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拜登总统就废除排华法案80周年发表声明:
(12-17-2023)
Statement from President Joe Biden on the 80th
Anniversary of the Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act
Our nation was founded on the fundamental idea that we are
created equal and deserve to be treated equally. But for 61
years, the Chinese Exclusion Act failed to live up to that
promise. It weaponized our immigration system to discriminate
against an entire ethnic group and was followed by further
discrimination against many in Europe and all of Asia. The Act,
along with racism and xenophobia in other parts of American
life, was part of the anti-Chinese “Driving Out” era which
included the Rock Springs and Hells Canyon massacres. In 1943,
the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed and it was followed by
laws that led to an immigration system that better reflected our
values as a nation of immigrants.
On this anniversary, we remember those whose lives, families,
and communities were irreparably harmed. We remember the brave
and diverse voices – from Frederick Douglass to Blanche Bruce to
Pearl Buck to the American Jewish Committee and so many others –
who spoke up in solidarity against that Act and demanded a
fairer and more just immigration system. And we recognize that
despite the progress we have made, hate never goes away. It only
hides. Today, there are those who still demonize immigrants and
fan the flames of intolerance. It’s wrong. I ran for President
to restore the soul of America. To bring people together and
make sure we give hate no safe harbor. To celebrate the
diversity that is our country’s strength.
For generations, people of Chinese heritage have enriched our
country - from Chinese laborers who did backbreaking work to
build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s to the Chinese
Americans who serve in our military, to the authors, artists,
scientists, entrepreneurs, and scholars of today. We honor them,
and all immigrants, who continue to make extraordinary
contributions to our nation.
(译文)我们国家建立在我们生而平等,应该得到平等对待的基本理念之上。但61年来,《排华法案》未能实践这一承诺。它以我们的移民制度为武器,歧视整个一个种族群体,随后,欧洲和整个亚洲的许多人受到了进一步的歧视。该法案,以及美国生活其他方面的种族主义和排外心理,是反对华人“驱逐”时代的一部分,其中包括石泉城和地狱谷大屠杀。1943年,《排华法案》被废除。随后的法律产生了一个更好地反映了我们作为一个移民国家价值观的移民制度。
值此纪念日,我们缅怀那些生命、家庭和社区受到不可挽回伤害的人们。我们牢记那些勇敢而多样化的声音——从弗雷德里克·道格拉斯(Frederick
Douglass)到布兰奇·布鲁斯(Blanche Bruce)、赛珍珠(Pearl
Buck,珀尔·巴克)、美国犹太人委员会(American Jewish
Committee)和许多其他人——他们团结一致反对该法案,并要求建立一个更公平、更公正的移民制度。我们认识到,尽管我们取得了进展,但仇恨永远没有消失。它只是隐藏起来。今天,有些人仍然妖魔化移民,煽动不宽容。这是错误的。我竞选总统是为了恢复美国的灵魂。将人民团结起来,确保我们不给仇恨提供避风港。庆祝多样性,这是我们国家的实力。
多少代人以来,华裔美国人丰富了我们的国家——从 1800
年代付出巨大艰辛修建横贯大陆铁路的中国劳工,到在我们军队服役的华裔美国人,再到今天的作家、艺术家、科学家、企业家和学者。我们向他们和所有继续为我们的国家做出非凡贡献的移民致敬。
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