经济学人:北爱尔兰"国旗问题"遭民众暴力示威

 　　Britain Northern Ireland

　　英国 北爱尔兰

　　Wrapped in the flag

　　国旗纠纷

　　The loyalist protests in Belfast have almost nothing to do with politics. That is why they are so alarming

　　贝尔法斯特的保皇抗议无关政治，却令人担忧。

　　OVER the past six weeks flag-draped protesters have become part of the Belfast landscape. Loyalists arrange demonstrations¹ and road blocks—up to 80 a night—on social media, which means local residents usually know roughly where they will take place. Belfast’s bus company, Translink, tweets rolling updates on which services have been disrupted; taxi drivers get the news from their dispatchers. On days when many protests are expected, rush hour starts early; by evening, normally busy roads are almost deserted².

　　过去六个月披着国旗的抗议者成了北爱尔兰首府贝尔法斯特街头的一道景观。社交媒体报道保皇军组织游行示威，安放路障，一晚上达到80之多，这意味着当地的居民通常大概知道反对者在哪里举行示威。贝尔法斯特的公交公司，Translink,，在推特上滚动更新哪里的服务中断，出租车司机从车上广播调度员中得知信息。若某天预计会发生许多反抗时，一大早人们就匆匆忙忙做事了，到了晚上， 公交车路上通常几乎没人了。

　　The protests began on December 3rd, when Belfast city council voted to limit the number of days the union flag is flown over the city hall to about 20 a year, mostly national holidays and royal birthdays. In Northern Ireland the flag has a political meaning. It is not just a reminder³ that the province is part of the United Kingdom but a visual statement that it must remain so. To many Catholics—who may now outnumber Protestants in Belfast—it is also a reminder of a less equal past. Unionists on the city council voted against the restriction⁴ on flag-flying. But few were prepared for what has followed.

　　反对活动是12月3日开始的，因为贝尔法斯特市政厅做出一项决定，限制悬挂英国国旗的时间每年只有20天，大多数只在国家假期和皇家生日时悬挂。在北爱尔兰国旗有着政治含义，不仅提醒人们这个省是英格兰的一部分，同时是一种视觉上表达北爱尔兰必须一直这样。对许多天主教徒来说，国旗也提醒他们不平等的过去（尔法斯特天主教徒数目可能多于新教徒）。市政厅的工会会员投票反对限制悬挂英国国旗的时间。但只有极少的人准备好面对随之而来的问题。

　　Loyalist protesters, mostly from inner-city housing estates, have taken to the streets night after night. Wearing masks and singing sectarian songs, they have all but shut down Belfast’s city centre. On bigger nights, up to 2,000 may be involved. Most are fairly peaceful, although police have been pelted⁵ with bricks and petrol bombs (and by blocking roads and covering their faces, protesters are breaking the law). Predicting which gatherings⁶ will turn sour is difficult: the protesters appear to have no leaders. Spokesmen occasionally appear, but most are wild-eyed ranters—“headcases”, in Belfast argot⁷.

　　保皇派反对者，大部分来自内陆城市住宅区，日复一夜的到街上游行示威。他们戴着面具，高唱宗教主义之歌，这些举措已经迫使贝尔法斯特的市中心关闭。在一些人数更多的晚上，可能有2000人参与其中。警察在处理冲突时，遭到了砖块以及燃烧弹的袭击，但大部分反对者都相当平静（他们破坏法律，阻断道路，蒙面）。预测这些集会最终不会成功是困难的：这些反对者似乎没有领导者。发言者偶尔出现，但大都数是睁大眼睛的谩骂者-跟疯子一样，在贝尔法斯特是种暗语。

　　The unpredictability of the protests is just one of the problems facing the police. Around 100 protesters have been arrested since early December and more than 60 officers have been injured. The police have used baton⁸ rounds (plastic bullets) and water cannons⁹ against the rioters, but they are treading carefully. As well as hooded¹⁰ thugs, the protesters include old folk and young mothers pushing babies in prams¹¹. Senior officers fear that uproar¹² would follow any injuries, so they generally allow the roads to be blocked.

　　反对者的不可预测性只是警察面临的问题之一。12月初已经大约100个反对者被捕，60多个官员受伤。警察已经用防暴弹（塑料子弹）和高压水炮攻击骚乱者，但他们却很谨慎的对待。同样一些蒙面的暴徒，反对者包括老年人和推着婴儿车的年轻母亲。高级官员担心不断上升的骚乱会导致一些人员受伤，所以他们一般同意阻断道路。

　　The effect on Belfast’s economy is chilling. Usually busy shops and restaurants are empty on many evenings, while hotels report that people are cancelling their visits.Northern Ireland’s devolved government has recently been trying to boost its economy by luring¹³ tourists and foreign businessmen. A glitzy new exhibition centre dedicated¹⁴ to the Titanic¹⁵ (a ship built in Belfast) opened last spring. Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness—the country’s unionist first minister and his republican deputy—visited China in November to drum up business and will soon go back. The rioting is undoing¹⁶ these efforts. Investors¹⁷ have become jumpy, says the local branch of the Confederation of British Industry, a lobby group.

