他只用一個字形容特朗普的第一次國情咨文

「在他的演講中，愚蠢的錯誤和胡編亂造比比皆是。他假裝自己是個政治家，我們卻不能假裝相信他的承諾，因為他根本不了解自己的想法。」

The Fictitious State of Trump』s Fantastical Union

《紐約時報》

[*]fictitious:

1) Fictitious is used to describe something that is false or does not exist, although some people claim that it is true or exists. 虛假的; 虛幻的

Were interested in the source of these fictitious rumours.

我們對這些子虛烏有的謠言的來源感興趣。

2) A fictitious character, thing, or event occurs in a story, play, or film but never really existed or happened. 虛構的

The persons and events portrayed in this production are fictitious.

這部作品描繪的那些人物和事件是虛構的。

The word that came to mind most often as I watched Donald Trump deliver his first State of the Union address was 「pretend.」

看唐納德·特朗普發表他的第一個國情咨文演說時，我腦海中最常浮現出來的一個詞是「假裝」。

He pretends to be a statesman, and we』re supposed to pretend that hundreds of vulgar and recklessly divisive moments before this — thousands, if we』re adding tweets — don』t negate[1] that claim.

他假裝自己是個政治家，而我們則應該假裝此前數百個粗俗魯莽、挑撥分歧的時刻——如果把他的推文也算上，那應該有成千上萬個——不會抵消他的這個說法。

[1]negate:

1) V-T If one thing negates another, it causes that other thing to lose the effect or value that it had. 使無效

These weaknesses negated his otherwise progressive attitude towards the staff.

這些缺點抹殺了他本來對工作人員的開明態度。

2) V-T If someone negates something, they say that it does not exist. 否定

He warned that to negate the results of elections would only make things worse.

他警告說否定選舉結果只能使事態更加惡化。

We』re supposed to pretend that he gives a fig about[2] decorum, though it disappears almost as soon as the teleprompter[講詞提示裝置] does. Above all, we』re supposed to pretend that what he says today has any bearing on what he』ll say tomorrow, when what he said yesterday contradicted it.

我們應該假裝他在意莊重得體，儘管它只要一脫離提詞就消失了。最重要的是，他昨天說的話還跟今天說的話自相矛盾著，我們卻要假裝他今天說的話和他明天說的話之間會存在任何關聯。

[2]not give a fig/not care a fig (about/for sth/sb)

to not be at all concerned about or interested in something or someone old-fashioned informal（對某事/某人）毫不在乎

Our president lives in a world of sand and wind and make-believe[3], where the merest gust can alter the shape of everything, and Tuesday night』s remarks — especially his appeal for 「common ground」 and his vision of 「all of us together」 as 「one American family」 — should be seen in that shifting, swirling, fantastical context.

我們的總統生活在一個風沙瀰漫、遍布虛幻的世界裡，一場最輕微的陣風便能改變一切形態，他周二晚上的發言應該被放在這個不停轉變、搖擺不定、光怪陸離的背景中去審視——尤其是他呼籲尋找「共同點」，和他心目中「我們所有人在一起」，就像「一個美國家庭」的理想那部分。

[3]make-believe

1) N a fantasy, pretence, or unreality 幻想; 假裝; 非存在之物

2) N (as modifier) 幻想的; 假裝的; 非存在之物的

a make-believe world

註：LR記得2017年5月的CATTI二筆考試中EC第二篇最後一段就出現過這個詞語

To be fair, most State of the Union addresses are wishes. George W. Bush gave us gauzy[4] spins[5] on where he was going and where he had been. Barack Obama set markers (preschool and community college for all!) that he』d never reach. The State of the Union traffics in[6] the sublime — and thus in the ridiculous.

公平地說，大多數國情咨文都是許願。喬治·W·布希(George W. Bush)華而不實地將他想達到的目標和已經達到的目標混為一談。貝拉克·奧巴馬(Barack Obama)設置了自己永遠無法達到的標準（所有人都能上學前班和社區大學！）。國情咨文行走在一個崇高的境界，因而也是荒誕的。

[4]gauzy: Gauzy material is light, soft, and thin, so that you can see through it. 輕薄透明的

...thin, gauzy curtains

...輕薄透明的窗帘

[5]spin

1) N-SING If someone puts a certain spin on an event or situation, they interpret it and try to present it in a particular way. (特意做的) 詮釋與宣傳

He interpreted the vote as support for the constitution and that is the spin his supporters are putting on the results today.

他把這次投票結果解釋為對憲法的支持，這也是他的支持者們對今天的結果所做的詮釋與宣傳。

2) N-UNCOUNT In politics, spin is the way in which political parties try to present everything they do in a positive way to the public and the media. (政治) 粉飾

The public is sick of spin and tired of promises.

公眾厭倦了粉飾和許諾。

[6]traffic in: Someone who traffics in something such as drugs or stolen goods buys and sells them even though it is illegal to do so. 從事 (毒品或贓物等的) 非法買賣

The president said illegal drugs are hurting the entire world and anyone who traffics in them should be brought to justice.

