「弗羅伊德之死」,讓整個美國陷入無盡的吶喊和絕望。不顧各州尚處於疫情期間,人們上街抗議,高喊「黑人的命也是命」、「還弗羅伊德正義」,有人慟哭、有人動容、有人憤慨。此刻的美國,正在經歷一場陣痛,被壓迫長達數百年的黑人群體站起來了,向白宮、向世界發出自己的聲音。他們要的,是平等對待。
然而,川普政府的作為卻讓人失望。為了聲援遊行民眾,各界大咖紛紛用自己的方式支持。從不參與政治討論的黴黴,喊出美國最強音「11月把你(川普)投下去!」
NBA球星柯瑞(StephenCurry)和湯普森(Klay Thompson)參加和平遊行,喊出「佛洛伊德」(George Floyd)」的名字;
「金鋼狼」曉治積曼(Hugh Jackman)和「美國隊長」基思伊文斯感性悼念弗羅伊德,發文「願你的死成為改革催化劑」。
4日,有著黑人血統的英國前王妃梅根(Meghan Markle)也首度發聲,聲援遊行民眾,為佛洛依德哀悼。6月份是美國的畢業季,梅根為母校聖心高中(Immaculate Heart High School)2020屆畢業班的學生們送去畢業致辭。
長達6分鐘的演說裡,梅根幾度哽咽,情緒激動。
梅根本身有黑人血統,在美國洛杉磯出生長大,雖然一度遠嫁英國,但最終還是回到了自己的故鄉。佛洛依德的死,點燃了明尼蘇達州的怒火,蔓延全美,更深深影響了黑人社區的每一個人。
自梅根帶著哈裡和阿奇回到美國後,他們就鮮少出現在眾人的視線中,專心過好自己的生活。梅根說道,「看到佛洛依德事件發生後,我想了很多,一直猶豫著要不要站出來,表達自己的想法。我不希望自己的言論被媒體惡意截取,大做文章,但我意識到,我能想到最糟糕的事情,就是什麼都不說,視而不見。佛洛依德的生命,很重要。」
同樣的歷史,在美國不斷重演。今日的抗議,只不過是歷史漩渦中小小的浪花,至於能激起多少漣漪,全看政府作為。
The Duchess of Sussex has delivered a heartfelt message against racism following the death of George Floyd.Meghan, speaking in a video to the graduating class of her former high school, said what is happening in the US is "absolutely devastating".She said she was "nervous" about speaking out over the issue, but added: "The only wrong thing to say is to say nothing".Apologising to the students for not "getting the world to a place where you deserve it to be", she encouraged them to "become the leaders we so deeply crave."In the video message, addressed to graduating students of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, she said: "I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart."And I realised the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing. Because George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered… and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know."Meghan then refers to a teacher from the school, who she says gave her the courage to speak out.She said: "I was thinking about this moment when I was a sophomore, I was 15... it’s the year we do volunteer work."And I remember one teachers, Ms Pollia, said to me, 『always remember to put other’s needs above your own fears.』"That has stuck with me throughout my entire life and I have thought about it more in the last week than ever before."So the first thing I want to say to you is that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you have to grow up in a world where this is still present."Meghan continues by describing a memory from her childhood, when riots were taking place in LA.She said: 「I was 11 or 12 years old and it was the LA Riots, which was also triggered by senseless act of racism. I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home and on that drive home, seeing ash fall from the sky and smelling the smoke and seeing the smoke billow out of buildings."I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. I remember pulling up the house and seeing the tree, that had always been there, completely