unit 9 A MORE PERFECT UNON

.,AdvancedEnglishBook1,Lesson9,AMorePerfectUnion,-Bygroup4,.,BackgroundinformationVocabularyandParaphraseStructure,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,AdvancedEnglishBook1,.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,About“AMorePerfectUnion”,thespeechwasdeliveredonmarch18,2008,duringObamascampaignforpresidency.ThiswastoresponsetotheJeremiahWrightcontroversy.JeremiahWrightwasthepastorofObamastrinityunitedchurchofChristinChicagoandalsoaparticipantinObamascampaign.Rev.Dr.JeremiahWrighthasbeencaughtontapesayingvicious,racist,andun-Americanthings.,AdvancedEnglishBook1,.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,Rev.WrightsaidthatSept.11wassomehowthefaultofAmerica,andnow“Americanschickensarecominghometoroost.”Therefore,Obamasufferedahugecrisisofconfidence.,AdvancedEnglishBook1,.,.,BarackHusseinObamaisthe44thandcurrentPresidentoftheUnitedStates.HeisthefirstAfricanAmericantoholdtheoffice.Hebeganhispresidentialcampaignin2007,andin2008,afteracloseprimarycampaignagainstHillaryRodhamClinton,hewonsufficientdelegatesintheDemocraticpartyprimariestoreceivethepresidentialnomination.HethendefeatedRepublicannomineeJohnMcCaininthegeneralelection,andwasinauguratedaspresidentonJanuary20,2009.Ninemonthslater,Obamawasnamedthe2009NobelPeacePrizelaureate.Hewasre-electedpresidentinNovember2012,defeatingRepublicannomineeMittRomney.HeisthefirstDemocratsinceFranklinD.Roosevelttowintwopresidentialelectionswithamajorityofthepopularvote.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,AdvancedEnglishBook1,.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,AdvancedEnglishBook1,TrinityUnitedChurchofChrist,TrinityUnitedChurchofChristisapredominantlyAfrican-Americanchurchwithmorethan8,500members,locatedonthesouthwestsideofChicago.ItisthelargestchurchaffiliatedwiththeUnitedChurchofChrist,apredominantlywhiteChristiandenominationwithrootsinCongregationalism,whichbranchedfromAmericanPuritanism.,.,ThechurchsearlyhistorycoincidedwiththeAmericancivilrightsmovement,subsequentdeathofMartinLutherKing,Jr.,andtheturmoilthatenteredthemovementafterhisdeath.Duringthattumultuousperiod,aninfluxofradicalblackMuslimgroupshadbeguntoheadquarterinChicago,andTrinitysoughttorecontextualizeChristianitythroughblackliberationtheologyinordertocountertheinfluenceofradicalblackMuslimleaders,whotaughtthatitwasimpossibletobebothBlackandChristian.,.,Trinityisbestknowntodayforitssocialprogramsonbehalfofthedisadvantaged,bothnationallyandinternationally,althoughinitsearliestdayssuchoutreachdidnotevenfigureinitsmission.Inearly2008,aspartoftheirpresidentialelectioncoverage,newsmediaoutletsandpoliticalcommentatorsbroughtTrinitytonationalattentionwhencontroversialexcerptsofsermonsbythechurchslongtimepastorJeremiahWrightwerebroadcasttohighlightDemocraticpresidentialcandidateBarackObamasrelationshipwithWrightandthechurch.Obamarespondedwithaspeech,AMorePerfectUnion,whichaddressedthecriticisms.,.,Inthe1800stheslaveswerefreedbyPresidentAbrahamLincoln.Afterthisstartinginaboutthe1870sJimCrowlawswereintroduced.Theselawspromotedtheideaseparatebutequal,meaningthattheracesalthoughhavingtobeindifferentareasandnotallowedtointerminglewereequal.