haspaid.Whateveristheexpense,somebodyisgoingtopayforit.做衣服,其他还可吃羊肉、用羊皮、做肥皂、做网球拍……羊的用处多极了!(Sheepyieldwool,meat,andleather.Theyalsofurnishtherawmaterialsformanybyproducts,suchasglue,tallow,suet,soap,fertilizer,cosmetics,andthecatgutusedinstringingtennisrackets.)
澳洲的羊,占世界第一位。占全世界六分之一。(Longfamousasalandofsheep,Australiaistheworldsleadingproducerandexporterofwoolandmuttonandisamajorproducerandexporterofbeefandwheat.Australiaisalsoahighlyindustrializedcountry.Largedepositsofcoalandironhavebecomethebasisforanironandsteelindustry,whiteanexpandingeconomyprovidesalargedomesticmarketforawiderangeofgoodsandservices.)
澳洲平均每个人有十四头羊(澳洲旁边的纽西兰(NewZealand)每人有二十头),而中国人平均十个人分不到一头,这太不公平了!(InAustralia,thereareabout14sheepforeveryperson.InNewZealand,thereareabout20sheepforeveryperson.SomestatesinthewesternUnitedStatesalsohavemoresheepthanpeople.)
过分的不公平,没有的人就会叫,这叫“不平则鸣”。(Thosewhoarediscriminatedagainwillcomplain.)
澳洲比台湾大二二二倍,但人口比台湾还少!
亚洲人口平均每方英里(personstothesquaremile)一二二人;澳洲人口平均每方英里四人。
澳洲“得天独厚”tobeparticularlyfavoredbynature(saidofalandrichinnaturalresourcesoragiftedperson)却是从不公平来的。澳洲有“白澳政策”,限制有色人种到他们那儿去。但白种人又少,所以将来问题一定很多,不是铁蒺藜(barbed-wirefence)拦得住的。澳洲人自己也说:“Wevegotabig,emptycountryhere,andwehavetofillitup.YouKnow,‘populateorperish’”
澳洲的政策是错误的、自私的(wrongandselfish),这叫“狗占马槽”(doginamangerdescribesapersonwhokeepsothersfromusingsomethingthathehimselfcannotuse.ItcomesfromAesopsfableofadogthatcrawledintoamangerofhayandpreventedahorsefromeating,eventhoughdogsdonoteathay.),也叫“占着毛坑不拉屎”,这种人只希望“不惹睡狗”(Letsleepingdogslie,meanstoleaveasituationundisturbed.)“维持现状”“相安无事”。但这怎么行呢?“每条狗都有得意的一天。”(Everydogshashisday,isanexpressionusedwhensomethingpleasanthappenstoaperson,especiallyonewhohasbeenhavingbadluck.)别的狗会睡醒,澳洲虽然是down-under(在世界另一边),别的穷狗还是会咬到它的。
爸爸
一九七五年六月八日
二
亲爱的小文:
你这次信封上写的中文很有进步。
鸭嘴兽只有澳洲有,水獭却只有澳洲没有。
水獭是OTTER,isafur-bearinganimalthatspendsmuchofitstimeinthewater.Ottersarerelatedtotheweaselsandarecarnivorous(flesh-eating)mammals.TheyliveonallcontinentsexceptAustralia.Theyaredividedintotwogroups,riverott
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