欧美人文风情第88篇:追忆新加坡铁腕总理 - 李光耀

 The first-ever Prime Minister of Singapore, Minister Mentor¹ Lee Kuan Yew², is one of the longest-serving ministers in history 新加坡史上首任总理，内阁资政李光耀，是史上在位最久的总理之一，

and has continued to rule behind the scenes, despite having stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990. 且持续在幕后主政，尽管他在 1990 年已卸下总理位置。

Many have claimed that Singapore is a modern police state, 许多人声称新加坡是个现代的极权国家，

but despite this, under Lee's leadership, the tiny Southeast Asian island nation has achieved a great deal in the last 50 years, 但即便如此，在李光耀的领导下，这个小小的东南亚岛国在过去五十年来取得许多成就，

growing from a colonial port backwater to a powerful economic superpower that holds its own 从一个殖民港口的落后状态成长为一个不被击败的有力经济强权

—not just in Asia, but also in the world. －－不仅在亚洲，还在全世界。

From a country weakened by the Second World War, overrun by communists, 始于一个被二次世界大战削弱的国家、被共产主义者侵扰，

and experiencing numerous racial riots, after a much-anticipated merger³ with Malaysia failed, 且经历许多次种族暴动的国家，在一次和马来西亚备受期待的合并失败后，

Lee succeeded in building up the nation, calming down racial tensions, 李光耀成功壮大国家、稳定种族紧张情势，

and driving investment into Singapore by inviting⁴ foreign companies in. 并借由吸引外商进入来驱使投资进到新加坡。

Today, Singapore's GDP represents 0.48 percent of the world's economy, 如今，新加坡的国内生产总值相当于全球经济的百分之零点四八，

and is much higher than the other nations in Asia. 比其他亚洲国家高出许多。

In fact, the country is considered to be one of the most expensive places to live in the world. 事实上，这国家被认为是全世界最贵的居住地之一。

While Lee has been criticized as being authoritarian⁵ and intolerant of dissent⁶, 虽然李光耀被批评是独裁主义者而且不容异议，

and Singapore being more prone⁷ to nepotism⁸ rather than meritocracy, 且新加坡政治偏向裙带关系而非功绩主义，

it cannot be denied that Lee is a remarkable⁹ statesman, 不可否认李光耀是个出色的政治家，

and his governance has brought Singapore into an era of power and wealth many countries can only envy at. 而他的统治将新加坡带领到一个许多国家只能眼红的权力和富裕时代。

Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him—or give it up! 不管是谁治理新加坡，在他心中一定要拥有那铁的意志－－不然就放弃!

This is not a game of cards. 这可不是纸牌游戏。

This is your life and mine. I've spent a whole lifetime building this, 这是你我的生命。我花了一辈子打造这一切，

and as long as I am in charge, nobody is going to knock it down. 只要是我在管，就没人能将它毁掉。

And even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave 即便是从我的病榻，就算是你们即将把我放进坟墓里，

and I feel that something is going wrong, I'll get up. 如果我感觉到有什么事出错了，我就会爬起来。

 

1 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

2 yew   

n.紫杉属树木

参考例句：

• The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.紫杉树叶会令牛中毒。
• All parts of the yew tree are poisonous,including the berries.紫杉的各个部分都有毒，包括浆果。

3 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

4 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

5 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

6 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

7 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

8 nepotism   

n.任人唯亲；裙带关系

参考例句：

• The congressman lashed the president for his nepotism.国会议员抨击总统搞裙带关系。
• Many will regard his appointment as the kind of nepotism British banking ought to avoid.很多人会把他的任命看作是英国银行业应该避免的一种裙带关系。

9 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。