沿著嘉南大圳

收到幾封師生的信，關於最近的recession和中東退兵與否的事情，心中有點小感觸，速記下來。

班上有好幾位單親媽媽學生，年過35或40了才回來讀大學，靠著社會福利拉拔子女長大，去年開始的金融問題對他們的生活造成巨大的衝擊。獎學金被縮減，健康保險即將到期，每天工作時間長達18小時，沒有辦法充分準備考試和報告。身為助教，我能替他們做點什麼呢？

戰爭在米國是真實生活的一部份，公共電視頻道固定播出本地陣亡士兵的影像紀錄，看著電視上陌生的年輕臉孔，大多不到25歲，許多選擇加入軍隊以支付自己的大學學費，大好人生還沒有真正開始即嘎然而止。班上的學生告訴我，他即將在今年畢業後被調派至中東某軍事基地，或許也會到伊拉克阿富汗..........。我只能默默的祝福禱告，也永遠忘不了他臉上堅毅和充滿愛國榮譽感的神情。

走在回家的路上，不禁想，雖然從小在戰爭的陰影或威脅下成長，雖然飛彈直接對準台灣本島，但是我其實從來沒有真正想過到底什麼是戰爭。當過兵就代表知道怎麼上戰場嗎？當然不。這真的很諷刺，面臨飛彈威脅的台灣人有一半需要去當兵學習如何打仗（理論上），一般印象中安逸享樂的美國人是志願入伍，但是，真正生於憂患，死於安樂的會是誰呢？


留學生要認識真正的美國，幾乎是不可能的任務。即使努力拼湊出多個切面，也無法組成一幅完整的圖畫。



以上是胡言亂語一通。

同場加映：心目中真正的年度最佳電影主題曲 The Wrestler。

前奏放出來，我就已經鼻酸了，配上Boss的歌詞，催淚效果絕對值得一座奧斯卡。

Have you ever seen a one trick pony in the field so happy and free?
If you've ever seen a one trick pony then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-legged dog making its way down the street?
If you've ever seen a one-legged dog then you've seen me

Then you've seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?

Have you ever seen a scarecrow filled with nothing but dust and wheat?
If you've ever seen that scarecrow then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-armed man punching at nothing but the breeze?
If you've ever seen a one-armed man then you've seen me

Then you've seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?

These things that have comforted me, I drive away
This place that is my home I cannot stay
My only faith's in the broken bones and bruises I display

Have you ever seen a one-legged man trying to dance his way free?
If you've ever seen a one-legged man then you've seen me