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Benjamin Franklin，本杰明 富兰克林， 作为一个几乎最具美国代表性的人物，大家多有了解，耳熟能详他的故事和他的成就。
Benjamin Franklin, as one of the most emblematic figures in American history, is widely known, and many are familiar with his stories and accomplishments.
在Walter Isaacson 给Benjamin Franklin的自传里，我了解到21岁的Benjamin在1727年组织的Leather Apron（皮围裙）俱乐部，又称Junto。
俱乐部最初由12名成员组成，有他的印刷社同事，一位机智的牛津大学逃学生，一位玻璃器皿制作者兼业余数学家，一位诗歌爱好者，一位喜欢双关语的年轻人，一位严于律己的书记员。
通过和成员的演习辩论和谈话，Benjamin 发展制定了辩论和讨论风格：需通过柔和的苏格拉底式的询问，辩论者需摒弃对争辩的喜好和对我赢你输的追逐。Benjamin教俱乐部成员通过建议和询问来讨论， 以及规避直接冲撞对方的方式以避免不快。60年后在宪法集会上，他也是这样推崇这种交流方式。
In Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin, I learned that at the age of 21 in 1727, Benjamin organized the Leather Apron Club, also known as the Junto.
The club initially consisted of 12 members, including his fellow printers, a witty Oxford dropout, a glassware maker and amateur mathematician, a poetry enthusiast, a pun-loving young man, and a strict disciplinarian clerk.
Through exercises, debates, and discussions with the members, Benjamin developed a style of debate and discussion that required gentle Socratic questioning, with participants encouraged to abandon a preference for argument and the pursuit of winning over others. Benjamin taught the club members to engage in discussions through suggestions and inquiries, and to avoid direct clashes to prevent discomfort. Sixty years later, at the Constitutional Convention, he continued to advocate for this approach to communication.
聚会辩论的话题从社会问题，科学，到哲学。如什么会使人快乐？ 智慧是什么？
除了辩论，Benjamin列出来一系列话题来鼓励成员的参与：
1. 你最近读到什么书你愿意分享？
2. 你最近听到什么故事你愿意分享？
3. 最近你听到谁的生意越做越好？原因是什么？
4. 最近哪位公民做了值得赞扬和效仿的好事？ 哪位公民犯了错我们应警醒和避免？
5. 最近有外城人来吗？ 他的品质和优点呢？ 我们需要和他（她）联系上吗？
6. 你最近有发现政府的法律制定有缺陷需要修订吗？
7. 最近有看到民众的正当自由被侵蚀吗？
8. 你想结识哪位朋友，我们俱乐部能为你做点什么？
...
The topics for discussion at the meetings ranged from social issues, science, to philosophy. Questions like "What brings happiness to people?" and "What is wisdom?" were explored.
In addition to debates, Benjamin listed a series of topics to encourage members' participation:
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What book have you recently read that you would like to share?
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What story have you recently heard that you would like to share?
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Have you noticed any citizen whose business has been thriving recently? What are the reasons?
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Has any citizen recently performed praiseworthy and worthy-of-emulation deeds? Has any citizen committed errors from which we should be cautious and avoid?
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Have there been any newcomers in the town recently? What are their qualities and virtues? Do we need to establish contact with them?
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Have you recently discovered any flaws in government laws that need revision?
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Have you observed any encroachments on the legitimate freedoms of the people recently?
整整三十年，这个俱乐部延续并发展了分部。
富兰克林越老，他越注意遵照自己给的建议。他巧妙地运用沉默，聆听，在争辩中表现得不张扬。 “当别人说了一件我认为不正确的事时，我提醒自己不要直接反驳他（她）。”相反，他会同意对方说的对的那部分，然后再讲自己与对方不同的地方。 他的谈话方式使很多人受用，有些人可能会觉得他说话不直接或觉得自己被误导，但没有任何人会因被冒犯而生气。
谨以此文记录一下Benjamin Franklin对公民道德的关注，互利互惠的做法，永不停止的自我改善，尤其是善于沟通对我的启示。
For a full thirty years, this club continued and expanded its branches.
As Franklin grew older, he paid even closer attention to following the advice he had given. He skillfully employed silence, active listening, and modesty in his debates. "When someone says something I believe is incorrect, I remind myself not to directly contradict them," he said. Instead, he would acknowledge the part of what the other person said that was correct and then express his differences. His conversational style was beneficial to many, although some might have found him indirect or led astray, no one was offended.
This article serves as a record of Benjamin Franklin's concern for civic morality, the practice of mutual benefit, continuous self-improvement, and, particularly, his insights into effective communication.
