文/馬克·力文

我這個(gè)美國人的中國夢(mèng)

文/馬克·力文

I have a Chinese Dream

2013年3月14日，我在北京國家大劇院的歌劇廳表演。大廳里人山人海，觀眾們都是來參加紀(jì)念中華人民共和國第一任總理周恩來誕辰115周年音樂會(huì)的。我表演的時(shí)候，身后的整個(gè)管弦樂團(tuán)，安靜地等候著為其他的表演者伴奏。我演唱時(shí)只需要我自帶的吉他伴奏，管弦樂隊(duì)背后有一面裝飾墻，墻上是周總理的照片，上面還寫著音樂會(huì)的主題是紀(jì)念周總理誕辰，更醒目的是三個(gè)紅色的大字：中國夢(mèng)。

傾聽中國夢(mèng)

“我夢(mèng)想著有一天，當(dāng)建筑工人們疲憊不堪的時(shí)候能有一張床休息，清潔工人們能有一張干凈的桌子吃飯；我夢(mèng)想著有一天，那些為了提高我們每一個(gè)人的生活條件而無私奉獻(xiàn)的好人們，和那些為城市作出巨大貢獻(xiàn)的人們能夠獲得我們的理解和尊敬。”

這是孫曉陽（Maggie）演講中的一段話。她是中央民族大學(xué)社會(huì)學(xué)專業(yè)的一名大四學(xué)生。就在她畢業(yè)的前幾個(gè)月，她參加了學(xué)校舉辦的英語演講比賽，并進(jìn)入了決賽，所有參賽選手的演講主題都是“我的中國夢(mèng)”。

“……我的中國夢(mèng)是，有一天人們不再因?yàn)樨毟F而輟學(xué)；城市和鄉(xiāng)村的學(xué)生們能夠擁有同樣先進(jìn)的教學(xué)設(shè)備，每一個(gè)學(xué)生都能夠享有平等的教育?！边@是我們到中國的海濱城市山東青島，坐在青島大學(xué)的大禮堂里，聽一位名叫門亞萍（Men Yaping）的學(xué)生作她的“中國夢(mèng)”演講，講述中國需要被關(guān)注的素質(zhì)教育。

2013年7月11日，我與其他14名外國專家參加了“紀(jì)念鄧小平《利用外國智力和擴(kuò)大對(duì)外開放》重要談話發(fā)表30周年座談會(huì)”。這位中國前任領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人在1983年的談話中曾談道：“要利用外國智力，請(qǐng)一些外國人來參加我們的重點(diǎn)建設(shè)以及各方面的建設(shè)。對(duì)這個(gè)問題，我們認(rèn)識(shí)不足，決心不大。搞現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)，我們既缺少經(jīng)驗(yàn)，又缺少知識(shí)。不要怕請(qǐng)外國人多花了幾個(gè)錢。他們長期來也好，短期來也好，專門為一個(gè)題目來也好。請(qǐng)來之后應(yīng)該很好地發(fā)揮他們的作用。過去我們是宴會(huì)多，客氣多，向人家請(qǐng)教少，讓他們幫助工作少，他們是愿意幫助我們工作的?！?/p>

所有參加座談會(huì)的發(fā)言人，無論中國的還是外國的都談到了鄧小平是如何重視外國人對(duì)中國的作用的。其中一位發(fā)言人指出，20世紀(jì)80年代，在中國的外國專家還不到1萬人，而到2012年的時(shí)候幾乎達(dá)到了60萬人。許多與會(huì)發(fā)言人都談到了中國在吸引外國專家方面所做的努力，以及可以繼續(xù)提升和改進(jìn)的地方，以便吸引更多、更好的外國專家。他們還談到了在過去的三十年里，外國專家為中國作出的貢獻(xiàn)以及他們未來的貢獻(xiàn)。每一個(gè)發(fā)言人也都無一例外地將自己的論述和“中國夢(mèng)”相結(jié)合。

在座談會(huì)的前一天，中央民族大學(xué)國際關(guān)系辦公室的凱文（Kevin）給我打來電話說國家外國專家局找兩個(gè)英語為母語的外籍老師擔(dān)任外專局舉辦的內(nèi)部英語演講比賽的評(píng)委，題目是“OEI，我的中國夢(mèng)”。

