Unit11 How News Becomes Opinion, and Opinion Off-Limits

How News Becomes Opinion, and Opinion Off-Limits

Salman Rushdie

Structure of the Text

Part I (Paras. 1-5)

In this section, the author cleverly uses a current news story to introduce his purpose in writing this essay, namely to express the view that the ultimate goal of both factual and fictional writing is truth, which must be told in spite of all the difficulties involved. Part II (Paras. 6-9)

In this section the author points out, using examples, that in the past, novels, like newspapers, also provided people with useful information. Part III (Paras.10-12)

But now, although novels and newspapers still provide useful information, people read newspapers mainly for their opinions, and novels aim at providing versions of the world. Part IV (Paras. 13-17)

This section states that today‘s newspapers like novelists, love to create ―characters‖ in their people columns and personality profiles. This has a very powerful effect and public figures are often resentful about the way they are presented. Part V (Paras. 18-19)

In this section, the author expresses the view that although some kind of protection of privacy is desirable, freedom of speech should always rank first. Part VI (Paras. 20-24)

In this section, the author expresses the view that today the principle of freedom of speech is being steadily eroded. Political, religious, racial, sexual, and social minority groups are demanding more protection from the censor. And the common weapon they use is the concept of ―respect‖, which they have manipulated to mean ―to agree‖. But the author believes that in free societies, the right to disagree, to disrespect, to be skeptical and to argue is absolutely indispensable.

Detailed Analysis of the Text

1. How news becomes opinion and opinion off-limits (title)

The title indicates that the author intends to talk about how newspapers changed so that they came to offer opinions rather than information and opinions, when expressed freely, will naturally be considered intolerable by some people.

off-limits: adj. If something is off-limits, it means that people are not allowed to talk about it. 2. I was wondering what, if any, common ground might be occupied by novelists and

journalists when my eye fell upon the following brief text in a British national daily (Para.1)

Paraphrase:

I was trying to decide whether novelists and journalists had anything in common. Then suddenly I saw the following short announcement in a British newspaper.

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common ground: basis for agreement shared by all eye: sight; attention Note:

Here the word ‗eye‘ is in the singular form.

Note also the ―what, if any‖ pattern. The writer here is expressing the idea that he is not sure there is any.

e. g. I did not know what, if any, objection they might have to this plan. Scientists have been trying to find what, if any, life forms exist in outer space.

“In yesterday’s Independent, we stated that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is farming ostriches. He is not.” (Para.2)

This is an announcement made in the British daily newspaper. The Independent, retracting a report it had carried a day earlier about Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

One can only guess at the brouhaha concealed beneath these admirably laconic sentences: the human distress, the protests. (Para.3)

human distress: The ―pain and suffering‖ is that of Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has been wrongly accused of being involved in an ostrich farming scandal.

the protests：There were strong complaints from Webber and others in sympathy with him because of the damage the report did to his reputation.

one can only guess：The statement is extremely short. It does not say how much harm the report has done to Webber, and the newspaper does not apologize for its false report. Therefore we can only guess.

admirably laconic：Rushdie‘s view is that the whole episode is very silly; therefore he uses irony throughout in describing it. And ―admirably laconic‖ should be taken as praise. Note:

There is an interesting story about how ―laconic‘ came to have its present meaning.

Long ago the people of Greece were not united. They lived in separate cities and states, each with its own leader. King Philip of Macedon wanted to bring them together under his rule. So he raised a great army and conquered them one by one, except Sparta, which resisted fiercely. The Spartans lived in an area called Laconia. They were noted for using few words in speech and writing as well as for their simple habits and bravery. When Philip finally brought his army to Laconia, he sent a message to the Spartans. ―If you do not submit at once,‖ he threatened, ―I will invade your country. And If I invade your country, I will pillage and burn everything you hold dear. If I march into Laconia, I will level your city to the ground.‖ In a few days, Philip received an answer. There was only one word in the letter. That word was ―IF.‖

As you know, Britain has been going through a period of what one might call heightened livestock insecurity of late. (Para. 3) of late: lately; recently

heightened livestock insecurity: This formal expression is a humorous reference to the spread of ―mad cow”(疯牛病) and ―hoof and mouth”disease (口蹄疫).

As well as the mentally challenged cattle herds, there has been the alarming case of the great ostrich-farming bubble, or swindle. (Para. 3)

mentally challenged: mentally disabled or sick referring to the ―mad‖ cows.

Note: The writer is using this term for humorous effect. ―Challenged‖ is an adjective here,

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meaning disabled or sick. Similarly, a person of very short stature might be referred to as ―vertically challenged‖.

Note: The writer is also being ironical when he calls the case of the ostrich-farming bubble ―great‖ because it caused such mass hysteria.

overheated times: highly agitated times; times of great public alarm and anxiety; times of general panic

allegation: an assertion made without proof

to take (sth.) lightly: to regard with indifference to slight: to treat with disrespect; to insult

Plainly, it was quite wrong of the Independent to suggest that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was breeding ostriches. He is, of course, a celebrated exporter of musical turkeys (Para. 4)

The author is using the word ―turkey‖ to humorously compare it with ―ostrich‖. ―Turkey‖ here means a failure. The author is disparaging the well-known musical composer and producer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber when he says that the latter is exporting musical ―turkeys‖, not farming ostriches. Although Webber is very successful and much admired by his fans, his detractors, of whom Rushdie is evidently one, view him as a plagiarist and find his ―music‖ an affront to classical composers.

