欧洲－复杂的美法关系

 

US-France Relations May Be Most Complicated

 

(Music)

 

French singer Vigon performs American music every night at the restaurant The American Dream in the heart of Paris. He says French people love America.

 

Vigon: I have been singing American music here at the American Dream for over 40 years and people here love it.

 

At the other end of the spectrum¹ Frederick Royer is so critical of U.S. foreign policy that he started his own satire² publication and called it L'Anti-Americain. The articles poke³ sophomoric⁴ fun at American stereotypes⁵. In this issue there is a contest to rename the United States and a fictional⁶ day planner belonging to President Bush listing such activities as bombing Iraq and talking to God. 

 

Frederick Royer: This is a response to the French bashing that has been going on in the United States.

 

Both viewpoints characterize the love/hate view that many French people hold about America. Andre Kaspi, Professor of American History at the University of Paris-Sorbonne says the underlying⁷ tension is not just about current politics.

 

Andre Kaspi: We consider globalization and 'American-ization' is the same and therefore if you walk along the streets of Paris you will find a lot of people wearing cloths like in the United States, eating like in the United States and at the same time regretting this American influence because of the loss of national identity. That is why I think you will find at the same time a fascination⁸ for the United States and strong hatred⁹ for what they call American civilization.

 

This loss of cultural identify combined with a serious disagreement over the unilateral use of American military power in Iraq threatened to undermine the transatlantic alliance. But the recent Iraqi elections, the Bush administration diplomatic initiative in Europe and recognition by both sides that they need each other offer hope of renewed cooperation.

 

Andre Kaspi: The Europe powers mostly France know that they have to do something with the United States in Iraq. Because if in Iraq the United States is defeated, that will be a defeat not only for the Americans but also for the Europeans, that will be a defeat for democracy and since we have the same kind of political values, if you lose, we lose.

 

注释：

be critical of 不满

satire [5sAtaiE] n. 讽刺文学，讽刺

poke fun at 取笑

sophomoric [9sCfE5mR:rik] adj. 一知半解的

fascination [fAsi5neiFEn] n. 魔力，魅力

 

1 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

2 satire   

n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品

参考例句：

• The movie is a clever satire on the advertising industry.那部影片是关于广告业的一部巧妙的讽刺作品。
• Satire is often a form of protest against injustice.讽刺往往是一种对不公正的抗议形式。

3 poke   

n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
• Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。

4 sophomoric   

adj.一知半解的；大学或四年制中学的二年级的

参考例句：

• Do you really believe that sophomoric argument?你当真相信那种幼稚可笑的论点吗？
• As a sophomoric student,it's very happy for me to receive invitation.作为一个二年级的学生，能收到邀请，我自然感到特别开心。

5 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

7 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

8 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

9 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。