《中英對照讀新聞》Why protesters are sending books to the White House 抗議人士為何要寄書到白宮

◎張沛元

Getting a book as a Valentine’s Day gift would usually be sweet, but it’s probably not if you’re the Commander in Chief and the book was sent to poke fun at your reading habits.

收到作為西洋情人節禮物的書，通常感覺很甜蜜，但若你是三軍統帥則不然，而且該書是寄來嘲諷你的閱讀習慣。

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A group of activists have decided to share their love of reading by inundating the White House with books for Valentine’s Day.

一群倡議人士已決定藉由在西洋情人節時以書淹沒白宮，分享他們對閱讀的熱愛。

The Facebook event "Bury the White House in Books on Valentine’s Day" was started by a pair of writers and educators who are also behind the group "Readers are Leaders."

這項名為「在西洋情人節以書海淹沒白宮」的「臉書」活動，是由2名作家與教育家發起，他們也是「讀者是領導者」團體的負責人。

The idea sounds simple： Select a book you think the President should read, write an inscription, and send it off to the White House.

這項活動的概念聽起來很簡單：選一本你認為（美國）總統應該要讀的書，寫一段題辭，然後把書寄到白宮。

Almost 1,000 people have expressed interest in the event, and participants, whether actual or wishful, are having a ball sharing their ideas on the event’s page.

已有近一千人表示有興趣參加這項活動，這些真的有心或只是說說而已的參與者，都透過在該活動網頁上分享想法而玩得很高興。

新聞辭典

poke fun at somebody：慣用語，奚落，取笑某人。例句：Late night comedy shows often poke fun at politicians.（深夜喜劇節目常常拿政治人物開玩笑。）

send something off：慣用語，郵寄信、文件或包裹。

have a ball：慣用語，玩得盡興，盡情狂歡。例句：Party host： Do you enjoy yourself here? Guest： I am having a ball. （派對主辦人：玩得盡興嗎？賓客：盡興極了。）