總統說毒品正在危害全世界，毒品非法交易者都應該繩之以法。

But Trump is a ridiculous breed apart, his moods more erratic, his poses more ephemeral[7], his pledges emptier.

但特朗普的荒誕獨具一格，他的情緒更不穩定、他的姿態更短暫、他的承諾更空洞。

[7]ephemeral: existing or popular for only a short time 短暫的；只流行一時的；朝生暮死的

Fashion is by nature ephemeral.

從本質上說，時尚不過是一時的潮流。

Last February, in a speech to a joint session of Congress, he used his opening minutes to exalt[8] civil rights, decry anti-Semitism and proclaim that 「we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all of its very ugly forms.」

去年二月，他在一次參眾兩院聯席會議的演講中，一開頭便高舉公民權利的大旗，譴責反猶太主義，並宣稱：「我們的國家團結一致，譴責所有醜惡形式的仇恨與邪惡。」

[8]exalt: To exalt someone or something means to praise them very highly. 盛讚

His work exalts all those virtues that we, as Americans, are taught to hold dear.

他的作品盛讚了所有那些我們作為美國人被教導要珍視的美德。

Later came the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and his insistence that there were 「some very fine people」 among the white nationalists and neo-Nazis there.

後來，在弗吉尼亞州夏洛茨維爾發生暴力事件之後，他堅稱那裡的白人民族主義者和新納粹分子當中有「一些非常好的人」。

Early this month he invited television cameras into the White House so that we could behold his placid demeanor as Democrats made their pitch for[9] Dreamers and he recommended a 「bill of love.」 Within 48 hours, he was ranting about[10] 「shithole countries」 whose human effluvium[惡臭；臭氣] befouls[11] our shores.

本月早些時候，他邀請電視攝像機進入白宮，以便我們能夠看到，當民主黨人為「夢想者」(Dreamers)大聲疾呼時，他所表現出的平靜風度，他還提出了所謂「愛的法案」。不到48小時，他便咆哮著指責「糞坑國家」的臭氣侵襲了我們的海岸。

[9]make a/sb』s pitch (for sth)(= try to persuade people to do something) （推銷宣傳 某事物）

He made his strongest pitch yet for standardized testing in schools.

他以前所未有的力度鼓吹學校應推行標準化考試。

[10]rant about: to talk or complain in a loud excited and rather confused way because you feel strongly about something 大聲激昂地說；怒氣沖沖地抱怨

She was still ranting about the unfairness of it all.

她仍在怒氣沖沖地抱怨這件事不公平。

[11]befoul: to make dirty or foul; soil; defile 弄髒

The bird befouled its own nest.

鳥兒弄髒了它自己的鳥巢。

Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of his chamber』s Democratic minority, said that negotiating with Trump was like negotiating with Jell-O. Food-wise, he gave the president the benefit of the doubt. Trump is squishier[濕軟的；粘糊糊的], and far less innocuous[無害的；無冒犯之意的]. Negotiating with him must be like negotiating with sour cream.

參議員查克·舒默(Chuck Schumer)是參議院民主黨少數黨領袖，他說和特朗普談判就像和Jell-O果凍談判一樣。從食物角度而言，這個比喻讓人把總統往好處想。特朗普比較容易擺布，而且非常無害。和他談判一定就像和酸奶油談判差不多。

On Tuesday night, Trump dwelled boastfully on[12] certain economic indicators — unemployment figures, the stock market — to portray America as a newly industrious land, dizzy with[13] sudden riches. But we Americans aren』t that dizzy: We still expect more from our country and president than a Dow above 25,000, and that』s why Trump』s approval rating is below 40 percent.

周二晚上，特朗普長篇累牘地誇耀一些經濟指標——失業數據和股票市場——以便將美國描繪成一個新興的工業國度，暴富的機會讓人眼花繚亂。但我們美國人並沒有眼花：我們對這個國家和總統的期待並不止於25000以上的道瓊斯指數，這就是為什麼特朗普的支持率依然低於40%。

[12]dwell on: to think, speak, or write at length 細想; 詳述

Why do you keep dwelling on that matter?

你為什麼一直在喋喋不休地講那個問題?

[13]dizzy with: feeling unable to stand steadily, for example because you are looking down from a high place or because you are ill 頭暈目眩的

Ruth felt dizzy with relief.

露絲如釋重負，感到暈乎乎的。

He took starkly[徹底地；毫不掩飾地] partisan positions on regulations, gun rights, foreign aid, 「religious liberty」 and more, then dared to pretend that he was extending an 「open hand」 to Democrats. He did this serenely, no trace of the volcanic temper that his aides have come to fear.

