HK Vista: The Centre 香港现象之：中环中心

It was a rare occurrence: I saw the shot in my mind when passing by during the day, and actually returned with the camera to capture it at dusk. This is a very Hongkong vista to me. Rather than interpreting too much into it, I'd like to just share the colourful contrast with you. 

白天路过路此处时，在脑海中浮现了这个景象。难得的是到了黄昏时分，竟然会拿起照相机跑回去捕捉这个我觉得颇有香江色彩的情景。不过希望与你分享的，是动感丰富的对比，而非太多的联想。

Gravity still exists! -- a small triumph for 911-Truth 英国法官对 911 的间接判决

Three cheers for the Britons who achieved this small but significant recognition of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of statics and dynamics. They are lucky to have judges who recognise the impossible as being impossible; it's not something that can be taken for granted! 

Check out the Architects and Engineers’ latest report on the ruling in Horsham on Monday 18 March 2013. Watch the video interview of Tony Rooke: http://www.ae911truth.org/en/news-section/57-news-releases-by-others/715-small-but-significant-triumph-for-911-truth-activist-in-uk-court.html

911 这出违反牛顿定律的荒诞骗局，经美国工程师和建筑师们十多年来的不懈努力，开始渐露原形。英国法官在 2013年3月18日的判决，间接承认了BBC发有烟大炮的事实，有可能是整件世纪血案的一个转捩点，可大可小。可惜香港的民主应声虫们，没有有足够水平学习它们最崇拜的来路 avtivist 们寻求真相的科学精神。http://www.ae911truth.org/en/news-section/57-news-releases-by-others/715-small-but-significant-triumph-for-911-truth-activist-in-uk-court.html

Kissinger's "On China" - Not Quite A Book Review

Instead of a proper review, this is more like a sketch of the thoughts which struck me while reading Henry Kissinger’s On China. Kissinger is one of the best known maestros of imperial atrocities, having involved with many highly controversial events, some of which absolutely indefensible. To write this "review", I've completely omitted Kissinger the person here in order to focus on his book On China.

In the past, writers were often individuals who saw things differently. Being different helped them to highlight alternative perspectives and popular social ills. Once in a while, they turned out to be right, and even listened to; and their visions delivered impact. Nowadays, books are written for a mass market. Guided by publishing preferences, more and more writers build their positions on opinion polls and market surveys. It is therefore refreshing to read Kissinger who, at nearly 90, has neither the time nor incentive to appease popularised prejudice.

并非书评：基辛格的“有关中国”

其实这不是书评，而是读基辛格的“有关中国”（On China）壹书时的少许感受。

从前著书立说的人，多少有几分知识分子的倔强和社会使命感，往往为了针对时弊而不惜对抗潮流唱反调。现代商业社会的文人，写作除了要寻求出版谋生，还希望卖好电影版权上电视，以求名利双收。当今作家的立场和见地，越来越多是因应出版商的意思而建立，迁就着民间爱好和市场调查而出发。基辛格先生年近九十，曾经参予策划大时代的转变，再没有哇众取宠的时间和必要。他的说话除了有亲身经历的权威之外，还有一股罕有的真诚力量。

西方的出版界原则上自由开放，不过想找一本对中国的政治发展比较客观持平的英文原著，绝不容易。一般作家，假使不顺
从企业传媒塑造的“主流意见”，将会扼杀自己在"自由市场"的宣传空间。基辛格名气大，在这方面享有极大优势，所以能够畅所欲言。一般的西方著作多少带点文化偏见去评论中共的革命家和领导人，甚至用现代的西方眼光将他们妖魔化。“有关中国”一书在这方面有些反潮流：基辛格客观地描述这批跟他共同创造过历史的风云人物，将他们人性化之外，更适当地刻画了他们当时面对的严峻环境，和不可分隔的历史背景。

1949年的中国，名字是新的，国家是破旧的。经过了一个世纪的屈辱，由两次鸦片战争，八国联军到日本侵华到长期内战，这个刚刚轮回再世的新国家，一出生已经疲累不堪。外面的先进世界充满敌意。里面的国民饱历风霜，拖着沉重的传统，面对着陌生的国际秩序，彷徨感觉可想而知。当时中国的文盲率高达85％；人均寿命只不过36岁。