But if we agree for a moment to permit the supposedly covert and allegedly fraudulent farming of ostriches to stand as a metaphor for all the world’s supposedly covert and allegedly fraudulent activities, then must we not…? Is this not…? And might there not be…? (Para. 4)

In the previous paragraph, the author seems to be expressing his sympathy for Webber who has been wrongly accused of ostrich farming. But that is not what the author is really driving at. What he really wants to say is: So long as we agree that the ostrich swindle stands as an example of all dishonest activities in the world, then we must agree that the paper has only done what it should do in the national interest, although in this case the evidence may have been inadequate.

Note：The whole paragraph can be seen as one complex sentence, with the ―If‘ clause used as the adverbial clause of condition and the three following rhetorical questions serving as the main clause.

But if we agree for a moment to permit the supposedly covert and allegedly fraudulent farming of ostriches to stand as a metaphor for all the world’s supposedly covert and allegedly fraudulent activities… then (Para. 4)

But if we agree to take the dishonest ostrich farming as an example of all secret illegal activities in the world, then…

Note: The use of ―allegedly‘ and ―supposedly‖ implies that ―even though these activities are merely alleged or supposed to be secret and illegal‖, newspapers in a free society still have the right as well as the duty to report them to the public.

… then must we not also agree that it is vital that these ostrich farmers be identified, named and brought to account for their activities? (Para. 4)

The idea is: since national interests are at stake, these criminals must be found, their identities disclosed, and they must be made to answer for their crimes. (This is true even though, in doing so, mistakes might be made.)

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bring to account: to make (sb.) answer for his conduct

11. Is this not the very heart of the project of a free press? (Para. 4)

Paraphrase：

Isn‘t this what a free press is all about? heart: real meaning; essence; vital part Translation: 这难道不是新闻自由的宗旨所在吗？

Note: This is a popular idea in Western journalism: that a free press serves as a watchdog to ensure democratic governance and the wellbeing of the people.

12. And might there not be occasions on which every editor would be prepared to go with

such a story—leaked, perhaps, by an ostrich deep throat—on the basis of less-than-solid evidence, in the national interest? (Para. 4)

Paraphrase: There might surely be occasions when editors would feel that they must accept this kind of report in the national interest even though the evidence is not strong and the source of the report is anonymous. Translation:

难道不会遇到这种情况，每个编辑都会从国家利益考虑，决定采用这种内容的报道，尽管证据还远远不够扎实、充分，而透露消息的来源也许是哪只神秘的鸵鸟？（作者是在开玩笑） to go with: to choose to use to leak: to intentionally disclose (secret information) deep throat: anonymous informant深喉或不露的神秘客

This refers to W. Mark Felt, a former FBI agent, who leaked information to help two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, uncover what was happening in the cover-up of the 1972 Watergate break-in, which ultimately drove U.S. President Richard Nixon from office. Felt was known as ―Deep Throat‖ and did not reveal his identity until he was ninety-one years old, long after the event. Since then, the term ―deep throat‖ has come to mean a secret and anonymous provider of restricted information. (Note the difference between ―informer‖ and ―informant‖. The former usually has a derogatory meaning.)

13. I am arriving by degree at my point, which is that the great issue facing writers both of

journalism and of novels is that of determining, and then publishing, the truth. (Para. 5) So now we know that the author is not trying to show sympathy for Webber or criticize the Independent. He is leading us to the great issue shared by both novelists and journalists, namely the determining and publishing of the truth.

Note the two ―thats‖ in this sentence. The first ―that‖ introduces the noun clause used predicatively, and the second ―that‖ is a pronoun, standing for ―issue‖.

14. For the ultimate goal of both factual and fictional writing is the truth, however

paradoxical that may sound. (Para. 5) The final goal (purpose) of news reporting and novel writing is the truth. This may sound paradoxical (contradictory) because ―fictional writing‘ is supposed to be the opposite of ‗factual writing‖. Note the use of the rhetorical device alliteration in ―factual‖ and ―fictional‖. 15. And truth is slippery, hard to establish. (Para. 5)

People often say that truth is pure and simple. The author says that this is not so. It is usually

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neither. It is often slippery, complicated, tricky, not easy to establish---to identify, prove, or pin down.

16. And if truth can set you free, it can also land you in hot water. (Para. 5) Besides, not everyone loves truth, because while it can set you free, it can also get you into serious trouble. There are numerous examples in everyday life to prove how true this statement is.

17. Fine as the word sounds, truth is all too often unpalatable, awkward, unorthodox. (Para.

5) Paraphrase:

Though truth sounds good, it is often unpleasant and unacceptable, embarrassing and troublesome, radical, peculiar, and unfamiliar.

That is why we often say that the truth hurts. That is also why people lie and explains why truth will not prevail without courage and wisdom.

Unpalatable: The word derives from palate, the inside upper part of your mouth, and by extension, the ability to taste the flavors of food and drinks.

18. The armies of received ideas are marshaled against it. (Para. 5)

Paraphrase: It will encounter the resistance and opposition of the strong force of traditional ideas.

marshal : v. to arrange or prepare in a clear, effective, or organized way

19. The legions of all those who stand to profit by useful untruths will march against it.

(Para. 5) Paraphrase: Large numbers of people, who benefit from false ideas or lies, will fight against the truth. stand to profit: to be in a condition to reap an advantage, financial or otherwise Note: These are two parallel sentences: The armies of … are marshaled against it The legions of … will march against it

