Lesson 9 A More Perfect Union (Part I)

.,Lesson9AMorePerfectUnion（PartI),BarackObama,.,Pre-readingQuestions1.Whendeliveringaspeech,howcouldyouimpressyouraudience?2.WhenandwherewasthespeechdeliveredbyObama?3.WhydidObamadeliverthespeech?4.CouldyougivesomebriefintroductiontoObama?,.,1.Anamusingstatement，incidentorjoke2.Astartlingstatement3.Aquotation4.Astory5.Rhetoricalquestions6.Suspense,.,BackgroundInformation,BarackObama,BarackHusseinObamaII(bornAugust4,1961)isthe44thandcurrentPresidentoftheUnitedStates,inofficesince2009.HeisthefirstAfricanAmericantoholdtheoffice.BorninHonolulu,Hawaii,ObamaisagraduateofColumbiaUniversityandHarvardLawSchool.HeworkedasacivilrightsattorneyinChicagoandtaughtconstitutionallawattheUniversityofChicagoLawSchoolfrom1992to2004.,.,HeservedthreetermsintheIllinoisSenatefrom1997to2004,runningunsuccessfullyfortheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesin2000.HewonelectiontotheU.S.SenateinNovember2004.Hebeganhispresidentialcampaignin2007,andin2008,afteracloseprimarycampaignagainstHillaryClinton,hewonsufficientdelegatesintheDemocraticpartyprimariestoreceivethepresidentialnomination.HethendefeatedRepublicannomineeJohnMcCaininthegeneralelection,andwasinauguratedaspresidentonJanuary20,2009.Ninemonthslater,Obamawasnamedthe2009NobelPeacePrizelaureate.Hewasre-electedpresidentinNovember2012,defeatingRepublicannomineeMittRomney,andwassworninforasecondtermonJanuary20,2013.,.,.,TheJeremiahWrightControversyTheJeremiahWrightControversyisanAmericanpoliticalissuethatgainednationalattentioninMarch2008whenABCNews,afterreviewingdozensofU.S.2008PresidentialElectioncandidateBarackObamaspastorJeremiahWrightssermons,excerptedpartswhichweresubjecttointensemediascrutiny.,.,WrightisaretiredseniorpastorofTrinityUnitedChurchofChristinChicagoandformerpastoroftheU.SPresidentBarackObama.Obamadenouncedthestatementsinquestion,butaftercriticscontinuedtopresstheissueofhisrelationshipwithWrighthegaveaspeechtitled“AMorePerfectUnion,”inwhichhesoughttoplaceDr.Wrightscommentsinahistoricalandsociologicalcontext.Inthespeech,ObamaagaindenouncedWrightsremarks,butdidnotdisownhimasaperson.,.,Thegovernmentgivesthemthedrugs,buildsbiggerprisons,passesathree-strikelawandthenwantsustosingGodBlessAmerica.No,no,no,GoddamnAmerica,thatsintheBibleforkillinginnocentpeople,hesaidina2003sermon.GoddamnAmericafortreatingourcitizensaslessthanhuman.GoddamnAmericaforaslongassheactslikesheisGodandsheissupreme.,.,WebombedHiroshima,webombedNagasaki,andwenukedfarmorethanthethousandsinNewYorkandthePentagon,andweneverbattedaneye,Rev.WrightsaidinasermononSept.16,2001.WehavesupportedstateterrorismagainstthePalestiniansandblackSouthAfricans,andnowweareindignantbecausethestuffwehavedoneoverseasisnowbroughtrightbacktoourownfrontyards.Americaschickensarecominghometoroost,hetoldhiscongregation.,.,IssueofRacialDiscrimination,RacialDiscriminationInthe1800stheslaveswerefreedbyPresidentAbrahamLincoln.Afterthisstartinginaboutthe1870sJimCrowlawswereintroduced.Theselawspromotedtheideaseparatebutequal,meaningthattheracesalthoughhavingtobeindifferentareasandnotallowedtointerminglewereequal.,.,.,TheJenaSixweresixblackteenagersconvictedinthebeatingofJustinBarker,awhitestudentatJenaHighSchoolinJena,Louisiana,onDecember4,2006.,.,2004成名演讲稿:无畏的希望Theaudacityofhope2008.3.18费城演讲AMorePerfectUnion2008.7.24柏林演讲Aworldthatstandsasone2008.11.06胜选演讲：ChangeHasComeToAmerica2009.1.20就职演讲BarackObamasInauguralAddress,.,奥巴马在宾夕法尼亚州费城发表的演讲，也是他在参选以后第一次就种族问题发表公开演讲,.,StructurePart1(P1-5):ThebackgroundleadingtoObamascampaignin2008.PartII(P6-11):Bymentioninghisownstoryasablackperson,Obamapointsoutthatbiasedopiniononracedoesexistandalsobringmuchinfluence.PartIII(P12-16):Obamacondemnedsomedivisivediscussionofrace,includinghisformerpastorReverendWrightsopinions.PartIV(P17-23)ThegoodfeaturesofReverendWrightandtheTrinityChurch:loveforandbetweeneveryAmericanpeople.PartV(P24-26):Conclusion.Urgencyforperfectingtheunion.,.,Part1(P1-5):ThebackgroundleadingtoObamascampaignin2008.1.WhydoesObamabeginhisaddresswiththewords“Wethepeople,inordertoformamoreperfectunion.”?2.AreyoufamiliarwiththefirstsentenceofPara2?3.Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventuallysignedoutbutultimatelyunfinished.Howtounderstandthesentence?4.AccordingtoObama,howtonarrowthegapbetweenthepromiseandreality?5.WhatsthefunctionofP1-5?,.,Para1,Wethepeople,inordertoformamoreperfectunion.AquotefromthePreambletoConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.“WethepeopleoftheUnitedStates,inordertoformamoreperfectUnion,establishjustice,insuredomestictranquility,provideforthecommondefense,promotethegeneralwelfare,andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity,doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.”我们美利坚合众国的人民，为了组织一个更完善的联邦，树立正义，保障国内的安宁，建立共同的国防，增进全民福利和确保我们自己及我们後代能安享自由带来的幸福，乃为美利坚合众国制定和确立这一部宪法。,.,Purposeforthequotation:Toshowwherethetitlecamefrom;ToappealtotheaudiencebecauseAmericanpeopleworshiptheConstitution,regardingitasasacreddocumentliketheBible.,.,Para2,Twohundredandtwentyoneyearsago,inahallthatstillstandsacrossthestreet,agroupofmengatheredand,withthesesimplewords,launchedAmericasimprobableexperimentindemocracy.improbable:notlikelytohappenImprobableexperimentindemocracy:Itwasthefirstwrittendocumentinitiatingthebeginningoftheendoftheconceptofthedivinerightofkings.Atthattime,Americaissmallandweak,sonoonecanbesurewhetherthecountryorthisConstitutionwouldsurviveorsucceed.,.,Fourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinent,anewnation,conceivedinLiberty,anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal.87年前，我们的先辈们在这块大陆上建立了一个崭新的国家。这个国家以自由为立国之本，致力于实现人人生而平等的理想。