1.The Unfailing Kindness of Strangers(1094)

Passage One

In 1997, an article in Reader's Digest shared a message: Trust the kindness of strangers. It reminds us that people can be kind and helpful, no matter where we are. This teaches us to be open and friendly, even to those we don't know.

1997年，《读者文摘》上的一篇文章分享了一条信息:相信陌生人的善意。它提醒我们，无论我们在哪里，人们都可以是善良和乐于助人的。这教会了我们要开放和友好，即使是对那些我们不认识的人。

The Unfailing Kindness of Strangers

Mike Mclntyre

【1】In the summer of 1994, I embarked on a journey that would redefine my understanding of human nature and the essence of American generosity. My goal was to traverse the United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic, a distance of over 4,000 miles, without a single dollar in my pocket.

【2】This was an experiment to explore the limits of kindness and the extent to which strangers would open their hearts and homes to a traveler in need.

【3】My journey began on September 6th, with a 50-pound backpack and a sign that simply read "America." I was determined to hitchhike my way across the country, relying solely on the goodwill of those who would offer me rides, food, and shelter.

【4】This was not just a physical journey but a quest to discover the true nature of human compassion in a world often painted with cynicism and fear.

【5】As I set out, I was aware of the risks and the potential for rejection. The country had changed, and the stories of gangs, drug addicts, murderers, rapists, and thieves had become a part of the national narrative.

【6】The phrase "I don't want to get involved" had become a mantra, a shield against the dangers that seemed to lurk around every corner. Yet, I was determined to see if the spirit of generosity that once defined the American character was still alive.

【7】My first encounter was in the middle of the desert, where I came across a young man standing by the roadside, thumb outstretched, holding a gas can. I drove past him, a decision that weighed heavily on my conscience.

【8】It was a stark reminder of how quickly one can become desensitized to the plight of others. I wondered, "Does anyone stop anymore?" The question gnawed at me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had missed an opportunity to connect with another human being.

【9】Several states later, I was still reflecting on the hitchhiker. The decision to leave him stranded did not trouble me as much as the ease with which I had made it. I had not even considered stopping, let alone lifting my foot off the accelerator.

【10】This realization troubled me deeply. I began to question whether I had become part of the problem, part of a society that had become too afraid to reach out to those in need.

【11】The idea of a cashless journey intrigued me. I wondered what kind of Americans I would encounter. Would they feed me, shelter me, and carry me down the road? I decided to find out for myself. I would travel from coast to coast, relying solely on the kindness of strangers.

【12】The week I turned 37, I set out on my journey. I rose early and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge, ready to embark on my adventure. For six weeks, I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states.

【13】As I traveled, I was often warned about the people in other states. In Montana, they cautioned me about the cowboys in Wyoming. In Nebraska, they warned me that people might not be as friendly in Iowa. Yet, despite these warnings, I was met with kindness everywhere I went.

【14】In Nebraska, I was picked up by two elderly ladies in their Sunday best. They told me they knew it was risky to pick up a hitchhiker, but they couldn't bear the thought of leaving someone stranded.

【15】"It's so far between towns out here," one of them said. "You feel bad passing a person by." This woman was willing to risk her safety for the sake of compassion, a gesture that moved me deeply.

【16】One rainy day, a trucker pulled over, skidding on the grass shoulder to avoid passing me by. He had been robbed by a hitchhiker once, but he couldn't bear to see someone standing in the rain. "People don't have no heart anymore," he said. Yet, here he was, proving that compassion still existed.

【17】In Oregon, a house painter named Mike noticed my light coat and insisted on giving me a warm, green army-style jacket. In Tennessee, Baxter Wilson, a 59-year-old executive director, invited me to spend the night in his country house.

【18】His wife, Carol, a seventh-grade science teacher, cooked a pot roast for me. Baxter explained that local folks were "mountain stay-at-home people" who rarely entertained in their house. "When we do," he said, "it's usually kin." This revelation made my night there all the more special.

【19】The next morning, Carol asked if I would come to their school and talk to her class about my trip. I agreed, and before long, I was scheduled to talk to every class in the school.

【20】The students were attentive and asked a variety of questions: Where were people the kindest? How many pairs of shoes did I have? Did anybody try to run me over? Did I fall in love with someone? What were my greatest fears?

【21】Although I hadn't planned it this way, I discovered that a patriotic tone ran through the talks I gave that afternoon. I told the students how my faith in America had been renewed.

【22】I told them how proud I was to live in a country where people were still willing to help. I told them that the question I had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the kindness of strangers.

【23】As I concluded my journey in North Carolina, I realized that my faith in America had been profoundly renewed. The question that had sparked this journey—whether one could still depend on the kindness of strangers—was answered with a resounding yes.

【24】In a world where fear and suspicion often dominate, my journey across America was a powerful reminder that the kindness of strangers is not just a relic of the past but a living, breathing reality in the heart of the nation. It was a journey that not only tested the limits of human kindness but also reaffirmed my belief in the inherent goodness of people.

