VOA常速英语--NSA, DHS Lose Free Speech Legal Fight 美国国家安全局和国土安全部遭遇法律失利（在线收听）

NSA, DHS Lose Free Speech Legal Fight 美国国家安全局和国土安全部遭遇法律失利

The U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security suffered a legal defeat Tuesday as a feisty T-shirt designer reaffirmed the right to ridicule these large and powerful federal agencies. The issue concerns satire, free speech, and the process of democracy.

Shirts designed by Dan McCall poke fun at the NSA as "the only part of the government that actually listens."

丹·麦考尔所设计的衬衫取笑国家安全局为“政府唯一一个只会监听的机构。”

After the NSA's alleged overzealous monitoring of millions of people, many Americans find that satiric message very funny.

而在国家安全局承认过度监控数以百万计的人后,许多美国人发现这样讽刺的笑果非常有趣。

Another shirt spoofs the Department of Homeland Security logo as the "Department of Homeland Stupidity."

另一件衬衫将国土安全部的标志恶搞到了极致，称它为国土愚蠢局。

Not as funny, but just as critical.

“不只是有趣,而且同样具有讽刺意味。

美国国家安全局和国土安全部遭遇法律失利.jpgThe agencies were not amused and had threatened legal action against the printer who made and distributed McCall's satiric T-shirts.

评级机构龙颜大怒并威胁采取法律行动打击印制者制造及散播麦考尔的讽刺T恤。

McCall said the threats violated the constitutional guarantee of free speech.

麦考尔称此举违反了宪法保障言论自由。

On Tuesday, the government agencies agreed to end their legal threats and pay McCall $500 to cover his legal expenses.

周二,政府机构同意终止他们的法律威胁并支付麦考尔500美元用于他的法律费用。

He spoke to VOA via Skype.

他通过Skype对美国之音说道。

"I think it's important to keep your sense of humor about yourself, as a nation, as a person, as individuals," said McCall.

“我认为作为一个国家,作为个人,作为个体,重要的是要保持你自己的幽默感，”麦考尔说道。

Attorney Paul Levy of the activist group Public Citizen helped McCall.

激进组织公民的律师保罗·利维曾经帮助过考尔。

He says the case is about satire and free speech, elements that are critical for democracy.

他表示这件案子是关于讽刺和言论自由,民主是至关重要的元素。

"Sometimes talking about your government with a sense of humor is the best way to capture people's imagination and move them to take action.

“有时幽默的调侃你的政府是丰富人们想象力并让他们采取行动的最好方式。

We can't be serious all the time," said Levy.

我们不可能一直认真,”利维说道。

Dan McCall plans to make and sell more T-shirts.

丹·麦考尔计划生产并销售更多的T恤衫。

The Department of Homeland Security declined comment.

国土安全部拒绝置评。