,.,Farmersandscholars;statesmenandpatriotswhohadtraveledacrossanoceantoescapetyrannyandpersecutionfinallymaderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconventiontraveledacrossanocean:referringtotheearlysettlers,thePuritanswhosailedacrosstheAtlanticocean.maderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconvention:turnedtheconceptembodiedintheDeclarationofIndependenceintoarticlesintheConstitution,.,declarationofindependence独立宣言theproclamationmadebythesecondAmericanContinentalCongressonJuly4,1776,whichassertedthefreedomandindependenceofthe13ColoniesfromGreatBritain;1776年7月4日美国第二次大陆会议上通过的宣言，宣告美国13个殖民地脱离英国获得独立和自由.,.,finallymaderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconventionthatlastedthroughthespringof1787.TheConstitutionalConventionmetinthePhiladelphiaStateHousefromMay25toSept.17,1787;theConventionwasattendedby55delegatesfrom12states.(RhodeIslanddeclinedtosenddelegates.),.,TranslationforPara2:221年前，在对面街角那座至今仍旧巍然挺立的大厅中，美国自由的先驱聚集在一起，用简单的语词，启动了在当时看来不可能完成的民主试验。这些为逃避暴虐与压迫而远涉重洋来到北美大陆的农场主、学者、政治家和爱国者终于在1787年春天的费城制宪会议上将独立从宣言变为现实。,.,Para3,Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventuallysignedbutultimatelyunfinished.eventually:happeningattheendof,ultimately:bywhichaprocessorseriescomestoanend.TheConstitutionwasfinallyadoptedbytheConstitutionalConvention(firstlyonly39outof55delegatessigned,lateronmorestatesapprovedit.),.,“Thedocument.unfinished”:theproblemofslaverywasnotsolved,（asalvewascountedasthree-fifthsofapersonforrepresentationintheHouseofRepresentativesandfordirecttaxation）untiltheCivilWarandtheenactmentofConstitutionalAmendments(宪法修正案)14(1868)and15(1870).,.,Paraphraseforthe1stsentence:Afterheateddiscussionandcompromises,theConstitutionwasfinallyadoptedbytheConstitutionalConventionand39outof55delegatessignedthedocument.Butthe“three-fifths”clauseandthetwentyyearallowedforthetradeshowedtheslaveissuewasnotsolved,sotheprocessofformingamoreperfectuniondidnotendwiththeenforcementoftheConstitution.,.,Itwasstainedbythisnationsoriginalsinofslavery,aquestionthatdividedthecoloniesandbroughttheconventiontoastalematestain:tospoiltheappearanceorbringshameonstalemate:asituationinwhichneithersideinanargumentorcontestcanwinorinwhichnoprogressispossible.originalsin原罪:AccordingChristianity,originalsinisthewickednesswhenAdamandEvedisobeyedGod,andallhumanbeingsarebornwithit.,.,它被原罪的奴隶制玷污了，这个问题使各州对立，并一度使制宪会议陷入僵局。后来开国者们允许奴隶买卖延续至少二十年，而把问题的最终解决留给了后代。,.,Para4,Ofcourse,theanswertotheslaveryquestionwasalreadyembeddedwithinourConstitutionembed:tofixfirmlyanddeeplyinearth,mindormemory,etc.Hereitmeans:TobesetorincludedintheConstitution.ItmaybecorrecttosaytheidealoflibertyandjusticeintheConstitutionmakesitpossiblefortheresolutionoftheslaveissue,buttheConstitutionitselfdosenotprovideanysolution.Otherwise,itwouldnottakeaCivilWar,averydestructivewar,toputanendtoaslaverysystem.AndtherewouldbenonecessityforConstitutionalAmendments14and15andCivilRightsActof1964andtheVotingRightsActof1965.,.,aConstitutionthathadatitsverycoretheidealofequalcitizenshipunderthelaw;aConstitutionthatpromiseditspeopleliberty,andjustice,andaunionthatcouldbeandshouldbeperfectedovertime.EmphasisIndicatingpossibilityandobligation,.,Para5,Parchment羊皮纸asuperiorpaperresemblingsheepskinBondage奴役，束缚thestateofbeingunderthecontrolofaforceorinfluenceorabstractpowere.g.Masterssometimesallowedtheirslavestobuytheirwayoutofbondage.,.,IHaveaDreamInasensewevecometoournationscapitaltocashacheck.WhenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethemagnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.Thisnotewasapromisethatallmen,yes,blackmenaswellaswhitemen,wouldbeguaranteedtheunalienableRightsofLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthispromissorynote,insofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned.Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck,acheckwhichhascomebackmarkedinsufficientfunds.“从某种意义上说，我们来到国家的首都是为了兑现一张支票。我们共和国的缔造者在拟写宪法和独立宣言的辉煌篇章时，就签署了一张每一个美国人都能继承的期票。这张期票向所有人承诺不论白人还是黑人都享有不可让渡的生存权、自由权和追求幸福权。然而，今天美国显然对她的有色公民拖欠着这张期票。美国没有承兑这笔神圣的债务，而是开始给黑人一张空头支票一张盖着“资金不足”的印戳被退回的支票。,.,FunctionofPara1-5:ObamastartswithaquotationfromtheConstitution,bringingouttheideaof“amoreperfectunion.”ThenhemovesontodescribethebirthoftheConstitutionandpointsoutthatbecauseofthecompromiseontheslaveryissue,theprocessofperfectingtheuniondidnotstophere.Inthecourseofhistory,generationsofAmericanshavestruggledhardtonarrowthegapbetweenpromiseandrealityandtoperfecttheunion.TheninPara6hepointsoutthisisoneofthetaskhesetforthatthebeginningofthiscampaign.Asmoothtransitionisthusachieved.,.,PartII(P6-11):Obamasownstory1.WhatisthepurposeofObamatoexplainhistask?2.WhatsObamasstory?WhydoesObamamentionhisownstory?3.WhatproblemsdoesObamaconfrontduringthecampaign?4.Howtounderstand“thewhitestpopulations”and“ConfederateFlagstillflies”?WhydoesObamamentionthese?,.,Para6,Thiswasoneofthetaskswesetforthatthebeginningofthiscampaignsetforth:1)explainsth.inwritingorspeechinaclear,organizedway;Eg:Dr.Smithsetforthhisapproachtoteachingstudents.2)startajourney;Eg:ItwasduringthereignofQueenIsabellathatChristopherColumbussetforthonhisgreatvoyageofdiscovery.,.,tocontinuethelongmarchofthosewhocamebeforeus,amarchforamorejust,moreequal,morefree,morecaringandmoreprosperousAmerica.WhatisthepurposeofObamatoexplainhistask?Obama,throughsuchdescriptionofhisintentiontorunforpresidency,puthimselfonthemoralhighground.Hisrunningwasnotoutofpersonalinterests,notoutofdesireforpowerbutoutofawishtomakeAmericabetter,andthisisacontinuationofalongmarchforanoblegoal.,.,Notethattheconceptsof“alongmarch”and“tomakeAmericabetter”areoftenfoundinpresidentialrhetoric.In1910,TheodoreRoosevelt,inthepresidentialcampaign,hadthistosay,“Wecameheretodaytocommemorateoneoftheepoch-makingeventsofthelongstrugglefortherightsofmanthelongstrugglefortheupliftofhumanity.”,.,Para6,IchosetorunforthepresidentatthismomentinhistorybecauseIbelievedeeplythatwecannotsolvethechallengesrunforthepresident/presidency竞选总统atthismomentinhistory:ObamameantthatthiswasacriticalmomentinhistorybecauseAmericawasexperiencingtwowars（theIraqWarandAfghanWar）andaneconomicrecession.,.,Parallelstructure:“unlessunless”Antithesis:“wemaybut”;“wemaynotbut”,.,Para7,ButitalsocomesfrommyownAmericanstory.Obamasstory:Theethnicbackground:blackfatherandwhitemother,whitematernalgrandparents,Asianstepfather.Hisownexperience:bestschoolinHawaii,ColumbiaUniversityandHarvardLawSchool.HetaughtlawatUniversityofChicagoLawSchoolfor12years.HewaselectedtotheU.S.Senatein2004.ThatshisAmericandreamrealized,soishiswifesAmericandream.ThispersonalstorywillappealtomanypotentialvotersbecausethisisstillamythwhichmanyAmericansbelievein.,.,ButitalsocomesfrommyownAmericanstory.Paraphrase:Mypersonalbackgroundandmysuccessstory,risingfromragstoriches,alsoteachesmetheimportanceofunity.,.,Para8,IvegonetosomeofthebestschoolsinAmericaandlivedinoneoftheworldspoorestnations.Antithesis,Tobringouthisownrichexperience.,.,andforaslongasIlive,IwillneverforgetthatinnoothercountryonEarthismystoryevenpossible.Paraphrase:IcanbecomewhatIamonlyinAmericaandIamgratefulandwillneverforgetthis.,.,Para9,Itsastorythathasntmademethemostconventionalcandidate.Conventional:Conformingtoformaloracceptedstandardsorrulesratherthannature.Eg:Peoplestillworetheirhairshortanddressedconventionally.人们还留着短发、穿着传统服饰。TheconventionalpracticeflourishesintheUnitedStates.这种常规做法在美国很盛行。Paraphrase:IdidwellintheUnitedStatessopeoplewouldthinkIwouldbeforthepresentsituationandIwouldbehappywithwhereIam.Butno,Iwantedchange.,.,Butitisastorythathassearedintomygeneticmakeuptheideathatthisnationismorethanthesumofitsparts-thatoutofmany,wearetrulyone.Sear:toburnwithintenseheat;tomarkwithahotiron;geneticmakeup:naturalconstitution;searedintomygeneticmakeup:tobedeeplyingrainedinme.thisnationismorethanthesumofitsparts:TheU.S.isnotaddingallstatestogether,whenthepartaremeltedorfusedintowhole,itspowerorinfluenceismuchgreater.,.,Paraphrase:Iamdeeplyingrained,throughmyexperienceinAmerica,withtheideathatAmericaisnotthetotalofaddingeverythingtogetherbutistheproductoffusion,ofsharingthesamecreed.“outofmany,wearetrulyone”:QuotefromanActofCongressin1782“Outofmany,one.”相对于大多数而言，我们是独一无二的；？在众人之中，我们也是其中一个；？我们出于众而合为一；？whileweareoutofmany，weareone/althoughweareoutofmany，weareone我们出于众而合为一（寓意“合众国”）,.,Para10,Throughoutthefirstyearofthiscampaign,againstallpredictionstothecontrary,wesawhowhungrytheAmericanpeoplewereforthismessageofunity.allpredictions:herereferstopublicmediasannouncementsthatObamaasablackpeoplewouldnotwinthecampaign.Paraphrase:InspiteofallannouncementsthatAmericawasnotreadyforablackpresident,thatIwouldfailinthecampaign,wegainedmomentuminthefirstyearofcampaign,whichshowedthatordinaryAmericansoverlookedtheissueofcolorandwereeagerforunityandchange.,.,Despitethetemptationtoviewmycandidacythroughapurelyraciallens,wewoncommandingvictoriesinstateswithsomeofthewhitestpopulationsinthecountry.Backgroundinformation:issuesraisedbyhisopponentstoterrifyordinaryAmerican:Obamaisnotanative-bornAmericanbutborninHawaii,notaChristianbutaMuslim,notwhitebutblack.凡是美国48州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区构成美国本土，阿拉斯加州、夏威夷州和波多黎各、关岛为美国非本土。,.,Paraphrase:Peoplewereencouragedtojudgemefromtheperspectiveofablackcandidate,raisingthequestionofwhethertheUnitedStateswouldfarebetterwithablackcandidate.However,wewongreatvictorieseveninsomeofthemoreconservativestates,stateswithstrongerracialbias.,.,InSouthCarolina,wheretheConfederateFlagstillflies,webuiltapowerfulcoalitionofAfricanAmericansandwhiteAmericans.