金喇叭式的言论自由
我清楚地记得，1983 年 - 1984年我上初中三年级时，英语课文中有一篇《金喇叭》。作者在该文中讽刺了所谓的美国言论自由: 真正的言论自由是不存在的，因为舆论工具掌控在富人手中。几十年过去了，虽然互联网让人们更容易获得各种信息，但这并不等于言论自由；有些新闻或观点仍然被审查被压制封锁，在西方社会媒体仍然被富人所掌控。想想看，默多克家族掌控的新闻媒体遍布全球，2013年亚马逊公司创始人贝索斯买下了《华盛顿邮报》，2022年马斯克买了 Twitter … …
关于《金喇叭》一文，我在网上找到的有关信息：作者 Paul William Ryan，文章发表用的是笔名 Mike Quin。https://www.bibliomania.ws/pages/books/ ... ets-of-yap
《金喇叭》一文的原文网上无处可循，新语丝上有简化版的 (http://142.4.24.124/forum/db/11/70/225.html)，但错误地把作者写成马克吐温。
新语丝上的《金喇叭》：
Dr. Hornsnagle, an American explorer, asked the ruler of Yap Yap whether free speech was allowed under his rule.
"Yes, indeed," said the ruler. "My people enjoy complete freedom of speech and we decide everything according to public opinion."
"But how do you find out what the public thinks?" asked Dr. Hornsnagle.
"That's very simple," said the ruler. "Whenever any question has to be settled, we gather all the people together in my palace. Then we decide our policy by just listening to the Golden Trumpets."
"And what are the golden trumpets?" asked Dr. Hornsnagle.
"Golden Trumpets," said the ruler, "are used to express public opinion here. I raise my right hand above my head and shout: 'Those in favor blow.' Immediately those who are in favor of the proposal blow their golden trumpets. Then I raise my left hand and shout: 'All those against, blow.' This time those who are opposed, blow theirs. The side which makes the greatest noise is naturally the majority and the policy is decided in their favor."
"That," said Dr. Hornsnagle, "is the most complete democracy that I have ever heard of. I would like very much to see one of these meetings."
On the next afternoon, the people of Yap Yap, both rich and poor, were called into the palace courtyard to decide an important matter. There were only four rich men. All the rest were poor.
When all were assembled, the ruler stepped forward and raised his right hand.
"All those in favor, blow," he shouted.
The four rich men all lifted their golden trumpets and blew hard.
Then the ruler lifted his left hand. "All those against, blow," he shouted. Not a sound came from the poor people. Thus the policy was decided and the meeting over.
Dr. Hornsnagle asked the ruler why only the four rich men blew trumpets.
"Because they are the only people who have golden trumpets," said the ruler. "The others are all poor people."
"Well, that doesn't seem very much like free speech to me," said Horsnagle. "In America, we have real freedom of speech."
"Is that so?" said the ruler. "And how do you do it in America?"
In America," said Horsnagle, "instead of golden trumpets, we have newspapers, magazines and radio stations."
"That is very interesting," said the ruler. "But who owns all these newspapers, magazines and radio stations?"
"The rich," said Hornsnagle.
"Then it is the same as Yap Yap," said the ruler.
