RENDEZVOUS WITH DESPAIR 與絕望會見

好文共賞
V22 Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version
2012-07-05


RENDEZVOUS WITH DESPAIR 與絕望會見


前紐約市長Thomas E. Dewey在1939年12月6日發表總統提名演說節錄

The president has said we have a rendezvous with destiny. We seem to be on our way toward a rendezvous with despair (1).

The one essential to the survival (2) of the republic is to know it will survive and will survive into a future that is always larger, always better.

Here in our own America we have the man-power, the wealth, the natural resources, the genius (3) to invent and create. We have the in-dustrial skill to release that ever-flowing (4) stream of new inventions and greater productivity wherein lies the future of our own America. I don't say to you, close your eyes and have faith-I say to you, open your eyes, look around you and be convinced.

There is only one source of real money in any free country and that is private enterprise (5), the enterprise of the farmer, the worker, and the business man. It is our first, our primary task, to create the conditions under which this enterprise can go to work.

This force is the energy of American enterprise, great and small. Given a chance, it can produce employment, can generate new purchasing power and set in motion (6) once more the surging flow of commercial venture.

Government hostility, repressive taxation and economic quackery (7) have kept this force from going to work. Our firm resolve must be to give it a chance and to encourage enterprise.

Tonight I propose that we Americans, of whatever party, make up our minds that we do believe in the continued growth of this country.

Is it true that America is matured (8) and completed and overbuilt and incapable of further expansion and Dew achievements? Let us again learn to believe in the ability of a free people to solve Its problems if given a chance (9). We can and we will again go forward.

馮強短評

好辭彙共賞:

(1) a rendezvous with despair = 與絕望會見。Rendezvous的同義詞有meeting、appointment和tryst等

(2) survival = 生存；殘存；倖存。The survival of the fittest = 適者生存

(3) genius =天才，天資，天賦，天分，有才華，創造能力。A man of genius = 天才。The genius of modern civilization = 近代文明的特徵。Have a genius for poetry = 有詩才

(4) ever-flowing = 川流不息。Ebb and flow = 漲落，盛衰，消長。A flow of traffic = 車水馬龍

(5) enterprise = 進取心；冒險心；有膽識。Embark in [upon] an enterprise = 舉辦企業。Free enterprise = 自由企業。A man of enterprise = 有進取心的人

(6) set in motion = 啟動，發動。All Julian's motions were graceful = Julian的一舉一動都優美。The motion to adjourn was carried = 休會的提議通過了

(7) economic quackery = 經濟上自我吹噓，大話；騙子行為

(8) matured = 成熟的，已到期的。The mature age [years] = （能辨是非的）成熟年齡。A mature plan = 慎重的計劃

(9) given a chance = 如果給予機會的話。By chance = 偶然，意外地

短評共賞:

Thomas E. Dewey市長鼓勵性的說話今天也可應用。美國目前的經濟停滯情況與1939年相同。美國需要多些有進取心、冒險心和膽識的人 （There is only one source of real money in any free country and that is private enterprise）。

馮強

浸會大學傳理學院國際新聞和財經新聞碩士課程主任