評論
打印
How you or I choose to fill in the blank
我們可以選擇在此帶入任何主語
for the subject or Anuit Coapthes was left open.
也就是說Auit Coapthes的含義是開放的
It ultimately depends on ones' personal
它最終取決于不同的人個人的信仰
belief system. The great seal's designer,
這個國璽的設計者
Charles Thomson, explained his work
查爾斯湯姆森是這樣解釋
in these words, quote 'the pyramid signifies
他的作品的"金字塔象征了
strength and duration, the eye over it and
力量與持久，其上的眼睛以及
the motto alludes to the many signal interpretations
這句格言則暗含了一種非常有代表性的
of providence in favor of the American cause'.
理論，那就是美國的成立順應了天意"
There are many complicated interpretations
當然對于國璽上的圖案的理解
of these symbols on the great seal;
還有很多更加復雜的內容
they don't concern us here because it tends
但這不是我們的關注點，因為它更主要的
more towards the argument of religion and
是想要闡述宗教和社會的關系
society, religion and the state in the United States.
以及宗教與美國政府的關系
It's simplest to say for our purposes that
從我們此刻的出發(fā)點來說
the Americans were deeply and rightly aware of
就是美國人深知自己贏得這場戰(zhàn)爭
how surprising their victory had been and they
是多么令人出乎意料，因此他們也
felt very grateful, whoever they were grateful to.
心懷感激，對一切他們應該感激的對象
They certainly wanted to build upon their
他們當然也希望在開國之初能夠
nation's beginnings as best they could but
盡力實現(xiàn)最好的發(fā)展，但是這個國家
could the new nation come up with an effective
能否建立起這樣一個有效的政府
government which reflected its lofty ideals?
把這些崇高的理想付諸實現(xiàn)呢?
The articles of confederation were adopted by the continental congress in 1777.
1777年，大陸會議通過了《十三州邦聯(lián)憲法》
They came into effect in 1781.
該憲法在1781年正式生效
They strongly favored states rights as
它強有力地為州立權力提供了法律保障
one might expect from colonies that had revolted
因為我們知道這些前殖民地有過
against a strong central government, yet
受制于強大的中央政府集權統(tǒng)治的經歷
a strong central government was necessary
但一個強大的中央政府從很多方面來說
for many reasons, especially for internal settlement
也是由存在必要的，尤其是在國內結算
and for conducting foreign affairs.
以及外交事宜的組織之上
Winning the revolution was quite an achievement
贏得美國大革命的確是一次壯舉
but this was neither the first nor the last revolution
但這不是第一次，也不會是最后一次
to be won by a determined splinter group.
由分離出來的小黨派贏得的戰(zhàn)爭
A tougher task lay ahead and an even greater
在他們的面前還有更嚴峻和考驗和
miracle was to take place; the creation of
更偉大的奇跡將要發(fā)生，那就是
the United States of America. Most issues
美利堅合眾國的誕生，在制憲會議以前
before the constitutional convention could be
大部分事件和爭端都是依靠常識
settled through common sense. Paper money
得到解決的，政府將印發(fā)統(tǒng)一紙幣
would be issued, a post office established and
并建立完善的郵政系統(tǒng)，路上以及
an army and navy maintained. Less sensibly
海上軍隊，當然也有不明智的政策
women were granted no citizenship rights which
比如女性不享有公民身份--
was unbelievably unfair. There were other
這是極度不公平的，以及其他一些
problematic issues; large and heavily populated
麻煩的問題，土地遼闊人口密集的州
states like Virginia argued for proportional
比如弗吉尼亞州就希望爭取在國會中
representation the bigger you were
實行比例代表制，也就是州越大
the more representation you got.
在國會中的代表席位越多
Smaller states wanted equal representation.
而相對較小的州則傾向于平等代表權
Finally it was decided to have proportional
最后，人們想出了一個解決辦法
representation in the lower house of congress,
在國會中的下議院，也就是眾議院
the House of Representatives, and equal
實行比例代表制，而在國會中上議院
representation for each state in the senior house,
也就是參議院，實行平等代表制
the Senate. Nice job, guys. Another issue
這可是一個創(chuàng)舉，另外一個大問題
concerns slavery. Representatives of
則是奴隸制，北方各州的代表
northern states wanted slaves counted as equal
一方面希望將奴隸與常人同等計數(shù)
to free people for purposes of determining
這樣他們就能決定每個州應當
every states tax burden, that would cost the south
上繳多少稅，同時這也意味著奴隸制
a great deal of money. They did not want slaves
發(fā)達的南方各州需要上繳更多的錢
to count at all towards determining a states'
但另一方面他們又不希望將奴隸計數(shù)
number of seats in the House of Representatives,
因為這樣南方各州在眾議院中的席位
that is to say they wanted to have it both ways.
就會減少，也就是他們兩種目的都想達到
Ultimately the founders agreed that for
于是最后，開國立法者決定在
tax levies and house membership a slave
稅收和國會代表問題上，一個奴隸就
would count as 3/5ths, that is to say 60%
等同于一個正常人的五分之三
of a free person. That's sad. Worse yet
也就是60% 。這非常令人難受
there was no discussion of the institution
更糟的是，當時對于奴隸制這個機制
of slavery itself. This omission nearly
根本就沒有任何討論，這種忽視
destroyed the United States before it had
差點讓美國在誕生不到100年的
a chance to become a century old.
時間里就毀在自己手上