隨后一周的某天我便去了外專局，同時(shí)了解到原來OEI就是三十年前鄧小平提出的“外國專家引進(jìn)”（Overseas Expertise Introduction）的英文首字母縮寫。外專局的18名參賽員工中有我之前在參加外專局的一些其他活動(dòng)中見過的。在他們的演講中，我感到了他們的夢(mèng)想：“……成為中外文化交流的使者，讓更多的外國人了解中國，了解中國燦爛的文化和五千年悠久的光輝歷史?！?/p>

一位演講者說道：“包括外國專家在內(nèi)的國際友人，在中國和外國的聯(lián)系中起到了橋梁和紐帶的作用?！弊詈?，她以這樣一段話結(jié)束演講：“中國夢(mèng)不是一個(gè)宏大的口號(hào)，它不只源屬于政府，更屬于每一位普通人?！?/p>

中國夢(mèng)到底是什么？

在2012年11月底習(xí)近平總書記發(fā)表的一次講話中，“中國夢(mèng)”第一次受到全國的關(guān)注。習(xí)近平總書記在參觀國家博物館《復(fù)興之路》展覽時(shí)說道，中華民族近代以來最大的夢(mèng)想，就是“實(shí)現(xiàn)中華民族的偉大復(fù)興”。

就在習(xí)近平總書記發(fā)表講話半年之后，《中國日?qǐng)?bào)》（China Daily）報(bào)道稱“中國夢(mèng)”現(xiàn)在是媒體和教材中被提及最多的詞匯之一。哈佛商學(xué)院的副教授馬奎斯和助理研究員楊佐伊也分別指出，“中國夢(mèng)”在中國迅速受到認(rèn)可和傳播，這在近代歷史上史無前例。這種傳播不僅只局限于演講比賽，在其他各類研討會(huì)中也是隨處可見。

但是根據(jù)我們從各類演講中看到的來講，人們之間關(guān)于中國夢(mèng)是什么或者應(yīng)該是什么的看法有很大不同。

從廣義上來講，中國夢(mèng)還有這樣的一個(gè)問題，它到底是每個(gè)中國人的夢(mèng)，還是整個(gè)國家的夢(mèng)，它意味著“我的家庭不再貧困”，還是“每個(gè)人都脫離了貧困”？它是否意味著“我的夢(mèng)想能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)”，還是“每個(gè)人的夢(mèng)想都能實(shí)現(xiàn)”，還是“中國社會(huì)整體上取得了一定的進(jìn)步，從而保障了人民的安全”？

有些學(xué)生關(guān)注的是自己個(gè)人的夢(mèng)想，比如希望看到國足獲得國際認(rèn)可，在某個(gè)具體的事業(yè)中有所建樹，或者能去某些地方旅行。但更多的學(xué)生關(guān)注于改善環(huán)境，提倡全民自由和素質(zhì)教育，為農(nóng)民工和農(nóng)民工家庭爭取權(quán)利，或者幫助那些父母在大城市打工，只能跟鄉(xiāng)下的爺爺奶奶生活的留守兒童。而在外專局職員們的眼中，他們的中國夢(mèng)又有所不同，他們的夢(mèng)關(guān)乎如何讓外國人更好地為中國建設(shè)提供幫助。

盡管自習(xí)近平總書記在2012年發(fā)表演講后，關(guān)于中國夢(mèng)的討論如火如荼，這個(gè)說法卻早已有之，而且也不僅限于中國人?！度嗣袢?qǐng)?bào)》2011年的一篇文章中曾提到過關(guān)于三個(gè)美國人和一個(gè)英國人的特別的中國夢(mèng)：一個(gè)想成為一名電視主持人，一個(gè)想成立一個(gè)非政府組織，一個(gè)想開一家西餐廳。還有一個(gè)，我的朋友柳素英（Elyse Ribbons），既想做個(gè)劇作家或者戲劇制作人，又想成為一名電臺(tái)主持人或者做一名女演員。

柳素英來自底特律，曾經(jīng)夢(mèng)想著憑借大學(xué)時(shí)學(xué)習(xí)的阿拉伯語為美國國務(wù)院工作，但這個(gè)夢(mèng)想在2001年的北京之旅后發(fā)生了改變。她首先轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)漢語專業(yè)，然后在中國學(xué)習(xí)了一學(xué)期，2003年大學(xué)畢業(yè)后便搬到了北京。

