VOA慢速英语2014--越南出版社撤销争议法律书

 

Vietnam Removes Law Book with 'Justice' on the Cover 越南出版社撤销争议法律书

A state-owned book publisher in Vietnam has withdrawn¹ hundreds of law books because of the protest over the book’s cover.

The Labor² and Social Affairs Publishing House published 500 copies of the book on Vietnam’s civil code earlier this year. The cover of the book features a digitally changed image of a man without clothing holding the scales of justice.

The book’s cover went viral recently on social media networks in Vietnam, leading to public protests of the image.

The book cover features a muscular male body that was changed to have the face of Cong Ly, a popular comedian³ whose name literally⁴ means ‘justice’ in Vietnamese. 

The image has reportedly been taken off Internet sites viewed inside Vietnam.

A representative for the publisher, Nguyen Thi Thuy, blames its partner, the Lao Dong Bookstore, for releasing the book.

“There is no such image in the contract.  They published that cover without our consent.  We have explained our responsibility.  Now it is up to the relevant authorities to decide.  They are investigating.”

One employee has lost his job as the result, and the bookstore could not be reached for comments.

The public has used the event as a chance to mock Vietnam’s legal system.

“Justice in Vietnam is just a comedy. The publishing house is brave to say the truth,” one commenter wrote on the VOA Vietnamese Facebook page.

The publishing house has apologized to the comedian, but local media reports say he has threatened to take legal action.

Words in this Story

digitally – adj., using or characterized by computer technology

viral – adj., relating to or involving an image, video, piece of information, etc., that is circulated rapidly and widely from one Internet user to another

muscular – adj., having large and strong muscles

mock – v., to laugh at or make fun of (someone or something) especially by copying an action or a way of behaving or speaking

1 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

2 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。

3 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。