小时候,模糊记忆中的金喇叭的英文故事,有点意思。(英文附本文下面 )
在很遥远的地方,有一个古老的国度,相传那是一个非常民主的国家,叫YapYap的国度 。
在国王的统治下是,每个决策都是非常民主的。他们宣称在这个国家人人平等,个个富足,生活自由自在,没有一点让人不满意的事情。
这样传着就有很多的人对这个地方非常好奇,但谁也没有见到过是否如他们宣称的那样平等、民主、自由。
一个记者得知这个消息后,也对这地方产生了兴趣,就想亲眼看一看这个地方的民主到底是真是假。于是他就向当地提出申请,想要亲眼看看他们这个地方的民主生活。当地政府很快就批准了这位记者的请求,记者如愿来到了这个自称最讲平等、自由、民主的地方,想着对外界传言的民主生活求证一下。
这天,正是这里的投票选举的日子,他被人们带进选举现场,他进入现场后看到整整齐齐坐着两队人,
一队人在左边,
一队人在右边,左边的人们穿着打扮都很入时,手里还拿着用金子做成的喇叭。
右边的人们衣衫褴褛,手里没有拿任何东西。
记者不解地问,这些拿着金喇叭是做什么用的,陪同人员告诉记者说:
“这个金喇叭是在选举时如果不同意就吹金喇叭,如果同意就不用吹金喇叭。
但是除了金喇叭以外,不能说话或者除吹喇叭以外的任何方式表示反对。
”记者又不解地问陪同人员:
“这个金喇叭是每个人都配发一支吗?”
陪同人员告诉记者:“这个金喇叭是自己买的,政府不给配发。”
记者不说话了,这时选举开始了,就听到台上有说出的被选举人名字,这时左边这些手持金喇叭的人中间有一个人吹响了金喇叭,这说明他不同意这个被选举人,于是,这个被选举人被否决一票。
而右边没有拿金喇叭的人中间没有一个人表示反对。就这样选举结束了,当选人员被当场公布。
Golden Trumpets 金喇叭
Dr. Hornsnagle, an American explorer, asked the ruler of Yap Yap whether free speech was allowed under his rule. “Yes, indeed,” said the ruler. “My people have absolute freedom of speech and we decide everything according to public opinion.”
“But how do you find out public opinion?” asked Dr. Hornsnagle.
“That’s very simple,” said the ruler. “Whenever any policy has to be decided, we get all the people here in my palace. Then we decide our policy by just listening to the Golden Trumpets.”
“What are the Golden Trumpets, please?” asked Dr. Hornsnagle.
“Golden Trumpets,” said the ruler, “are used to express public opinion here. I raise my right hand above my head and shout:‘All those in favor, blow.’Immediately all those in favor of the proposal blow golden trumpets. Then I raise my left hand and shout:‘All those opposed, blow.’This time who are opposed blow theirs. The side which makes bigger and louder noise is naturally the majority and the policy is decided in their favor.
“That,” said Dr. Hornsnagle, “is the most complete democracy that I have ever heard of. I would like very much to see one of these meetings.”
On the next afternoon, the people of Yap Yap, both rich and poor, were called into the palace courtyard to decide an important matter. There were only four rich men. And the rest were poor.
When everybody was there, the ruler stepped forward and raised his right hand.
“All those in favor, blow,” he shouted.
The four rich men all lifted their golden trumpets and blew hard.Then the ruler lifted his left hand, “All those opposed, blow,” he shouted. Not a sound came from the people. Thus the policy was decided and the meeting was over.
选举散场后,记者非常纳闷,就去采访了右边手里没有金喇叭的人,问他们为什么不买金喇叭,这些被采访的人告诉记者:
因为他们连吃饭的钱都没有,哪还有钱去买金喇叭呢?记者又问:“那你们在选举时如何表示反对呢?”没有金喇叭的人回答说:“那就不说话呀!”记者听
到这样的回答后,哑口无言......