Grace认为公司要对消费大众负起社会责任，但是也有人不以为然，认为应以不触犯法律为最高原则。接下来，双方针对这一点展开讨论；除了各抒己见外，也不忘将矛头指向对方的意见。
Vincent: If you don't want the powder to cost more, we can't add anything. We'll just have to sell it the way it is now, and put a warning on. Then, if someone uses dirty water, they shoulder the responsibility, not us.
如果不想要奶粉成本上涨，我们就不能添加任何东西。只能直接拿现在的产品销售，并且加印警告标示。如果有人用了不洁的水冲泡，他们必须自行负责，错不在我们。
Grace: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. There are three very good reasons why it would be the wrong thing to do.
抱歉，我不能同意。我有三个充分的理由说明这种作法有问题。
Vincent: You seem very sure of what you are saying. Can you back it up?
你说的好像很有把握。能不能再加以说明呢？
Grace: As I see it, first of all most people there can't read, so a warning won't help them at all. Second, even if their governments say a warning is enough, other groups won't. They'll call out the media hounds, and many people will be very, very angry with us. Sales will go down everywhere. 在我看来，首先，在那里大部份的人都不识字，警告标示对他们根本没有用。第二，就算他们的政府说有警告标示就足够了，但是其它团体若不这么认为，引起舆论的注意，许多人将会对我们非常、非常的不满，各地方的销量都会走下坡。
Sam: Hm. You said that there are three good reasons, Grace. Is there another reason you want to add?
嗯，你说有三个充分的理由。那还有一个呢？
Grace: Yes, there is. Third, and most important, it just wouldn't be right if we knew even one person wouldn't listen to the warning, and a child was hurt because of it.
是的。第三个，也是最重要的。就算是只有一个人因不理会警告，使得小孩受害了，这就证明只靠警告标示是不够的。
Sam: Hm. You can't argue against that. How could we live with ourselves if we let that happen? And just because we wanted more money.
嗯。说得没错。如果我们坐视这种情形发生，我们怎么能心安理得？我们不能只是为了赚钱。
Vincent: It wouldn't just be because of the money. Those people aren't healthy, and our powder is better than mother's milk. Some people might get sick, but isn't it more important that we help so many others?
我想不只是为了钱。这些人的健康情形不佳，而我们的奶粉比母乳好，就算有些人因而生病，我们还是帮了许多人，这不是更重要吗？
Notes:
1. shoulder the responsibility 负责；挑起责任
shoulder原指"肩膀"，作动词时指"驮负东西在肩上"，因而比喻为对责任的"承担"。responsibility 是"责任"，其后的介词用 for或of，表示"对……的责任"。
I know the problems started in my department, but I don't think I should shoulder the responsibility for other people's mistakes.
我知道问题是从我自己的部门开始的，但是我认为我不应该为别人的错误担下责任。
2. call out the (media) hounds 引起舆论的注意
call out 的意思是"大声唤起；叫出"；hound为"猎犬"；media为medium的复数形式，意思是"媒体"。这个词组以叫唤猎犬追捕越狱者的意象，来比喻非法或不道德的行为受到法律或公益组织的注意，或遭舆论或大众媒体攻击的情形。
I just can't let our company sell cars that we know are unsafe; if management won't do something, I'll secretly call out the media hounds.
我不能眼看公司销售有安全隐患的车；若主管不采取措施，我要暗地里促请舆论的注意。
3. live with oneself 心安理得
live with原有"与……同住；可忍受"之意，表示虽不满意，仍能勉强接受。这个表达语常以否定形式出现，通常形容一个人做了亏心事，无法忍受自己良心的谴责。
I couldn't live with myself if I ever did anything to hurt my wife.
若我做出伤害妻子的事，将永远无法安心。 |
