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Merry Christmas! 圣诞快乐！
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Wei Jingsheng Foundation News and Article Release Issue Number: A176-W86
魏京生基金会新闻与文章发布号：A176-W86
Release Date: December 25, 2005
发布日：2005年12月25日
Topic: Gratitude to the Wei Jingsheng Foundation -- CHEN Xi, Awardees of the Second Annual "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize"
标题：第二届“魏京生中国民主斗士奖”获奖者陈西先生给魏京生基金会的致谢词
Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)
此号以中文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
Note: Please use "Simplified Chinese (GB2312)" encoding to view the Chinese parts of this release. If this mail does not display properly in your email program, please contact us or visit:
http://www.weijingsheng.org/report/report2005/report2005-12/WJSF2ndPrize051225ChenXiA176-W86.htm which contains identical information.
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Gratitude to the Judges of the Wei Jingsheng Foundation's Second Annual "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize"
-- by Chen Xi
December 15, 2005
To Ms. Huang Ciping, and to Mr. Chen Xingyu, Mr. Chen Bangzheng, and Mr. Liu Jijie:
Greetings!
I learned of your awarding me the "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize" and feel extremely grateful. I am grateful that the causes of freedom, democracy and human rights in Mainland China are receiving more and more attention from both inside our country and around the world. In Mainland China, those brave souls who have quietly and in an isolated way endured endless sacrifices in order to shake off the chains of slavery tied on the Chinese people's bodies by this autocratic society have received widespread concern.
My gaining this award is not only a personal honor, but an honor for all of the people of good will in Guizhou Province, those in Zhejiang Province with lofty ideals for democracy, and Hunan Province's freedom advocates and the myriad human rights advocates who have fought on this land of dictatorship. Thus this honor encourages, supports, and inspires our countless democracy movement members and me. I would like to thank this award activity for giving us strength, and I would like to thank all of the friends who actively supported me by nominating me. I am sure that I can speak also for Wu Yilong, as well as our brother who has been driven to insanity by the autocratic government's persecution, Yu Dongyue. Even though they now have been silenced by the power-hungry government, and have lost their personal freedoms, I believe that our hearts are still interlinked. We would like to thank all of those who have actively supported and paid attention to the causes of Chinese democracy and constitutionalism, and would like to thank those who have enthusiastically supported the "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize." Thank you all for your affection, kindness, and understanding.
What those who work for freedom and democracy in China face is the same as what people have been facing for over two thousand years of autocracy: The national condition of China, one that is formidable, brutal, miserable, and obstinate. It is precisely this kind of national condition that has made those on the path of democracy and freedom over the last hundred years suffer defeat after defeat. In these failed struggles, however, none of our countless men of lofty ideals have given up, grieved, or ended their search, nor did they lose their ideals of their spiritual homeland out of cowardice. Instead, in these failed struggles they have tempered themselves, and strengthened themselves, and amidst sufferings they have molded themselves and come to understand themselves. In adverse conditions, under a brutal regime, and in a state where everyone is too afraid to speak, we continue to wave our banners of freedom, singing our songs that praise and show our passion for freedom, democracy, and peace, and songs that show our deep affection for our world and our good wishes for all of humankind.
What forged this most profound, glittering democratic ideology that people of the world yearn for? It is not humankind's knowledge and understanding, It is not the business way of commercial society, it is not kind and wishful thinking, and even less is it a moment's passion and impulse - it is hardship and suffering. It is experiencing the hardship-filled history of mankind, the hardship-filled history of one's motherland, and the hardship-filled history of life. Perhaps this is also the reason why this world is so filled with suffering.
Hardships are a great school from which penetrating insights come forth, where people temper their bodies into good health, and where people strengthen their good character. I would like to give my thanks to those who have not hidden from hardships, those who have let me see the people of this tragic world. I swear against those who practice fraud, hide from hardships, and create hardships for others, all the while boasting that they are extolling the praises of the "Three Represents."
We must have the people understand the truth, and we reject others sealing off this truth. We must live in a world of truth, and we reject hypocritical ways of living. We do not fear hardships; what we fear is artificially creating hardships for others, including political movements such as the "Anti-Right Movement", "The Cultural Revolution", "The Tiananmen Square Massacre", and the "Falun Gong Persecution."
Happiness is linked with suffering in the human world, favorable circumstances are connected with adverse ones, and life adjoins with death. As such, Saint Paul described Jesus in this contradictory manner: "Although he was tempered, he did not die; although he is full of grief, he is often happy; even though he is poor, he makes many wealthy; although he has nothing, there is nothing he lacks." Throughout human civilization, people have benefited more from hardships than from comfort and ease.