Note also that these military terms of ―armies, legions, marshal, and march‖ are all used here metaphorically (―legion‖ is a large group of soldiers, a unit of an ancient Roman army)“marshal‖ and ―march‖ are also used as alliteration. 20. Yet it must, if at all possible, be told. (Para. 5) Note that the author is here to defend the goal of both journalists and novelists like himself. They will encounter many difficulties and unhappy experiences, but they must not give up, because truth must be told. If at all possible: ―at all‖ is often used in negative statements or ―if‖ clauses to make the meaning more forceful. It implies here that it is often not possible. Translation of the whole paragraph: 然而真理难以把握，难以确定，也可能出错误，就 像劳埃德•韦柏事件那样。真理能使你获得，但它也能使你陷入困境。这个词听起 来好听，但往往也会令人不快、给人带来麻烦、而且往往离经叛道有悖于正统观念。 大批正统观念会被调集起来组成大军去反对它；人数众多的谎言得益者会向其发起 攻击。但是只要有一丝一毫的可能，真理就必须讲出来。

21. But, it may be objected, can there really be any connection between the truth of the news and that of the world of the imagination? In the world of facts, a man is either an ostrich farmer or he is not. In fiction’s universe, he may be fifteen contradictory things

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at once. (Para. 6)

But people may disagree that the truth of the news and that of novels is the same thing. Note the parallel structures used in these sentences. in the world of facts, a man is … in fiction‘s universe, he may be …

Note also that the author uses ―world‖ and ―universe‖ in the two sentences in order to avoid repetition. at once: simultaneously

22. The word “novel” derives from the Latin word for new; in French, nouvelles are both

stories and news reports. (Para. 8)

The author is saying here that the word ―novel‖ and the word ―news‖ are related from the etymological point of view. novel: adj. new and unusual; esp. , being the first of its kind, e.g. a ~ idea, a ~ approach, a ~ device

23. A hundred years ago, people read novels, among other things, for information. (Para. 8) In those days, novels were like newspapers. They often provided useful information to readers. The author gives some well-known examples: Nicholas Nickleby: A novel by Charles Dickens. Nicholas‘s father died, leaving him, his sister Kate, and their mother penniless.

They had to struggle for a living under the oppressive guardianship of Nicholas‘ uncle Ralph Nickleby, a financier, who was mean and cruel. Nicholas was sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall, a school for the children of the poor. In describing Nicholas‘ experience there, Dickens exposed the wretchedness of British schools for the poor where poor children were half-starved and cruelly treated.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-16) was first published in 1852. In the novel, Mrs. Stowe exposed the cruelty and inhumanity of the slave system in Southern plantations. The novel had so much social impact that President Lincoln referred to Mrs Stowe as ―The little woman who started a great big war.‖

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1836-1910) was first published in 1884. It won great acclaim upon publication and was widely read all over the world. Anglo-American poet T. S. Eliot considered the character Huckleberry Finn immortal, comparable to Hamlet or Faust. American writer, Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway, said American literature originated from a book called ―Huckleberry Finn‖ by Mark Twain.

In describing Finn and his friend Tom, a black slave, fleeing down the Mississippi River, Twain depicted many types of people and the rural and town situation of the American South before the civil war.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1819-11) is a novel about a man called Captain Ahab who risks his life and the lives of his ship‘s crew by hunting a mythically awe-inspiring white whale called Moby-Dick. The book is known for providing a wealth of accurate information on whaling.

The novel was written on the basis of Melville‘s whaling experience. He saw whaling ships of that time as an epitome of the entire United States, with top officers invariably descendants of early Puritan whites and the crew homeless men of all races and religions. Such a ship was also a floating factory, organized along industrial lines. The whales, however, were strange

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and mysterious, representing nature, which was both good and evil, beautiful and indifferent, generous and cruel. newsy: containing much news information-heavy: loaded with information

24. So: Until the advent of the television age, literature shared with print journalism the

task of telling people things they didn’t know. (Para. 9) advent: the arrival of an important person or thing or event

television age: Television did not become popular until the late 1950s in the United States. 25. This is no longer the case, either for literature or for print journalism. Those who read newspapers and novels now get their primary information about the world from the TV news and the radio.（Para10）

Today this is no longer true. People now get their important information mainly from television and the radio.

26. There are exceptions, of course. The success of that excellent, lively novel Primary

Colors shows that novels can just occasionally still lift the lid on a hidden world more effectively than the finest reporting. And of course the broadcast news is highly selective, and newspapers provide far greater breadth and depth of coverage. (Para. 10)

The author knows that his statement would be too sweeping if he were to claim that people nowadays no longer get their information from novels and newspapers. There are exceptions. Some novels still provide vital information, news from the radio or television is usually highly selective, and while newspapers are no longer people‘s chief source of news, they often cover a much wider range of subjects and give a lot more in-depth information than other media. lift the lid on a hidden world: This is a metaphor meaning to expose/disclose/bring out secret information carefully hidden from ordinary people selective: choosing or picking only what target readers are interested in; usually not comprehensive or objective Translation:

当然啰，广播新闻往往是有选择性的，而报纸则能提供更有广度和深度的报导。

27. But many people now read newspapers, I suggest, to read the news about the news. We read for opinion, attitude, spin. We read not for raw data, not for Gradgrind’s “facts, facts, facts,” but to get a “take” on the news that we like. (Para 10) To suggest: to think that it is likely or true

the news about the news: The meaning of this phrase is explained in the following sentence.

It refers to opinions and interpretations of, comments on and attitudes toward the news. Translation:

我们看报纸，是要知道报纸的看法、态度、倾向。 我们看报纸不是为了看没有经过分析的原始资料，不是像狄更斯小说《艰难时世》中的主人公格拉德格•林德那样，一天到晚就是“事实、事实、事实”，我们要的是对我们有兴趣的新闻应有的观点和态度。 Comment:

Traditionally the theory of journalism in the West says that the newspaper‘s job is to report facts objectively, for readers to judge and interpret. But we know that there is no such thing as complete objectivity: facts do not speak for themselves. The author here is obviously expressing his view on this dilemma.