Elgin Street and the Old Summer Palace

[中文：伊利近街和火烧圆明园]

Sipping sangria in a tapas bar at Hong Kong’s Soho District, looking out the window, one could spend hours watching cosmopolitan humans spewing out one of the world’s longest elevator systems. Next to it, a street sign reads “Elgin Street.” Hardly anybody knows who Elgin was, or what he had done to deserve a street named after him. If not because of a recent deliberation with a quaint academic about Hong Kong’s early colonial days, I would not have bothered to research about him either. By reading up on the history which embroiled the life of this forgotten character, however, I’ve discovered the justice in history.

伊利近街和火烧圆明园

[English: Elgin Street and the Old Summer Palace]

坐在充滿不同國家民族色彩的香港蘇豪區的一家西班牙餐廳，一邊喝 Sangria， 一邊看絡繹不斷，由行人電梯冒出來的各色人種，我可以看上一個下午。在這幅充滿活力的浮世繪的旁邊是一個小小的路牌，上面用中英文寫著 “伊利近街” 和 “Elgin Street”。留意到這條小街名字的人不多。知道個中歷史的人更是少之又少了。假如不是最近有位殖民地遺孀出奇地跟我 “辯論” 鴉片戰爭和早期的香港殖民地景象，我也不會發現 “伊利近伯爵” 這個有縱火狂的大英帝國精英。

春节掠影 Chinese New Year Snapshots

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Snake Year! 

I hibernated during the holidays. But between indulging meals and fitful naps, I did make some notes and jot down a few writing ideas. Slithering through the scattered pages now, I’m discovering that writing doesn’t necessarily work better with organisation. I normally just turn the computer on when an idea strikes me. It’d be done and sent before I have a chance to regret or fully appreciate the pointlessness of it. Now that there’s a list in front of me, all my good ideas look kind of tired, like gourmet dishes that have turned cold and unappetising. Perhaps I’d be hungry enough to reheat one in the microwave in a day or two. 

Meanwhile, a few pictures to mark the New Year. Two of them are by my great friends Anne-Marie and Richard. I'm fully responsible for the goofy titles. 

恭喜发财新年好！

过去一个多星期好像间歇冬眠，在吃喝与小睡的循环中度过。偶尔有个合适的念头出现，便随手拿纸笔写下，等假期过后再处理。谁料现在对着清单上的课题，有如一盘盘凉了的饭菜，算它珍馐百味也失去了原来的胃口。现在才知道写作也得靠一股劲。平常念头一动，便赶紧开电脑动键盘，趁热情未冷把内心的说话写出，来不及自觉多余便完成上载；原来冲动是我写作的一种动力。清单上冷冰冰的几道菜式，可能要再过几天才弄热再吃了。

暂时借几张春节掠影（其中两张是我的老友曲卫东和安玛丽的大作，但标题是我胡乱加上去的）祝大家蛇年身心舒畅，逢凶化吉！

Empty Lantern Flowers 空心灯笼花

“Fishy Talisman” by mon ami Amazing Anne-Marie
朋友安玛丽的大作 “一帆风顺”

New Year Revolution
春节大革命

“Hong Kong Big Bang” by Richard Kok
老友曲卫东大作：爆到七彩

Lucky Hong Kong Birds 幸福的“港鸟”

Hong Kong’s suffocating pollution, human density and hyperactivity are well known. Less known are its pockets of natural beauty which only exist to those who look. These pictures were recently taken by Richard Kok at Yuen Long.After the pictures is a little story about Lucky HK Birds.

香港混浊的空气，稠密的人烟和过敏的社会神经是人所共知。鲜为人知的是香港还有很多优美漂亮的大自然。这几张照片是我的老友曲卫东最近在元朗拍到的。在美丽的照片之后，我有个关于“幸福小鸟” 的闪灵小故事。

F l a s h  F i c t i o n :  Lucky Hong Kong Birds

A mere forty-minute drive away, in busy  Central, sparrows and pigeons were eating next to an overflowing garbage bin, twittering. They momentarily scattered when a sweaty man in three-piece suit walked hurriedly by. He threw a colourful paper bag at the bin and missed. A pigeon expertly unwrapped it. “Look! More than half a burger!” A few of his friends fluttered in to join.