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion,AdvancedEnglishBook1,.,Whatisthethemeoftheaddress?Whereisitstated?WhatisObamasstory?Whydidhecallit“mystory”?3.DidObamasethnicbackgroundputhiminanadvantageouspositionduringthecampaign?Whatracialissuedidheconfront?,Pre-questions,.,4.SomepeoplequestionedObamasattitudeeventhoughhecondemnedReverendWrightsremarks.Why?5.HowdidObamadescribeReverendWrightinPara.18?HowdidObamadescribetheTrinityUnitedChurchofChristinPara.20?6.WhatistherelationshipbetweenReverendWrightandObama?WhatdidObamameanwhenhesaidhecouldnotdisownReverendWright?,.,7.WhatremarksdidReverendWrightmakethatcompelledObamatocondemnthem?WhatwasthefundamentalmistakemadebyWright?HowisObamascondemnationrelatedtothetitleofhisaddress“AMorePerfectUnion”?8.IsraceanessentialissueintheelectioninObamasopinion?Why?9.HowaresomanyofthedisparitiesthatexistsintheAfrican-AmericancommunitytodayrelatedtothepastofslaveryandJimcrow?,.,VocabularyandParaphrase,.,1.Farmersandscholars;statesmenandpatriotswhohadtraveledacrossanoceantoescapetyrannyandpersecutionthatlastedthroughthespringof1787.tyranny:n.unfairorcrueluseofpowerorauthorityParaphrase:Theearlysettlers,includingfarmers,scholars,statesmenandpatriotssailedacrosstheAtlanticoceantoescapemisruleandpersecution.TheyeventuallyturnedtheconceptsembodiedinthedeclarationofindependenceintoarticlesintheConstitutionattheConstitutionalConventionwhichwasheldinthePhiladelphiaStateHouseinthespringof1787.,.,2.Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventuallysignedbutultimatelyunfinished.Paraphrase:Afterheateddebateandcompromises,theConstitutionwasfinallyadoptedbytheConstitutionalConventionand39outof55delegatessignedthedocument.But“three-fifths”clauseandthetwentyyearsallowedfortheslavetradeshowedtheslaveissuewasnotsolved,sotheprocessofformingamoreperfectuniondidnotendwiththeenforcementoftheConstitution.,.,3.Itwasstainedbythisnationsoriginalsinofslaveryandtoleaveanyfinalresolutiontofuturegenerations.Stain:n.changethecolorofsth.;leaveormakemarksonsth.,esp.onesthataredifficulttoremove.stalemate:n.asituationinwhichneithersideinanargumentorcontestcanwinorinwhichnoprogressispossible.resolution:n.solution/makearesolutiontodo,.,Paraphrase:ItwasdishonoredbyslaverywhichisAmericanoriginalsin.Whethertheslaveryshouldbekeptbecameaquestionwhichdividedthecoloniesandmadetheconventioncometoahalt.Finally,thefoundersofAmericandecidedtoallowtheslavetradetocontinueforatleasttwentyyears,andtoleavethequestiontofuturegenerations.,.,4.Ofcourse,theanswertotheslaveryquestionwasalreadyembeddedwithinourConstitutionandaunionthatcouldbeandshouldbeperfectedovertime.embedded:v.fixsomethingdeeplyandfirmlyintosomethingelse.(implant，engraft)Paraphrase:Ofcourse,theresolutionoftheslaveryissuewasalreadyincludedunderthelaw.AccordingtotheConstitution,itspeopleshouldenjoyliberty,justice,andaunionthatcouldbeandshouldbeperfectedovertime.,.,5.Andyetwordsonaparchmentwouldnotbeenoughtodeliverslavesfrombondage,orprovidemenandwomenofeverycolorandcreedtheirfullrightsandobligationsascitizensoftheUnitedStates.parchment:n.asubstancemadefromanimalskin,usedinthepastforwritingon;adocument,manuscript,ordiplomaonparchment.bondage:n.thestateofbeingaslaveorprisoner.,.,Paraphrase:However,theConstitutionoranylawisnotenoughtosettheslavesfreeortogiveAmericanpeopleofdifferentoriginsorbeliefsequalrights.,.,6.WhatwouldbeneededwereAmericansinsuccessivegenerationspromiseofouridealsandtherealityoftheirtime.disobedience:n.failureorrefusaltoobey.Paraphrase:Onlythroughriskyprotestsandstrugglesindifferentforms,suchasonthestreet,inthecourts,throughawar,wouldgenerationaftergenerationofAmericansucceedinnarrowingthegapbetweentherightspromisedintheConstitutionandtherealityoftheirtime.,.,6.IchosetorunforthePresidentatandourgrandchildren.Paraphrase:IchosetorunforthePresidencyatthiscriticalmomentinhistorybecauseIfirmlybelievethatonlywesolvethechallengestogethercanwesolvethem.Despitedifferentstorieswehave,weholdcommonhopes.Despitedifferentappearanceswehaveanddifferentplaceswecomefrom,weallwanttomakeabetterfutureforlatergenerations.Onlyweunderstandthatcanweperfectourunion.,.,7.ButitalsocomesfrommyownAmericanstory.Paraphrase:Mypersonalbackgroundandmysuccessstory,risingfromragstoriches,alsoteachesmetheimportanceofunity.,.,7.IwasraisedwiththehelpofawhitegrandfatherwhosurvivedaDepressiontoserveinPattonsArmyduringWorldWarIIandawhitegrandmotherwhilehewasoverseas.Paraphrase:Iwasraisedwiththehelpofmygrandparentswhoarewhite.Mygrandfatherlivedthroughthedepression,andduringWorldWarhewasfightingunderGeneralPatton.Atthattime,mygrandmotherworkedonabomberassemblylineatFortLeavenworth.,.,8.IvegonetosomeofthebestschoolsinAmericaandlivedinoneoftheworldspoorestnationsaninheritancewepassontoourtwopreciousdaughters.Paraphrase:IhavestudiedinsomeofthebestschoolsinAmericaandlivedinoneoftheworldspoorestnations.MywifeisablackAmericanwomanwhocarriesthebloodofslavesandslaveownerswhichisinheritedourtwobeloveddaughters.,.,9.Ihavebrothers,sisters,nieces,nephews,unclesandcousins,ofeveryraceandeveryhue,scatteredacrossthreecontinentsthatinnoothercountryonEarthismystoryevenpossible.hue:n.colorParaphrase:Myrelativesofdifferentracesandcolorslivedscatteredacrossthreecontinents.IwillalwaysrememberthatmystoryisonlypossibleinAmericaandIcanbecomewhatIamonlyinAmerica.,.,10.Itsastorythathasntmademethemostconventionalcandidate.Butitisastorythathassearedintomygeneticmakeupwearetrulyone.sear:v.tocausesb.tofeelsuddenandunpleasant.Paraphrase:Mylifeexperiencehasinfuseddeeplyinmetheconceptthattheunitedstatesisnotjustatotalofaddingallthestatesoralltheelementstogetherbutistheproductoffusion,ofsharingthesamecreed.,.,11.Throughoutthefirstyearofthiscampaign,againstallpredictionstothecontrary,wesawhowhungrytheAmericanpeoplewereforthismessageofunity.Paraphrase:InspiteofallannouncementsthatAmericawasnotreadyforablackpresident,thatIwouldfailinthecampaign,wegainedmomentuminthefirstyearofthecampaign,whichshowedthattheAmericapeopledemandedunityandchange.,.,.12.DespitethetemptationpowerfulcoalitionofAfricanAmericansandwhiteAmericanscommanding:adj.authoritativeandpowerful.coalition:n.alliancebetweenpoliticalpartier.deem:n.haveaparticularopinionaboutsomething,.,Paraphrase:peoplecouldnthelpjudgemefromtheperspectiveofablackcandidate,raisingthequestionofwhethertheunitedstateswouldfarebetterwithablackpresident.Howeverwewongreatvictorieseveninsomeofthemoreconservativestates,stateswithastrongerlyracialbias.WesucceededinunitingAfricanAmericansandwhiteAmericansinSouthCarolina,whichwasoneoftheConfederatestatesintheCivilwar.,.,13.Wesawracialtensionsbubbletothesurfacebutblackandbrownaswell.exitpoll:n.theactivityofaskingpeoplewhotheyhavevotedtodiscoverthelikelyresults.polarization:n.thesituationofhavingorgivingpolarity.,.,Paraphrase:theweekbeforetheDemocratsweretoselecttheirdelegatestothenationalconventioninSouthCarolina,attacksonme,onblacksbecamemorefrequent,moreintense.Thepresshadpollsofpeoplewhohadjustvotedthoroughlytofindevidenceofpeopledividingintotwoopposinggroups,intermsofwhiteandblack,aswellasblackandbrown.,.,14.Ononeendofthespectrum,weveheardtheimplicationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeactionpurchaseracialreconciliationonthecheap.spectrum:n.acompleteorwiderangeofrelatedqualities,ideas,etc.onthecheap:spendinglessmoneythanneed.affirmative:adj.expressingagreementreconciliation:n.asituationinwhichtwopeople,countriesetc.becomefriendlywitheachotheragainafterquarreling.,.,Paraphrase:Atoneendoftheentirerangeofopinion,therearepeoplewhosaythatIdecidedtorunbecauseIwantedtoshowblackandwhiteshouldhaveequalopportunityandIwantedtoplayonthedesiresofnaveliberalstoachieveracialharmonywithoutmakinggreatefforts.,.,15.Ontheotherend,pastor,ReverendJeremiahWright,useincendiarybutviewsthatdenigrateboththegreatnessblackalike.pastor:n.aChristianpriestinsomeprotestantchurches.incendiary:adj.anincendiaryspeech,pieceofwritingetc.isintendedtomakepeopleangry.denigrate:vt.tocriticizesb./sth.unfairly;tosaysb./sth.doesnothaveanyvalueorisnotimportant.unequivocal:adj.expressingyouropinionorintentionveryclearly,.,Paraphrase:Attheotherendofthewiderangeofopinions,JeremiahWrightwaswrongbecausetheimproperlanguageheusedinexpressinghisviews,wouldnotonlywidenthegapbetweendifferentracesbutattackonthebasicnatureofAmericaasanations.Hiswordscausedtheangerandcondemnationofbothwhiteandblack.,.,16.DidIknowhimtobeanpriests,orrabbiswithwhichyoustronglydisagreed.rabbis:(titleofa)spiritualleaderofaJewishcongregation;teacheroftheJewishlawParaphrase:IdidknowthatsometimeshecriticizedAmericandomesticandforeignpolicy.IdidhearthathemadedisputedcommentswhileIwasinchurch.Ididstronglydisagreewithmanyofhispoliticalviews.However.Iamsuremanyofyoumayhavesimilarexperiencessothisisnotuniquetome.,.,17.Instead,theydistortedviewasendemicintheactionsofstalwartemanatingfromtheperverseandhatefulideologiesofradicalIslam.distort:vt.giveafalseaccountof(sth.).endemic:adj.regularlyfoundinaparticularplaceoramongaparticulargroupofpeopleanddifficulttogetridof.emanatefrom:tocomefromsomethingorsomewhere.stalwart:adj.loyalunequivocal:adj.expressingyouropinionorintentionveryclearlyprofess:v.tostateapersonalfeelingorbeliefopenly.,.,perverse:adj.markedbyadispositiontoopposeandcontradictideology:n.anorientationthatcharacterizesthethinkingofagroupornation,Paraphrase:WrightsviewwereagrossdistortionofAmerica.Ontheonehand,WrightconsideredwhiteracismasaninseparablepartofAmerica,leavingoutallthegoodcharacteristicswhichweassociatedwithAmerica.Ontheotherhand,WrightthoughtthatthecauseofconflictintheMiddleEastliedwithIsrael,notradicalIslam.,.,18.AndIconfessthesnippetsofthosesermonsthathaveruninanendlesslooponbeingpeddledbysomecommentators,inmuchthesameway.snippet:n.asmallofnews,information,orconversation.sermon:n.atalkgivenaspartofaChristianchurchservice,onareligiousormoralsubject.loop:n.apieceofrope,wire,heshapeofacurveorcircle.peddle:vt.offer(ideas,gossip,etc)toindividualpeople.seminary:n.collegefortrainingpriestsorrabbis.,.,cringe:v.drawback,aswithfearorpainepisode:n.ahappeningthatisdistinctiveinaseriesofrelatedeventsParaphrase:IfReverendWrightwerethepersonrepresentedbytherepeatedlyshownpieceofsermonsonTVandInternet,iftheTrinityUnitedChurchofChristweretheonedescribedtothepublicbysomecommentators,Iwouldhavelongdesertedthemwithoutdoubt.,.,19.Thosestories-ofsurvival,andfreedom,andhope-becameourstory,mystory;thebloodthathadspilledwasourbloodintoalargerworld.spill:v.causeorallow(aliquidsubstance)torunorflowfromacontainerParaphrase:Thestories,thehistory,thestruggle,thespiritbecamepartofblackpeopleandtheblackchurchpassedthemontofuturegenerationsandspreadthentotheworldbeyondtheblackcommunityasaship.,.,20.Ourtrialsandtriumphsbecameinchroniclingourjourney,thestoriesandsongsgaveusameanstoreclaimwecouldstarttorebuild.triumph:n.beingsuccessfulorvictorious.chronicle:vt.torecordeventsintheorderinwhichtheyhappened.reclaim:v.recoverpossessionofsth.,.,Paraphrase:Thesufferingsandthevictorieswhichtheblackpeoplehadgonethroughwerenotlimitedtotheblackpeople;inrecallingthosestories,wewerefilledwithconfidenceanddidnotneedtofeelashamedofthepast.Theseproudmemoriesmightbestudiedandtreasuredbyallpeopleandwecouldbuildabrightfuturewiththem.,.,21.Likeotherpredominantlyblackchurchesacrossthecountryarefullofraucouslaughterandsometimesbawdyhumor.raucous:adj.impolite,noisyandviolent.bawdy:adj.