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Note: How the author plays on the word “news”. More examples: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. (Franklin Roosevelt) The business of America is business. (Calvin Coolidge) People rarely have the ability to recognize ability.

Now that the broadcasting media fulfill the function of being first with the news, newspapers, like novels, have entered the realm of the imagination. They both provide versions of the world. (Para. 10) Paraphrase:

Since radio and TV are now mainly responsible for providing the news, newspapers, like novels, have entered the field of fiction-writing, focusing on views and opinions rather than on reporting facts.

29. Perhaps this is clearer in a country like Britain, where the press is primarily a national press, than in the United States, where the great proliferation of local papers allows print journalism to provide the additional service of answering to local concerns and adopting local characteristics. The successful quality papers in Britain… are successful because they share with their readers a vision of British society and of the world. (Para. 11)

The author added this qualifying paragraph because again, he knew that he had made a sweeping statement in saying that newspapers have now shifted their attention from news to news about news. This is not true of all newspapers. Local newspapers in the United States, for example, are different. Therefore the author has to make it clear that he is mainly referring to the British quality papers. proliferation: rapid increase in number answer to: to react to a stimulus; to respond to

30. The news has become a matter of opinion. (Para.12) Like Para. 7, this is also a one-sentence paragraph which serves as a summary of the previous paragraphs and a transition to the next.

Comment:

The important issue, perhaps, is whether newspapers present only one opinion or many opinions.

31. And this puts a newspaper editor in a position not at all dissimilar from that of a novelist. (Para. 13)

Note: the phrase ―not at all dissimilar‖ means ―quite the same as‖. It is called a double negative, often used for emphasis.

e.g. Such trips are not without risk. No obstacles are insurmountable.

32. It is for the novelists to create, communicate and sustain over time a personal and coherent vision of the world that entertains, interests, stimulates, provokes and nourishes his readers. (Para. 13)

Translation: 小说家的任务是创立、传播并始终坚持个人对世界的一种连贯的看法，使 其读者得到享受、感到兴趣、激起思考、和获得精神食粮。

over time: for an extended period; for a long time

33. It is for the newspaper editor to do very much the same thing with the pages at his

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disposal. (Para. 13)

The newspaper editor has to do this with the pages at his disposal---with the pages available for him to use. More examples for at sb.‘s disposal: We do not have much money at our disposal. Remember. I am always at your disposal.

He has left his car at my disposal during his absence.

She is determined to use every means at her disposal to bring that criminal to justice. In that specialized sense, we are all in the fiction business now. (Para. 13) Translation:

就这一特定的含义而言，我们现在都是在搞小说创作这一行。

we are all in the fiction business now: This is a witty parody of similar sentences. e.g.

We are all Keynesians now.

One of the more extraordinary truths about the soap opera that is the British royal family is that to a large extent the leading figures have had their characters invented for them by the British press. And such is the power of the fiction that the flesh and blood royals have become more and more like their print personae, unable to escape the fiction of their imaginary lives. (Para. 14)

Journalists, like novelists, also write fiction, and like novelists, they also invent ―characters‖. A good example is the description of the British Royal Family in the press, which is almost like a soap opera. One of the most extraordinary truths is the fact that the leading figures (the main characters) of this soap opera are inventions of the British press. That is, these are not factual reports about the real people who are the British Royal Family.

The leading figures (of the fiction about the British royal family) include the beautiful and beloved Lady Diana who married Prince Charles in 1981 and was the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. The marriage failed and she and Charles were divorced in 1996. Prince Charles was believed to have been in love with another woman, whom he later married, all along. In 1997, Diana was involved in a romantic relationship with an Arab businessman; they were subsequently both killed in a tragic car accident in Paris. Diana‘s death was one of the biggest news stories of the 1990s in the West. It is hardly surprising that Rushdie considers this factual history suitable material for the plot of a soap opera.

that is the British royal family: This is a clause in apposition to ―the soap opera.‖ (同位语从句)

And such is the power … that… (Para. 14) Note:

The order of this sentence is inverted for emphasis.

the flesh and blood royals: the real royals; the royals in true life

The key idea of this sentence is: instead of portraying the members of the royal family as they really are, the press has turned them into characters. And the press is so powerful that the members of the royal family increasingly resemble their descriptions. Translation:

创作之威力如此巨大，以至于实际生活中的王族成员都越来越像他（她）们在报上被描写的角色，而无法摆脱报上对他们的文学创作的影响。

The creation of “characters” is, in fact, rapidly becoming an essential part of print

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journalism’s stock in trade. (Para. 15)

stock in trade: any resources, practices, or devices characteristically employed by a given person or group; all the requisites of a trade or profession 看家本领，必备行当，基本手段

Paraphrase:

The portrayal of public figures in a way that turns them into fictional characters has quickly become an important device in the print journalist‘s repertoire.

38. Never have personality profiles and people columns—never has gossip—occupied as much of a newspaper as they now do. (Para. 15) Note:

This sentence is inverted for emphasis, stressing the idea ―never‖. Translation:

人物特写和人物栏——那些八卦消息和坊间流言，从来没有像今天这样占据报纸这么大的篇幅。

39. The word “profile” is apt. In a profile, the subject is never confronted head-on but receives a sidelong glance. A profile is flat and two-dimensional. It is an outline.

(Para. 15) The word is appropriate because a profile is an outline of a character, a character sketch, shallow and superficial

Note: The word ―subject‖ here refers to a person who is being dealt with in a particular way. two-dimensional: (disapproving) flat, not having the qualities of the real thing/person

40. Yet the images created in these curious texts (often with their subjects’ collusion) are extraordinarily potent. (Para. 15)

often with their subjects collusion: often with the secret cooperation of the people thus portrayed, that is, the people involved are willing to be portrayed to the public in that way.