“Humans often don’t  finish their lunches on muggy days like this.” An old pigeon commented insightfully. “When they sweat, they lose appetite.”

“We should be thankful for these ready meals you know,” a chubby one said, pecking leisurely at a piece of fish burger a scrawny lady on high-heels had deposited. “Little egrets up north have to hunt their meals in the wild. Sometimes they fly and fight all morning without catching even a minnow.”

“And when they do, they eat it raw, without ketchup,” said a little sparrow with a chunk of buffalo fries between beak. “Can you imagine swallowing a live fish, feeling it wriggling all the way down your throat?”

“Yuk! That’s barbaric. Disgusting. I wish some animal-right activist would do something.”

The old pigeon hopped on top of the garbage bin with a full stomach, gazing northward with compassionate eyes. “The humans are building more cities up there. Let’s hope the poor egrets would be able to eat like us civilised birds one day soon.”

閃靈短篇：幸福的港鳥

離開元朗不過40分鐘車程，在繁榮熱鬧的中環，有幾只麻雀和白鴿在富裕的垃圾箱旁共進午餐，吱吱喳喳地談天說地。一個身穿「三件頭」西服，打著領帶，滿頭大汗的男人匆匆而過，打斷了它們的話柄。那男人順手把一個紙袋扔向垃圾箱，但並未命中。一頭鴿子熟手地把紙包弄開：「看！大半個漢堡包！」 它的幾隻老友連忙半跳半飛過來分享。

一隻閱歷豐富的老鴿說道：「今天天氣悶熱，有體面的人胃口都會較差。」

「大家應該感恩我們每天三餐無憂哦，」一隻胖得差不多飛不起的白鴿一邊說，一邊吃著剛才一位拉直了腳踝穿高跟鞋的女士扔的魚柳包：「北方的小白鷺還要自己覓食。飛一個早上，又打又叫，弄得一身濕透，有時候連魚毛也抓不到一條。」

「就算抓到也要生吞呢！」 一隻叼著薯條的麻雀尖叫道。「醬汁也沒有。你可以想像吞食一條活生生在喉嚨里拼命掙扎的鮮魚嗎？」

「哎唷！別說了！太恐怖太野蠻了！簡直是虐禽！為什麼沒有維護動物權益的人出來說句話，做點事情呢？」

那老鴿剛吃夠了，一躍跳上垃圾箱頂向北凝望，眼中充滿感慨和同情。「聽聞他們會加快北部城鎮化。但願那些可憐的白鷺很快便可以像我們一樣幸福，有文化有尊嚴地吃飽肚子吧！」

过渡 22.01.2013

[ Links to other Guo Du Short Stories ]

[ 其他過渡小故事鏈接 ]

Hong Kong's Colonial Flag

“Never the Twain Shall Meet” at the Post Magazine was last week’s Editor’s pick.

The article contrasts the opposing views of Niall Ferguson and Pankai Mishra on the contribution and influence of the Anglo-American social-economic model on emerging Asian countries and ex-colonies. 

Ferguson who seems to shoulder a phantom “White Man’s Burden” is happy that some of Asia’s “success” is due to practices downloaded from the “West”. Naturally, he would be right to a certain degree; there were many things the world could learn from the Anglo-American century. But everyone has been learning from each other since alien tribes came into contact. The Arabs helped Europe’s theocracies to emerge from the Dark Ages by reintroducing mathematics, astronomy, even Greek philosophy. Japan was culturally indebted to China for nearly everything before redirecting its emulating talents at America. 

The “benefits” cited by Ferguson are dangerously shortsighted. In the long-term, a consumption and growth based economy is anything but “beneficial”. However, anyone who dares to slow down in this globalised game of collective destruction would be enslaved and consumed RIGHT NOW. The inventors (and enforcers) of the rules of this game have not done any human a favour, so should not expect a “thank-you card”.

