自由女神像到底归谁所有？：英语精读讲义

Who owns the Statue of Liberty, New York or New Jersey?

自由女神像到底归谁所有，是纽约还是新泽西？

It should be straightforward,

这问题本该很简单，

but the island upon which the statue stands, 語法

但雕像所在的岛屿，

Liberty Island,

即自由岛，

has been part of a long fight between the states over their river border and the islands between them,

一直是两州围绕河流边界及河中岛屿展开的漫长争夺战的一部分，

with rounds in the '90s,

争夺战历经了90年代、

the '80s,

80年代、

the '30s,

30年代、

the 1830s,

1830年代，

and possibly more beyond 2000.

甚至在2000年后可能还会继续。

But to understand,

但要弄清来龙去脉，

we must first go back to the 1600s.

我们得先回到17世纪。

New Netherland was minding her own business when England, 習語

当时新尼德兰正过着自己的小日子，而英格兰

using bigger navy diplomacy,

动用了“巨舰外交”，

made the Dutch colony hers.

把这块荷兰殖民地变成了自己的。

Here the trouble begins,

麻烦就此开始，

for England split New Netherland in twain, 用詞

因为英格兰把新尼德兰一分为二，

but not cleanly.

但分得并不利落。

The mess wasn't entirely England's fault.

这烂摊子也不全怪英格兰。

She was far away and maps in the 1600s,

她天高皇帝远，而且17世纪的地图，

while they weren't bad, 語法

虽然不能算差，

they weren't good either.

但也绝对算不上好。

Thus, the charter splitting New Netherland reads,

因此，那份分割新尼德兰的特许状上写着：

"This indenture made the 4 and 20th day of June in the 16th year of

“本契约订立于第16年的6月24日，

whereas by letter under patents of the Great Seal of England bearing date on or about the 12th day of

鉴于盖有英格兰大印的专利特许状信函，日期约在12日……”

okay okay

好吧好吧，

did give and grant all that tract of land belonging to the westward of Long Island 短語搭配

“确实赋予并授予长岛以西所属的所有那片土地，

and Manhatas Island and bounded on the east part by the main sea

及曼哈塔斯岛，其东部以公海为界，

and part by Hudson's River,

部分以哈德逊河为界，

which said tract of land is hereafter to be called by the name of New Caesarea 用詞

此片土地此后将被称作新凯撒利亚，

or New Jersey, you pick.

或新泽西，随你挑。”

Uh, hoo boy, 語氣意圖

呃，天呐，

is this not an easy read.

这读起来可真费劲。

Paragraph breaks, England,

分个段吧，英格兰，

you should try them.

你真该试着分个段。

This charter has uncertainty about the names of everything,

这份特许状上的所有地名都模糊不清，

wrong latitude and longitude numbers,

经纬度数字也是错的，

and incomplete descriptions of the rivers.

对河流的描述也不完整。

It's all a vague mess.

整个就是一笔糊涂账。

For example,

比如，

is this part of the Hudson River or not?

这部分算不算哈德逊河？

The charter doesn't say.

特许状里没说。

And bounded on the east,

还有，东部以某地为界，

but where?

但是在哪儿呢？

And there's another part about several other islands,

另外还有一部分提到了其他几座岛屿，

but which islands exactly?

但具体是哪些岛呢？

Like, say, Ellis Island and Liberty Island?

比如，埃利斯岛和自由岛？

England said whatever, your problem now, 語氣意圖

英格兰表示：随便吧，现在是你们的问题了，

and left the young colonies to 300 years of squabbling.

然后就把这些年轻的殖民地扔进了长达300年的争吵中。

New Jersey said the Hudson flowed out to sea

新泽西说，哈德逊河是流入大海的，

and her border ran down the middle of the river,

她的边界是顺着河流中线划分的，

like it does in every other colonial charter.

就像其他所有殖民地特许状里写的那样。

And thus the islands, Staten, Ellis, and Liberty, were hers.

因此，斯塔滕岛、埃利斯岛和自由岛都是她的。

But New York, the Empire State, disagreed. 文化背景

但帝国州纽约可不同意。

The Hudson River flows roundward, then onward.

哈德逊河是先绕着流，再往前流的。

These islands, New York,

这些岛，归纽约，

and also the river, the whole river,

还有这条河，整条河，

and the piers you've built into the river,

以及你建在河里的码头，

all New York, all belong to us.

都是纽约的，全归我们。

New Jersey didn't agree,

新泽西不同意，

but when borders are vague, bigger stick diplomacy rules. 文化背景

但当边界模糊时，大棒外交就说了算。

And with the wealthy and powerful city of New Amster or New York at the heart of the conflict, 習語

随着富裕且强大的新阿姆斯特……或者说纽约城处于冲突中心，

New York got what New York wanted.