第一课

陌生人永恒的善良

【1】1994年夏天，我开始了一段旅程，重新定义了我对人性和美国慷慨的本质的理解。我的目标是穿越美国，从太平洋到大西洋，距离超过4000英里，口袋里没有一美元。

【2】这是一项实验，旨在探索善良的极限，以及陌生人对需要帮助的旅行者敞开心扉和敞开家门的程度。

【3】9月6日，我带着一个50磅重的背包和一个写着“美国”的牌子开始了我的旅程。我决定搭便车穿越这个国家，完全依靠那些愿意为我提供搭车、食物和住所的人的善意。

【4】这不仅仅是一次身体上的旅行，也是在一个经常被描绘成玩世不恭和恐惧的世界中发现人类同情心的真正本质的探索。

【5】当我出发的时候，我就意识到了风险和被拒绝的可能性。这个国家变了，帮派、瘾君子、杀人犯、强奸犯和小偷的故事已经成为国家叙事的一部分。

【6】“我不想卷入其中”这句话已经变成了一个咒语，一个抵御似乎潜伏在每个角落的危险的盾牌。然而，我决心要看看曾经代表美国人性格的慷慨精神是否依然存在。

【7】我的第一次相遇是在沙漠中，遇到一个年轻人站在路边，拇指伸出，拿着一个煤气罐。我开车从他身边经过，这个决定沉重地压在我的良心上。

【8】这件事清楚地提醒我们，一个人对他人的困境会多么迅速地变得麻木不仁。我想知道，“现在还有人停下来吗?”这个问题折磨着我，我无法摆脱一种感觉:我错过了一个与另一个人交流的机会。

【9】过了几个州，我还在回想那个搭便车的人。让他陷入困境的决定并不像我轻松做出的决定那样让我烦恼。我甚至没有考虑过停车，更不用说把脚从油门上移开了。

【10】这种认识使我深感不安。我开始怀疑，我是否已经成为问题的一部分，成为这个社会的一部分，这个社会变得太害怕去帮助那些需要帮助的人。

【11】无现金旅行的想法引起了我的兴趣。我想知道我会遇到什么样的美国人。他们会给我吃的，给我住的，带我上路吗?我决定自己去寻找答案。我从一个海岸旅行到另一个海岸，仅仅依靠陌生人的善意。

【12】在我满37岁的那个星期，我开始了我的旅程。我起得很早，直奔金门大桥，准备开始我的冒险之旅。在六周的时间里，我搭了82次便车，穿越了14个州，行程4223英里。

【13】我旅行时，经常有人提醒我注意其他州的人。在蒙大拿州，他们提醒我提防怀俄明州的牛仔。在内布拉斯加州，他们警告我，爱荷华州的人可能不那么友好。然而，尽管有这些警告，我走到哪里都受到友善的对待。

【14】在内布拉斯加州，我被两位穿着盛装的老太太接走了。他们告诉我，他们知道让一个搭车的人搭车是很危险的，但他们不能忍受让一个人被困在那里的想法。

【15】“这里离城镇太远了，”其中一个说。“你一个人路过会觉得很难受。”这个女人愿意为了同情而拿自己的安全冒险，这一举动深深打动了我。

【16】一个雨天，一个卡车司机把车停在路边，为了不与我擦肩而过，他在草地上打滑。他曾经被搭便车的人抢劫过一次，但他不忍心看到有人站在雨中。“人们已经没有心了，”他说。然而，他在这里，证明了同情仍然存在。

【17】在俄勒冈州，一位名叫迈克的房屋油漆工注意到我的浅色外套，坚持要给我一件暖和的绿色军服式样的夹克。在田纳西州，59岁的执行董事巴克斯特·威尔逊邀请我到他的乡间别墅过夜。

【18】他的妻子卡罗尔是一名七年级的科学老师，她为我做了一锅炖肉。巴克斯特解释说，当地人都是“呆在山上的人”，很少在家里招待客人。“如果有，”他说，“通常都是亲戚。”这一发现让我在那里的夜晚变得更加特别。

【19】第二天早上，卡罗尔问我是否愿意去他们学校和她的班级谈谈我的旅行。我同意了，没过多久，我就被安排在学校的每个班级上演讲。

【20】学生们很专心，问了各种各样的问题:哪里的人最善良?我有多少双鞋?有人试图撞我吗?我爱上谁了吗?我最害怕的是什么?

【21】虽然我没有这样的计划，但我发现一种爱国的语气贯穿了我那天下午的演讲。我告诉学生们，我对美国的信心是如何重新燃起的。

【22】我告诉他们我为生活在一个人们仍然乐于助人的国家而感到多么自豪。我告诉他们，我计划这次旅行时脑子里的问题现在有了明确地答案。不管发生什么，你仍然可以依赖陌生人的善意。

【23】当我在北卡罗来纳结束我的旅程时，我意识到我对美国的信心已经深刻地恢复了。引发这次旅行的问题，一个人是否还能依赖陌生人的善意，得到了响亮的肯定回答。

【24】在一个充满恐惧和怀疑的世界里，我的美国之旅有力地提醒我们，陌生人的善意不仅仅是过去的遗迹，而是这个国家心中活生生的现实。这是一段旅程，它不仅考验了人性善良的极限，也重申了我对人性本善的信念。