所有的英国人都看《泰晤士报财富榜》

http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年03月26日 13:55   新浪教育

  Don't believe us.

  可别相信我们。

  All Britons read the Times Rich List, the annual newspaper supplement containing the nation's hundred richest men and women. We look down on those we see reading it, even on the paper itself, for heapening themselves? Those listed inside the paper we label fat-cats. Those who choose to launt their successes are described as show-offs, big-heads, or too big for their boots. Many Chinese resent Zhang Yimou for portraying his country, internationally, in an unfavourable light. British people resent Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) because he is internationally successful.

  所有的英国人都看《泰晤士报财富榜》——《泰晤士报》的年度增刊——上面列有英国最富有的100个人。我们瞧不起读它的人,我们甚至瞧不起这份增刊本身,因为“看了就掉价”。上榜的富人被我们称为“肥猫”。那些选择“炫耀”成功的人被描述成“卖弄”、“傲慢”、“摆架子”的人。很多中国人憎恶张艺谋,因为他在国际上展示了祖国的“黑暗面”;英国人憎恶的是罗温·阿特金森(憨豆先生),恰恰因为他取得了国际性成功。

  There is the feeling that anyone blessed with success, wealth or fame should be made to pay the price for it. They should be brought down a peg or brought back down to earth.

  (英国)有这么一种感觉:任何获得成就、财富或荣耀的人,都应为此付出代价。大家应该叫他们“收敛气势”或“清醒过来”。

  As soon as a Brit becomes a tar at home or abroad, they become prey to the paparazzi. Invasive photography, telephone tapping, rummaging in rubbish bins--such techniques are condemned by most newspaper readers. But in buying such a paper, in choosing a specific issue to buy, every member of the reading public is involved in voting for and hiring such agents.

  哪个英国人一旦成了“明星”,不论是在国内还是国外,都会立即变成偷拍者的猎物。侵略性的拍照、电话窃听、垃圾箱的翻找——绝大多数报纸读者都会谴责这些手段,但在选择购买此类报纸、选择买具体哪一期时,广大读者中的每一位都赞成并支持这些手段。

  Part of this is related to lass the idea that the esponsibilities of money should be granted only to those with generations of experience in owning and spending it. Part, too, may relate to boredom with seeing the same people, in politics, TV, business, even in the local community, enjoy success. Part of this, no doubt, is jealousy. We each revel in the assurance that no one will remain in a position higher than us for very long. It may also relate to Christianity, which preaches that it is harder for a rich man to enter the temple of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Post-colonial regret, or guilt may play its part in a nation still coming to terms with having lost one quarter of the world. But a big part of this, I suggest, is the healthy belief that beauty, talent and intelligence should be their own reward that doing a good job should be satisfaction in itself.

  这种态度部分地与“阶级”有关:这种观点认为,金钱的“责任”只应赋予那些拥有世传的有钱和花钱经验的那些人。另一部分则可能与厌倦有关——厌倦看到同样的人在政界、荧屏、商界,甚至是地方社区中,享受成功。还有一部分,无疑地,是嫉妒。我们每个人都笃信,没有人能长久地高过我们。这大概还与基督教有关,它宣扬富人进天堂比骆驼穿过针眼还要难。后殖民时代的叹惋或内疚也起到一定作用,尽管这个国家仍未完全适应失去了四分之一世界的现实。但我认为,其中的一大部分原因是一种健康的信念,那就是美丽、才华和睿智本身已是奖赏,而且“做好了工作”本身也应是一种满足。

  Sport is the arena in which success is most obviously and instantly measurable. The British, it is said, all love the he unfancied, unqualified, lucky lutside bet It is the defeat of established teams or players, more than any display of skill, that motivates the impartial British sports viewer.

  在体育运动的竞技场上,成功是可以最明显、最迅速地衡量的。据说英国人都爱“失败者”——那些不起眼的、不够格的、“有勇气的”、“几乎不可能成功的选择”。成名的队伍或运动员的失败,比任何技能的展示更能激发公正的英国体育评论员的兴趣。

  In the case of Eddie the Eagle Edwards, failed British ski-jumper in the 1986 Winter Olympics, laughable amateurishness was celebrated nationally. But traditionally it is not the failure who most captures the British heart but the good sport the competitor willing to accept victory or defeat with equal geniality. It is essential that the good sport appears to have a life outside the game that he refuses to take it too seriously.

  1986年冬季奥运会上,英国滑雪运动员“山鹰”艾迪·爱德华失利,全国掀起了有趣的业余滑雪热。但在传统上,最能抓住英国人心的不是失败,而是“输得起的人”——能够胜不骄,败不馁的竞争者。最重要的是这样的人得表现出一点超脱的风范——他拒绝拿它太当回事儿。

  Times are changing. American influence in Britain increases by the day. Professionalism and competitiveness have entered every aspect of life. But still we have the character like Prince Hamlet, lacking iller instinct destroyed, by the imminent achievement of desires. In this peculiar failing, and in the bashfulness with which a British person receives praise, I invite you to witness our national ambivalence to success.

  时代在变化。美国人对英国的影响逐日加深。职业精神和竞争意识已经渗入生活的方方面面。但我们仍有像哈姆雷特王子那样的人物,因缺乏“杀手的本能”,被欲望即将来临的实现而毁灭。在这一特殊的弱点上,在英国人受到赞扬时的羞涩中,您可以看到我们整个民族对成功的矛盾态度。

本文选自《北外网院》的博客,点击查看博客原文

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