Comment: The images the press invents are extremely powerful although they are often not true. We readers therefore must be alert so that we will not be taken in by these false images. Curious texts: This refers to strange and untrue descriptions presented in the press. Potent: powerful

41. … it can be next to impossible for the actual person to alter, through his own words and deeds, the impressions they create. (Para. 15) Next to impossible: almost impossible Paraphrase:

It is nearly impossible for the people involved to change the images the press has created of them, no matter what they say or do.

42. … and, thanks to the mighty clippings file, they are also self-perpetuating (Para. 15)

self-perpetuating: inclined to go on and on (though this is not desirable)

43. A novelist, if he is talented and lucky, may in the course of a lifetime’s work offer up one

or two characters who enter the exclusive pantheon of the unforgotten. (Para. 16) pantheon: originally a temple built in honor of all gods in ancient Rome and Greece. It is used here metaphorically to refer to a group of famous and important people.

44. A novelist’s characters hope for immortality; a profile journalist’s, perhaps, for

celebrity. (Para. 16)

Novelists hope they can create unforgettable or immortal characters such as Hamlet

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(Shakespeare), Uncle Tom (Harriet Beecher Stowe), Oliver (Dickens), Ah Q (Lu Xun), to name just a few. Profile journalists hope that they can create characters who will become celebrities.

Celebrity: a famous person Translation:

小说家笔下的人物希望能够不朽；人物特写记者笔下的人物，则也许期望能一举成名。 Note the parallel structure of this sentence: a novelist‘s characters hope for immortality a profile journalist‘s (characters) (hope) for celebrity We worship, these days, not images but Image itself: (Para. 16) Translation:

现在，我们崇拜的不是报上出现的各种具体的人物形象，而是名声或口碑本身。

Note: The writer is once again playing on the different uses of the word ―image‖ in its singular and plural forms.

And any man or woman who strays into the public gaze becomes a potential sacrifice in that temple. (Para. 16)

who strays into the public gaze: who unintentionally becomes the center of public (media) attention. (Note the sarcastic tone conveyed by using the expression ―stray into‖. Rushdie is most likely thinking of his own experience.)

a potential sacrifice in that temple: a possible/likely person to be offered to the gods of that temple有可能成为那座伟人祠的供品。

That temple: This refers to ―the exclusive pantheon of the unforgotten‖.

Often, I repeat, a willing sacrifice, willingly drinking the poisoned chalice of Fame. (Para. 16)

A willing sacrifice: Sacrifice here refers to a person or animal killed in a religious ceremony and offered to please a god. ‖Willing sacrifice‖ is therefore an oxymoron. These people are called ―willing sacrifices‖ because in order to be famous they are willing to drink the poisoned chalice of Fame (another oxymoron), something attractive at first but later understood to be unpleasant.

But for many people, including myself, the experience of being profiled is perhaps closest to what it must feel like to be used as a writer’s raw material, what it must feel like to be turned into a fictional character, to have one’s feelings and actions, one’s relationships and vicissitudes, transformed, by writing, into something subtly—or unsubtly—different. To see ourselves mutated into someone we do not recognize.(Para. 16)

Some people are willing to be sacrificed to the temple of celebrity, but for many people, including the author, it is akin to the experience of being used as a writer‘s raw material, turned into a fictional character, and transformed into something quite different from the person they really are.

Note: The author does not say exactly how these people must feel, but we know that it must be different from the feelings of those who welcome celebrity.

To see ourselves mutated into someone we do not recognize. (Para. 16)

Note: The use of the word ―mutate‖, originally used to indicate genetic change in a plant or animal so as to acquire new characteristics. The author wants to express the idea that people

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who see themselves changed beyond their own recognition can‘t be happy.

50. For a novelist to be thus rewritten is, I recognize, a case of the biter bit. Fair enough. (Para. 17) thus rewritten: described in this way as a different person

A case of the biter (is) bit: (British English, old-fashioned) an example in which someone who bites (or does harm to) others is now bitten 一贯损人，终于害己 Fair enough: 这很公平；我没有话说 Paraphrase: I know that as a novelist I have used people as raw material in my writing, so I can‘t complain when other people do the same to me. It‘s only fair.

51. Nevertheless, something about the process feels faintly—and I stress, faintly—improper. (Para. 17) Paraphrase:

However, something about the whole process makes the people involved a little uncomfortable.

Note: The author is well aware that people don‘t always like to be used as raw material in writing, but he doesn‘t want to overstress this point. That‘s why he says ―and I stress, faintly‖, because his overall attitude is wholehearted support for the freedom of the press.

52. In Britain, intrusions into the private lives of public figures have prompted calls from certain quarters for the protection of privacy laws. (Para. 18) In Britain, certain groups of people have demanded the protection of privacy laws because they don‘t like the way people pry into public figures‘ private lives.

53. It is true that in France, where such laws exist, the illegitimate daughter of the late President Mitterrand was able to grow up unmolested by the press; (Para. 18) illegitimate child: a child born of parents not married to each other To grow up unmolested: to grow up without being disturbed Note:

unmolested here is an adjective used as part of the complex subject More examples: to die young; to be born rich; to grow up happy and strong

. but where the powerful can hide behind the law, might not a good deal of covert ostrich farming go undetected? (Para. 18)

Paraphrase:

but if the illegal activities of influential people could be kept unknown to the public by privacy laws, wouldn‘t a lot of other illegal activities like ostrich farming also be covered up by such laws?

55. My own feelings continue to be against laws that curtail the investigative freedoms of the press. (Para. 18)

Paraphrase:

I am still strongly opposed to laws that would reduce or limit the freedom of the press to investigate cases it deemed important.

