I recently read an article in which one of my favorite columnists, William Safire, explores the use of "generation" in a litany of literary references to American writers. He begins with Hemingway's quotation of "lost generation" and then explores other references throughout recent history.
近來,我讀到一篇關于我最喜歡的專欄作家威廉·薩菲爾的文章。文章探究了“一代”在美國作家連載文學參考中的使用。 他開頭引用了海明威的“迷惘的一代”,然后回顧了近代出現過該詞的文章。
This massive amount of repetition of "generation" in the column by Mr. Safire ought to have already driven home the point. We all belong to specific generations, and cultures and eras tend to identify, mark and classify us according to our age and time on this planet.
在薩菲爾先生的專欄里大量重復使用“generation”這個詞,這應該已經揭示出了文章的觀點主題。我們都屬于特殊的一代,每一代均有自己特定的文化,并且在這個星球上,歷史新紀元趨向于根據我們的年齡和時代把我們進行鑒別,分級和分類。
What about my generation? I am a baby-boomer. I grew up in the light of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Kennedys, and under the shadow of the Vietnam War. I have always believed in hope. If asked, I would say that I belong to the Generation of Hope.
我們這一代呢?我是在生育高峰期出生的人。我成長在馬丁路德金和肯尼迪家族的光環下,也成長在越戰的陰影里。我總是相信希望。如果別人問我,我會說自己屬于“希望的一代”。
When I was young, I was convinced there was more good in the world than evil. I still believe that. I thought then and still think that one person can make a difference.
我年輕時深信世上善大于惡,且現在依舊相信。以前我認為每個人都能做出一件不同凡響的事,現在仍然持這種觀點。
Hope is taking some very hard knocks these days. Hope may be down at the moment, but it is far from out. Many of us are hopers. We know to which generation we belong.
這些天希望不斷的被提及。有時候希望會很渺茫,但是它不會消失。我們中的大多數都是希望者。我們知道自己屬于哪一代。