她在中國最初的夢(mèng)想是學(xué)習(xí)中醫(yī)并將其帶回美國，但很快又發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的能力和興趣均不在此。嘗試了多種工作以后，她在2006年有了一個(gè)新夢(mèng)想——成為一名劇作家。從那時(shí)起到現(xiàn)在她已經(jīng)寫了不下6部作品。

柳素英說，她的朋友們覺得她是在中國追尋和實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的美國夢(mèng)。“這聽著有點(diǎn)兒滑稽，但也說得過去，”她說，“‘中國夢(mèng)’是對(duì)年輕的專業(yè)人才來說的，他們追求一種獨(dú)特的早期職業(yè)經(jīng)驗(yàn)，同時(shí)愿意努力工作，推動(dòng)自身進(jìn)步。”

我基本上同意她的觀點(diǎn)，但從個(gè)人經(jīng)驗(yàn)來講，我認(rèn)為中國夢(mèng)并不僅限于年輕人。我每天都能見到有越來越多不同年齡的外國人，他們起初來中國只是想待個(gè)一兩年，但十年甚至更長時(shí)間過去了，他們?nèi)匀贿€在中國。他們有些人依然在教課或者做著和剛來中國時(shí)相同的工作，但對(duì)于在中國受到的熱情歡迎仍都心存感激。當(dāng)他們?cè)谧穼ぷ约旱闹袊鴫?mèng)的時(shí)候，有很多大門都會(huì)為他們敞開，他們對(duì)此感覺有些吃驚，可這又會(huì)讓他們充滿熱忱。

中國夢(mèng)應(yīng)該從國家和個(gè)人兩個(gè)層面來理解

從國家層面看來，“一帶一路”可以說是中國夢(mèng)的一座里程碑。“一帶一路”旨在復(fù)興歷史上偉大的絲綢之路，消除沿線國家基礎(chǔ)建設(shè)上的差距以帶動(dòng)經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展，并進(jìn)一步促進(jìn)中國與世界的互聯(lián)互通。通過亞洲基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施投資銀行的資金援建鐵路、發(fā)展海上貿(mào)易，中國在發(fā)展中國家，甚至很多發(fā)達(dá)國家的經(jīng)濟(jì)影響力持續(xù)增強(qiáng)。

除了經(jīng)濟(jì)上的影響力，中國也正在成為應(yīng)對(duì)氣候變化的主要力量。很多國際能源機(jī)構(gòu)認(rèn)為，中國在《巴黎氣候變化協(xié)定》中的國家自主貢獻(xiàn)率為對(duì)抗全球變暖作出了巨大的貢獻(xiàn)。次外，中國在風(fēng)能、太陽能等環(huán)保技術(shù)發(fā)展中的領(lǐng)先地位也是中國通向“復(fù)興之路”的又一體現(xiàn)。

說回我自己的“中國夢(mèng)”，是幫助外國人深入了解中國，同時(shí)幫助中國人更加了解美國。我不僅寫作，我還和音樂搭檔傅涵組成了一個(gè)跨文化的組合，名為In Side Out，我們的表演將中文、英文，以及西方的吉他和中國的二胡結(jié)合在一起來表演中英文歌曲。In Side Out的首秀在美麗的湖南張家界舉行的“國際鄉(xiāng)村音樂節(jié)”上，在來自20多個(gè)國家的數(shù)百名音樂家面前，我們讓外國觀眾看到了中國的美麗、友好，體會(huì)到了中國音樂的魅力。

之后，我的“中國夢(mèng)”舞臺(tái)變得更大了。2014年春天，我獲得了北京市人民政府頒發(fā)的“長城友誼獎(jiǎng)”，2015年，我又獲得了中國政府友誼獎(jiǎng)的殊榮。2016年，我成為了第一個(gè)因中國政府友誼獎(jiǎng)而拿到中國永居資格的外國專家。

所有這一切讓我在實(shí)現(xiàn)“中國夢(mèng)”的路上越走越遠(yuǎn)，也讓我能夠更好地向世界介紹這個(gè)友好、勤勞，有著非凡文化魅力的國度——中國。（傅涵供稿）

I am on stage at the Opera House of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. It is March 14, 2013, and the hall is filled to capacity. The audience is here to celebrate the 115th birthday of Zhou Enlai, the first premier of the People’s Republic of China. Behind me as I sing is a full orchestra. They are there to accompany the other performers on the program and are now sitting quietly, as my guitar provides all the accompaniment I need. Behind the orchestra, the set includes a decorated wall with a picture of Premier Zhou, which introduces the event as Zhou’s birthday and includes three large red Chinese characters that translate as “Chinese Dream.”

