Wisdom - Sara Teasdale

WHEN I have ceased to break my wings
Against the faultiness of things,
And learned that compromises wait
Behind each hardly opened gate,
When I can look Life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the Truth,
And taken in exchange -- my youth.

Sara Teasdale的詩，淡淡哀愁，卻縈繞心裏揮之不去。

時間可以改變一切，經一事，長一智，智慧都是用青春來交換。

A Child's Guide to United States Foreign Policy

Q: Daddy, why did we have to attack Iraq?

A: Because they had weapons of mass destruction honey.

Q: But the inspectors didn't find any weapons of mass destruction.

A: That's because the Iraqis were hiding them.

Q: And that's why we invaded Iraq?

A: Yep. Invasions always work better than inspections.

Q: But after we invaded them, we STILL didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, did we?

A: That's because the weapons are so well hidden. Don't worry, we'll find something, probably right before the 2008 election.

Q: Why did Iraq want all those weapons of mass destruction?

A: To use them in a war, silly.

Q: I'm confused. If they had all those weapons that they planned to use in a war, then why didn't they use any of those weapons when we went to war with them?

A: Well, obviously they didn't want anyone to know they had those weapons, so they chose to die by the thousands rather than defend themselves.

Q: That doesn't make sense Daddy. Why would they choose to die if they had all those big weapons to fight us back with?

A: It's a different culture. It's not supposed to make sense.

Q: I don't know about you, but I don't think they had any of those weapons our government said they did.

A: Well, you know, it doesn't matter whether or not they had those weapons. We had another good reason to invade them anyway.

Q: And what was that?

A: Even if Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator, which is another good reason to invade another country.

Q: Why? What does a cruel dictator do that makes it OK to invade his country?

A: Well, for one thing, he tortured his own people.

Q: Kind of like what they do in China?

A: Don't go comparing China to Iraq. China is a good economic competitor, where millions of people work for slave wages in sweatshops to make U.S. corporations richer.

Q: So if a country lets its people be exploited for American corporate gain, it's a good country, even if that country tortures people?

A: Right.

Q: Why were people in Iraq being tortured?

A: For political crimes, mostly, like criticizing the government. People who criticized the government in Iraq were sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Isn't that exactly what happens in China?

A: I told you, China is different.

Q: What's the difference between China and Iraq?

A: Well, for one thing, Iraq was ruled by the Ba'ath party, while China is Communist.

Q: Didn't you once tell me Communists were bad?

A: No, just Cuban Communists are bad.

Q: How are the Cuban Communists bad?

A: Well, for one thing, people who criticize the government in Cuba are sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Like in Iraq?A: Exactly.Q: And like in China, too?

A: I told you, China's a good economic competitor. Cuba, on the other hand, is not.

Q: How come Cuba isn't a good economic competitor?

A: Well, you see, back in the early 1960s, our government passed some laws that made it illegal for Americans to trade or do any business with Cuba until they stopped being communists and started being capitalists like us.

Q: But if we got rid of those laws, opened up trade with Cuba, and started doing business with them, wouldn't that help the Cubans become capitalists?

A: Don't be a smart-ass.

Q: I didn't think I was being one.

A: Well, anyway, they also don't have freedom of religion in Cuba.

Q: Kind of like China and the Falun Gong movement?

A: I told you, stop saying bad things about China. Anyway, Saddam Hussein came to power through a military coup, so he's not really a legitimate leader anyway.

Q: What's a military coup?

A: That's when a military general takes over the government of a country by force, instead of holding free elections like we do in the United States.

Q: Didn't the ruler of Pakistan come to power by a military coup?

A: You mean General Pervez Musharraf? Uh, yeah, he did, but Pakistan is our friend.

Q: Why is Pakistan our friend if their leader is illegitimate?

A: I never said Pervez Musharraf was illegitimate.

Q: Didn't you just say a military general who comes to power by forcibly overthrowing the legitimate government of a nation is an illegitimate leader?

A: Only Saddam Hussein. Pervez Musharraf is our friend, because he helped us invade Afghanistan.

Q: Why did we invade Afghanistan?

A: Because of what they did to us on September 11th.

Q: What did Afghanistan do to us on September 11th?

A: Well, on September 11th, nineteen men, fifteen of them Saudi Arabians, hijacked four airplanes and flew three of them into buildings, killing over 3,000 Americans.

Q: So how did Afghanistan figure into all that?

A: Afghanistan was where those bad men trained, under the oppressive rule of the Taliban.

