親愛的孩子們：
看到你們我感到無比快慰和榮耀。今天我作為一個父親以及一個前良心犯給你們說話。
還有許多良心犯的孩子此刻沒有和我們在一起，我們不會忘記他們，我們不會撇下任何一個。
這是一個令人感傷的時刻。
在你們今天的年齡上，你們的父輩已經開始思考嚴肅的問題、開始採取勇敢的行動。說起來，他們的行動只不過是行使了作為一個人的基本權利而已，然而不幸的是，他們因此而入獄成了良心犯，並在中國的監獄裡度過了或長或短的時間，而這些時間大都是他們最好的黃金歲月。他們的故事悲壯而精彩、精彩而悲壯。
請允許我首先請求到場和沒有到場的良心犯的孩子們，去更多地了解你們的父親、母親，去了解他們所經歷的點點滴滴。在你們的父輩的故事裏－－中國人權史的重要部分－－蘊藏著今天中國和世界的秘密、甚至人生意義的祕訣，你們應該學會閱讀這些的秘密和祕訣，這將使你們的未來受益良多。
你們的父輩是中國最勇敢的人，他們為中國的進步做出了最大貢獻也付出了最大的真誠、勇氣和犧牲。但他們的貢獻和犧牲迄今為止並沒有得到全世界恰如其分的認可和評價，請讓這種認可和評價首先從你們的內心形成。在形成這種認可和評價的同時，你們也就站到了父輩的位置，繼續關註和支持中國的自由事業，這也是所有孩子們應該付出努力的事業，你們這一代必將看到中國社會最為深遠的變革，見證一個美好的中國的誕生。
今天我也想坦承我們這些做父母的良心犯為你們帶來的磨難。其實，你們承擔了更大的痛苦和犧牲。在你們這些孩子即將成年的時候，你們的父輩並沒有給你們創造出足夠自由、安全的環境，甚至你們這些孩子從出生起就經受了程度不同的恐懼與迫害，有些孩子甚至到今天還在承受這種迫害的折磨。我必須承認，給孩子帶來的痛苦、磨難和犧牲是我心口上無法醫治的傷痛。我深知你們心上的傷痛更深，我通過我自己的經驗和許多相似的案例發現，我們這些良心犯長輩常常對此無能為力。這也正是我努力敦促你們走在一起成立“良心犯的孩子”、作為兄弟姐妹互助互愛、共同療治傷痛、共同面對未來的主要原因。
在我因你們的所經受的平常孩子所沒有的磨難和面臨的特別挑戰感到歉疚的同時，我希望在場和不在場的良心犯的孩子們學會更多的理解和承擔，請您們相信，正是因為對未來和對孩子的愛，你們的父親或母親從不放棄信念而在監獄中度過青春歲月。確實的，如果不是為了孩子，我看不到我們走在一起打拼的更多更有力的理由，我也不能想像我們可以這麼長久地艱難奮鬥。
時間的長河裏大浪淘沙，那些有價值的信念必會形成代際傳遞和延續，人類如此，中國亦如此。同時，共同的信念和承擔也讓我們把友誼的火炬交給年輕的你們，讓父輩的友誼在你們中間延續和提升，這友誼本身也是中國未來重要的希望。有你們，我們才有動力，有你們，我們更有信心。謝謝你們給了我們希望。上帝祝福所有良心犯的孩子們。
Speech by YANG Jianli
at “Children of Prisoners of Conscience”—Organization Launch
The 10th InterEthnic/InterFaith Leadership Conference
April 29, 2015
Dear Children,
I am most pleased and honored to see you all here. Today I speak to you as a father and as a former prisoner of conscience.
There are so many children, like you, children of prisoners of conscience, who are not with us at the moment. We will not forget them. We will not leave anyone out.
It is a rather emotional moment.
When your parents were your age, they had already begun thinking about the hard questions and taking heroic actions. But, unfortunately, their actions, which were no more than exercising their basic rights as human beings, landed them in jail, and they became prisoners of conscience. The years they spent in Chinese prisons, no matter how long, were mostly their golden years. Their stories are incredibly moving, as well as tragic.
I want to ask you, if I may, all the children of those prisoners of conscience, whether or not here – to try to understand your fathers and mothers, try to understand what they have been through all those years. Their stories, as an important part of the history of China’s human rights, carry many secret codes about today’s China, the world, and even the meaning of life itself. I encourage you to learn to decode these codes. You will benefit greatly from doing so.
Your parents are the most fearless people in China. They are the people who have made greatest contributions to, and greatest sacrifices for, the progress of Chinese society. Although such contributions and sacrifices have not been fully acknowledged by the world, you—the second generation—must give them credit and your sincere respect for what they sacrificed. Only by doing so will you carry on with their tasks and continue to support the noble cause of fighting for China’s freedom. And, this cause is the one that all young people should pursue. As the second generation of prisoners of conscience, you are bound to witness the most far-reaching change in China, the birth of a new and democratic China.
Today, I want to also acknowledge the sufferings we, the parents and prisoners, have brought you. Your sacrifices are even greater. At the time when you were coming of age, we couldn’t secure an environment of reasonable freedom and safety for you. Even since you were born, you have faced all kinds of threats and persecutions. Many of you are still haunted by such persecutions. I must admit the suffering I have brought to my children is a wound on my heart that can never be healed. And, I know there is an even deeper wound on your heart, which I have found, in many cases, mine included, that we, the prisoners, can do little about it. That is the primary reason I have urged you and taken pains to help you to come together to form Children of Prisoners of Conscience, through which you can support each other as brothers and sisters.
While we apologize to you for all the hardships you have endured, I hope all the children of prisoners of conscience, whether present here or not, will strive to be more understanding and committed. You should be confident that it was out of the love for their children and for your future that your parents never gave up their beliefs and ended up spending their prime years in prison. Indeed, if not for children, I would see little reason for us to come together and could not imagine we would have struggled so long and hard as we have.
Looking back at the sweep of history, we see those valuable beliefs are invariably passed down from generation to generation. This is universal, and China is no exception. Now, as parents, with our shared beliefs and commitments, we pass the torch of friendship into your hands. This torch is a symbol of the friendship among your parents, and this friendship should continue and grow among you. This kind of bonding is where the future of China lies. Please don’t forget that it is you who drive us and make us more confident. Thank you for giving us hope. God bless all the children of prisoners of conscience.
2015/5/3 6:53:04
