第16部分(第1/6 頁)

心態的平靜是不能測量的。可是我能夠確定的是，我珍惜擁有平靜心態的分分秒秒。而每當我想到平靜的心態也許正在不斷地從身邊悄悄溜走時，我就會感到焦慮。

■心靈小語

平靜是我們每個人都想追求的心理狀態，可是卻總是難以實現，只有當我們將內心的所有擔擾和疑慮全部放下時，才能真正感受到。

Pioneering　Peace　of　Mind

Jeffrey　Shaffer

Peace　of　mind　is　something　I　think　about　every　day。　It’s　great　to　have　confidence　when　stepping　out　my　front　door　that　I　will　be　able　to　move　around　the　local　environment1　without　fear　and　return　home　safely。

But　peace　of　mind　depends　on　mutual2　trust　from　every　citizen—that　as　we　walk　the　streets　and　conduct　our　personal　affairs　we　hold　the　same　basic　views　and　values　about　maintaining　a　civil　society。

Every　time　a　violent　crime　or　terrorist　act　is　perpetrated　on　unsuspecting　victims；　when　a　sniper　starts　shooting　or　a　bomb　explodes；　our　collective　peace　of　mind　is　eroded；　along　with　our　willingness　to　trust　all　the　unknown　people　with　whom　we　share　sidewalks；　shopping　malls；　and　other　public　spaces。

Safety　precautions　and　technology　may　encourage　peace　of　mind　but　they　can’t　substitute　for　it。　My　neighborhood　bank　branch　was　robbed　a　few　years　ago。　Now　thick　plastic　slabs　protect　every　teller’s　window　and　surveillance　cameras　monitor　the　lobby。　If　I　am　gunned　down　while　making　a　deposit3；　the　videotapes　will　probably　help　police　apprehend　the　guilty　party　and　bring　him　or　her　to　swift　justice；　but　that　fact　doesn’t　make　me　sleep　better　at　night。　I　would　rather　have　no　security　cameras　and　no　robbers4　to　worry　about　in　my　personal　universe。

Forgive　my　wish　fill　thinking；　but　you　don’t　have　to　look　far　in　this　world　to　see　how　cultural　creativity　and　dynamism　evaporate　when　people　are　forced　to　devote　most　of　their　time　and　energy　to　self…defense。

We　have　spent　more　than　200　years　trying　to　build　a　society　that　provides　e