殖民时代香港旗

南华早报最近的一篇文章 “Never The Twain Shall Meet” 是两位作家对于“西方制度” 对亚洲国家和前殖民地的影响和贡献的相反论调。这两位作家是热衷帝国旧梦的 Niall Ferguson 和印度裔的 Pankai Mishra。

其实国家民族之间一向互相学习，并不值得大惊小怪。一个聪明的国家会视乎国情，把人家的长处吸收，敝处借鉴。比较笨的可能会由于偏见或傲慢而自封。更愚蠢的则把人家的一套不论好歹，合适与否也照单全收，自寻死路。

新“发展”国家的经济体系均有西方“资本主义”的影子，是十分自然的事。英美帝国过去一两个世纪的成功有其原因；有很多地方值得学习。Ferguson 为此感觉自豪，我也替他开心。不过假如他认为亚洲国家和前殖民地有今天的成功，要多谢前帝国霸权的殖民政策的话，则欧美应该跟阿拉伯国家叩头才对。当欧洲从黑暗迷信的中世纪苏醒过来的时候，全靠阿拉伯人把天文，数学，甚至曾被一把圣火烧掉的希腊哲学，再次介绍给西方，间接把他们引领到科学逻辑的轨迹上发展。至于日本嘛，在未曾把抄袭改良的天份西向之前，欠下中国的文化债简直多不胜数，难道又会向中华文化说声 “阿哩咖多”？

再者，Ferguson 所指出的“好处” 带有强烈偏差，目光也比较短浅。帝国列强所定下了的国际经济“游戏规则”，现时是顺者暂生，逆者即亡。这是历史带下来的客观现实。从长远的角度看，Mishra 对“肆意资本主义” 的定论是正确的，后果也是必然的。越来越多的消费社会，早晚会为了争夺日益短缺的天然资源拼个你死我活。相反地，Ferguson 相信“有钱能使鬼推车”，认为资本主意激励出来创意，自然会解决人类面对的种种困难。这想法很天真，对环境极限和人类的相对渺小似乎了解不足。

Till Death Do Us Part 生死相许

Plant Romance: Till Death Do Us Part

落叶岂无情     生死两相依

End of the World 2012

I wondered why I had come to yet another alumni gathering. Year after year, we repeated the same dumb stories to the best of fading memories, and laughed with undiminished vigour. Luckily, I was seated next to Ken. I knew I could count on him to disrupt pathetic nostalgia.

“The world’s ending again,” he said when appetiser was served. “How’re you guys spending the last few days?” We were next to Vincent and Jill.

Vincent seemed instantly animated. “We—” referring to his tribally specific Brotherhood of Dongguan Christians “— will be dining together on the 21st.” He answered through a mouthful of salad, flashing a kaleidoscopic mixture of masticated lettuce and colourful capsicums.

“You guys plan to enter Heaven as a tour group?” Ken asked. 

“That’s right,” Vincent replied, sucking his teeth.

世界末日2012

我又不期然地參加了今年的舊生會聚會。一班從小相識卻平時甚少往來的初級老人家，每年一聚，重溫三十多年前的傻事，卻一年比一年笑得投入。再過幾年，部分人開始老化的眼膜，將會在笑聲中不隨意地落淚了。幸好今年我被安排坐在阿堅旁邊。他可能是最能夠擺脫這 「話當年」 困局的人。

今年搞新意，食西餐。阿堅和我，阿嬌， 和自幼虔誠，綽號「神棍」的沈冠坐在長飯桌之末。剛上沙拉之後，堅仔突然發問：「還有幾天又世界末日了，大家有什麼打算？」

想不到他的一句戲言，引起了沈冠一陣的興奮。他來不及咽下口中的沙拉，便搶答道：「21號晚我和團契弟兄們會一齊食飯。」 語氣帶有身負重任，所以 「不好意思，先走一步」 的告辭意味。他口中的生菜和各種燈籠椒經過局部咀嚼，五色繽紛，乍看有如拆散了的萬花筒。

阿堅問：「你們打算組團登天堂？」

沈冠似乎不覺得被諷刺，咂著牙齒，神氣十足地答了一聲 「沒錯！」

Update 911, Nazis, and Cultural Revolution

Truth seeking is a human spirit most amazing to some, but damn annoying to others. 