Q: Aren't the Taliban those bad radical Islamics who chopped off people's heads and hands?

A: Yes, that's exactly who they were. Not only did they chop off people's heads and hands, but they oppressed women, too.

Q: Didn't the Bush administration give the Taliban 43 million dollars back in May of 2001?

A: Yes, but that money was a reward because they did such a good job fighting drugs.

Q: Fighting drugs?

A: Yes, the Taliban were very helpful in stopping people from growing opium poppies.

Q: How did they do such a good job?

A: Simple. If people were caught growing opium poppies, the Taliban would have their hands and heads cut off.

Q: So, when the Taliban cut off people's heads and hands for growing flowers, that was OK, but not if they cut people's heads and hands off for other reasons?

A: Yes. It's OK with us if radical Islamic fundamentalists cut off people's hands for growing flowers, but it's cruel if they cut off people's hands for stealing bread.

Q: Don't they also cut off people's hands and heads in Saudi Arabia?

A: That's different. Afghanistan was ruled by a tyrannical patriarchy that oppressed women and forced them to wear burqas whenever they were in public, with death by stoning as the penalty for women who did not comply.

Q: Don't Saudi women have to wear burqas in public, too?

A: No, Saudi women merely wear a traditional Islamic body covering.

Q: What's the difference?

A: The traditional Islamic covering worn by Saudi women is a modest yet fashionable garment that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers. The burqa, on the other hand, is an evil tool of patriarchal oppression that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers.

Q: It sounds like the same thing with a different name.

A: Now, don't go comparing Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are our friends.

Q: But I thought you said 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11th were from Saudi Arabia.

A: Yes, but they trained in Afghanistan.

Q: Who trained them?

A: A very bad man named Osama bin Laden.

Q: Was he from Afghanistan?

A: Uh, no, he was from Saudi Arabia too. But he was a bad man, a very bad man.

Q: I seem to recall he was our friend once.

A: Only when we helped him and the mujahadeen repel the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

Q: Who are the Soviets? Was that the Evil Communist Empire Ronald Reagan talked about?

A: There are no more Soviets. The Soviet Union broke up in 1990 or thereabouts, and now they have elections and capitalism like us. We call them Russians now.

Q: So the Soviets ? I mean, the Russians ? are now our friends?

A: Well, not really. You see, they were our friends for many years after they stopped being Soviets, but then they decided not to support our invasion of Iraq, so we're mad at them now. We're also mad at the French and the Germans because they didn't help us invade Iraq either.

Q: So the French and Germans are evil, too?

A: Not exactly evil, but just bad enough that we had to rename French fries and French toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast.

Q: Do we always rename foods whenever another country doesn't do what we want them to do?

A: No, we just do that to our friends. Our enemies, we invade.

Q: But wasn't Iraq one of our friends back in the 1980s?

A: Well, yeah. For a while.

Q: Was Saddam Hussein ruler of Iraq back then?

A: Yes, but at the time he was fighting against Iran, which made him our friend, temporarily.

Q: Why did that make him our friend?

A: Because at that time, Iran was our enemy.

Q: Isn't that when he gassed the Kurds?

A: Yeah, but since he was fighting against Iran at the time, we looked the other way, to show him we were his friend.

Q: So anyone who fights against one of our enemies automatically becomes our friend?

A: Most of the time, yes.

Q: And anyone who fights against one of our friends is automatically an enemy?

A: Sometimes that's true, too. However, if American corporations can profit by selling weapons to both sides at the same time, all the better.

Q: Why?

A: Because war is good for the economy, which means war is good for America Also, since God is on America's side, anyone who opposes war is a godless un-American Communist. Do you understand now why we attacked Iraq?

Q: I think so. We attacked them because God wanted us to, right?

A: Yes.

Q: But how did we know God wanted us to attack Iraq?

A: Well, you see, God personally speaks to George W. Bush and tells him what to do.

Q: So basically, what you're saying is that we attacked Iraq because George W. Bush hears voices in his head?

A: Yes! You finally understand how the world works. Now close your eyes, make yourself comfortable, and go to sleep. Good night.

Fighter- Christina Aguilera

Written by Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch

Song Lyrics

選狼還是選獅子?