“ConfederateFlagstillflies”:SouthCarolinawasoneoftheConfederateStatesintheCivilWar.In1962theconfederatebattleflagofthe“southerncross”wasplacedontopoftheSouthCarolinaStatehousebyvoteoftheall-whitelegislature.Itwasnotuntil1July2000thattheflagwasremovedfromtheSouthCarolinaStatehouse.,.,Translation这场竞选的第一年里，所有相反的预测被美国人民对于这种团结的渴望所超越。尽管有人试图通过种族的有色眼镜来歪曲这次竞选，在这个国家白人州里所取得的压倒性胜利让所有质疑变得苍白无力。在那邦联旗帜飘扬的南卡罗来纳州，黑人和白人联合起来，一起站在我的身后摇旗呐喊。,.,Para11,WesawracialtensionsbubbletothesurfaceduringtheweekbeforetheSouthCarolinaprimary.Paraphrase:BeforethedemocraticselectionofcandidatestothenationalconventioninSouthCaroline,racialtensionwhichseemedinsubstantialinthepastbecameaboilingissue.,.,Thepresshasscouredeveryexitpollforthelatestevidenceofracialpolarization,notjustintermsofwhiteandblack,butblackandbrownaswell.Scour:makeathoroughsearch;Eg:Rescuecrewshadscouredanareaof30squaremiles.救援人员已经搜遍了30平方英里的范围。exitpollAnexitpollisasurveyinwhichpeoplewhohavejustvotedinanelectionareaskedwhichcandidatetheyvotedfor.Brown:referringtopeopleofblackandwhiteorigin,likeObama.,.,PartIII(P12-16):Obamacondemnedsomedivisivediscussionofrace,includinghisformerpastorReverendWrightsopinions.1.Paraphrasethesentence“Ononeendofthespectrum,weveheardtheimplicationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeaction;thatitsbasedsolelyonthedesireofwide-eyedliberalstopurchaseracialreconciliationonthecheap.”2.WhydoesObamabelieveJeremiahWrightsviews“rightlyoffendwhiteandblackalike”?3.WhatsObamasanswerstosomenaggingquestions?WhydoesObamagivethatkindofreplies?4.WhatwasthefundamentalmistakemadebyReverendWright?HowisObamascondemnationrelatedtothetitleofhisaddress“AMorePerfectUnion”?,.,Para12,Andyet,ithasonlybeeninthelastcoupleofweeksthatthediscussionofraceinthiscampaignhastakenaparticularlydivisiveturn.divisive:Somethingthatisdivisivecausesunfriendlinessandargumentbetweenpeople.Eg:Hebelievesthatunemploymentissociallydivisiveandisleadingtothecreationofanunderclass.他认为失业会造成社会分化，导致贫困阶层的产生。,.,Para13,Ononeendofthespectrum,weveheardtheimplicationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeaction;thatitsbasedsolelyonthedesireofwide-eyedliberalstopurchaseracialreconciliationonthecheap.Affirmativeactionisthepolicyofgivingjobsandotheropportunitiestomembersofgroupssuchasracialminoritiesorwomenwhomightnototherwisehavethem.（支持、鼓励聘用女性、少数族裔等受歧视者的）积极行动或措施，反歧视行动，平权行动“平权行动”是60年代随着美国黑人运动、妇女运动兴起的一项政策。由美国总统约翰逊在1965年发起，主张在大学录取学生、公司招收或晋升雇员、政府招标时，应当照顾少数种族和女性。目的就是扳回历史上对黑人和女性的歧视，把他们在历史上受的委屈折算成现实的利益。“平权行动”实施之后，黑人和妇女的大学录取率、政府合同中的黑人中标率大大提高。然而从70年代开始，人们开始对“平权行动”嘀嘀咕咕其主要的矛头，就是它矫枉过正，形成了一种“逆向歧视”。,.,Paraphrase:Atoneendoftheentirerangeofopinion,therearepeoplewhosaythatIdecidedtorunbecauseIwantedtoshowblackandwhiteshouldhaveequalopportunityandIwantedtoplayonthedesiresofnaiveliberalstoachieveracialharmonywithoutmakinggreateffort.,.,Ontheotherend,weveheardmyformerpastor,ReverendJeremiahWright,useincendiarylanguagetoexpressviewsthathavethepotentialnotonlytowidentheracialdivide,butviewsthatdenigrateboththe