56. But speaking as someone who has had the uncommon experience of becoming, for a time, a hot news story—of, as my friend Martin Amis put it, “vanishing into the front page”—it would be dishonest to deny that when my family and I have been the target of press intrusions and distortions, those principles have been sorely strained. (Para. 18) This whole paragraph is one sentence. The basic structure is:

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57.

Speaking as…, it would be dishonest to deny…

But speaking as someone who has had the uncommon experience of becoming, for a time, a hot news story—of … “vanishing into the front page”. (Para. 18)

Here, ―someone who has had the uncommon experience…‖ refers to the author himself; ―The uncommon experience of becoming a hot news story‖ refers to his experience of causing the news story known as ―the Rushdie affair‖, and ―the story of …vanishing into the front page‖ refers to how he became front page news for a time.

vanishing into the front page: Note the use of an oxymoron once again: normally we don‘t ―vanish‖ into the front page of a newspaper, but rather do the opposite—we dramatically ―appear‖. However, in Rushdie‘s case, as soon as he became front page news, he had to go into hiding. Thus this expression is an apt and ironical description of Rushdie‘s experience. 58. … those principles have been sorely strained. (Para. 18) sorely: painfully; very much

Paraphrase:

Rushdie‘s firm support for the principle of the investigative freedom of the press has been painfully tested.

59. However, my overwhelming feelings about the press are ones of gratitude. In the long

unfolding of the so-called Rushdie Affair, American newspapers have been of great importance in keeping the issues alive, in making sure that readers have kept sight of the essential points of principle involved, and even in pressuring America’s leaders to speak out and act. (Para. 19)

Rushdie lived in constant fear when he and his family became the target of public attention and therefore one could assume that he would hate the press. But actually he says that, on the whole, he is very grateful to the press because the publicity helped to keep him safe. The part that he did not like was the untrue versions of himself that were an inevitable part of the contemporary journalistic process.

in the long unfolding of: in the long course of; in the whole process of (unfolding: development)

keeping the issues alive: keeping the public interested in the issues to speak out and act: to declare their position on the matter forcefully and take the necessary

actions.

According to the writer, American newspapers have kept the public interested in the case, made readers aware of the basic principles at stake, and compelled the American government to state its position on the matter forcefully and take the necessary actions.

60. But I am grateful for more than that. I said earlier that newspaper editors, like novelists,

need to create, impart and maintain a vision of society to readers. In any vision of a free society, the value of free speech must rank the highest, for that is the freedom without which all other freedoms would fail. Journalists do more than most of us to protect those values; for the exercise of freedom is its best defense. (Para. 19)

Note: Earlier the author used ―create, communicate and sustain over time the vision of society‖ which he now replaces with ―create, impart and maintain the vision of society‖ in order to avoid repetition.

the value of free speech must rank the highest: because without free speech, a free press, freedom of publication, freedom of religion, freedom to petition, and freedom of assembly

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would be meaningless and impossible.

61. It seems to me, however, that we live in an increasingly censorious age. By this I mean that the broad, indeed international, acceptance of First Amendment principles is being steadily eroded. (Para. 20) censorious: inclined to find fault; harshly critical

to erode: to cause to deteriorate, decay, or vanish; to eat away The First Amendment of the American Constitution reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

62. Many special-interest groups, claiming the moral high ground, now demand the protection of the censor. Political correctness and the rise of the religious right provide the pro-censorship lobby with further cohorts. (Para. 20) special-interest group (also called a ―pressure group‖ or an ―interest group‖): An interest group is a set of individuals who are organized to promote a shared interest. An interest group is characterized by its formalized organization and by its pursuit of policy goals that stem from its members‘ shared interest. Interest groups can be divided into economic groups and non-economic groups. Economic groups include business groups, labor groups, farm groups and professional associations. Non-economic groups embrace public-interest groups, single-issue groups, and ideological groups. claiming the moral high ground: asserting that they enjoy a position of moral superiority

Paraphrase:

Many organized groups pursuing special policy goals for which they claim moral superiority now demand censorship protection. In their view, officials should control the content of printed matter, TV programs and films to eliminate information not in line with their position. The whole idea is expressed in an ironical tone: the moral high ground vs. the protection of the censor. Rushdie does not think these groups inhabit the moral high ground; if they did, they would not invoke censorship to protect it.

63. Political correctness and the rise of the religious right provide the pro-censorship lobby with further cohorts. (Para. 20)

religious right: In the 1980s and 1990s, Pat Robertson‘s Christian Coalition and Jerry Falwell‘s Moral Majority were the two biggest groups pursuing the social, cultural and political goals of both political conservatives and religious fundamentalists. These groups played an important role in putting the House of Representatives into the hands of conservative Republicans as of the elections of 1994. lobby: refers to groups making efforts to influence public policy through contacts with public officials cohort: supporting groups, a word used nowadays in a derogatory sense

The two ends of the political spectrum liberals who advocate the avoidance of language with negative connotations and conservatives who pursue traditionalist social, cultural, and political goals produce additional followers for interest groups supporting censorship. Translation:

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.

65. 66.

67.

68.

69.

