Think a minute! You know it's truly amazing how the Jewish people have survived after thousands of years of being slaves, persecuted, and even attempted genocide when Hitler's Nazi's murdered 6 million Jews! That's why in 1934, Germany was the wrong place to be a Jew. When Hitler's teenage gangs took over his village, the little Jewish boy, Heinz, was just 11 years old.
Everyday Heinz's parents taught their children how important it was to learn self-control. When the Nazi gangs terrorizing their village on the streets daily, Heinz's parents knew that just one moment of losing control of their anger against their Nazi rulers could mean the death of their family. So Heinz learned to stay out of their way, sometimes crossing the street or taking a different road home.
But one day, young Heinz was finally cornered by one of Hitler's bullies. For the first time, Heinz was forced to talk to a Nazi youth. But by staying calm and carefully choosing his words, Heinz surprised even himself when he talked his way out of trouble and convinced this bully not to hurt him, but to let him go. That day, Heinz discovered his survival skill of talking and reasoning with others. It was a major turning point that changed his life—and later changed the world.
After a few years, Heinz's family escaped from Germany and moved to America. But Heinz never forgot how to talk with people and help bring peace between enemies. You see, that 11-year-old boy who had negotiated his first peace settlement with a Nazi bully, later became one of the greatest ambassadors of peace in the world. You've probably heard of him—not as Heinz—but by his American name: Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State. Just think a minute...
请想一分钟!你知道吗?在经历了几千年的奴役和迫害,甚至在希特勒纳粹屠杀了6百万犹太人的种族灭绝暴行之后,犹太人竟然能顽强地活下来,这实在令人惊异!1934年,德国是一个不适合犹太人生存的地方。当希特勒的少年匪帮控制了汉斯生活的村庄时,这位犹太少年刚满11岁。
汉斯的父母每天都告诫孩子们,忍气吞声是性命攸关的。当这帮纳粹每日在村中街道上施暴时,汉斯的父母明白,如果他们控制不住怒火,流露出反对纳粹暴君的情绪,就意味着全家的死亡。所以,小汉斯学会了躲避纳粹。回家时,有时走马路对面,或者改变行走路线。
但终有一天,狭路相逢,小汉斯被一位纳粹恶棍堵个正着。这是汉斯第一次不得不开口与一位纳粹青年交涉。令汉斯自己都感到惊奇的是,他神态平静,说话得体,竟说服那恶棍没有伤害他,让他安全通过了。自那天起,汉斯发现自己具有与别人交谈和沟通的生存技巧。这件事成为改变他生活的重要转折点,此后,这又改变了世界。
几年后,汉斯全家逃出了德国,移居美国。但是,汉斯却从未忘记如何与人们沟通,为敌对双方带来和平。你瞧,这位用谈判与一位纳粹恶棍达成他第一个和平协议的11岁男孩,后来成为世界上最伟大的和平使者之一。你可能听说过他——当然,他已不再叫汉斯了,他的美国名字是亨利·基辛格——前美国国务卿。请想一分钟……