Listening to Chinese Dream

“I have a dream that one day construction workers can have a bed to sleep [in] when they are exhausted and the street cleaners can have a nice clean table to have their lunch. I have a dream that one day those good people who dedicate themselves to improving the living situation for everyone and make such great contribution[s] to the city, can live with understanding and respect from everyone.”

This is an excerpt from a speech by Sun Xiaoyang (Maggie),a college senior majoring in sociology at Minzu University of China. Maggie is a contestant in the final round of the university’s English speaking competition a few months before her graduation. The theme of her speech and those of all the other contestants is “My Chinese Dream.”

“… My Chinese dream [is] that one day poverty won’t be the cause of dropping out; that one day rural and urban students will share the same advanced devices; that one day every student get[s] equal education.” We are in a large auditorium at Qingdao University in the coastal city of the same name in China’s Shandong Province. Men Yaping, a student at the university, is presenting her “Chinese Dream” speech, which focuses on the need for quality education.

It is July 11, 2013, and I am one of 15 foreign experts attending a “Symposium on the 30th Anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s Remarks on Intellectual Resources Introduction.” In his 1983 speech, the former political leader argued: “We should make use of the intellectual resources of other countries by inviting foreigners to participate in key development projects and other construction projects in various fields. We haven’t recognized how important this is, and consequently we haven’t done as much as we should have. In the matter of modernization we have neither experience nor technical knowhow. We should not be reluctant to spend money on recruiting foreigners. It doesn’t matter whether they stay here for a long time or a short time, or just for a single project. Once they are here, we should make the best use of their skills. We have been giving them too many banquets and have been too hesitant about asking for their help and advice, when in fact they have been quite willing to assist us in our work.”

作者與中央民族大學(xué)的學(xué)生們一起享受音樂

All of the speakers at the symposium, both Chinese and foreign,discuss how Deng expanded the role of foreign contributors.As one speaker notes, in the 1980s there were fewer than 10,000 foreign experts, compared with almost 600,000 by 2012. Many speakers talk about what China has done to attract foreign experts; what it could improve to attract more or better-skilled experts; what foreign experts have contributed to China in the past three decades; and what foreign experts can contribute in the future. Without exception, each speaker links his or her comments to the “Chinese Dream.”

The day before the symposium, Kevin from the Office of International Relations at MUC calls and informs me that he has just been contacted by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA).Kevin is looking for two English teachers who are native speakers to judge an in-house speaking competition for SAFEA employees in one week. The topic “OEI,My Chinese Dream.”

Arriving at the SAFEA competition the next week, I learn that OEI stands for “Overseas Expertise Introduction,” which is exactly what Deng Xiaoping was talking about three decades earlier. I also discover that of the 18 SAFEA employees who are competing, I already know two of them. I learned about their dream of “… becoming a cultural messenger of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, to let more foreigners know China, know this country with a splendid culture and long history, with 5,000 years of glory.”

Another speaker also asserted that “foreign experts have played a vital role in the great achievements China has made.” She argues that “foreign friends, including foreign experts working in China, serve as bridges and bonds in China’s ties with the outside world.” Li Yiwen closes her speech by saying the Chinese Dream “isn’t a grandiose slogan. It doesn’t just come from the government. It belongs to every ordinary person.”

What is the Chinese Dream?

The “Chinese Dream” first hit the national consciousness at the end of November 2012 through a speech given by Xi Jinping.Xi was speaking at an exhibit on the “Road Toward Renewal”at the National Museum in Beijing. He argued that the greatest dream for China in modern times was the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

Only half a year after Xi’s speech, China Daily reported that“Chinese Dream” now ranked as one of the most frequently used phrases in media and even in textbooks. As noted by Chris Marquis and Zoe Yang, associate professor and research associate at Harvard Business School, respectively,the phrase “Chinese Dream” is unparalleled in recent history in its rapid acceptance and spread throughout China. It is not limited to speaking competitions but can be seen in other forums as well.