政治上正确以及教右派势力的增长为支持新闻审查的院外集团提供了更多的追随者。

I would like to say a little about just one of the weapons of this resurgent lobby, a weapon used, interestingly, by everyone from anti-pornography feminists to religious fundamentalists: I mean the concept of “respect.” (Para. 20)

feminists: The feminist movement in the United States experienced two upsurges, first in the mid-19th century, with the Seneca Falls Convention organized by Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton as central figures and the second in the 1960s, represented by the publication in 1963 of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan and the founding of the ―National Organization of Women (NOW)‖. Feminists not only fight for equal rights for women, and against sex discrimination in education and employment, but also for sexual liberation.

religious fundamentalists: 宗教原教旨主义者（这里指的是教原教旨主义者）

But what we used to mean by respect, —that is, a mixture of good-hearted consideration and serious attention—has little to do with the new ideological usage of the word. (Para. 21)

―Respect‖ used to mean a willingness to show admiration and appreciation. It comes from a Latin origin. Re- means back, and -spect means to look. So the word means warm consideration and serious attention—it has little to do with the new ideological usage of the word.

Religious extremists, these days, demand “respect” for their attitudes with growing stridency. Few people would object to the idea that people’s rights to religious belief must be respected— (Para. 22) Comment:

Most people agree that we must respect other people‘s right to their religious beliefs, but that does not mean that we must agree with their religious views and attitudes.

—but now we are asked to agree that to dissent from those beliefs, to hold that they are suspect or antiquated or wrong, that in fact they are arguable, is incompatible with the idea of respect. (Para. 22)

suspect: to be viewed as possibly untrustworthy. Note that it is used as an adjective here. antiquated: no longer useful; old-fashioned, out-of-date

incompatible: conflicting; not in harmony or agreement (with) 不相容的 Paraphrase:

—but now we are expected to accept the view that if we express disagreement with those beliefs, if we say that those beliefs might be unsound or that they are out-of-date or wrong, and could therefore be debated, we are not showing respect.

When criticism is placed off-limits as “disrespectful,” and therefore offensive, something strange is happening to the concept of respect. (Para. 22) Paraphrase:

When criticism is not allowed because it is considered to be disrespectful, then the meaning of respect has undergone a peculiar change.

Yet in recent times both the American N.E.A. and the very British BBC have announced that they will employ this new perversion of “respect” as a touchstone for their funding and programming decisions.（Para. 22）

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70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

The American N.E.A.: Rushdie is referring to the National Endowment for the Arts, not to the American National Educational Association Translation: 然而，近来美国国家艺术奖励基金以及英国那家英国广播公司都宣布他们将采用这种新的扭曲颠倒的“尊重”作为资金提供和节目制作的决策标准。

But if dissent is also to be thought a form of “dissing”, then we have indeed succumbed to the Thought Police. (Para. 23) Translation:

但如果持有不同意见也被当做是一种“不尊重”，那么我们真的是屈服于乔治•奥威尔小说《1984》中的思想了。

I want to suggest that citizens of free societies do not preserve their freedom by pussyfooting around their fellow citizens’ opinions, even their most cherished beliefs. (Para. 24) Paraphrase:

My view is that citizens of free societies do not maintain their freedom by cautiously refusing to air their views on other people‘s opinions and beliefs.

I want to suggest: my view is (The writer is trying to sound modest and reasonable). In free societies, you must have the free play of ideas. (Para. 24) free play of ideas: free exchange of ideas Comment:

It is said to be more important than the free exchange of commodities and services in a free market.

There must be argument, and it must be impassioned and untrammeled. (Para. 24) Translation: 一定要有争论，而且争论应该是热切的，充满激情的，不受约束的。 Rushdie means that there must be argument or debate, and for argument to be meaningful or worthwhile, it must be impassioned, that is, both sides must be unafraid to show their strong feelings; the ideas involved must be fearlessly questioned or defended, because that would indicate that both sides are passionately interested in the ideas and both sides consider the ideas important. In other words, if we want truth, we must welcome argument; we must not complain that the argument is too noisy or out of control.

A free society is not a calm and eventless place—that is the kind of static, dead society dictators try to create. Free societies are dynamic, noisy, turbulent and full of radical disagreements. (Para. 24)

According to the author, a free society is dynamic, full of different voices, disagreements, arguments, debates whereas a soundless and eventless society is a static and dead society. This is an interesting idea. People might think that an ideal society is one with little disagreement and perfect harmony, where people are all united as one. We might have a discussion about this view.

Skepticism and freedom are indissolubly linked, and it is the skepticism of journalists, their show-me, prove-it unwillingness to be impressed, that is perhaps their most important contribution to the freedom of the free world. (Para. 24)

Skepticism and freedom are indissolubly linked: because without freedom, skepticism is impossible, and without skepticism, freedom would be unlikely. Translation:

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怀疑态度和自由是牢牢地连在一起的。也许正是记者们的那种怀疑态度，那种要求拿出证据使我信服否则决不盲从的态度，才是他们对自由世界的自由最重要的贡献。 Free world: During the Cold War, this term was used to refer to all non-communist countries. So beware of the political connotation of this expression. But here the author does not seem to be using this term with a special political bias.

76. It is the disrespect of journalists—for power, for orthodoxies, for party lines, for ideologies, for vanity, for arrogance, for folly, for pretension, for corruption, for stupidity, maybe even for editors—and the disrespect of every citizen, in fact, that I would like to celebrate, and that I urge all, in freedom’s name, to preserve. (Para. 24) orthodoxies 正统观念 party lines 政党路线 （本文作为贬字，似乎可翻译成：党派之见） ideologies 意识形态；思想体系 （这个词在西方有时有贬义）

maybe even for editors—and the disrespect of every citizen: The author says that journalists should have the courage to disrespect even editors; he knows this is difficult because editors are journalists‘ immediate bosses so it may be risky for journalists to defy them.

and the disrespect of every citizen: We may take the word ―and‖ here as the conjunction linking ―the disrespect of journalists‖ and ―the disrespect of every citizen‖ both of which Rushdie ―would like to celebrate‖; or we may take it as the conjunction linking ―even for editors‖ and ―the disrespect of every citizen‖. Both seem to make sense. Rushdie has every reason to sing the praises of journalists‘ and ordinary citizens‘ courage to disagree. But Rushdie may also be saying that journalists should not only dare to show disrespect even for their immediate bosses, but should also show disrespect for the disrespect of every citizen, because even if every citizen – public opinion – held a contrary opinion to that of the journalist, their opinion could still be wrong, and it is not easy for the journalist to defy public opinion, not easy for him or her to stand alone.

