04TheTragedy(悲剧)ofOldAgeinAmerica.docVIP

Lesson Four The Tragedy(悲劇) of Old Age in America美国老年的悲剧By Robert N. Butler What is it like to be old in the United States ? 在美国，老年是个什么样子？ What will our own lives be like when we are old ? 当我们自己老了以后，生活会是什么样子？ Americans find it difficult to think about old age until they are propelled into the midst of it by their own aging and that of relatives and friends . 美国人感到在他们置身于自己的老年或亲朋好友的老年之中以前要考虑老年时的状况是很困难的。 Aging is the neglected stepchild of the human life cycle . 衰老过程是人类生命周期中被忽视的非亲生儿。 Though we have begun to examine the socially taboo(忌諱) subjects of dying and death , we have leaped over that that long period of time preceding death , we have leaped over that long period of time preceding death known as old age . 虽然我们已开始研究有关临终和死亡这个为社会所忌讳的题目，但是我们却跳过了死亡来临之前、称为老年的那一段漫长的时间。 In truth , it is easier to manage the problem of death than the problem of living as an old person . 其实对待死亡的问题比对待老年时生活的问题要更容易 Death is a dramatic one-time crisis while old age is a day-by –day and year –by –year confrontation with (對抗)powerful external and internal forces , a bittersweet coming to terms with one’s own personality and one’s life .。 死亡是富有戏剧性的一次性危机，而老年则一天天一年年都在与强大的内外力量抗争，是一种苦乐参半的逐渐适应自己的个性和生活的过程 Those of us who are not old barricade(阻止) ourselves from discussions of old age by declaring the subject morbid , boring or in poor taste . 我们之中那些未老的人阻挠我们讨论老龄问题，宣称这一话题是病态的、枯燥的、粗俗的。 Optimism (樂觀)and euphemism(委婉) are other common devices . 其他常见的回避这个问题的方法有在谈论时用乐观的词语和委婉说法。 people will speak of looking forward to their “ retirement years “ . The elderly are described respectfully as “ senior citizens “ , “ golden agers “ , “ our elders “ , and one hears of old people who are considered inspirations and examples of how to “ age well “(不顯老) or “ gracefully “ (老而莊重). 人们会说到期待“退休年龄”的到来，老人被尊称为“年长的公民”，“金龄人”，“我们的长者”，而且人们听说有的老人在怎样能“不显老”或“老而庄重”方面成为鼓舞力量和榜样。 There is the popularly accepted opinion that Social Security and pensions provide a comfortable and reliable flow of funds so the elderly