金喇叭

捕头

很久很久以前，记得是上初中的时候，读过这篇，网上一搜，还真找到了，今天读来别有滋味。

{ GOLDEN TRUMPETS

Dr. Hornsnagle, an American explorer, asked the ruler of Yap Yap whether free speech was allowed under his rule.

"Yes, indeed," said the ruler. "My people enjoy complete freedom of speech and we decide everything according to public opinion."

"But how do you find out what the public thinks?" asked Dr. Hornsnagle.

"That's very simple," said the ruler. "Whenever any question has to be settled, we gather all the people together in my palace. Then we decide our policy by just listening to the Golden Trumpets."

"And what are the golden trumpets?" asked Dr. Hornsnagle.

"Golden Trumpets," said the ruler, "are used to express public opinion here.
I raise my right hand above my head and shout: 'Those in favour, blow.'
Immediately those who are in favour of the proposal blow their golden trumpets.

Then I raise my left hand and shout: 'All those against, blow.'
This time those who are opposed, blow theirs. The side which makes the greatest noise is naturally the majority and the policy is decided in their favour."

"That," said Dr. Hornsnagle, "is the most complete democracy that I have ever heard of. I would like very much to see one of these meetings."

On the next afternoon, the people of Yap Yap, both rich and poor, were called into the palace courtyard to decide an important matter. There were only four rich men. All the rest were poor.

When all were assembled, the ruler stepped forward and raised his right hand.

"All those in favour, blow," he shouted.

The four rich men all lifted their golden trumpets and blew hard.

Then the ruler lifted his left hand. "All those against, blow," he shouted. Not a sound came from the poor people. Thus the policy was decided and the meeting over.

Dr. Hornsnagle asked the rule why only the four rich men blew trumpets.

"Because they are the only people who have golden trumpets," said the ruler. "The others are all poor people."

"Well, that doesn't seem very much like free speech to me," said Horsnagle. "In America, we have real freedom of speech."

"Is that so?" said the ruler. "And how do you do it in America?"

In America," said Horsnagle, "instead of golden trumpets, we have newspapers, magazines and radio stations."

"That is very interesting," said the ruler. "But who owns all these newspapers, magazines and radio stations?"

"The rich," said Hornsnagle.

"Then it is the same as Yap Yap," said the ruler.
 }

捕头

美国探险家洪斯纳哥博士问汪汪国的国王，在他统治下是否允许言论自由。

“当然允许，”这位国王答道，“我的国民充分享有言论自由。凡事不分巨细，我们都根据舆论来决定。”

“但你怎么了解舆论呢？”洪斯纳哥博士问道。

“这很简单，”国王答道，“只要有问题需要解决，我们就把国人召集到我的大殿上。随后，靠听金喇叭来决定政策。”

“金喇叭是怎么回事？”洪斯纳哥博士又问。

“金喇叭，”国王解释说，“在我国是用来反映舆论的。我把右手举过头顶喊道：‘赞成的，吹喇叭’。紧接着，那些赞成提案的人就会马上吹响他们的金喇叭。随后我又把左手举过头顶喊道：‘反对的，吹喇叭’。这回反对提案的人就会吹响他们的喇叭。声音大的自然是多数，于是政策就按他们的意志决定下来。”

洪斯纳哥博士说：“这是我听到的最充分的民主。我很想观看一次这样的集会。”

第二天下午，汪汪国的国民不分贫富，都被召集到大殿上，来决定一件大事。只有四个富有人，其他的都是穷人。

众人到齐后，国王上前举起右手。

“赞成的，吹喇叭。”他喊道。

那四个富人就举起金喇叭，拼命地吹起来。

随后国王举起左手，喊道：“反对的吹喇叭。”穷人里却无声无息。就这样定了政策，散了会。

洪斯纳哥博士问国王，为什么只有四个富人吹喇叭。

“因为只有他们才有金喇叭，”国王说，“其他人都是干活的。”

“啊，依我看，这不太像言论自由，”洪斯纳哥博士说，“我们美国才有真正的言论自由。”

“是吗？”国王说，“那你们美国是怎么做的呢？”

洪斯纳哥博士说，“在美国，我们有报纸、杂志和电台，而不是金喇叭。”

“这倒很新鲜。”国王说，“但是谁拥有这些报纸、杂志和电台呢？”

“富人，”洪斯纳哥答道。

“如此说来，与汪汪国没什么两样。”国王说道。