(Comment: We compilers have had quite an ―impassioned and untrammeled‖ argument on the proper understanding of this paragraph without reaching an agreement. Perhaps some day, Rushdie can tell us what he meant!) Translation：

正是记者们的这种藐视——藐视权力，藐视正统观念，藐视政党路线，藐视意识形态，对虚荣、傲慢、愚昧、弄虚作假、、蠢行不买账，甚至对编辑，对每个公民的藐视本身也不买账——，我想予以公开表示赞扬与歌颂，并以自由的名义恳切希望所有的人都来维护这种精神。

Key to Exercises:

I.

1. heightened (Para. 3): becoming stronger 增强的

2. challenged (Para. 3): (chiefly American, euphemistic, also sometimes humorous) disabled in

some way有点毛病的（指染上疯牛病的) 3. to slight (Para. 3): to treat with disrespect 轻视 4. celebrated (Para. 4): famous著名的

5. to account for (Para. 4): to be answerable for/to 要对„„负责

6. received (Para. 5): widely accepted 普遍为人接受的；人们公认的

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7. raw（data）(Para. 10): (data) that has not been examined or organized 原始的（资料） 8. to get a ‗take‘ (Para. 10) : a distinct point of view 特定观点

9. stock (in trade) (Para. 15): the merchandise kept on hand for sale; here something someone

does or makes very well and often （干这一行的）惯用手法

10. quarters (Para. 18) : (often plural) a particular group of people （特定的）人群 11. late (Para. 18)：not now living 已过世的（某人）

12. lobby (Para. 20): a group of people organized to influence government legislation 院外游说

集团

13. suspect (Para. 22): unable to be trusted 可疑的；不可信的 14. to accord (Para. 23): to grant (permission, request, etc.) 给予

V.

1. It‘s true that truth can make you free and be very useful, but it can also get you into trouble. 2. The word ―truth‖ sounds wonderful, but it is often also unpleasant and makes you feel

uncomfortable because it is different from your received ideas or traditional beliefs.

3. Powerful traditional ideas are assembled and mobilized like soldiers to fight against it (the

truth). The great number of people who benefit from untruths will launch attacks on it (the truth) like a strong army.

4. In the past, news reports were supposed to deal with facts, and in that sense, what they said

was either true or not true—a man is either an ostrich farmer or he is not. But in novels, the truth can take many different forms and yet are all correct.

5. Yet, the images created by journalists today in their new style of news reporting—often with

the secret agreement or collaboration of the real person they are writing about, are extremely powerful and it is almost impossible for the actual person to change the impression they have created no matter what he says or does. Besides, because organizations are in the habit of keeping newspaper cuttings, these images will continue to exist, whether he likes it or not. 6. Throughout this event people called ‗the Rushdie Affair‘, American newspapers played a

very important role in maintaining public interest in the issues related to this event. They did their best to make sure that readers saw clearly that it involves very basic principles of modern civilization. They even succeeded in making their leaders speak openly in Rushdie‘s defense.

7. But if expressing opinions that differ from the mainstream is also regarded as a kind of

disrespect, then we have really given in to the people who think they have the power to decide what kind of opinions people can hold.

VІ. Phrase:

1 简洁的句子

2 人的痛苦

3 严重的牲畜不安全 4 神经有些不正常的 5 牛群

6 这些群情激愤的日子里 7 著名的出口商

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8 据说是欺诈性的

9 深喉（埋藏很深不肯露面的爆料者） 10 公认的，普遍为人们接受的观点 11 充满信息的（书或文章） 12 文字/报刊新闻（界） 13 报道的广度和深度

14 高级的/内容严肃的报纸 15 听其支配；由其处理 16 人物特写 17 人物专栏 18 公众人物 19 非婚生女儿

20 我压倒一切的感情；我最深切的感受 21 赞成加强审核的游说集团

22 在作出拨款和节目制定的决策中

Paragraph

我想说的是：我觉得自由社会的公民们靠谨小慎微，跟着他人的观点，---即便是他们最为珍惜的观点，亦步亦趋，而不敢越雷池一步，是不可能维护他们的自由的。在自由社会里，你必须有思想的自由交流和表达，必须要有辩论，而且这种辩论必须是充满激情的，而且不受控制的。一个自由的社会不是一个平平静静、水波不兴、什么事情都不发生的社会---那是者企图创造的那种停滞的、死气沉沉的社会。自由社会是充满活力的、喧闹的、像河水一样欢快奔腾的，而且充满着尖锐的不同见解。怀疑与自由是不可分割地连在一起的。也许正是新闻工作者的这种怀疑，这种没有见到证据决不轻信的态度，才是他们对这个自由世界的自由最重要的贡献。实际上，我想庆祝的这种所谓不尊重并希望所有人都能以自由的名义来维护的，正是新闻工作者这种所谓的不尊重---不管这种所谓的不尊重针对的是权势、正统观念、党派之见、各种意识形态的教条、虚荣、狂傲、荒唐、装腔作势、、愚蠢，也许甚至包括那些编辑以及所有他人对自己的不尊重。

VII.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

humor; metaphor

humor; play on words

rhetorical question; satire; understatement hyperbole; metaphor oxymoron, metaphor

metaphor; understatement rhetorical question; metaphor oxymoron, irony similes

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