For centuries, European scientists who pointed out Earth was not the centre of the universe got thrown into Papal dungeons, but they never gave up. One wonders how something so plainly observable, once shown, could have been rejected by Galileo’s learned peers. Whatever the reason for their blindness, it is still with us today, more prevalent than ever. 

More than 10 years after the 911 drama, some continue to question how the impossible happened. Many have a background in science and engineering. They face professional pressures from government contracts, and get arbitrarily labelled “conspiracy theorists” by those who wish that Newtonian physics could be banned.

The following Danish production (with English sub-titles), is an intelligent presentation of the painfully obvious that the world has chosen not to see. The professor in it said ignoring the truth threatens our civilisation. It certainly does. But the Tolstoy quotation at the end summed up the apathy and blindness well.

It's a short video: http://undergrounddocumentaries.com/911-the-sensible-doubt-a-danish-view-of-911-full-version/ 

If you like it, do consider making an exception and circulate it. That unfortunately is the only way to breach the Iron Curtain drawn over the Free World, by the Free Press. 

Another “conspiracy theorist” is Ferdinando Imposimato, the Honorary President of the Supreme Court of Italy, former Senator who served on the Anti-Mafia Commission in three administrations, author or co-author of seven books, and a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.

911，纳粹党，与文革

人类寻求真相的精神很可贵。但对某些人来说，也十分讨厌。

一小撮的欧洲科学家，经年历代，冒着被教廷穿舌活烧之险，也要证明地球不是宇宙的中心。当时绝大部分的学者智人，面对这些科学家摆在眼前的数据和分析，均视而不见，或者当为谬论，一笑置之。这类智人在当今社会中的比例有增无减，继续颠倒是非。

911 这场大型恐怖剧移师伊拉克之后，也出现了一批勇於追求真相的人。他们大多数都是有科学知识的专业精英，十多年来锲而不舍地要求一个911塌楼的合理解释。

最近一批丹麦知识份子出版的短片，十分值得看；有英文字幕 （http://undergrounddocumentaries.com/911-the-sensible-doubt-a-danish-view-of-911-full-version/ ）。片中那位教授指出：“911不了了之，会危害整个西方文明的［价值］基础”，言不为过。看过有感受的话，请破例广为推介。主流“自由传媒” 对质疑911的新闻封锁有如铁幕，笼罩着幸福的 “自由世界”。

另外一位“阴谋论者”是 Ferdinando Imposimato。他是意大利最高法院的荣誉主席，曾任上议院议员多年，获三届政府委任为“反黑手党委员”。他的著作很多，又挂着意大利的最高荣誉勋章，所以够胆和信心写公开信要求认真彻查911。部分内容如下： http://www.journalof911studies.com/resources/2012-September---Imposimato-letter.pdf

此信是由一千多位美国工程师和建筑师所组成的 “建筑界要求911真相” 组织（ AE911Truth: http://ae911truth.org ）在网上转发的。这批专家，十多年来顶着社会压力，被狂扣“阴谋论”帽子，也不放弃追求911的内幕乾坤。

二十一世纪的“阴谋论人士”与以往的不同，很多都是一向保守怕事的学者和专业人士。这究竟是什么原因呢？

911的官方故事，完全漠视最基本的科学定律和工程原理，不少人却深信不疑。这除了我以前探讨过的因素之外，更显示了羊群心理的巨大力量。当一般人觉得其他人都认为乌鸦是白色的时候，他也会顺从民意，认黑为白。在众口一词的大好形势之下，乌鸦变白鸽。

懂得利用这民主的力量去扭曲事实的政客，可以组织高度文明的德国人作出纳粹恶行，也可以发动和平怕事的中国人自毁家园，闹他个翻天覆地。

2013年四月加补新闻片段

车臣摩天大厦猛火狂烧大半天不塌：  http://www.infowars.com/skyscraper-engulfed-by-fire-does-not-collapse/ …

以上片段的大厦与世贸七期（911 时并未受袭而自动晕倒塌掉的自杀式建筑物）相比，明显高几班。为了人命安全，美国应该考累暂时只用车臣工程师和设计建筑技术，直至自己本国的结构工程赶上为止。

过度博客 10。12。2012
8。04。2013

英文：911 Update, Nazis and the Cultural Revolution: http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2012/12/update-911-nazis-and-cultural-revolution.html

Apologies

The American President tells the Japanese Prime Minister to apologise to wartime victims. 

