英文自修74：牛奶与方糖的启示

本系列内容英文原文取自BBC Thought for the Day节目网站，朋友们也可以下载节目录音收听。

译者：王宥轩

审读：武太白

------------------------

Thought for the Day -20140507 - Akhandadhi Das

王宥轩译

What will Britain look like in the future is the subject of a report from the think-tank, the Policy Exchange, entitled A Portrait of Modern Britain. The projection is that by 2050, ethnic minority groups will increase from the current 5% to nearly a third of the British public. 



政策交流(Policy Exchange)智库在一篇题为《现代英国的肖像》的报告中探讨了英国的将来。据该报告推测，到2050年，英国的少数人种数量占总人口的比例将从当前的5%上升至近1/3。

For many, this is challenging as it prophesises change – not only from what we knew in the past; but from what we may have accepted as the present. The research indicates that although ethnic groups happily identify themselves as British, there may be an overall erosion of regional identity. My experience within the Hindu community who arrived from India and East Africa in the 70s is that they appreciate the accommodating values and spirits of Britishness, but may not yet feel assimilated into particular long-standing customs of what many people may regard as real “Englishness”. 



很多人认为，这是一项挑战，因为它预示着改变——不仅是对我们所知的历史的改变；还会是对我们当前所接受的现状的改变。调查显示，尽管少数群体能够愉快地融入英国社会，他们的地域特征大体上可能被抹灭。七十年代，印度人从印度和东非来到英国，据我所知，他们喜欢英国包容性的价值和精神，但是他们并未完全融入很多人称之为“英国风格”的颠扑不破的传统习俗。

I think this raises the questions: is it more important to identify oneself as part of a smaller and maybe specific community or as a member of a much broader society? Or, is it possible to be true to and do justice to both?

这就产生了问题：作为一个较小或者较特别的群体的一员，与作为更大的社会一员，这两种身份孰轻孰重？又或者，是否有可能两者兼顾，达成平衡呢？

Over 1000 years ago, a group of Parsee refugees came to India seeking sanctuary. The King of Gujarat 古吉拉特邦（印度西部的邦） was sympathetic but explained: Our country is already so well established and over-populated, how will you fit in? The leader of the Parsees asked for a cup brimming with milk to be brought. Into that full cup, he gently stirred some sugar. “We will be just like this sugar,” he said, “bringing sweetness to your land.” 



一千多年前，一群帕西避难者来到了印度，寻求庇护。古吉拉特邦国王同情他们，但是解释道：我国发展完善，人口过密，你们要如何融入呢？那群帕西人的领头要了一只装满牛奶的杯子。他轻轻了向满溢的杯中放了些糖，并搅拌。然后说，“我们会像这些糖，为您的土地带来一丝甘甜。”

It may be said that, by dissolving in the milk, the individual sugar crystals have been lost. However, their sweet quality is more easily appreciated. Do we lose something of ourselves by assimilating into a bigger community? Or, is this the way by which we can express and contribute our gifts and talents to society? 


有人可能会说，那些原本独立的糖粒，溶进牛奶后就消失了。但是，它们的甘甜却更容易被品尝到。我们要融进更大的集体，就会丧失些自我吗？或者，只有这样我们才能在社会中表现并贡献自己的天赋与才能吗？

Yesterday, I attended a traditional Hindu wedding of a young couple. Before allowing the groom to enter the wedding hall, the priest asked him to break a small clay pot with his foot. This, the groom was told, represents leaving aside his previous self-centered life and accepting that, from this moment on, he is part of a bigger picture. 



昨天，我参加了一对印度新人的传统婚礼。在新郎走进新婚殿堂前，牧师让他用脚踩碎一只小陶土罐。牧师说，这代表着新郎告别他以前以自我为中心的生活，而从此刻开始，他要融入更大的世界。

It’s natural to enjoy the sense of belonging to a small or local or tight-knit community. But, all such groups must acknowledge the responsibilities of much wider relationships. 



人们很自然地在小群体、或地方社区或者紧密团结的群体中获得归属感。但是，所有这样的群体都必须认识到其在整个社会中的责任。

This report alerts us to the challenges of the future. As a society, it asks us to be as accommodating as the milk. And as part of a community group, we can allow the effect of our values, customs and interests to sweeten society without spilling or spoiling the milk.

这篇报告提醒我们未来的挑战。从社会角度看，它要求我们像牛奶一样包容万象。而从社会群体角度看，我们可以发挥自己的价值、习俗和利益为社会增加一丝甘甜，而前提是不能打翻或毁坏牛奶。