上帝把兩群羊放在草原上，一群在南，一群在北。上帝還給羊群找了兩種天敵，一種是獅子，一種是狼。

上帝對羊群說:「如果你們要狼，就給一隻，任它隨意咬你們。如果你們要獅子，就給兩頭，你們可以在兩頭獅子中任選一頭，還可以隨時更換。」 這道題的問題就是： 如果你也在羊群中，你是選狼還是選獅子？ 很容易做出選擇吧？ 好吧，記住你的選擇，接著往下看。

南邊那群羊想 ，獅子比狼兇猛得多，還是要狼吧。 於是，它們就要了一隻狼。 北邊那群羊想，獅子雖然比狼兇猛得多， 但我們有選擇權，還是要獅子吧。 於是，它們就要了兩頭獅子。

那隻狼進了南邊的羊群後，就開始吃羊。 狼身體小，食量也小，一隻羊夠它吃幾天了。 這樣羊群幾天才被追殺一次。

北邊那群羊挑選了一頭獅子，另一頭則留在上帝那裡。 這頭獅子進入羊群後,也開始吃羊。獅子不但比狼兇猛，而且食量驚人，每天都要吃一隻羊。 這樣羊群就天天都要被追殺，驚恐萬狀。 羊群趕緊請上帝換一頭獅子。

不料，上帝保管的那頭獅子一直沒有吃東西， 正飢餓難耐，它撲進羊群， 比前面那頭獅子咬得更瘋狂。 羊群一天到晚只是逃命，連草都快吃不成了。南邊的羊群慶幸自己選對了天敵， 又嘲笑北邊的羊群沒有眼光。

北邊的羊群非常後悔，向上帝大倒苦水，要求更換天敵，改要一隻狼。

上帝說：「天敵一旦定， 就不能更改，必須世代相隨，你們唯一的權利是在兩頭獅子中選擇。」

北邊的羊群只好把兩頭獅子不斷更換。 可兩頭獅子同樣凶殘， 換哪一頭都比南邊的羊群悲慘得多， 它們索性不換了，讓一頭獅子吃得膘肥體壯， 另一頭獅子則餓得精瘦。

眼看那頭瘦獅子快要餓死了，羊群才請上帝換一頭。 這頭瘦獅子經過長時間的飢餓後， 慢慢悟出了一個道理： 自己雖然兇猛異常，一百隻羊都不是對手， 可是自己的命運是操縱在羊群手裡的。

羊群隨時可以把自己送回上帝那裡， 讓自己飽受飢餓的煎熬，甚至有可能餓死。

想通這個道理後，瘦獅子就對羊群特別客氣， 只吃死羊和病羊，凡是健康的羊它都不吃了。

羊群喜出望外， 有幾隻小羊提議乾脆固定要瘦獅子，不要那頭肥獅子了。 一隻老公羊提醒: 「瘦獅子是怕我們送它回上帝那裡挨餓， 才對我們這麼好。 萬一肥獅子餓死了， 我們沒有了選擇的餘地， 瘦獅子很快就會恢復凶殘的本性。」

羊群覺得老羊說得有理，為了不讓另一頭獅子餓死,它們趕緊把它換回來。

原先膘肥體壯的那頭獅子， 已經餓得只剩下皮包骨頭了， 並且也懂得了自己的命運是操縱在羊群手裡的道理。 為了能在草原上待久一點，它竟百般討好起羊群來。 而那頭被送交給上帝的獅子 ，則難過得流下了眼淚。 北邊的羊群在經歷了重重磨難後, 終於過上了自由自在的生活。

南邊的那群羊的處境卻越來越悲慘了， 那隻狼因為沒有競爭對手，羊群又無法更換它， 它就胡作非為，每天都要咬死幾十隻羊， 這隻狼早已不吃羊肉了，它只喝羊心裡的血。

它還不准羊叫，哪只叫就立刻咬死哪只。 南邊的羊群只能在心中哀歎: 「早知道這樣，還不如要兩頭獅子。」

這是一道非常簡單的選擇題， 據我多次親自嘗試的經驗，如果拿來問歐美的朋友， 大多數人都會選獅子， 但是如果拿來問我們自己華人， 大多數人都會選狼（包括我自己）。

領悟到了嗎？握有決定權的才有生機， 否則只有任人宰割的份了。

同哀同傷 加油再上

(星島) 05月 20日 星期二 06:30AM

三分鐘默哀之後，響徹北京天安門廣場的，是「中國加油」、「四川加油」的呼聲。一次無情的天災，激起國人團結抗逆的決心，築起齊心自強的血肉長城。

要為抗震救災加油，第一個打氣對象，是在逆境中求生的災民，以及在現場以各種方式繼續搶救生命的人員。解放軍、搜救人員、醫護人員、物資運送人員等，都繼續夙夜匪懈工作。還有工程人員和水利人員，為堤壩防險。特別值得一提的，是為災區打通道路的工人。