The PM in return asks if the President would do likewise!

中文版: [道歉]： http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2012/12/blog-post.html

The hot line rang in its old fashioned tone, more tired than hot. Nishihara let it ring a couple more times. 

“Yoshio Nishihara.”

“Mr. Prime Minister? The President of the United States wishes to speak with you. Is it convenient?” A man’s voice came through.

“Ah, yes, of course.”

“Please hold Sir.” 

While holding, Nishihara took a comb from his breast pocket and ran it through his thin hair. A strand of hair came off with it. He noticed regretfully that the oily dandruff had returned. He wiped it off carefully, almost ceremoniously, with a paper tissue, then folded it into a perfect square before depositing into the top secret dust bin.

道歉

美國總統要重返亞太，叫日本首相為二戰道歉

首相居然反咬總統大人！

English Version:「APOLOGIES」

http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2012/12/apologies.html

西原辦公桌上的熱線電話冷冷地響著。他故意讓它多響了兩下才伸手去接：「西原良夫。」

「西原首相嗎？美國總統希望跟你閣下說兩句，方便嗎？」 電話傳來一把誠懇有禮的男聲。

「啊，可以可以。」

「請首相先生你稍候。」

雖然熱線電話沒有視像設備，西原還是不自覺地拿梳子把稀疏的頭髮梳理了一下。梳子立即粘上了一根染黑過又退了色的幼發和幾片滲透著油光的頭皮，令西原突然感覺到一陣不快。他順手拿了塊紙巾把梳子搽淨，然後像主持茶道一樣，小心翼翼地把紙巾整齊的對接兩下，才輕輕地放進將被「高密處理」的廢紙籮內。

電話接上了，又是一把充滿活力的迷人聲音：「首相先生，很抱歉讓你久侯！」

「沒問題，總統先生。就直接叫我的名字良夫好了！」 西原的顧問幕僚們都鄭重提議他跟美國官員政客打交道時，要盡量輕鬆隨和。

美國總統的聲音的確很輕鬆，就像多年不見的老朋友一樣：「首相先生也是一句嘛。你們換人哪麼頻密。我為了怕叫錯名字，連電話簿內也只是寫上「首相先生」而已。」

「啊諾呢。。。」 西原一下子愕了然，不知如何回應才得體。這是他上任兩星期以來的第二次和美國總統電話對話。第一次不過幾分鐘的禮貌道賀他接任首相而已。

「哎喲！對不起哦良夫，開開玩笑而已。我這個人就是這樣，不要見怪。這工作壓力很大，要懂得調劑哦！」

「哦！總統先生，你太幽默了！」 西原開心地說。

「良夫；這樣吧。大家都忙，不客氣了。我有件事要跟你相量：是有關道歉的事情的。」

「對不起。。。？」 西原心想：跟美國人打交道真的不容易。

「對！就是這麼簡單的一句。你也知道我要重返亞太區。我們既然是最佳盟友，我就直說好了。我們須要拉攏的對象國家，都對日本拒絕道歉耿耿於懷。這不是替我們的共同戰略增添無謂障礙嗎？你說對不對。」

「啊 。。。這個真抱歉。」 西原後悔自己太早作隨和狀， 做了初一， 邀請這美國佬直呼自己良夫。誰料此子狡猾無禮，一直扮傻不作十五。他又不習慣唐突，乾脆叫他「波比」，怕有失體統。結果令自己心理佔盡下風。