纽约如愿以偿。

When New Caesarea or New Jersey asked, "Why don't we split the river?" 語氣意圖

当新凯撒利亚或新泽西问：“我们平分这条河怎么样？”

New York asked, "Why don't you make me?"

纽约反问：“你有本事逼我试试？”

And also, where are my taxes from those piers?

“而且，你那些码头的税哪去了？”

And also, this island is a smallpox quarantine now.

“还有，这座岛现在是天花隔离区了。”

And also, stop hitting yourself.

“还有，别在那自作自受了。”

By 1832, New Jersey had enough and called in the teacher or Supreme Court. 表達脈絡

到了1832年，新泽西受够了，于是叫来了老师，也就是最高法院。

New York didn't show up,

纽约连面都没露，

saying the court had no authority to settle a disagreement between the states,

声称法院无权解决各州之间的纠纷，

which sounds crazy now, but was kind of an unsettled question at the time

这在今天听起来很疯狂，但在当时其实是个尚未定论的问题，

because America was having power struggles with unruly states then.

因为那时的美国正与桀骜不驯的各州进行权力斗争。

And New York blowing off the Supreme Court wasn't helping. 短語動詞

纽约无视最高法院，更是让情况雪上加霜。

Worse, if the Supreme Court ruled New York must share her borders,

更糟的是，如果最高法院裁定纽约必须分享她的边界，

which seemed likely, New York would comply.

这看起来很可能发生，纽约会乖乖听话吗？

Whoops, no. 表達脈絡

哎哟，才不会。

New York was going to tell the court to get bent. 用詞

纽约会叫法院滚一边去。

America trying to grow up to be a powerful federal government did not want this.

试图成长为强大联邦政府的美国并不想看到这种局面。

So the Supreme Court decided to not take the case right now, maybe later.

所以最高法院决定暂不受理此案，以后再说。

And then America used some political leverage to get New York to agree to settle the matter privately with New Jersey. 用詞

随后，美国动用了一些政治手段，让纽约同意与新泽西私下解决这件事。

Look, this is your decision.

“听着，这由你来决定。”

No need to get that Supreme Court involved in all of this, 語法

“没必要让最高法院卷进这些烂摊子里，”

and no need for me to enforce their ruling.

“也不需要我来执行他们的裁决。”

Isn't that better for everyone?

“这对大家都好，不是吗？”

So the two states haggled.

于是两州开始讨价还价。

New Jersey gave up her claims to Staten Island and in return New York agreed New Jersey's northern border extended into the river and down the middle, 短語搭配

新泽西放弃了对斯塔滕岛的主权要求，作为回报，纽约同意新泽西的北部边界延伸至河中并顺着中线划分，

past Ellis Island, past Liberty Island,

越过埃利斯岛，越过自由岛，

squeezing around Staten Island before going back out to sea.

挤过斯塔滕岛周围，然后再流向大海。

Aha, so the Statue of Liberty is in New Jersey.

啊哈，所以自由女神像在新泽西州！

No, New Jersey also gave up Ellis Island and Liberty Island, too,

不，新泽西也同时放弃了埃利斯岛和自由岛，

which seems like giving up a lot,

这看起来像是让步了许多，

but look, river access in the age of steamboats was a big deal.

但要知道，在蒸汽船时代，河流的通行权可是件大事。

And sacrificing a couple islands to get her piers back was worth it.

牺牲几座岛屿来换回她的码头是值得的。

And America was happy because a power struggle between her and the states was averted, 短語搭配

美国也很高兴，因为避免了一场她与各州之间的权力斗争，

and everything was going to be smooth sailing. 習語

一切都将一帆风顺。

Oh.

哦。

Uh, anyway, both islands are New York enclaves inside New Jersey's border, 用詞

呃，不管怎样，这两座岛都是新泽西州边界内的纽约飞地，

which does make answering the question, "Where is the Statue of Liberty?"

这使得在回答“自由女神像在哪里？”这个问题时，

with in New Jersey technically correct in the most pointless kind of way. 用詞

说是“在新泽西”从技术上讲是正确的，但也是最没有实际意义的回答。

Now, in the midst of all this, America noticed Liberty Island's rather strategic position,

就在这一切纷争之中，美国注意到了自由岛相当重要的战略位置，

and she took it for herself as federal land and built a pretty star fortress upon it that could shoot in every direction. 文化背景

于是将其划为联邦土地，并在上面建造了一座漂亮的、能向四面八方射击的星形要塞。

Look familiar?

看着眼熟吗？

Later, when France sent America the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of their eternal friendship,

后来，当法国送给美国自由女神像，作为他们永恒友谊的象征，

a bond forged side by side in the heat of the young rebels' battle for freedom from the empire,

象征着年轻叛军为了摆脱帝国统治而并肩浴血奋战结下的情谊，

a bond America would surely hashtag never forget. 文化背景

象征着美国肯定会“#永不忘记”的情谊时。

America said, "I will put it right here,

美国说：“我要把它放在这里，

where it will be the first thing everyone coming to the United States will see.