As we can see, particularly from the various speeches, there is a great diversity of opinions about what the Chinese Dream is, or should be.

At the broadest level, there is the question of whether the Chinese Dream is for individuals or for China as a whole. Does it mean “My family is no longer poor” or that “Poverty has been eliminated for everyone”? Does it mean “My dreams can be realized” or “Everyone’s individual dreams can be realized,” or that “Chinese society as a whole has achieved a certain level of progress to ensure security and safety for all”?

Among students there are some whose speeches focus on their own personal dreams, whether it be to see the Chinese soccer team gain international respect, to pursue a specific career, or to be able to travel to special places. But for each of these there are many more students who focus on improving the environment,promoting freedom and quality education for all, gaining rights for migrant workers and their families, or helping the “l(fā)eftbehind children,” who stay with their grandparents back in their villages or small cities while their parents work in the big cities. Among the SAFEA employees, the “Chinese Dream” was something different. It had to do with how foreigners could aid in the future building of China.

Although discussion about the Chinese Dream has intensified since Xi’s 2012 speech, the idea is certainly not new, nor is it limited only to Chinese people. For example, a 2011 article in China Daily talks about three Americans and one Briton and their particular Chinese dreams: one a TV host, one the founder of a charitable NGO, one the owner of a Western restaurant and one,my friend Elyse Ribbons, a playwright, theatrical producer, radio host and actress.

Elyse, a native of Detroit, dreamed of working for the U.S. State Department to make use of the Arabic language she studied in college, but that dream was replaced after a 2001 trip to Beijing.First she changed her major to Chinese, and after another semester in China, she moved to Beijing in 2003 following her college graduation.

Her initial dream in China was to study Chinese medicine to take back home to the U.S., but she soon realized that neither her skills nor her interests lay in that field. After a variety of jobs, she found her new dream as a playwright in 2006 and since then has had more than half a dozen productions.

According to Elyse, her friends say she is pursuing and realizing her American Dream by living in China. “That is kind of funny, but it is also kind of true,” she says. She continues, “The‘Chinese Dream’ is for young professionals seeking a unique early-career experience and who are willing to work hard and push themselves.”

While I mostly agree with Elyse, based on my own experience I don’t think that it is limited to the young. Every day I meet more and more foreigners of all ages who originally came to China for one or two years, and are still here a decade or more later. Sometimes they still teach or do whatever they first came to do, but in many cases they simply appreciate the warm welcome they received. They are amazed and enthused by the many doors that stand open for them as they pursue their own Chinese Dream.

Chinese Dream continues to be interpreted from both a national and personal perspective

From a national perspective, the “Belt and Road Initiative” can be considered a hallmark of the Chinese Dream. Centered on the revitalization of the historic Silk Road it is bridging the infrastructural gap to facilitate economic growth and connect China to the rest of Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa. Aiding in the building of rail lines and the expansion of maritime trade with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China is playing a key role in economic expansion both in developing nations and in some countries generally identified as developed nations. This is truly rejuvenation.

In addition to this lead role in economic development, China is also becoming a major force in dealing with climate change.China’s INDC (intended nationally determined contribution) to the Paris Climate Agreement has been viewed by a number of international energy agencies as a significant contribution to the fight against global warming. Between this and China’s lead role in the production of technology for both wind and solar power, we can see yet another area of rejuvenation.

As we turn to my own Chinese Dream, my objective was to make a contribution to foreigners gaining a clearer understanding of China and helping Chinese people understand more about the U.S.

At about the same time that I was writing that, my musical partner Fu Han and I formed the cross-cultural musical duo called In Side Out with which we combined English and Chinese language, western (guitar) and Chinese instruments(er-hu) and English and Chinese songs. Our premier performance was at an international country music festival in the beautiful scenic area of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province.With hundreds of musicians from nearly two dozen countries,we helped these foreign visitors learn about the beauty, the friendliness, the music and other features about China.

Other events beginning in 2014 helped to expand that platform even more in an effort to bring the world a little closer together.In the spring I was awarded the Great Wall (Beijing) Friendship Award and, as I mentioned above, later that year I was one of 100 foreign experts who were presented with the Chinese Friendship Award. Then in the spring of 2016, I received a Chinese permanent residency.

All of these have given me more opportunities to materialize my dream of helping to tell the world about this friendly, hardworking, culturally fascinating place called China.