「那你就對二戰隨便鞠個躬，說兩句大家受落的話吧。怎麼樣？」 總統先生用哄小孩的聲音說道。

「啊諾呢。。。總統先生。。這個問題呢比較 ——」

「恕我直言吧良夫：道個歉有什麼大不了。人家德國老早認了錯，一了百了多好。」

「啊，總統先生，這個關乎歷史的——」

「良夫，請不要介意我說句公道話 ——」 西原接任的第一天，幕僚們便告訴他美國總統打斷日本首相說話是平常事。只不過是文化有異，絕對不可介懷。「—— 日本在二戰殺了很多無辜的人是個不幸的事實；道歉不應該嗎？只不過做場戲而已。其實對你個人來說，在世界面前一鞠躬，更顯得你有量度，有文化，不一定是壞事。」

西原覺得臉上發熱。幸好這不是視像電話。他不期然地用左手的小指把頭頂搔了幾下，才發覺紙巾已用完。他把沾了頭油的小指竪起，回答道：「總統先生，你也不要怪我直言：美國在伊拉克也殺了很多無辜的人。你也打算道歉嗎？」 西原簡單的一句，雖然語氣平和，但說話速度比平常的持重加快了一倍。

「喲喲喲，良夫，這兩件事不能夠相提並論吧！」

「總統先生：你們去伊拉克抓拉登先生，但他好像不在。你說伊拉克有大殺傷性武器，與事實也有出入。一百多萬的平民婦孺因此無辜犧牲了。假如你就這件事道歉，或許可以更加顯示美國的量度和文化呢。」

「良夫，你也知道我當時不是總統吧。」

「總統先生：二戰時期我還沒有出生呢！」

紅色的熱線電話，突然靜了幾秒，透著寒氣。

「良夫！這事我們見面再談吧！」 對方的聲音，又再充滿活力，熱情誠懇。

「就照你的意思吧，總統先生。」 西原滿意地笑了一笑。

「其他一切還好嗎？」

「啊，」 西原閉上眼睛說：「其他嘛，是小小麻煩。你也知道我們黨的支持率剛剛跌到11％。」

「哦，是比較麻煩。」 總統先生的口氣很輕鬆，一點也不似在分擔西原的煩惱。「但只要對手的支持率更低便成啦！民主這個遊戲你也是老行尊啦！」

「自民黨的支持率是24％呢。」 西原老實地回報。

「你們肯定有方法把它壓下去吧？」

「謝謝總統先生的信任。我們認為在二月大選之前他們的支持率會跌到百分之九左右。」

「哇，兩黨加起來不足20％。比我們的還要底。應該算是新世界紀錄吧！」

「哈哈，總統先生，你的幽默感真的很豐富呢。」

「良夫。不好意思。有人在等我。你三月份來，我們到時詳談吧。」

「盡量吧，總統先生。不是我便是我的接班人。」

「哪肯定是你。就這樣吧。再見啦！」

「再見總統先生。」

西原掛上電話，隨即把通話機接到秘書那裡：「嗨！野村太太，可否給我拿一盒新的紙巾？」

「嗨！首相先生。馬上送到。」

－  故事完  －

英文版: 「APOLOGIES」 

http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2012/12/apologies.html

[ 鏈接到其他過渡短篇故事 ]

注：

1。日本內閣12年8月的支持率: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201208060075

2。日本執政和在野黨 12年11月的支持率：民主黨11%, 自民黨24%. 合共35%! http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T121105003255.htm

3. 伊拉克受美國轟炸後的畸形嬰兒比日本受原子彈轟炸後更高 http://refreshingnews99.blogspot.in/2013/04/iraqi-birth-defects-worse-than-hiroshima.html

Democracy Debate and Chinaman's House

Recently watched a debate hosted by Intelligence Squared (Square Intelligence?) on Hidden Harmonies. The motion was “Western Liberal Democracy would be wrong for China”. Those who still believe content matters in debates would be hugely surprised by the result which overwhelmingly (like, 100 to 1) favoured Anson Chan’s cliches. 

In a way, it demonstrated the depth of prejudice against China in the “West”. Perhaps it’s understandable. Many in the audience are facing deeply threatening social uncertainties without a leader in sight. The great minds in their countries have been marginalised by their brand of politics designed to select opportunistic and photogenic followers who would gladly promise everyone their own moon if elected. By contrast, China’s experimentations, though far from perfect, have served the country comparatively more effectively, at least more rationally, a fact that the Democracy faithful must find uncomfortable to admit. Those “against” the motion therefore had an overwhelming emotional advantage.

