x
My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.
我的朋友,我其實沒打算在這時討論這個富爭議的話題。但是我希望讓你們知道我不會迴避爭論,相反,不管圍繞該事的爭論聲有多激烈,我任何時候也會堅定地發表意見。你們問我對威士忌有何看法,那麼我就來談談吧!
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame, and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.
若你把威士忌視作惡魔釀的酒、帶毒的禍害和嗜血的怪物,認為它會玷污純潔的心靈、蠶食理智、破壞家庭、引起悲劇和貧困,甚至奪走小孩子嘴裏的麵包;若你認為威士忌是一種邪惡的飲品,認為它會把虔誠的基督徒從高潔的尖峰拉下來,從美好的生活打進無底深淵,在裏頭腐爛,感到絕望、羞恥、無助和無力。若是以上的觀點,那我肯定持反對態度。
But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughters on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasures untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
但若你視威士忌為溝通的潤滑油、引發哲學思想的酒、與好友相聚暢度時光時喝的啤酒,能使人們心感歡喜、笑聲滿溢、心滿意足;若你視之為聖誕節的祝福之酒、使一位老紳士在寒冷清冽的早上為之一振的醒神酒、足以令人遺忘生命中所有悲劇、心痛和憂愁的飲品,令人感到無比快樂,即使愉快的時光只在彈指之間;若你視之為給政府繳付上百萬元的飲品,因其銷售額所得的巨額是用於照顧我們社會裏殘障的小孩子、盲人、聾人、患有智力障礙的人和可憐的老人和病人的,以及用於興建高速公路、醫院和學校的。若你持以上立場,那我當然持支持態度。
This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.
這就是我的立場。我既不會退縮,也不會妥協。
ns 15.158.61.6da2