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演讲主题:The Impact of Globalization on Traditional Chinese Values
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen:
Before Chinese and western civilization came into close contact, the Chinese people had always longed for a life depicted1 in traditional Chinese paintings. Those paintings present a harmonious2 coexistence of people and other life forms. Regarded as the essence of ancient Chinese philosophies, harmony has been deeply-rooted in the minds of the Chinese people. On the one hand, it has contributed to the unique continuity of Chinese civilization. On the other, Chinese people became too much contented3 with their achievements to desire any further changes. As globalization deepens, it is bound to affect our ideal of harmony.
First, globalization urges China to speed up its modernization4, which threatens our regard for the harmony between Man and Nature. For instance, many dams and hydropower stations are being built for economic benefits at the expense of the well-preserved natural habitats. However, ecological5 malpractice of such kind goes against the notion of harmonious coexistence in ancient Chinese philosophies. More than 2,000 years ago, long before the concept of environmental protection came into being, DuJiang Weir6, a great irrigation project was built in southwestern China's Sichuan province. It succeeded both in controlling floods and in facilitating the agriculture without posing a threat to the environment.
Moreover, globalization has brought with it intense competition which threatens our regard for the harmony among people. Traditionally, moderation is a golden principle, presiding over inter-personal relations in China. Today, however, motivated to come to the top, some people become so self-centered that they choose to sacrifice love, friendship and even family ties.
Last but not least, diverse cultures have met in China as a consequence of globalization. Therefore, a clash of cultures becomes inevitable7. Unfortunately, the past decades have witnessed a huge loss of cultural heritage in China. In cities like Beijing and Xi'an, hundreds of century-old Chinese-style houses are being demolished8 to make room for skyscrapers9, shopping malls and eight-lane expressways.
From these examples, we see the disharmony brought about by globalization. Yet it is not globalization that is to blame, but rather our attitude. As long as we approach globalization with harmony in mind, its benefit will outweight its cost. Take my hometown, Hangzhou, for example, thanks to the strenuous10 efforts made by the municipal government in achieving eco-development, various kinds of water birds have returned to the West Lake, calling it home again after years of migration11 elsewhere. From the lake bank, we see skateboarders and trick cyclists showing off together with people flying kites and kicking shuttlecocks on the plaza12 nearby. Therefore, although they compose a picture quite distinct from traditional Chinese paintings, this picture conveys a modern sense of harmony in this era of globalization.
Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude, I would like to quote from British philosopher Bertrand Russell. In contrasting Chinese and Western civilizations, he observed: "The distinctive13 merit of western civilization is the scientific method; the distinctive merit of the Chinese is a just conception of the ends of life. It is these two that one must hope to see gradually uniting." As we see the tremendous progress China has been making drawing on experience abroad, we may also expect the Chinese traditional value of harmony to enrich the world. I look forward to the time when Russell's prophecy comes true.
Thank you very much.
点击收听单词发音
1 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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2 harmonious | |
adj.和睦的,调和的,和谐的,协调的 | |
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3 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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4 modernization | |
n.现代化,现代化的事物 | |
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5 ecological | |
adj.生态的,生态学的 | |
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6 weir | |
n.堰堤,拦河坝 | |
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7 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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8 demolished | |
v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 );推翻;拆毁(尤指大建筑物);吃光 | |
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9 skyscrapers | |
n.摩天大楼 | |
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10 strenuous | |
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
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11 migration | |
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙 | |
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12 plaza | |
n.广场,市场 | |
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13 distinctive | |
adj.特别的,有特色的,与众不同的 | |
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