Young members in the audience grew up with TV news. They have been conditioned to make judgements based on “watching” rather than reading and thinking critically. Complex conflicts in unpronounceable places, between tribes with names they can't spell, are presented and “analysed” in 40-second clips, concluding with the presenters suggesting in tone, if not actual words, who the bad guys are. Next: messages from McDonald’s and Durex. 

If Anson Chan had learnt anything from her colonial masters, it was the art of uttering gibberish with confidence, in a haughty tone, nearly public school with Chinese characteristics. Contemporary patsies are much more comfortable with her style then Zhang and Jacque's boring substance and logic. They used only part of the head, namely the brain. Anson Chan used the whole thing, including ostentatious dimples. Let’s face it: Why should rationality matter here any more than in presidential debates?

Ultimately, every society deserves the government it gets. The puzzling thing is China has never been interested in competing with the Democracy Empire for an international award in government design. Yet many in the “West” seem more concerned with China’s imperfect political model than their own mounting problems.

My Conspiracy Theory alone cannot explain. Perhaps cultural shadows from a religious past are still lurking in the “Western” psyche, incubating a neo-Missionary Complex? Democracy, after all, has evolved into an amorphous “faith based” belief. And could there be an element of escapism as well?

Inspired by bewilderment, I wrote a flash fiction “Chinaman’s House”.

Chinaman’s House

Timothy took the sherry from Adam, his neighbour and buddy. “Cheers,” he toasted. 

“Mmm. Nice and dry.”

“18 year. We bought it at the airport.”

“Good God.” Impressed by its age and origin, Timothy took another sip.

“Have you seen that monster on the east side, at the turnoff to airport?”

“That red and white house? Of course. How could anyone miss it. Fred’s doing the plumbing. Apparently fresh off the boat with a ton of gold from China.”

“I figured —” Adam was interrupted by his ten-year-old barging through the basement door: “The basement’s on fire Dad!”

“Is that how you greet people Simon?”

“Uncle Timothy.” Simon obliged, forcing a polite smile.

“Hi Simon.” Against the window light, a waft of pale blue smoke escaped Simon’s curly blond hair. It hung above his head, as if pausing to find out what was being discussed, before dissipation.

He returned to his father. “The socket’s smoking and sparking Dad, making your old desk smoke too.”

“Can’t you see Uncle Timothy and I are having a conversation? We have the best sockets in this house, Simon, before everything was made in China. Now go back down to play.”

“It’s smoky down there Dad.” 

“Well, go to your room then.”

“Chaps these days are easily alarmed.” Adam beamed with unwarranted parental pride as Simon disappeared into the haze, after giving a “whatever you say” shrug. “So, that’s why. A Chinese house. That explains it. They have very different tastes when it comes to colour don’t they?”

“Rather bold if you ask me,” Timothy smirked. “Fred said it has six bedrooms. Probably another shipload of mothers and third cousins expected.”

“Good grief! I thought their police castrate men with more than one kid in the market. The Council should pass a law against gaudy building colours though. They hurt my eyes. I almost ran off the road.”

“And limit the number of bedrooms,” Timothy dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief. “This smoke’s getting pretty bad Adam.”

“Oh quit whining like a Frenchman!” Adam waved a hand. “We have four bedrooms here. Two only collect dust. Someone should talk to the Chi —” he was stopped by a fit of cough. The smoke spewing out from the basement was getting darker and thicker. Simon left his room, eyes on his iPad as he walked outdoor. 

“Jesus! This damn smoke. Want another one?”

“Twist my arm mate. Nothing like a good dry sherry. We still make them best don’t we?” Timothy handed the glass to Adam, then covered his nose with the handkerchief. He leaned back and squeezed his eyes shut to lessen the sting, wondering why on earth would anyone paint his house red and white. 

James Tam @ Guo Du, 24.11.2012

中文版：民主辩论与 ”中国佬的豪宅”

[ Links to other Guo Du Short Stories ]