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VOA慢速英语--为什么一些美国人仍在谈论1968的芝加哥

时间:2018-09-05 23:13来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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Why Some Americans Keep Talking About Chicago 1968

As Americans and observers try to make sense of the country’s current political situation, many are looking back to events 50 years ago.

The year 1968 was a difficult and dramatic time in the U.S. -- as well as in many other countries.

One important event in the U.S. that year was the Democratic National Convention. It was held at the end of August in Chicago, Illinois. Democrats1 gathered there to decide their party’s candidate for president. But the meeting turned angry and violent.

Some of the issues that led to conflicts there are still part of the country’s national conversation today.

Vietnam

One of the key issues Americans were facing in 1968 related to the war in Vietnam. The U.S. had been involved in the conflict since 1955. Tens of thousands had already died.

Then, in early 1968, thousands more troops were killed in a series of surprise attacks by the North Vietnamese. The action was called the Tet Offensive, because the attacks happened during the celebration of the Lunar New Year, known in Vietnamese as Tet.

Following the Tet Offensive, a well-known U.S. television reporter called the conflict a stalemate. In other words, neither side could win but the conflict continued.

The opinion of reporter Walter Cronkite matched the feelings of many Americans. A public opinion study of early 1968 showed that half of Americans opposed the way the U.S. government was dealing2 with the war.

Yet top government leaders did not promise to end U.S. involvement. The president at the time, Lyndon Johnson, was quickly losing support, even within his Democratic Party. In March 1968, he said he would not seek re-election. Johnson’s decision created an opening for other Democratic politicians to fight over the party’s nomination3.

Three major candidates divided the party. They were the vice4 president at the time, Hubert Humphrey; a senator from Minnesota named Eugene McCarthy; and a senator from New York named Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy was also the brother of former president John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963.

Racism5 and poverty

In 1968, some voters were also demanding that government officials address issues of racism and poverty.

One of the leaders of the movement was Martin Luther King, Jr. He called for Americans of all races to come together and reduce economic inequality. King spoke6 about the need for better housing, better education, and better-paying jobs for struggling Americans.

In April 1968, King was preparing to protest with a group of African-American workers in Memphis, Tennessee. But on April 4, he was shot and killed while standing7 outside his hotel room.

Americans across the country soon learned of King’s assassination8. Riots broke out in more than 100 cities, including Washington, D.C.

On the same night, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy spoke to a crowd in Indianapolis, Indiana. He called for the country to come together.

He told the crowd, “What we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom and compassion9 toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.”

Two months later, on June 5, Kennedy was shot, too. He died the following day.

Battle outside the Democratic convention in 1968

For some Americans, King and Kennedy’s deaths added to feelings of sadness and frustration10 about the Vietnam War, racism, poverty and other situations they believed were unfair and threatening. So when Democratic officials held their meeting in August, as many as 15,000 protesters came, too. These groups aimed to march to the place where Democratic Party officials were meeting and demand an end to the war, as well as attention to other social and political changes.

But police blocked their efforts. They said most protesters did not have permission to go near the meeting location.

For several days, the protesters clashed with police and soldiers. The struggle turned violent. Officials used tear gas and batons12. Protesters, police, bystanders, reporters, and medical workers all suffered injuries. More than 500 people were arrested.

News media showed some of the violence on television. Later, the events were described as a “battle.”

Battle inside the Democratic convention in 1968

A battle was also going on inside the Democrats’ meeting. Some officials wanted the party to call for an end to Americans’ involvement in Vietnam. Others wanted to continue the U.S. government’s plan for the war.

In general, powerful party leaders supported the candidate who would continue the war, Hubert Humphrey. But some party officials objected. Inside the meeting, they argued, sang, marched, shouted, and refused to give their support to Humphrey.

In the end, Humphrey won the party’s nomination. But on television, the meeting appeared divided and out of control. One person who was there said many people who had attended the convention applauded when their airplane finally left Chicago. They were relieved it was over.

Effects of the 1968 Democratic convention

Less than three months later, Democrats narrowly lost the presidential election. Richard Nixon of the Republican Party was elected the country’s next president.

As a candidate, Nixon said he would continue the Vietnam War until Americans could reach “peace with honor.” Nixon also said he spoke for Americans who believed in “law and order.”

His words connected with some voters. For example, opinion studies at the time found that a majority of Americans approved of the way that police and city officials had acted toward the Democratic convention protesters. These Americans may not have supported the war in Vietnam, but they did not support the actions of the protesters, either.

Yet, some of the protesters' objections, and the problems that came to light during the Democrats’ meeting that year, remain unresolved. Historians point to 1968 as a time that increased feelings of distrust between the public and political parties; the public and government officials; protesters and the police; and government officials and the media.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

dramatic - adj. greatly affecting people's emotions

convention - n. a large meeting of people who come to a place for usually several days to talk about their shared work or other interests or to make decisions as a group

Lunar - adj. of or relating to the moon

stalemate - n. a contest in which neither side can gain an advantage or win

frustration - n. a feeling of anger or annoyance13 caused by being unable to do something

baton11 - n. a long thin stick

bystander - n. a person who is standing near but not taking part in what is happening

applaud - v. to strike the hands together over and over to show approval or praise

relieved - adj. feeling relaxed and happy because something difficult or unpleasant has been stopped


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
  • The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
3 nomination BHMxw     
n.提名,任命,提名权
参考例句:
  • John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
  • Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。
4 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
5 racism pSIxZ     
n.民族主义;种族歧视(意识)
参考例句:
  • He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
  • Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。
6 spoke XryyC     
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。
7 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
8 assassination BObyy     
n.暗杀;暗杀事件
参考例句:
  • The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
  • Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年,林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。
9 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情,怜悯
参考例句:
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
10 frustration 4hTxj     
n.挫折,失败,失效,落空
参考例句:
  • He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
  • He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
11 baton 5Quyw     
n.乐队用指挥杖
参考例句:
  • With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
  • The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒,乐队开始演奏起来。
12 batons 5442c30d33d3b0cef5ac5551a1a56f01     
n.(警察武器)警棍( baton的名词复数 );(乐队指挥用的)指挥棒;接力棒
参考例句:
  • There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗,是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的,很感动,真的,从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网
13 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
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TAG标签:   VOA英语  慢速英语
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