Fighting slander with rationality
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2009-04-15 06:21 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Song Zude is a one-man tabloid1. In his Sina.com blog, he has been making statements so outrageous2 it's a wonder nobody has sent an assassin his way.

Well, until now. A SARFT (government agency in charge of movies and television) official announced they would "get rid of him". But how?

In name, Song heads a production company. I guess its products will automatically be banned. But I haven't heard of any movies or TV shows produced by his company. Surely, SARFT won't resort to illegal means. That leaves the option of a lawsuit3.

Song's latest barrage4 was targeted at Xie Jin and Bruce Lee. When venerable filmmaker Xie died last week, Song reported he had exclusive news that the 85-year-old Xie died of exhaustion5 while making love to a hooker that night. As for Bruce Lee, of whom a biopic series is currently running on CCTV, Song claimed Lee died of exhaustion because the martial6 arts legend "had too much sex that night, first with his male boss, and then with a female starlet".

It's strange nobody has sued him so far. Song dances on his notoriety. In his blog, he dares you to bring him to court. As soon as the SARFT intention was revealed, he countercharged, seeking compensation of 10,000 yuan. It'll be interesting to see how the drama unfolds.

The press says all netizens hate Song, but a browse7 of his blog postings demonstrates at least half of them like him. They see him as the only voice of truth and independence in the entertainment industry. At least three of his wild assertions have later turned out to be true, including the Hong Kong sex photo scandal.

It's pathetic that some have come to see him in a heroic light. This reflects more on our society than on Song. There are mad dogs everywhere, but it's how we treat them that determines who we are and how mature we are as a civilization. I agree that the entertainment business is dirty and rotten, but that doesn't mean an objector is always in the right.

This is a circle fraught8 with rumors9. People may entertain their friends with tall tales, but nobody in his right mind would publicize them. So, it's not how much Song got right - if you throw mud against a wall, some of it will stick - but whether he has journalistic ethics10. Did he conduct any investigations11? Did he talk to witnesses and those involved?

Reading his posts, I have no doubt he has no shame. He calls himself "Lu Xun of our times", tantamount to Paris Hilton comparing herself to, say, Kathryn Hepburn. One thing that still puzzles me is how he can parley12 his notoriety into profits. Who would want to do business with such a lowlife? But then, I suddenly think of all the adoration13 he has received in his blog.

SARFT has enhanced his self-importance by issuing the vague threat. The most deadly blow to someone like Song is total oblivion - as if he doesn't exist. If anyone should hit him with a libel suit, it should be the celebrities14 smeared15 by him or their families in the case of the departed Xie

Using administrative16 means to muffle17 a voice like Song's represents the worst of both worlds, Song's and the government's. It will only elevate him to the status of a maverick18. It's a miracle that Song has been left alone for so long while voices of real value have been hushed. The best weapon against a loony disguised as a fighter of truth is law and rationality.

(This is the last of Raymond Zhou's op-ed column. He has started a new column on the Life page, focusing on culture and entertainment.)



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tabloid wIDzy     
adj.轰动性的,庸俗的;n.小报,文摘
参考例句:
  • He launched into a verbal assault on tabloid journalism.他口头对小报新闻进行了抨击。
  • He believes that the tabloid press has behaved disgracefully.他认为小报媒体的行为不太光彩。
2 outrageous MvFyH     
adj.无理的,令人不能容忍的
参考例句:
  • Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
  • Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
3 lawsuit A14xy     
n.诉讼,控诉
参考例句:
  • They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
  • He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。
4 barrage JuezH     
n.火力网,弹幕
参考例句:
  • The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
  • The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。
5 exhaustion OPezL     
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述
参考例句:
  • She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
  • His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了,显然是太累了。
6 martial bBbx7     
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的
参考例句:
  • The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
  • The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。
7 browse GSWye     
vi.随意翻阅,浏览;(牛、羊等)吃草
参考例句:
  • I had a browse through the books on her shelf.我浏览了一下她书架上的书。
  • It is a good idea to browse through it first.最好先通篇浏览一遍。
8 fraught gfpzp     
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的
参考例句:
  • The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
  • There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的!
9 rumors 2170bcd55c0e3844ecb4ef13fef29b01     
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷
参考例句:
  • Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 ethics Dt3zbI     
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准
参考例句:
  • The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
  • Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。
11 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
12 parley H4wzT     
n.谈判
参考例句:
  • The governor was forced to parley with the rebels.州长被迫与反叛者谈判。
  • The general held a parley with the enemy about exchanging prisoners.将军与敌人谈判交换战俘事宜。
13 adoration wfhyD     
n.爱慕,崇拜
参考例句:
  • He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
  • The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
14 celebrities d38f03cca59ea1056c17b4467ee0b769     
n.(尤指娱乐界的)名人( celebrity的名词复数 );名流;名声;名誉
参考例句:
  • He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
  • a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目
15 smeared c767e97773b70cc726f08526efd20e83     
弄脏; 玷污; 涂抹; 擦上
参考例句:
  • The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
  • A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。
16 administrative fzDzkc     
adj.行政的,管理的
参考例句:
  • The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
  • He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。
17 muffle gFjxn     
v.围裹;抑制;发低沉的声音
参考例句:
  • Mother made an effort to muffle her emotions.母亲努力控制自己的感情。
  • I put my hand over my mouth to muffle my words,so only my friend could hear. 我把手挡在嘴上,遮住声音,仅让我的朋友听到。
18 maverick 47Ozg     
adj.特立独行的;不遵守传统的;n.持异议者,自行其是者
参考例句:
  • He's a maverick.He has his own way of thinking about things.他是个特异独行的人。对事情有自己的看法。
  • You're a maverick and you'll try anything.你是个爱自行其是的人,样样事情都要尝试一下。
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