VOA慢速英语2011--In Domestic Violence Cases, Children Are Often the Forgotten Victims

AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ - In Domestic Violence Cases, Children Are Often the Forgotten Victims

 

MARIO RITTER: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

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I’m Mario Ritter. Today we listen to new music from Feist. We also read some of your recent comments. But first we tell about the problem of domestic violence -- in America, and around the world.

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Domestic Violence

MARIO RITTER: October is Domestic Violence Awareness² Month in the United States. The observance seeks to educate the public about an issue which affects millions of people each year. June Simms has more.

JUNE SIMMS: Domestic violence experts from across the country gathered last week in Washington, DC. They took part in a special congressional briefing on the effects of domestic violence on children. A group called the Makers³ of Memories Foundation helped organize the event. Another organizer was the National Coalition⁴ Against Domestic Violence.

A protest last week in Topeka, Kansas, where investigations5 of domestic abuse cases have been threatened over budget cuts

Five years ago, the United Nations published results of a study about domestic violence. It found that as many as two hundred seventy five million children worldwide witness violence in the home. These boys and girls represent a secret society of sufferers. Officials say they are the forgotten victims of domestic violence.

Research shows such children face a greater risk of problems in school, emotional disorders⁷, and drug abuse, among other things. Some research has suggested that their experiences are severe enough to meet the requirements for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder⁶.

Many children who witness violence at home grow up to become abusers or victims themselves. That is why the UN Children’s Fund calls domestic violence “one of the most pervasive⁸ human rights challenges of our times.”

The congressional hearing was held last week to educate American policy makers about the problem.

Domestic violence is defined as any form of behavior used to gain power or control over another person. It can include verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

The National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control say one in four American women will suffer some form of domestic violence in her lifetime. One and a half million women are physically⁹ attacked or raped¹⁰ each year. In the United States, three women die each day because of violence in the home.

The problem is believed to be even more widespread than these numbers suggest. Many cases of domestic violence are never reported. Victims often feel responsible for the abuse they suffer. They also experience a strong sense of shame or dishonor.

This is even truer among men, who are less likely to report abuse. Studies show that one in thirteen men in the United States is a victim of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month seeks to bring these issues out into the open, and to get more people involved in finding a solution. Officials say knowing the facts about domestic violence may help save lives and end the cycle of violence.

Comments

MARIO RITTER: Now, we take a look at some your comments about recent stories on AMERICAN MOSAIC.

Many of you wrote to express concern about the report on animals used in the movie industry. Several writers praised filmmakers who use digitally produced images of animals for movies instead of using live animals. One listener went even farther with that idea. Hasan from Turkey wrote “I believe that computer generated imagery should also replace the humans. Thus, film producers would not have to pay much money for the famous actors and actresses.”

Hmmm …this is an interesting idea, but one that labor¹¹ unions for actors might oppose.

The unusually shaped balconies of Aqua

Several listeners sent comments after our story about building designer and MacArthur prize winner Jeanne Gang. A listener in Japan hoped that Ms. Gang’s work would inspire other women to consider a career in architecture. And Loc from Vietnam has this to say about her wavy¹² skyscraper¹³ in Chicago: “If I have a chance, I would lean from one of its balconies.”

Another Vietnamese listener commented on our story about disabled men and women learning to surf. Thanh Vy wrote, “Disability doesn’t mean you cannot do anything … I really admire disabled people who overcome the physical hurt to get a better life.”

Listeners were not so pleased to hear about how some Americans provide day care and costly¹⁴ treats to their pets. Florence from Togo noted¹⁵ people in the world who need help. She wrote that Americans should reduce their pet care spending and help people around them who are homeless.

Finally, our story on the new Martin Luther King Junior Memorial led to the most AMERIAN MOSAIC comments in September. Bhima Acharya-Baral in Nepal said he was impressed by King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. And, he added, “His speech motivates everyone to universal brotherhood¹⁶. I like his way to treat all equal.”

The new Martin Luther King memorial

Valia Herman of Burkina Faso expressed similar praise. She wrote it is thanks to Martin Luther King “that the USA is a true land of equality and opportunity.”

Thanks to everyone who sent us comments. And keep them coming. You may hear your own read on this program in the future.

Feist

MARIO RITTER: Singer-songwriter Feist released “Metals,” her fifth album, earlier this month. Last Saturday, she launched a series of concert performances in support of the new album. Barbara Klein has more.

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BARBARA KLEIN: That is “How Come You Never Go There” from Feist’s album, “Metals.” It was the first single released. The song seems to question the emotional reach of one of two people in a relationship. Feist sings: “words are like a lasso, you’re an instrumental tune¹⁷.” In other words, somebody is not talking.

A cowboy using a rope can make a lasso to seize horses or other animals. There are other suggestions of America’s Old West on “Metals.” The song “Anti-Pioneer” is an example.

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Feist recorded “Metals” in Big Sur, California. She had a studio specially¹⁸ built high on a cliff overlooking the water. Birds and other creatures would have surrounded the musicians. Perhaps that led to this song: “Cicadas and Gulls¹⁹.”

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Feist will be performing in Europe and the United States through early February. We leave you with the song “Comfort Me” from her album “Metals.”

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MARIO RITTER: I'm Mario Ritter. Our program was written by June Simms and Caty Weaver²⁰, who was also our producer.

If you have a question about American life, send it to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English.

Join us again next week for music and more on AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

7 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

10 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句

11 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

12 wavy   

adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• She drew a wavy line under the word.她在这个词的下面画了一条波纹线。
• His wavy hair was too long and flopped just beneath his brow.他的波浪式头发太长了，正好垂在他的眉毛下。

13 skyscraper   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• The skyscraper towers into the clouds.那幢摩天大楼高耸入云。
• The skyscraper was wrapped in fog.摩天楼为雾所笼罩。

14 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

15 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

16 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

17 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

18 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

19 gulls   

n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句

20 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。