　　这些暴乱使贝尔法斯特经济陷入瘫痪。好几个晚上平日繁忙的商店和饭店都空无一人，旅馆也称人们取消了他们的来访。恢复自治权的北爱尔兰政府最近一直试图通过吸引旅客和外商投资来刺激经济增长。去年春天纪念泰坦尼克号的一个耀眼的展览中心开放了，因为这艘船是在贝尔法斯特建造的。北爱尔兰联合党的第一任主席彼得-罗宾逊（Peter Robinson）和他的共和党副主席-和马丁·麦吉尼斯（Martin McGuinness）在12月访问了中国，并将很快返国。此次行程在于促进经济发展。暴乱者正在破坏了他们所作的这些努力。投资者开始忐忑不安，认为英国工业联合会的当地分支是一个游说集团。

　　The riots have not yet threatened the peace process. Unionist politicians, even from the once-hardline Democratic Unionist Party, have condemned¹⁸ the violence while defending the flying of the union flag. The protests are less political than cultural—they reflect a sense among poor Belfast Protestants that Catholics are getting everything they want and that unionist heritage is being erased¹⁹. The protesters appear to have no demands other than restoring the flag, though one hot head has called for a return to direct rule from Westminster—in effect, tearing up the country’s fragile peace. Unionist leaders have set up a forum²⁰ to talk about flags and other loyalist complaints, but the protesters are not co-operating.

　　暴乱者还没有威胁到北爱尔兰的和平进程。联合党的政治家，即使是来自曾经强硬的民族联合党，谴责这些暴乱行为，同时支持悬挂英国国旗。 此次抗议其文化意义远大于政治意义，他们反映了贝尔法斯特可怜的新教徒的一种情绪，即天主教徒能得到他们一切所需的并且联合党的历史遗迹正在被抹除。反对者似乎除了要求恢复悬挂国旗外，没有其他要求，虽然一个性情鲁莽的人号召威斯敏斯特规则的回归，其实质是粉碎这个国家脆弱的平静。联合党领导者开设论坛讨论悬挂国旗和其它保皇派埋怨的问题，但是反对者不愿意配合。

　　The lack of a clear political motive²¹ makes the explosion of loyalist rage more dangerous rather than less. An angry group seemingly beyond the reach of politicians or rational arguments cannot be easily tackled.Northern Ireland’s fragile peace has held only because fierce political enemies have been able to control their constituencies and deliver functional²² government. If they lose the ability to control the streets, their authority could follow. These disturbances²³ may burn out, only to flare²⁴ again unexpectedly.

　　缺乏一个清晰的政治动机使保皇派的暴发活动危险变多而不是减少。一个愤怒的集团不在政客的掌控之下，合理的争论也不能得到简单地解决。北爱尔兰脆弱的和平状况得以维持仅仅是因为凶险的政治敌人已经有能力控制他们的选区并且产生功能型的政府。即使英国失去了对北爱尔兰的政治控制权，但是他对这个国家的影响和权威仍得到保留。这些混乱可能终有一天会耗尽消失，却会出乎意料的再次爆发。

　　One thing is clear: the cash-strapped Westminster government cannot pour money into Northern Ireland, as it has in the past when trouble has flared²⁵. Unemployment, which has doubled since the start of the financial crisis in 2008, is likely to stay high, creating more idle hands. Northern Ireland’s devolved government will have to cope with this problem by itself. It is quite a test.

　　有件事情是明确的：缺乏资金的威斯敏斯特政府不可能把钱投入到北爱尔兰政府中，因为过去问题出现时他们这样做过。2008年金融危机出现时，失业率翻了两番，并有可能上升，导致更多的人没有工作。北爱尔兰权利已交接的政府必须靠自己解决这个问题，对他们来说，这的确是个考验。

　　1.take place 发生

　　例句:A total solar eclipse is due to take place some time tomorrow.

　　明天某个时刻会发生日全食。

　　2.block up 堵塞

　　例句:With this disease the veins²⁶ in the liver can block up, and all sorts of damage follows.

　　这种病会堵塞肝脏中的静脉，并引发多种损伤。

　　3.rush hour 高峰期

　　例句:I had to drive eight miles at rush hour.

　　我得在交通高峰时间行车8英里。

　　4.tear up 撕毁

　　例句:The Indian began tearing up damp grass.

　　印第安人动手拔了一些湿草。

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

3 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

4 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

5 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

6 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 argot   

n.隐语，黑话

参考例句：

• He knows thieves' argot.他懂盗贼的黑话。
• The argot and proverb created by them enrich Chinese language.他们创造的隐语、谚语丰富了中国的语言。

8 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

9 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 hooded   

adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的

参考例句：

• A hooded figure waited in the doorway. 一个戴兜帽的人在门口等候。
• Black-eyed gipsy girls, hooded in showy handkerchiefs, sallied forth to tell fortunes. 黑眼睛的吉卜赛姑娘，用华丽的手巾包着头，突然地闯了进来替人算命。 来自辞典例句

11 prams   

n.（手推的）婴儿车( pram的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In order to offer guests convenience, our company hires out prams. 本公司出租小孩推车，为旅客提供便利。 来自互联网
• Oh, no; girls, you know, are much too clever to fall out of their prams. 没有啊，你知道，女孩子太机灵，不会从儿童车里掉出来的。 来自互联网

12 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

13 luring   

吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap. 奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西。
• Her training warned her of peril and of the wrong, subtle, mysterious, luring. 她的教养警告她：有危险，要出错儿，这是微妙、神秘而又诱人的。

14 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

15 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

16 undoing   

n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭

参考例句：

• That one mistake was his undoing. 他一失足即成千古恨。
• This hard attitude may have led to his undoing. 可能就是这种强硬的态度导致了他的垮台。

17 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

18 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

19 erased   

v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除

参考例句：

• He erased the wrong answer and wrote in the right one. 他擦去了错误答案，写上了正确答案。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He removed the dogmatism from politics; he erased the party line. 他根除了政治中的教条主义，消除了政党界限。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

21 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

22 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

23 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

24 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。

25 Flared   

adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
• The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭，但它突然又燃烧起来。

26 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》