Thus, democracy pays attention to hardships, recognizes their existence, and takes lessening hardships as its goal. It strives to provide timely help, like delivering coals in a snowy day. By contrast, autocracy pays attention to happiness, conceals hardships, denies the lawful existence of hardships, and believes that hardships damage peace and prosperity. It is only willing to beautify its own image. Through paying attentions to humankind's hardships, democracy brings benefits to humankind, whereas by paying attention only to social happiness, the autocratic system brings evil upon humankind.
Here I would like to thank those who pay attention to hardships, as well as those who have quietly devoted themselves and borne hardships for the sake of reducing hardships for humankind. Your paying attention to hardships is in actuality paying attention to democracy and human rights, and your quiet bearing of hardships is in actuality establishing a system with the rule of law, and is creating a harmonious society. You are brave enough to choose and face hardships, but in actuality, you are choosing to create that which is noble, dignified, and that which is the finest and strongest.
To those democracy advocates still jailed: the high walls of jail cannot confine our thoughts, and the persecutory behavior of power-holders will make their power fall to nothing. The prisoner Lovelace once wrote:
"Stone walls do not a prison make\ Nor iron bars a cage\ Minds innocent and quiet take\ That for a hermitage."
To those human rights and democracy advocates still under adverse conditions and facing oppression: ”It is not prosperity so much as adversity, not wealth so much as poverty, that stimulates the perseverance of strong and healthy natures, rouses their energy and develops their character. Burke said of himself: "I was not rocked, and swaddled, and dandled into a legislator. 'NITOR IN ADVERSUM' is the motto for a man like you." Some men only require a great difficulty set in their way to exhibit the force of their character and genius; and that difficulty once conquered becomes one of the greatest incentives to their further progress." (by Samuel Smiles)
I wish happiness to each person who continues to strive forward though adverse conditions and hardships, because you are blessed. I wish to thank each person who ponders and who is willing to lead a life of hardships because you have a pair of healthy eyes.
To all of those in the world who adore democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, let us sound the death knell and declare farewell to those several remaining strong-arm regimes left in the world. Let us hold aloft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to work together to contribute to Chinese democracy.
Finally, I would ask Ms. Huang Ciping to send regards to Mr. Wei Jingsheng on my behalf. I would also like to send my regards to Hu Shigen and Liu Xianbin, the winners of the First Annual "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize", as well as to their families.
In addition, I declare: I am splitting the award money from the "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize"; half will be used to comfort my family, consoling them for their more than ten years of hardships while I was jailed, and for the bitterness, humiliation, and hardships they endured every day. I donate the other half to the work of our great democracy family. I leave nothing for myself, as I am able to earn a living for myself.
