美國交通部長趙小蘭投書
鐵路華工協助建立美國成為歷史的傳奇
美國交通部長趙小蘭投書”Washington
Examiner”，讚揚華裔工人在協助建造橫貫美國鐵路上的歷史成就，呼籲各界讓他們成為美國民間歷史的一部分。
美國交通部長趙小蘭
生活中很少有機會讓我們為史書添加正面敘述。但最近有這樣一個機會，我在纪念金钉150週年慶典中，表彰了12000多名華裔工人，他們在建造第一條横贯美国大陸的鐵路中發揮了關鍵作用。
這些人在建造中央太平洋鐵路時佔了80%的勞動力，經歷了無情、嚴酷又危險的條件，建造了我國歷史上最偉大的基礎設施之一。用最原始的工具，挖掘及穿鑿內華達山脈，他們中許多人因而喪生。但他們的犧牲不僅沒有獲得感謝，反而通過了州及聯邦的法律，禁止男性及女性華人成為美國公民或移民到美國。
從那之後的150年發生了很多變化。排華法案已被廢除，我們的國家已經向前發展，成為今天多元化的國家。但一個半世紀以來，華裔社區一直耐心等待華工在橫貫大陸鐵路的貢獻得到充分認可與尊重。
2019年5月10日，適當的表彰終於來到。這提醒著人們，當我們國家變得更多元化時，就極為渴望讓所有幫助美國偉大的族群的成就，獲得承認與表彰。
亞太裔美國人社區是全國成長最快的社區之一，我越來越多聽到這樣一種情緒，在短短50年間，亞太裔已從全國人口的1%增長到將近7%。他們為自己重視強大的家庭，教育及勤奮工作而感到自豪，亞太裔對我們國家的成長壯大有很大貢獻。看看亞太裔的失業率，驚人低的僅2.2%。許多亞太裔對總統內閣中有人看起來像他們，並可分享他們的經歷，感到非常欣慰。
儘管如此，亞太裔美國人仍然感到不安。在金釘慶典上，我從亞太裔那兒聽到，他們覺得長久以來，他們先祖的貢獻被貶低成為歷史的一個註腳。流行文化並不總是能夠分辨華裔美國人(那些在美國出生或自由選擇成為美國公民的人)和中國公民。其他亞裔對旨在限制他們子女獲得一流教育機會的配額制度感到越來越沮喪。對於經歷過許多歷史障礙才成為有完全資格美國人的社區而言，這些發展有著與過去太似曾相識的環節。
這屆政府領導成立了白宮亞太裔事務辦公室（我是共同主席），幫助提升亞裔美國人及太平洋群島族裔的經濟賦權。此外，還頒布了一項行政命令，確認進入高等教育必須注重績優，而不是貶抑那些作出犧牲，自我投資且學術表現卓越的人。這些行動呼應了亞太裔社區的深切期許。
但總還是有更多的事情可以做。認可橫貫大陸鐵路華工的開創性貢獻，是一個更具包容性歷史的良好開端。我希望他們的了不起成就，將成為美國民間傳說的一部分，讓每個學童，每個美國人都知道，以表彰使我們國家偉大，有著多種豐富而美麗膚色的人。
美國交通部部長趙小蘭
以下為投書原文:
It’s rare that life hands us the
opportunity to add a positive narrative to the history books. But there was
just such an opportunity recently, when I was given a platform at the 150th
Anniversary of the Golden Spike to honor the 12,000 or more workers of Chinese
ancestry who played a key role in building the first transcontinental railroad.
These men, nearly 80% of the workforce of the Central Pacific Railroad, endured
merciless, harsh, and dangerous conditions to build one of the greatest pieces
of infrastructure in our country’s history. Digging and tunneling through the
Sierra Nevada mountains with rudimentary tools, many lost their lives. But
instead of gratitude for their sacrifice, state and federal laws were passed
preventing men and women of Chinese ancestry from becoming American citizens or
immigrating to the U.S.
So much has changed in the 150 years
since. The Chinese exclusion laws have been repealed and our country has moved
forward, becoming the diverse nation it is today. But for more than a century
and a half, the Chinese American community has waited patiently for the
contributions of the Chinese transcontinental railroad workers to be fully
acknowledged and honored.
On May 10, 2019, proper recognition
finally came. It was a reminder that as our country becomes more diverse, there
is a tremendous hunger out there for the achievements of all the groups who
helped make America great to be recognized and celebrated.
That’s a sentiment I hear more and
more from the Asian Pacific American community, which is one of the fastest
growing in this country. In just 50 years, Asian Pacific Americans have gone
from approximately 1% to nearly 7% of our country’s population. They take pride
in the fact that, with their emphasis on strong families, education, and hard
work, Asian Pacific Americans are contributing much to the growth and strength
of our country. Just look at the unemployment rate for Asian Pacific Americans:
an astonishingly low 2.2%. Many Asian Pacific Americans find great comfort that
someone in the president’s Cabinet looks like them and shares their journey.
Yet for all their success, Asian
Pacific Americans can still feel uncomfortable. At the Golden Spike ceremonies,
I heard from Asian Americans who felt that for too long their ancestors’
contributions have been relegated to a mere footnote in history. Popular
culture does not always make the distinction between Chinese Americans (who
were either born here or made the free choice to become American citizens) and
Chinese nationals. Other Asian Americans are increasingly dismayed at quota
systems designed to limit their children’s access to a first-class education.
To a community that has experienced so many historical obstacles to becoming
full-fledged Americans, these developments have the all-too-familiar ring of
the past.
This administration is leading by
establishing a special initiative, the White House Initiative on Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders (of which I am co-chair) to help advance the
economic empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. An executive
order has also been issued affirming the principle that access to higher
education must respect merit, and not diminish those who have sacrificed,
invested in themselves, and achieved academic excellence. These actions address
deep aspirations within the Asian Pacific American community.
But there is always more that can be
done. Recognizing the seminal contribution of the Chinese transcontinental
railroad workers is a good start to a more inclusive history. My hope is that
their astounding achievement will become part of American folklore, known to
every schoolchild and every American, in recognition of the vast and wonderful
coat of many colors that makes our nation great.
Elaine
Chao is secretary of transportation
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