老美看美国：既然法律保障了平等权，为何还要特权？

文/ 他爹     翻译/他娘

2012年1月11日星期三

美国宪法是一份精彩的文件。它保障我们所有的人在“法律面前人人平等”，并实行“没有一个州可以剥夺一个公民的生命，自由和财产权”这样的法律。

伟大的字眼。伟大的构想。但他们也还是继原始宪法发布近100年后1868年颁布的宪法第14修正案的一部分 。显而易见，需要一段时间才能使法律在其目的和意图，以及其实施时正确无误。

社会和文化会随时间变化。个人的看法及对与错的的观点也会变化。过去有时候，我们已经看到，法律对 “大多数”或强大的群体，在我国历史上的意思是“白人”来说是“公平的”。发生在1868年的宪法第14修正案不是偶然的。这是我国南北内战结束后，很多是关于奴隶制，自由或奴役黑人的。但是，即使制定后，在民权运动前仍然花了100年使那些权利变成事实。法律已经定了一个世纪 --但仍然有赖于数以百万计的人民和一个总统命令国民警卫队在南部城市执行那些已经根据“宪法”保障的权利。

所有这一切让我认识到一群人或一个阶级的人的特权和法律。为何需要特权？宪法保障了我们大家享有同样平等的权利。如果宪法得以实行，我们又为何需要特权？

这是一个棘手的问题，但答案很简单。我们需要给某些群体特权，因为“多数人暴政”的文化和传统，可以不给某些群体平等权利。

目前呼吁平等的最大组织是美国同性恋组织。直到最近以前，同性恋不能在军队服役，也不能告诉别人他们是同性恋。在宪法中没有任何地方说不允许同性恋人群服务于这个国家的军队。那么，为什么须得国会的行动和总统的压力，才能推翻这一政策？因为同性恋是一个弃儿，一个可耻的人，他们可能会导致军队动乱。无论这些数以以百万计的同性恋人，在过去的200年曾服务过这个国家 - 他们只是服役而从来不提“同性恋”一事。

因此，我们为何需要“特殊的法律”来执行“特权”呢？ 这些权利在我的眼里并不特殊。宪法指出我们都被保障拥有幸福和自由的权利。我们又有何必要实施一个新的法律来保证我们早已经在宪法里保障的权利呢？有一些特殊群体很有势力，他们不能容忍其他人的文化，信仰，和生活方式的存在，即使这些信仰和生活方式对他们没有一点影响。他们只是不喜欢。仅此而已，非常简单。

还是不久前，在这个国家，妇女甚至不能投票。他们只是他们丈夫和家庭的财产。

也是不久前，在这个国家，有这样的法律禁止我娶我的太太。因为我是白人，她是华人。

还是不久前，在这个国家，一个人可以拥有另一个人，把他当做自己的财产。你可以杀死你的奴隶，而没有任何后果。你可以想象到的到，拥有杀害其他人的权势而不需面临任何后果的吗？ 我不这样认为。

但是，那就是当时的法律。

因此，虽然美国宪法是一部伟大的文件，但是也有缺陷。那些缺陷被发现了，并用修正案进行了改进。当修正案无法改正社会的行为时，为特权而设的特殊法律就必须执行以反映文化，道德的变化。这样，所有的人都可以享受被宪法保障的“生命，自由和追求幸福”的权利。

某些不能为其他人的权利起而战斗的人某一天也将失去自己的权利。

欧洲有一个古老的故事，涉及到这种类型的思想。故事来自德国纳粹党崛起期间有系统地杀害数以百万计的和“不喜欢的群体，比如同性恋人，有色人种，和吉普赛人”人。那就是：

当他们来抓捕山上下来的有色人种的时候，我站在一旁

当他们来抓捕那些流浪在一个个城镇之间的吉普赛人时，我站在一旁

当她们来抓那些语言不通，生活习惯不同的人时，我站在一旁

当她们来抓我时，他们抓住了我，因为已经没有人剩下与我站在一起。

所以，作为公民，我们必须小心保护其他在我们中间的他人的权利，甚至当他们与我们意见相左的时候。甚至与我们长相相异，或者生活习惯不同，或者信仰不同的宗教。

因为某一天，下一个就会是你。

（原文）

IF THE LAW GUARANTEES EQUAL RIGHTS

THEN WHY DO WE NEED

SPECIAL RIGHTS

By  Tadie

The U.S. Constitution is a wonderful document. It assures all of us “equal protection under the law” and that “no state shall deprive a citizen of life, liberty or property” or enact such a law.