向無名修路英雄致敬

這些不顯眼的修路工人，是在最危險的時刻在最危險的地方工作，為救援車隊打通救命之路。他們清理傾瀉下來的大量山泥，修復道路，讓載滿救援人員和物資的車隊前往震央重災區。災區餘震不絕，山泥續有傾瀉，有些打通了的道路又因餘震重新被封，工人要爭分奪秒清理，除工作勞累之外，還冒遭餘震崩塌下來的山泥活埋的危險。據交通運輸部公路司司長戴東昌透露，已經有二百多名交通人員在搶通時被泥石流吞沒，他們犧牲人數是各類救災人員之冠。
　

這些為搶修道路而犧牲的無名英雄，值得大家致以崇高的敬意和哀悼；而眾多繼續冒著生命危險在現場救災的人員，也值得大家致敬和打氣。
　

默哀之後，大家為災民和救災人員打氣，呼籲他們加油，其實也要提醒自己加把勁。
　

美國遭逢「九一一 」恐怖主義突襲後，舉國哀悼死難者及為救援人員打氣之外，政府還不斷提醒國人要堅強，生活如常，保持經濟活力，確保把禍害的打擊力度減至最小。

救災資源靠日積月累

今次國家展示的救災實力和效率，中央「以人為本」的基本管治理念、領導人親臨現場督師和解放軍的救災傳統，是原因之一，開放傳媒報道，打動人心，激起海內外紛紛主動貢獻人力物力，是原因之二，尤其是內地企業和民眾捐贈款項和物資的熱情和金額，更是前所未有之巨大。

中國官方和民間的救災資源和能力，與緬甸比較，實屬天壤之別，這不是一蹴即至，而是經過舉國上下多年來兢兢業業，日積月累而成的。這些在安穩日子透過企業努力經營和百姓日常工作所累積而成的財富，以及無形文化薰陶而成的情操和知識，在國家面對挑戰的重大時刻，充分顯示出來的威力。

經歷過地震後，國家還要面對更多未知的挑戰。默哀之後，要加油，要化哀傷為力量，重新為應付將來的挑戰而奮鬥。

哀悼 5·12 汶川大地震中遇難同胞全國下半旗誌哀

哈爾濱市解放小學的學生

北京中華民族園的各民族員工

鄭州鐵路局

太原市五一廣場

鄭州商品交易所停市3分鐘

五月十八日，中國國務院宣佈將五月十九日至二十一日設為全國哀悼日，全國下半旗致哀以悼念汶川大地震的遇難者。同日，中國地震局將汶川大地震的震級修訂為理氏8.0級。

哀悼 5·12 汶川大地震中遇難同胞全國下半旗誌哀

德陽市漢旺鎮漢旺廣場上的一座大鐘將時間定格在地震發生的那一刻

北京天安門廣場

唐山抗震紀念碑廣場

哈爾濱火車站

擔負奧運會帆船比賽海上安保任務的青島公安邊防支隊官兵在奧帆中

《一首詩》A Poem

《華盛頓郵報》日前刊出一首由紐約州立大學水牛城分校榮譽退休物理學教授Duo-Liang Lin所作的詩，道盡西方對中國的雙重標準。

當我們是「東亞病夫」，我們被稱為「黃禍」。
當我們被宣傳為下一個「超級強國」，我們被稱為「威脅」。
當我們關上門戶，你們走私毒品來打開市場。
當我們擁抱自由貿易，你們指責我們奪走你們的工作。
當我們分裂成碎片，你們的軍隊操進來想分一份。
當我們想把碎片拼回，你們叫囂「這是入侵，西藏自由」。
當我們試行共產主義，你們恨我們是共產黨人。
當我們擁抱資本主義，你們恨我們是資本家。
當我們有十億人，你們說我們正毀滅地球。
當我們嘗試控制人口，你們說我們傷害人權。
當我們窮，你們認為我們是狗。
當我們借鈔票給你們，你們指責我們令你們國家負債。
當我們建立我們的工業，你們稱我們為「污染國」。
當我們向你們出售商品，你們指責我們令地球暖化。
當我們購買石油，你們稱之為剝削和種族滅絕。
當你們為石油而開戰，你們稱之解放。
當我們迷失於混亂和狂躁，你們要求法治。
當我們捍衛法治打擊暴亂，你們稱之違反人權。
當我們沉默，你們說希望我們有言論自由。
當我們不再沉默，你們說我們是被洗腦的仇外者。
為甚麼你們如此恨我們，我們問。
不，你們回答，我們不恨你們。
我們也不恨你們。
但，你們明白我們嗎？
我們當然明白，你們說，
我們有法新社、CNN、BBC……
其實你們想從我們這兒得到甚麼？
想清楚，再回答……
因為你們只獲得這麼多的機會。
夠了夠了，這同一個世界已夠虛偽。
我們要的是同一個世界、同一個夢想和世界和平。
這個藍色大地球大得足以容納我們所有人。


