VOA慢速英语2014 Video Highlights Domestic Abuse Issue

 

Video Highlights Domestic Abuse Issue

Twenty-five percent of American women will experience domestic violence, that is, physical abuse by a partner.  Most cases are never reported to police. But recently such violence was captured on video tape.  

The National Football League, or NFL, player Ray Rice was recorded hitting his girlfriend Janay Palmer, who is now his wife.  The NFL dismissed Rice after the full video was released to the public last week. The release has also led to public discussion about domestic violence.

Last February the media released a video that showed Ray Rice, an NFL football player, pulling his apparently¹ unconscious girlfriend out of an elevator. The National Football League suspended him for two games for domestic violence. But many criticized the punishment as being too light.

In May, Rice began mental health treatment, therapy, for anger problems. 

In late July, he spoke² to the media.

“I made the biggest mistake in my life. She can do no wrong. She’s an angel.”

The full video of what really happened.

But this week the media operation TMZ released another video. This video shows what happened inside that elevator.           

The couple seems to argue.  Rice hits Palmer. She moves toward him and he hits her again, in the face. Her head crashes into the side of the elevator as she falls to the floor. She does not move. She appears to be unconscious. The elevator doors open and Rice pulls her across the floor, partly out of the elevator.  

The Baltimore Ravens³ cancelled Rice's $35 million employment agreement after the video was broadcast. Shortly after that, NFL Commissioner⁴ Roger Goodell suspended the player from football.

The public was quick to comment.

Domestic Violence Stories Shared on Twitter

Women on Twitter using the hashtag #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft, shared their stories of domestic violence. The tweets explain why they stayed in an abusive relationship or why they left. Or in some cases both.

One woman tweets, “#WhyIStayed I had no where else to go. We had merged⁵ everything. #WhyIleft it was better to be homeless then terrorized in my own home.”

In many cases of domestic violence, there are children involved. The abused person does not seek help because they fear the abuser may hurt the children. Sometimes those abused worry about possible legal action to remove their children from their care.  

One woman tweets about the difficult situation many face – staying with an abuser to keep a family together. 

“#WhyIStayed - so my children will have a father. #WhyILeft – so my children will have a mother.”     

Ray Rice and Janay Palmer married in March. The Rices have a two year old daughter, Rayven.

Did Rice Deserve Suspension?

Janay Rice has also used social media in connection with the video. On Instagram she wrote, “To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing.”

She also criticizes her husband’s dismissal from the Ravens and the NFL suspension.

Janay Rice is not the only one who feels that her husband’s suspension went too far.

Melissa Jacobs is managing editor of the website TheFootballGirl.com. She says Mr. Rice’s actions deserve a severe punishment. However, she says she does not feel this punishment fits the crime.   

“Yeah, as I was saying, Ray Rice is deserving of a very severe penalty given how cold-blooded and dangerous his actions were. Because of the video and Rice’s fame, I think he’s the perfect defender⁶ to be made an example of for an issue that is far too prevalent in the NFL. That said … I’m not sure an indefinite suspension would have been an appropriate response at first judgment⁷.”

Ms. Jacobs also says that the NFL has been merely reacting to events. She says the NFL’s history on domestic violence issues is questionable⁸. When asked if the NFL has changed, Ms. Jacobs says that remains⁹ to be seen.

“Well, that’s still to be determined¹⁰. Every single action by the NFL from the new domestic violence policy to Rice’s indefinite suspension has been reactive. The League still seems to be incompetent¹¹ when it comes to understanding domestic violence. So, it’s very hard to say what has changed when really nothing has.”

The spokeswoman for the National Network to End Domestic Violence is Rene Renick. She welcomes feedback, comments and opinions, about this issue. She spoke to VOA by Skype.  She said she hopes this incident will cause more people to talk about and think about the issue.

“One in every four American women will experience domestic violence sometime at her life. I hope the NFL will make good on their commitment to take this seriously.”

On social media, Janay Rice calls Ray Rice the man she loves. Then she describes the pain that the media and public reaction around the country have caused her family.

Again, Rene Renick.

“We don’t know what’s happening for her. But often victims are made to feel like it’s their fault.” 

Ms. Renick says there are some positive effects from this horrible incident. She says it sends a clear, strong message that domestic violence is unacceptable.

Domestic violence is a worldwide problem. It usually happens against women but not always. Men can also be victims of domestic violence. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness¹² Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the color to represent it is purple. The non-profit National Network to End Domestic Violence has asked NFL football teams to wear the color purple for the month of October. The group hopes the action will help increase recognition of the problem.

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 ravens   

n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 merged   

（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中

参考例句：

• Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
• The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

6 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

7 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

8 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 incompetent   

adj.无能力的，不能胜任的

参考例句：

• He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。
• He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。

12 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。