Great words. Great concept. But they are also part of the 14th amendment to the Constitution which was enacted in 1868 – nearly 100 years after the original. So, it’s obvious it can sometimes take a while to make the law “right” in its purpose and intent as well as its implementation.

Society and cultures change over time. So do personal views and the vision of what is right or wrong. And sometimes, in the past, we have seen that the law was only fair to the “majority” or the powerful – which in our history meant “white people”. It’s no accident that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution happened in 1868. This was just after the conclusion of our civil war between the North and the South and was much about slavery and the freedom or servitude of blacks. But, even after it’s enactment it still took another 100 years before it came to a CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT for those rights to be actually a right. The law had been in place for a century – but it took millions of people and a President to order National Guard Troops into cities in the south to enforce those rights that were already guaranteed under the Constitution.

All of this brings me to the point of special rights or laws for the rights of a group or class of people to be realized. Why are special rights needed? The Constitution guarantees all of us the same EQUAL RIGHTS. So, if the Constitution is enforced then why would we need special rights at all?

It’s a difficult question but the answer is easy. We need special rights for some groups because the “tyranny of the majority” and culture and tradition can withhold those equal rights from certain groups.

The number one group now that is appealing for equality is the Gay people of America. Until recently a gay person couldn’t serve in the military and tell others they were gay. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say or state that gay people are disallowed from service in this countries military. So, why does it take an act of Congress and pressure from the President to overturn this policy ? Because being gay was to be an outcast, a shameful person who could cause disruption in the military unit. No matter that perhaps millions of gay people had served our country for the past 200 years – they just served without mentioning their “gayness”.

So, again, why do we need “special laws” to enforce “special rights”? The rights aren’t special in my opinon – the Constititution states that we are all guaranteed the right to happiness and liberty. So, why then must we enact new laws to enforce what is guaranteed already under  the Constitituion? Because there are segments of society that are powerful that are intolerant to the culture and beliefs and lifestyles of others even those beliefs and lifestyles don’t effect them in any way. They just don’t like it. It’s that simple.

It wasn’t so long ago in this country that women couldn’t even vote in this country. They were essentially the property of their husband or family.

It wasn’t so long ago in this country that laws existed that would not have let me marry my wife ! Because I am white and she is Chinese.

It wasn’t so long ago in this country that one human could own another as a piece of property. You could kill your slave if you wishes with no consequence. Can any of you imagine having the power to kill another person and not face serious consequences? I don’t think so.

But, it was the law.

So, while the U.S. Constitution is a wonderful document it also has flaws, and those flaws are revealed and corrected by the amendments to them. And when those Amendments fail to correct the behavior of society then “special laws” for “special rights” must be enacted to reflect the change in culture, morality even, so that all people can enjoy the guarantee of “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” that is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Failure of some people to stand up for the rights of others or run the risk of losing their rights someday.

There is an old story from Europe that relates to this type of thought. It came from Germany during the rise of the Nazi party and the systematic killing of millions of people of “non desirable groups like Jews, gay people, colored people, and gypsies”.  Here it is:

   When they came for the people of color from the mountains - I stood by.

   When they came for the Gypsies that travelled from town to town -  I stood by.

   When they came for  those who spoke differently or lived differently -  I stood by.

   When they came for me – they took me, there was no one left to stand with me.

So, as a citizen we must always be careful of insuring the rights of those amongst us – even when we don’t agree with them. Even when they look different than us or when their beliefs are different than us or they worship a different God or no God at all.

Someday, it could be you.