-- CHEN, Xi
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中文版
Wei Jingsheng Foundation News and Article Release Issue Number: A176-W86
魏京生基金会新闻与文章发布号：A176-W86
Release Date: December 25, 2005
发布日：2005年12月25日
Topic: Gratitude to the Wei Jingsheng Foundation -- CHEN Xi, Awardees of the Second Annual "Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize"
标题：第二届“魏京生中国民主斗士奖”获奖者陈西先生给魏京生基金会的致谢词
Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)
此号以中文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
如有中文乱码问题，请与我们联系或访问:
http://www.weijingsheng.org/report/report2005/report2005-12/WJSF2ndPrize051225ChenXiA176-W86.htm
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第二届“魏京生中国民主斗士奖”获奖者陈西先生给魏京生基金会的致谢词
黄慈萍女士及陈兴宇、陈邦铮、刘继杰诸位先生：
你们好！
获悉你们颁布"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"的消息，我感到十分欣慰。欣慰的是：大陆中国的自由民主、人权法治事业越来越多地受到海内外世界的关注。在大陆中国默默无闻、孤身奋战，为了摆脱专制社会套在中国人身上的奴役枷锁而承受了无尽牺牲的勇士们得到了人们普遍的关怀。
我本人得奖，并不只是我一个人的荣誉，而是我们贵州仁人志士、浙江民主志士、湖南自由斗士和千千千万万战斗在这块专政土地上的维权人士的荣誉。因为，这项荣誉是对我，对我们众多的民运人士的激励、鞭策、支持和鼓舞。我感谢这项评奖活动给我们增添了力量，我感谢所有积极支持我提名的朋友们。我、吴义龙还有我那被专制政府残酷迫害疯了的兄弟喻东岳。尽管他们现在被强权政府封住了喉，失去了人身自由，我想，我们的心灵是相通的。我们感谢一切积极支持关心中国政治民主、宪政事业的人们，感谢一切热心支持"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"的人们，谢谢你们的一片痴心，一片爱心，一片认同之心。
中国的自由民主之路的求索是在有两千多年的专制土壤中求索的，这是中国的国情，一种艰巨性、残酷性、苦难性、顽固性的国情。正是这种国情，使得近百年以来的追求自由民主之路屡战屡败。但是，在屡战屡败的奋斗之中，我们无数的仁人志士并没有放弃，并没有悲哀，并没有停止求索，并没有因胆怯从而失去对精神家园的想往。而是在屡战屡败中锻炼自己，壮大自己；在苦难中塑造自己，认识自己；在逆境中，在残酷的暴政下，在万马齐喑的恐惧效应里，我们继续摇动着自由的旗帜，歌唱赞美热爱自由民主、和平和热爱我们的世界、祝福全人类的歌。
是什么锤炼出人类最深邃、最闪光、最令世人向往的民主思想？——不是人类的知识理解，不是社会的商业行为，不是善良的一厢情愿，更不是一时的激情冲动，而是苦难。是对人类的苦难史，祖国的苦难史，对生命的苦难史的品尝。或许，这也就是世界上为什么有这么多苦难的原因。
苦难是一所出真知灼见，磨练健康体魄，增强人类优良品质的大学校。我感谢那些没有隐藏苦难的人们，感谢那些让我看到了悲惨世界的人们。我赌咒那些弄虚作假、隐藏苦难、制造苦难而又要自夸为"三个代表"，歌功颂德之徒。
我们需要人们了解真相，我们拒绝封锁真相。我们需要活在真实的世界里，我们拒绝虚伪的活法。我们不怕苦难，我们怕的是人为的制造苦难。如"反右"、"文化大革命 | "、"天安门惨案"、"法轮功"。
人世间幸福是与苦难相连的，顺境是与逆境有关的，生命是与死亡毗邻的。正如使徒保罗矛盾地描述基督的生活一样："虽然经受磨练，但并没有死亡；虽然充满哀伤，但时常欢喜；虽然贫穷，却使许多人富有；虽然一无所有，但却无所不有。"人类的文明更多的是从苦难中受益而不是从舒适和安逸中受益。
因此，民主制度关注苦难，承认苦难的存在，以减少人类的苦难为目的。做雪中送炭的工作。与之相反，专制制度关注的是幸福，掩盖苦难，否定苦难的合法存在，认为苦难有损太平盛世。只愿意做锦上添花的形象工程工作。民主制度从关注人类的苦难之中造福于人类，专制制度则在关注社会的幸福之中作恶于人类。
在这里，我感谢那些关注苦难的人们，感谢那些一直在为减少人类的苦难而默默地奉献、承受苦难的人们。你们关注苦难实际就在关注民主，关注人权，你们在默默地承受苦难实际就在建设法治制度，创造和谐社会。你们敢于选择苦难，面对苦难，实际，你们是在选择创造，选择高贵、尊严、最优、最佳、最强。
仍然受到监禁的民主人士们：监狱的高墙禁闭不了我们的思想，强权者的迫害行为使他们的权力落空。囚犯洛夫莱斯写道：
"石墙构不成监狱，
铁栅围不成牢笼，
无罪的心自在安宁，
此处僻静正好修行。" ①
仍然在逆境中被打压的民权志士们："与其说是顺境，不如说是逆境；与其说是富裕，不如说是贫困铸就了人的坚强毅力和健康性格；是逆境是贫困唤醒了人们的活力并健全了人们的品格。伯克这样评价自己说：'困难挫折动摇不了我，束缚不了我，顺境，富裕也不可能使我变成纨绔子弟。'人只有在极其困难的关头才能更好地展现其品格和超常的力量。征服困难往往是他们取得更大进步的最伟大的动力。" ②
我祝福每一位在逆境中、在苦难中抗争的斗士们，因为你们有福了。我感谢每一位思考苦难、直面苦难人生的人们，因为你们有一双健康的眼睛。
全世界一切爱慕民主、人权、法治的人们，让我们一起来敲响丧钟，以送别这个世界上仅存的几个强权政府。让我们高举《世界人权宣言》的旗帜，共同为中国的民主建设作出贡献！
最后，请黄慈萍女士代问魏京生先生好。并向第一届"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"获得者胡石根、刘贤斌及其亲属问好！
另外，我宣布：把我所得的"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"奖金一分为二，一半为慰问我的亲属，以慰藉她们在我被囚禁 10 多年的艰难岁月中，每天所吞咽的苦涩，蒙受的耻辱，遭遇的苦难。另一半我捐献出来，为我们这个民主大家庭的建设尽力。我自己不留分文，可以自食其力。
陈西 于
12 、15 、2005
注： ① [英 ] 塞缪尔· 斯迈尔斯（By Samuel Smiles）1872 、《品格的力量》360 页 刘署光、宋景堂、李柏光/ 译
②同上 349页
（魏京生基金会首发，请注明出处。www.weijingsheng.org）
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