这样它就会成为每一个来到美国的人看到的第一样东西。

BFFs, France, BFFs forever."

一辈子的好朋友，法国，永远的好朋友。”

So the statue was put atop an old federal fort on federal land,

于是，这座雕像被安放在联邦土地上一座旧联邦堡垒的顶部，

and pow, made a national monument.

嘭的一下，成了一座国家纪念碑。

So America owns the statue?

那么美国拥有这座雕像？

This opens a book titled, "What is federal land?

这就翻开了一本名为《什么是联邦土地？》的书。

Like, what does it mean for real, though?"

“说真的，这到底是什么意思？”

which will be firmly closed as a story for another time, 短語搭配

这本书还是紧紧合上，留到以后再说吧，

otherwise we will never finish this.

否则我们永远也讲不完。

It's still only the '60s and we have yet to talk about the squabble over the land below the water. 語法

现在时间线才到60年代，我们还没谈水下土地的争吵呢。

Yes, really.

是的，不开玩笑。

So, back to Ellis Island for a moment, 表達脈絡

那么，先回到埃利斯岛，

which 150 years after borders were supposedly settled,

在边界据说已经平息了150年之后，

New Jersey claimed as hers again.

新泽西再次声称该岛是她的。

partly.

的一部分。

See, in the 1800s, the island was yay big, 用詞

你看，在19世纪，这个岛只有这么大，

but by the 1990s it was yay big.

但到了20世纪90年代，它变成了这么大。

And because the rivalries of youth never really end,

而且由于年轻时的旧怨永远不会真正结束，

New Jersey again brought in the Supreme Court.

新泽西再次告到了最高法院。

This time New York showed up promptly.

这一次纽约准时出庭了。

The added land, New Jersey said, was hers.

新泽西说，新增的土地是她的。

New York disagreed, saying the embiggened island was still her island. 用詞

纽约不同意，说变大的岛屿依然是她的岛。

Now, how did Ellis Island get bigger?

那么，埃利斯岛是怎么变大的呢？

Well, New York claimed while digging up the subways,

纽约辩称，在挖掘地铁时，

she dumped the dirt uh here, in New Jersey's half of the river.

她把泥土倒在了……呃，倒在了这里，河的新泽西那一半里。

But her dirt, her new land. 表達脈絡

但这是她的泥土，所以是她的新土地。

which is an interesting territorial acquisition strategy.

这可真是一个有趣的领土扩张策略。

But neither New York nor New Jersey could find any paperwork for the court to prove where the land came from.

但是纽约和新泽西都无法向法院提供任何书面证据，来证明这些土地从何而来。

So how Ellis Island grew three sizes is just lost to history. 講解

所以，埃利斯岛如何变大三倍的，就这样迷失在历史长河中了。

But whatever, the court ruled everything above the water was New York, 用詞

但不管怎样，法院裁定，水面上的一切属于纽约，

and everything below the water was New Jersey.

水下的一切属于新泽西。

But if below became above, new New Jersey it would be. 語法

但如果水下变成了水上，那它就是属于新泽西的新领土。

And thus this island belongs to New Jersey with just this little original part being New York,

因此，这个岛归属新泽西，只有这小小的一块原始部分属于纽约，

which is a sublime and ridiculous border that opens the door to one squabble remaining. 習語

这是一条绝妙又荒谬的边界线，也为剩下的最后一场争吵打开了大门。

Liberty Island was originally yay, but now it's yay,

自由岛原本是这么大，但现在有这么大了，

which means this part should be New Jersey, not New York.

这意味着这部分应该是新泽西的，而不是纽约的。

Though it hasn't been fought over yet, possibly because neither state has noticed.

尽管还没人为此争吵，可能因为两州都没注意到。

And while it would still leave Lady Liberty on the New York side, 文化背景

虽然这依然会让自由女神像留在纽约那一侧，

you know what would be on the New Jersey side?

但你知道什么会在新泽西那一侧吗？

The gift shop.

礼品店。

And the only thing more important than who owns the monument is who owns the gift shop for the monument. 語法

而唯一比谁拥有纪念碑更重要的事情，是谁拥有纪念碑的礼品店。

We will see.

走着瞧吧。

But as it is,

但就目前而言，

within the waters of New Jersey, there's an island of New York that's federal land atop which the national monument of the Statue of Liberty stands.

在新泽西州的水域内，有一座属于纽约的岛屿，这片联邦土地上矗立着作为国家纪念碑的自由女神像。

Oh, there's also Shooters Island.

哦，还有射手岛（Shooters Island）。

The state border runs right through it.

州界刚好从它中间穿过。

I'm not sure anyone noticed.

我不确定有没有人注意到。

Uh, it's a bird sanctuary run by New York.

呃，那是纽约管理的一个鸟类保护区。

So whatever.

算了，随便吧。