英语作文Learn from others

Learning From Others

Part of being human is to learn from one another. Knowledge, skills, and even philosophy are passed on not only from generation to generation, but from culture to culture.

The primary culture in North America was derived from the British Isles and, later, various parts of Continental Europe. Since the early 20th Century we in North America have felt that we have all the answers and will lead the way without a sideways glance. This has accelerated since World War II and, indeed, we and much of the rest of the world seems to assume that the North American "Coca-Cola Cowboy" culture will naturally take over all other cultures. This culture promotes commercial consumption, unbridled materialism and a "don't-fence-me-in" attitude toward traditions and restraint.

However, at the end of the 20th Century, we are hitting up against boundaries and boundaries are not an agreeable concept in North America.

That year was a great eye-opener for me. We found ourselves living in a milieu where respect seemed to be an important element.....respect for the landscape, for nature, for heritage, for the family and for future generations. Respect is not a word that springs to mind in the 20th Century. In fact, the United States was founded on disrespect. From the Boston Tea Party to the cowboys and on to Rambo.... American heroes are revered for their disrespect.

Europe has had many centuries to work itself through that adolescent, disrespectful phase. Europe has very painfully learned to live with boundaries. In my view, the more sophisticated and mature philosophy of Northwest Europe represents the best hope for the future of North America and, indeed, the world. We must learn to live with boundaries, restraint and respect. If not, human societies and nature will be devastated in a very short time.

During our year in Bavaria, we had a strong feeling that Germany has much to teach North America about new ways to move into a kinder, gentler, more sustainable future. It is possible to harmonize modern technology and respect for natural and human heritage.

German-American studies are a two way street. We, on this side of the Atlantic, can no longer afford this 20th Century self-centred myopia. North America needs to look beyond Beethoven and Goethe to possible models for the future. And Germany needs to look beyond the "Coca-Cola-Cowboy" culture to more profound American values.

翻译

一部分人是被相互学习。 Knowledge, skills, and even philosophy are passed on not only from generation to generation, but from culture to culture.知识，技能，甚至是通过对哲学不仅代代相传，而且从文化的文化。

The primary culture in North America was derived from the British Isles and, later, various parts of Continental Europe.原代培养在北美来自不列颠群岛，后来，各部分欧洲大陆。 Since the early 20th Century we in North America have felt that we have all the answers and will lead the way without a sideways glance.自20世纪初，我们在北美已经认为我们拥有所有的答案，并将率先没有横向一目了然。 This has accelerated since World War II and, indeed, we and much of the rest of the world seems to assume that the North American "Coca-Cola Cowboy" culture will naturally take over all other cultures.这加快了自第二次世界大战结束以来，事实上，我们和许多其他地方的世界似乎认为北美“可口可乐牛仔”的文化自然会接管所有其他文化。 This culture promotes commercial consumption, unbridled materialism and a "don't-fence-me-in" attitude toward traditions and restraint.这种文化促进商业消费，无节制的唯物论和“别，围栏，我的”态度，传统和克制。

However, at the end of the 20th Century, we are hitting up against boundaries and boundaries are not an agreeable concept in North America.然而，在20世纪末，我们是打了对边界和界限不是同意的概念在北美地区。

During the 1987-88 school year our family went to Bavaria to live so that our boys could learn to speak German before they were twelve.years old. Birgit, my wife, was born in Germany, and her father had made a deal with all of his grandchildren that they would get a small reward if they could speak a second language by the age of twelve.在87年至88年学年我们全家去了德国巴伐利亚州的生活，使我们的孩子能够学会讲德语，然后再twelve.years岁。比尔吉德，我的妻子，出生在德国，和她的父亲提出了处理所有他的孙子，他们将得到一个小奖励，如果他们会说第二语言的年龄为12 。 Any language would do and we picked German.任何一种语言将尽我们选择德国。

That year was a great eye-opener for me.这一年是一个伟大的大开眼界，对我来说。 We found ourselves living in a milieu where respect seemed to be an important element.....respect for the landscape, for nature, for heritage, for the family and for future generations. Respect is not a word that springs to mind in the 20th Century.我们发现自己生活在一个环境下尊重似乎是一个重要组成部分.....尊重自然景观，自然的，因为遗产，为家庭和后代。尊重是不是一个词，泉水想到的20世纪。 In fact, the United States was founded on disrespect.事实上，美国是建立在不尊重。 From the Boston Tea Party to the cowboys and on to Rambo....从波士顿倾茶事件的牛仔和对兰博.... American heroes are revered for their disrespect.美国英雄的崇敬他们的不尊重。

Europe has had many centuries to work itself through that adolescent, disrespectful phase.欧洲有许多世纪的工作本身，青少年，不敬阶段。 Europe has very painfully learned to live with boundaries.欧洲有非常痛苦的经验教训一起生活的界限。 In my view, the more sophisticated and mature philosophy of Northwest Europe represents the best hope for the future of North America and, indeed, the world.在我看来，更先进的，成熟的理念，西北欧洲的最好对未来的希望北美，乃至全世界。 We must learn to live with boundaries, restraint and respect.我们必须学会生活的界限，克制和尊重。 If not, human societies and nature will be devastated in a very short time.如果不是这样，人类社会与自然的破坏将是在很短的时间。

During our year in Bavaria, we had a strong feeling that Germany has much to teach North America about new ways to move into a kinder, gentler, more sustainable future.在我们的一年，在德国巴伐利亚州，我们有一个强烈的感觉，德国有很多教北美洲的新方式进入仁慈和温和的，更可持续的未来。 It is possible to harmonize modern technology and respect for natural and human heritage.这是可能使现代技术和尊重自然和人类文化遗产。

German-American studies are a two way street.德美研究双向街。 We, on this side of the Atlantic, can no longer afford this 20th Century self-centred myopia.我们在此方面的大西洋，再也不能这20世纪以自我为中心的近视。 North America needs to look beyond Beethoven and Goethe to possible models for the future. And Germany needs to look beyond the "Coca-Cola-Cowboy" culture to more profound American values.北美需求超越贝多芬和歌德的可能模式的未来。和德国需要超越“可口可乐，牛仔”文化，以更深刻的美国价值观。