双语时事:苏格兰独立公投开始 逐步展露阴暗面

2014-07-08 16:23:56来源:可可英语

  公投距今只有不到三个月了。届时场面不会好看。双方都将低薪和无薪阶层选民视为重要的摇摆选民。苏格兰民族党领导人谈论着要用民族主义运动唤醒“长裤汉”(sans-culotte,又称“无套裤汉”,法国大革命时期对广大革命群众流行的称呼——译者注),他们觉得有望说服这些人相信,任何情况都不会比被英格兰保守党统治更糟。萨尔蒙德是个完美的政客,他会利用民众的反政治情绪。英国独立党(UK Independence party)在欧洲议会选举中取胜,靠的就是这股情绪。“在一起更好”运动则将竭力宣扬与英格兰闹翻可能带来的种种风险:生活水准降低、养老金可能失去保障,等等。

  Those of us who think there is a more elevated case to be made for ties of family, values, culture and mutual interest embedded in the union will probably be disappointed. That is a pity. Even with a No vote in the referendum, if the union is to endure there will be much to be done after September to reshape and revitalise the relationship between England and Scotland.

  我们中有人认为,苏格兰有更崇高的理由留在英国,那就是苏格兰与英格兰在家庭、价值观和文化方面的纽带,以及联盟带给双方的共同利益。可惜的是,持这种看法的人可能会失望了。即便9月公投结果是反对独立,之后在重塑、重振英格兰与苏格兰关系方面,我们也将有很多工作要做,否则联盟将无法长久维系。

  Almost as depressing as the politics of grievance now surfacing in Scotland is the shrug of indifference the campaign has stirred in the rest of the UK. If Mr Salmond does win the day, such nonchalance will seem more than irresponsible. The sundering of the union would be a political earthquake. And England has every bit as much to lose, and more, as Scotland.

  几乎与悲情政治在苏格兰抬头同样令人沮丧的是,英国其余地方对苏格兰独立公投显得无动于衷。如果那天萨尔蒙德真的赢了,那么这种冷漠态度就不只是显得不负责任了。如果苏格兰与英格兰的联盟散伙,那将是一场政治地震。而英格兰的损失将丝毫不比苏格兰少,只会更多。

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