英文原稿

A Poem Published by the Washington Post

When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.
When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your fairshare.
When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet youscreamed, It Was an Invasion!
When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating humanrights.
When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.
When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
No, you answered, we don't hate you.
We don't hate you either,
But, do you understand us?
Of course we do, yousaid,
We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...
What do you really want from us?
Thinkhard first, then answer...
Because you only get so many chances.
Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
We want One World, One Dream,and Peace on Earth.
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.

當習慣變成愛

韓劇「茶煲阿四」（환상의 커플）是一個關於當習慣變成愛的故事。

趙安娜（韓藝瑟）生於大富之家，從小因父母雙亡而繼承龐大遺產，當最疼她的婆婆病逝之後，她發現只要一打開錢包，身邊人就眉開眼笑，她由失望到鄙視他們，慢慢封閉自己的内心，既然有財富做通行證，安娜變得目中無人，不可一世，到長大成人，被一個叫朴比利的男人熱烈追求，跟他結婚不過是因爲女大當嫁，反正所有人都見錢眼開，有了比利，便可以令其他觀音兵知難而退，耳根清靜。

樂天知命的張哲修（吳志昊）因爲兄嫂死於交通意外，無怨無悔地撫養三個侄兒，放棄他的理想和初戀情人友菁，只要可以賺錢的工程，不論大小水電土木，他都樂於承接，為求得到更多工作，他樂於奉承別人，變得唯利是圖。

天意安排二人再三發生誤會結怨，當哲修在醫院碰見因意外墮海而失憶的安娜，由於醫護人員以爲他們認識對方，哲修將計就計，騙她是自己女友，接她回家做「阿四」，替她改名麥道舞（乜都無），讓她睡客廳沙發，要她做家務，以抵償之前安娜未付的工錢，安娜對家務一竅不通，做飯幾乎變成火燒家園，悶悶不樂就要吃炸醬麵和喝燒酒，喝醉了就睡車站，本性還是不自覺地目中無人，哲修初感得不償失，漸漸發現安娜學懂做家務，學懂關心別人和開懷大笑，二人由不時鬥氣大戰到日久生情，過程很有趣。

當安娜恢復記憶，無奈囘到丈夫朴比利家中，因爲習慣了睡沙發，寧願睡在客廳，比利為逗她高興，找來名廚弄炸醬麵，安娜卻吃不到和哲修一起吃的味道，淚如泉湧... 最後當然是大團圓結局。

去年冬天很冷，機緣巧合，我爸買了數張電暖被，有如劇中張哲修替趙安娜做的一樣，有了它，會想起這韓劇，感覺溫暖。

我都希望習慣會變成愛，可是我只見過愛變成習慣。

The Wheels of Life

人生如此！

Madonna - Like it or not

You can call me a sinner
and you can call me a saint
Celebrate me for who I am
Dislike me for what I ain’t
Put me up on a pedestal
Or drag me down in the dirt
Sticks and stones will break my bones
But your names will never hurt

I’ll be the garden, you’ll be the snake
All of my fruit is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because

This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I’m never gonna stop, no no

Cleopatra had her way
Mata Hari too
Whether they were good or bad
Is strictly up to you

Life is a paradox
And it doesn’t make much sense
You can't have the femme without the fatale
Please don’t take offense

Don’t let the fruit rot under the vine
Fill up your cup and let’s drink the wine
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because

This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I’m never gonna stop,

no no, you know

This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I’m never gonna stop,

no no, you know

No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know

I’ll be the garden, you’ll be the snake
All of my fruit is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because

This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I’m never gonna stop, no no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I’m never gonna stop, no no, you know

No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know

酷人唱酷歌！