警徽上的黑線
Black Mourning Bands Across Police badges
三月二十四日，華盛頓州警 Justin R. Schaffer 執勤時不幸殉職，得年二十八歲。消息一出，州警局的州警及眷屬們不約而同將臉書照片換成這張繫上黑線的警徽。州警大人隔天上班執勤時，也在胸前的警徽繫上一條黑線。
這條黑線是美國警界向殉職員警致敬的方式。每當在職員警殉職，不論是州警、郡警、或市警，多數員警都會在自己的警徽上繫上一條黑線，表達悲悼之意。
以往殉職警員的追思會都是在 Tacoma Dome 隆重舉辦，政界及執法單位人士會親自前往致哀。然而，目前武漢肺炎肆虐，華盛頓州州長前一天才頒布「宅居限制令」。所有社交、宗教、休閒聚會都必須取消，包括婚禮與葬禮。州警局因此表示州警 Justin R. Schaffer 的追思會將會無限期延期。這對殉職州警的眷屬及親友無疑又是一大打擊。
克萊兒偶然讀到這首詩，作者是誰不可考，但讓我感動得眼眶泛淚。
The Final Inspection《最終的審視》
The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?"
警察站立面對他的神，
在這不可避免的情況下。
他希望他的鞋夠閃亮。
如同他身上的裝備一樣。
「過來吧！員警。
我該如何處置你？
你是否寬然大度？
是否真誠對待我的教堂？」
The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.
員警挺直胸膛說道：
「沒有，主啊！我想我並沒有做到。
戴上這枚警徽，代表我無法一直做個聖人。
禮拜日我必須輪值巡邏街道，
有時候我的言語粗暴，
有時候則必須訴諸暴力之道，
因為街頭是如此殘暴。
But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
但我從未拿過一分，
不屬於我的錢財。
當帳單入不敷出時，
我常常需要加班。
我從未對他人求救的訊號置之不理，
即使我內心的恐懼讓我禁不住發顫。
有時候，神啊！請寬恕我，
我會流下不夠男子氣概的淚滴。
我知道我沒有資格，
跟在這裡的人們一樣留在此地。
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't.....I'll understand.
人們從不希望看到我在他們身旁，
除非有人需要我安撫他們的恐慌。
若您這裡有為我保留的一席之地，
主啊！我不需要什麼豪華的地方。
我從不期待什麼，也從未擁有太多，
若這裡沒有我容身之處，我能理解您的想法。」
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
全然的寂然無聲壟罩在
諸位聖人踩踏的寶座上。
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, policeman,
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell."
警察靜靜等待，
等候神的審判。
「過來吧！員警，
你肩負重任且任重道遠。
快進入天堂的街道，
你已在地獄裡走過一遭。」
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