他在法規、擁槍權、對外援助、「宗教自由」等方面都表現出極度的黨派立場，然後居然敢於假裝向民主黨伸出「張開的手」。他在這樣做時表情平靜，沒有帶上一絲一毫助手們所擔心的火爆脾氣。

There were howlers[愚蠢的錯誤; 低級錯誤] aplenty in his address. 「Americans love their country, and they deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return,」 he said. How does minimizing Russian interference in the 2016 election — and thwarting[14] the investigation into what happened — accomplish that?

他的演講中，愚蠢可笑的錯誤比比皆是。他說：「美國人熱愛自己的國家，他們理應得到一個向他們報以同樣的愛與忠誠的政府。」靠著最大限度地淡化俄羅斯對2016年大選的干預，並阻撓對相關事實的調查，怎麼能做到這一點呢？

[14]thwart: to prevent someone from doing what they are trying to do 阻撓，阻礙

Fierce opposition thwarted the government』s plans.

激烈的反對阻礙了政府計劃的實施。

thwarted ambition

未酬的壯志

There were fictions galore[豐富;大量adj/adv]. 「For the last year,」 he asserted, 「we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their government.」 No. He, his brood, Steven Mnuchin, Louise Linton and Tom Price (remember him?) swanned around on the government』s dime[15], their self-promotion and self-celebration extraordinary even by Washington』s standards.

他的演講中還有大量胡編亂造。「去年，」他說，「我們試圖恢復公民與政府之間的信任關係。」不。他、他的家人，斯蒂文·努欽(Steven Mnuchin)，露易絲·林頓(Louise Linton)和湯姆·普萊斯（Tom Price，還記得他嗎？）花著政府的錢到處閑逛，即使是華盛頓的標準，他們的自我炒作和自吹自擂也太過分了。

[15]dime: A dime is a U.S. coin worth ten cents. 10美分硬幣

The penny meters are slowly being replaced by electronic ones that take nickels, dimes, and quarters.

接受1美分硬幣的收費表正逐漸被接受5美分、10美分和25美分的電子收費計所取代。

Trump on Tuesday night identified priorities: immigration reform, infrastructure. But we can』t trust his commitment to either, because he doesn』t know his own mind.

特朗普在周二晚上確定了他的優先事項：移民改革和基礎設施建設。但是我們不能相信他的承諾，因為他根本不了解自己的想法。

Whether the issue is health care, tax cuts or his beloved border wall, he holds several different positions simultaneously or in rapid succession, saying one thing at a microphone only to tweet something else entirely. His aides occasionally try to sell this as a master deal maker』s way of keeping everybody guessing, when it』s really an amateur policy maker』s way of revealing that he』s just bumbling around.

無論是關於醫療保健、減稅還是他心愛的邊境牆，他都會同時擁有幾個不同的立場，或者在一系列不同立場之間快速改變，他對著麥克風說一件事，發推時說的卻又完全兩樣。他的助手們偶爾會試圖把這種方式奉為交易大師的手段，以便讓所有人都猜不透他，事實上，這只是一個業餘決策者的方式，表明他其實是在東拉西扯。

The distance between Trump when he』s controlled and Trump when he』s unbound makes a speech like Tuesday night』s an especially hollow charade[假樣子;啞謎猜字遊戲]. And the orchestrated[16] news in it can』t erase the messier developments beforehand, including the escalation of his assault on the F.B.I. and reports of his lawyers』 panic about his offer to be interviewed by the special counsel Robert Mueller. Jonathan Swan wrote in Axios that one of Trump』s intimates 「believes the president would be incapable of avoiding perjuring himself[作偽證；發假誓]. 『Trump doesn』t deal in reality,』 the source said. 『He creates his own reality.』 」

受控狀態下的特朗普和無拘無束的特朗普之間的差異，令周二晚上的演講顯得像是一個特別空洞的玩笑。而演講中精心安排的信息也無法消除之前已經更加混亂的事態發展，其中包括他對聯邦調查局的攻擊升級；以及據有關報道稱，他同意接受特別檢察官羅伯特·穆勒(Robert Mueller)的問詢，令他的律師們感到恐慌。喬納森·斯萬(Jonathan Swan)在Axios網站上寫道，特朗普的一位親友「相信總統屆時將無法避免自我傷害。」這一提供消息的人士還說：「特朗普不去處理現實，他創造自己的現實。」

[16]orchestrate

1) V-T If you say that someone orchestrates an event or situation, you mean that they carefully organize it in a way that will produce the result that they want. 精心組織

The colonel was able to orchestrate a rebellion from inside an army jail.

上校得以在陸軍監獄裡精心組織了一場叛亂。

2) N-UNCOUNT 精心的安排

...his skilful orchestration of latent nationalist feeling.

…他對潛在的民族主義情緒的熟練控制。

His speech was such a creation, and to treat it any other way is to launder his entire political history and see a leader who has never been there.

他的演講也是這種創造，不以這種方式看待它，就等於為他的整個政治歷史洗白，把他看做一個根本就沒有存在過的領袖。

I』m not that good at pretend.

我可沒那麼擅長假裝。

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