Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados

English translation:

which makes our version of "blind justice" more akin to a sightless old woman fumbling about with her cane

Added to glossary by James A. Walsh
Oct 10, 2013 21:49
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo

Spanish to English Social Sciences Government / Politics Book about the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia
Hi there,

This is from the prologue of a book about the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia. The person writing the prologue is another Colombian writer and theater director, so the language used is quite metaphoric in places. Certainly the case with this little gem anyway.

From what I can grasp, “money and power are factors of alienation”, i.e., they can buy justice, and the “mujer con los ojos tapados” is referring to Lady Justice; but I’m having serious issues connecting the dots in between, and could really use some help here. I’m bleary-eyed from chewing this over already!

Here’s the context:

“[Author X] se declara liberal desde siempre y ello le permite clamar que “La aplicación del modelo liberal colombiano tiene que ser modificado por un verdadero liberalismo de Estado”. Y clama por la ética, por la moral, por normas que purifiquen y decanten; hace un llamamiento al elector primario para que comprenda los problemas en juego y para que al votar adopte decisiones sobre cuestiones reales y abandone su papel de masa ignorante, para que se informe y no caiga en la ley de la oferta y la demanda, para que abandone la plataforma que le promete más al menor coste.

Queda la impresión de que el dinero y el poder son factores de alienación, que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados, dejando a su paso una sensación de soledad.”
____________________

Source language: Colombian Spanish
Target language: U.S. English

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I’m having trouble with the entire phrase “la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados”, but could only post 10 words, so had to chop it. I know rules are rules, and I apologize for over-stepping them on this occasion :)
Change log

Oct 15, 2013 21:02: James A. Walsh changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/141521">James A. Walsh's</a> old entry - "que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados"" to ""which makes our version of \"blind justice\" more akin to a sightless old woman fumbling about with her cane""

Discussion

neilmac Oct 12, 2013:
Agree you can never go wrong with a fumble...
James A. Walsh (asker) Oct 11, 2013:
"Fumbling with her cane" I like that, Andy. That's the notion I had yesterday too. From what I understand, the blindfold represents "blind justice", and she also holds a double-edged sword in her left hand, symbolizing the power of reason and justice, and a scales in her right hand, to symbolize weighing up each case. But there's no mention of the sword or scales here, only this "bastón", which made me think of a blind person's white cane. So "fumbling with her cane" would suggest that instead of the sword and scales, she only has this cane to "fumble about" with. I agree, there's nothing to suggest indiscriminate attacks or similar. Feel free to enter it as an answer. Cheers.
Andy Watkinson Oct 11, 2013:

Just a thought.

Robert's suggestion is excellent, naturally, but in the text there's nothing to suggest indiscriminate attacks.

The "golpes de bastón" (a ciegas) could equally be described as "fumbling with her cane", if the author wishes to underscore the justice system's incompetence.

Proposed translations

+3
9 mins
Selected

[See below.]

que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados
=
and that our version "blind justice" is more like a sightless old woman lashing out wildly with her cane

Not a literal translation, but seems to capture the intended sense.

Suerte.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:22:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As Teju has pointed out, my original answer has a typo:
Should read:
"our version OF 'blind justice'"
Note from asker:
Thanks, Robert. I absolutely appreciate non-literal here! :)
Peer comment(s):

agree teju : One question Robert, why did you word it like this: ... that our version "blind justice"? Did you mean ...that our version of "blind justice"?//No problem! saludos :)
3 hrs
My mistake! Thanks for pointing it out...and for the agree.... :)
agree Andy Watkinson
3 hrs
Thank you, Andy.
agree Rachael West : love it
9 hrs
Thank you, Rachael.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks very much, Robert, and everyone else for your valuable help here. Much appreciated :) I went with a hybrid of your's and Andy's suggestions - cheers!"
3 hrs

justice stumbles about with her symbolically blindfolded eyes...

and that justice stumbles about with her symbolically blindfolded eyes, dealing (futile) blows with her cane and (leaving behind...)

Just another version.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:35:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or maybe 'justice in her symbolical blindfold...'

Or capitalized 'Justice'

Good luck with it!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:41:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry: 'symbolic'. Shouldn't rush these things!
Something went wrong...
+2
6 hrs

[while] blindfolded Lady Justice flails around hitting things aimlessly with a stick

I think this solution captures the intent of the original.
Peer comment(s):

agree Patricia Parten : I agree, except "the stick." I'd use "cane."
10 hrs
Yes, of course.
agree neilmac : Fits the original text, which seems a bit too pleased with itself.
1 day 4 hrs
Thanks, Neil!
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search