川省会成都约100公里。
地震是如此猛烈，在陈家洼，房屋不只是倒塌，事实上已经成了碎片，而在这些碎片下，是那些曾进生活在那里的人们。
当地官员说现在的重点不是找出死者，而是要救助那些还活着的人。生还的人们只有挤在一些简易帐篷里，无处可去。我很担心那些还存在的房子还能不能住人，感觉到这次地震带来的影响将持续数年。
也许最震惊的经历是当我们和一位当地党委书记谈话时，他指给我们方向和各种标帜--这期间他脸上一直有一种坚韧。这个村曾经是1 万3千人的家，而现在仍有3000人失踪，他说。
当他向我展示他的村落所遭受的破坏时，我问他有多少已经死去了。泪水流下了他的脸颊，他没有试图擦去，任其流趟。他告诉我，已经有500人丧生了，包括他的父母，他的妻子，还有他们的两个孩子。
正伤心的时候，他手里的无线电响了。他又有任务了，所以急忙跑去--一边给我们道歉，一边奔回他的工作岗位。
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下面是我选的一些留言。很多留言都是祝福或要捐钱的，这个我在前一篇文中已经贴过，没必要再重复。只是一些关于救灾方面的留言。
am pround of people living in China when facing such disaster.
Eat bitterness, hard work and help each other.
No doubt, together they are building a totally amazing country, not only in the past 5000 years, in the future as well.
bless the Chinese people.
We had a foreign exchange student from Chegdu this last year. It was so tense waiting to hear from her, which we finally did. She is only 17 but is volunteering at the hospital her mom works at. She has even sat and helped doctors during operations. She quoted a Chinese saying that when she translated it said "There is no love in disaster, but we have love in humans heart." They truly do. I have been so impressed by the people and the manner in which they have handled it. Prayers and thoughts are with all of them!
After the flood her in East Grand Forks, Minnesota in 1997.. Some people here complained.. Just a few stupid people only mind you.. The rest of the people just got back on their feet and rebuilt the city.. And thats when FEMA was at it's finest.. So I understand how China's people feel about recovery.. Mr Vause wrote a mighty powerful story.. Maybe his story can remind the people here to notice how people from other countries suffer the same as we do.
yes, a very touching story indeed...
Although there were signs of some kind of forbading natural disaster, it is generally established that earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted. Therefore, it would not be fair to blame the government in this case. I am very glad for the speedy response in the aftermath though. Very expedient.
Thanks John for bringing such a touching story. It's tangible for us all to share the experience and pain with the people there in Sichuan. I donate to the Red Cross there. And the people in China can get it through no matter how bitter the mother nature gave them. God bless China.
This story proves that we could learn a few things from the Chinese. Their character, desciplin, genorsity, and willingness to work together is something to be admired. They have faith in their government. The question is "Why dont we?!?!?"
It really is awesome to hear this side of the story and to see the resolve of the Chinese people. I don't think this would play out the same way in other parts of the world.
I have been just emotionally torn apart seeing images of the precious people who have been affected by this. Because you are over there, just give at least one person a hug from me. I wishj I could be right there in the middle of it all lifting concrete to find survivors.
It's horrible to watch this on TV and not being able to help, other than donating money. These people are our people. It's not someone else, but our fellow human beings. Let us not forget Katrina.
Keep the spotlight on China and Myanmar CNN! Lest we forget too quickly
What I want to know is how we can donate to help these people?
I read online that the US government has donated $500,000 so far and will determine whether it is necessary to provide further assistance (if you ask me, if it is true our government has only donated $500,000, I feel embarrassed. McCain reported an income of a little more than $400,000 last year, and all the American government gives to China is half a million dollars?)
Even though Americans often see China more as a competitor than an ally, it is important to realize that many of these victims are children and innocent people who deserve the world's support because of this unexpected earthquake. l
Apart from what I think about their government, the Chinese are amazing people for what they achieve and endure. It is really tragic this happened with so many lives lost, yet they are humble and soft-spoken (unfortuantely some part due to oppression). As for us Americans we would be quick to point blame and criticize the quickness of aid at every turn.
It is nice to see a culture where despite a very distructive natural disaster they do not complain, help each other the best they can and calmly wait for help to arrive. A stark contrast from the US when everyone demands immediate help and will complain for years if it takes a couple of days to arrive after a major disaster.
Shelly Stevenson
Having spent several years in this part of China, I want to say that John Vause has portrayed accurately and vividly the people I had the opportunity to interact. It brings me back to those visits. Thank you for the nice report. It really contrasts the many clueless comments and depictions from several other CNN field crews.
"eat bitterness", as I understood, is a much admired quality and expected virtue for Chinese, Japanese, and asians alike. I begin to tell my children that it would elevate their mind and body it they could, yes, "grin and bear it".
I think these people are not expecting ice, air conditioned trailers, and dental services 48 hours after the disaster. The definition of minimum essential can differ broadly.
I went on a college trip to China a couple of years ago. I have to say the people are very kind and helpful. We meet a few people that were very helpful towards us even if they couldn't speak English. I loved my time there. From this report it doesn't surprise me how they Eat Bitterness.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/14/china.vause/index.html
Silent suffering of quake victims
CHE JIA VA, China (CNN) -- In Che Jia Va, survivors of the deadly earthquake that struck central China wait patiently for aid. They don't complain.
Among them is a woman with back injuries who cannot walk, and moans loudly. Soldiers eventually found the woman and took her away.
Sheets of plastic protected some of these victims from the rain that came down after the quake. But despite a lack of foowd, water, phone service and supplies, most of the victims were undemanding and uncomplaining -- some playing cards to pass the time -- confident they would be looked after.The only complaint we heard was questioning why the government did not give a warning that the quake was coming, the way officials did in 1976, when an earthquake virtually destroyed the city of Tangshan, northeast of Beijing, killing at least 240,000 people.
Many of the people we ran into were still in shock. "It's horrible. There is devastation everywhere," one woman said.There is a Chinese adage: "Eat bitterness." Or as Americans would say: "Grin and bear it." The Chinese we saw practice that well.
We've had some of the nicest people help us out. There was a guy who had a packet of cookies and wanted to share them, because we were reporting the quake story.A woman at a gas station, which has a $13 limit per purchase, let us buy $100 worth for our two SUVs. She just came up and helped. There actually were soldiers at the gas stations to ration it out.
As my producer, Wen-Chun Fan, and I did our best to navigate around roads blocked by mudslides and chunks of debris, we saw the aftermath of Monday's 7.9-magnitude quake, the epicenter of which was about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province.The quake was so powerful that homes in Che Jia Va didn't simply collapse. They were smashed apart, and under some of the rubble are the people who once lived there.
Local officials say the focus now is not on finding the dead, but rescuing the living. Survivors huddle together in makeshift tents with nowhere to go. I wonder how structurally sound the remaining buildings are, and realize the impact of the quake will be felt for years.Perhaps the most poignant experience came while we were talking to the local party secretary in Che Jia Va, who gave us directions and pointed out various landmarks -- all the while keeping a stoic face. The town was once home to 13,000 people, and 3,000 are still missing, he says.
As he shows me the damage to his community, I ask how many have died. Tears flow down his cheeks, and he makes no effort to wipe them away. He says that as many as 500 are dead, including his parents, his wife and their two children.
In the midst of his anguish, there is a call over his radio. He's needed again, and he runs off -- with apologies -- to go back to work.