(ofsongs,plays,etc.)loud,anddealingwithsexinanamusingway.Paraphrase:Trinityembracesalltypesofpeopleintothecommunity,thedoctorandwomenlivingongovernmentaid,goodkidsandformercriminalinthepast.ThereisloudlaughterandcoarsehumoratTrinityjustasotherblackchurches.,.,22.Theyarefullofdancing,clapping,screamingandshoutingthatmayseemjarringtotheandbiasthatmakeuptheblackexperienceinAmerica.jar:v.makingsomeonefeelannoyedorshocked.Paraphrase:Peoplewhoarenotfamiliarwithsuchpracticesmayfindtheserviceswhicharefullofdancing,clapping,screaming,andshouting,toonoisy,toorowdy.ThechurchcontainsbothgoodsideandbadsideoftheexperiencesoftheblacksinAmerican.,.,23.Hestrengthenedmyfaith,officiatedmywedding,andbaptizedmychildren.butcourtesyandrespect.officiate:vi.performhedutiesofanofficeorposition.baptize:v.administerbaptismtoderogatory:adj.showingahostileorcriticalattitude(tosbsreputation,etc.)courtesy:n.goodmanners.stereotype:n.aconventionalorformulaicconceptionorimage.,.,Paraphrase:Itwashewhoenhancedmyfaith,performedmyweddingceremonyandbaptizedmychildren.Ineverheardhimtalkaboutanyraceswithbadwords.Andhealwaysshowedrespectwhenassociatedwithwhitepeople,.,24.IcannomoredisownhimthanIcandisowntheblackcommunity.disown:v.preventdeliberately(asbymakingawill)frominheritingParaphrase:Itsimportanttocasthimoffjustasitisimpossibleformetorepudiatetheblackcommunity.,.,25.WecandismissReverendWrightasacrankorademagogue,justassomehavedismissedGeraldineFerraro,intheaftermathofherrecentstatements,asharboringsomedeep-seatedracialbias.dismiss:vt.refusetoconsideronesidea,opinionetc.crank:n.personwithstrangefixedideas,esp.onaparticularsubject.demagogue:n.apoliticalleaderwhotriestowinsupportbyusingargumentsbasedonemotionratherthanreason.aftermath:n.thesituationthatexistsasaresultofanimportant(andusuallyunpleasant)event,especiallyawar,anaccident,etc.,.,Paraphrase:WecancondemnWrightasbeinganoddinstigatorandthenrejecthimandputhimoutofmindjustassomehavedonewithGeraldineFerraroaftershemadesomepoliticalpointswithracialprejudicerecently.,.,Comprehensionofthetext,Mainidea:CallforeffortstowardsamoreperfectunionFocus:charactersandskillsTheme:aretrospectoftheraceissueintheU.S.,.,Structure,Part1Para.1-8Thispartbeginswithaquotationfromtheconstitution-“toformamoreperfectunion”andthestrugglesoftheformergenerations,leadingtooneofthetasksObamasetforthatthebeginningofthecampaign.,Part2Para.9-23Foronething,ObamaemphasizesthemistakesinWrights;foranother,headvisespeopletofindhismeritsbehindhismistakes,andtakesthepersonasonepartoftheDiverseAmerica.,Part3Para.24-26Thispartpointsoutthatraceisanimportantissuethatneitherwhitenorblackcouldignore.,.,Questionsonthecontent,.,ThethemeoftheaddressisthatonlyAmericapeopleunitetogethercantheyperfecttheunion,cantheybuildamorejust,moreequal,freer,morecaringandmoreprosperousAmerica.ThisstatedinthepreambletotheUnitedStatesConstitution.,1.Whatisthethemeoftheaddress?Whereisitstated?,.,2.WhatisObamasstory?Whydidhecallit“mystory”?,Obamasstoryconsistsoftwoparts.Oneishisethnicbackground.Heisasonofablackmanandawhitewoman；hewasraisedbyhiswhitegrandparentsandmarriedablackwoman.Hehasrelativesofdifferentcolorsandcreeds.Theotherishisexperience.Hehaslivedinoneoftheworldspoorestnations；hehasgonetosomeofthebestschoolsinAmerica.Hecalleditmystorybecausehislifeandexperienceisasuccessstoryofnon-whiteinAmericasociety.ItisanillustrationofAmericadream,bysayingthathecanappealtomanypotentialvoters.,.,3.DidObamasethnicbackgroundputhiminanadvantageouspositionduringthecampaign?Whatracialissuedidheconfront?,No,Obamasethnicbackgrounddidntputhiminanadvantageouspositionduringthecampaign.Somecommentatorshavedeemedhimeither“tooblack”or“notblackenough”.,.,4.WhatremarksdidReverend