charred. And those memories don’t go away."She added that students should have an understanding of that "as a history lesson, not as a reality"."I am sorry in a way that we have not gotten the world to a place where you deserve it to be," she said.Meghan then encourages the students to be "part of a movement" of hope, adding that she remember how people "came together" during those times.She said: 「We’re seeing that right now, from the sheriff in Michigan or the police chief in Virginia. We’re seeing people stand in solidarity, we are seeing communities come together and to uplift."And you are going to be part of this movement."She acknowledged that the graduation was not as the students envisaged, but urged them 「to see this as the beginning of you harnessing all the values and skills that you embodied over the last four yours"."Now all of that work gets activated - now you get to be part of rebuilding," she said. "I know sometimes people say how many times do we have to rebuild? We are going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt."Because when the foundation is broken, so are we."She added: "You’re going to use your voice in a stronger way than you have ever been able to because most of you are 18 - or you’re turning 18 - so you’re going to vote."You’re going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do. Because, with as diverse, vibrant and opened minded as I know the teachings are at Immaculate Heart, I know you know that Black lives matters."I am so proud to call each of you a fellow alumni and please know that I'm cheering you on all along the way. I am wishing you a huge congratulations on today, the start of all the impact you are going to make on the world as the leaders we so deeply crave."3歲上幼兒園,4歲上小學
夏洛特小公主一年級課程曝光
要學計算機、科學和芭蕾
皇室的精英教育真的很拼
9月份是開學季,作為皇室明星人物,威廉夫婦早早為孩子做好了打算。前段時間,肯辛頓宮就官宣——今年9月,夏洛特將和哥哥喬治王子一起,同去託馬斯巴特西小學(Thomas's Battersea)上學。作為英國人民的小甜心,去年夏洛特上幼兒園的第一天,肯辛頓宮在社交網站上po出一張照片就引起了轟動。照片裡,小公主站在皇宮的臺階上,穿著紅外套,戴著粉圍巾,對著鏡頭微笑,舉止頗有皇家風範。除了備受矚目的小公主,她即將就讀的託馬斯巴特西小學也熱議不斷。2017年喬治小王子最先進入這所學校時,還創造了皇室歷史上的記錄:英國王室成員首次進入面向大眾的私立學校就讀。向來走精英路線的皇室為何選擇這樣一所學校?看完他們的擇校標準,或許你就明白了。在英國,所有的小學和幼兒園都會被英國教育標準局(Ofsted)的嚴格監管。他們把學校分成outstanding、good和average三個等級。按照Ofsted的評分,託馬斯巴特西小學的評價是outstanding(最高等級)。想要滿足outstanding可並不簡單,Ofsted對這所學校的評價是:教師精心策劃的學習內容令人驚嘆。就連校方自己就在簡介裡說,「這是一所忙碌的大型學校」。去年,媒體曝出喬治小王子剛剛升入這所學校一年級,就要學習法文、芭蕾舞、詩歌等課程。即將入學的妹妹夏洛特,恐怕也要迎來非常繁忙一年級。據官網顯示,該學校主要課程就有多達12種,涵蓋數學、科學、舞蹈等方方面。其中,一年級學生每周要學習40分鐘的電腦技能,掌握如何使用滑鼠,以及word的操作。另外,學校還要求90%的學生至少掌握一種樂器。不光是學習,這所學校體育課佔據總課程的20%,包括體操、曲棍球、騎馬等等項目。目的就是培養孩子堅毅、能吃苦的個性。值得一提的是,託馬斯巴特西還擁有豐富多彩課外活動,多達幾十個課外俱樂部供孩子選擇。學習內容涉及陶藝,擊劍等等,以學生的優勢和興趣為出發點,打開孩子們的視野。英國的精英式教育講究「全面教育」,重視培養人的情商,甚至勝過學業。託馬斯巴特西的校訓就只有一句話——"Be kind"(做個善良的孩子)。為此,學校中還有規定:不允許學生只有一個好夥伴。鼓勵每個小朋友多交朋友,學會尊重,彼此包容。這所充滿體貼、友愛的學校,不僅獲得皇室的喜愛,也頗受本地中產階級,尤其中上層父母青睞。當然,處於學區位置的託馬斯巴特西小學也沒讓人失望。去年他們就交出了一份優異的答卷,大部分學生都直接升入了附近的名校,甚至還有學生拿到了全額的獎學金。