2006年VOA标准英语-Controversy Over Way to Debate Controversy

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, D.C.
30 October 2006
 
watch Stem Cell report

Controversy¹ over specific political issues can spawn² yet more controversy involving the way those issues are debated.  As VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports, a statement by a well-known American radio commentator³ about a political ad in favor of stem cell research has overshadowed the issue itself.

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endorsing4 a candidate in favor of stem cell research" src="/upimg/allimg/070507/1414470.jpg" width="150" border="0" /> Michael J. Fox in a political advertisement endorsing a candidate in favor of stem cell research

Hollywood actor Michael J. Fox is campaigning on behalf of politicians who favor stem cell research, which may someday result in a treatment for his advanced case of Parkinson's Disease.

"As you might know, I care deeply about stem cell research," says Fox in an advertisement. "In Missouri, you can elect Claire McCaskill who shares my hope for cures. Unfortunately, Senator Jim Talent opposes expanding stem cell research. Senator Talent even wanted to criminalize the science that gives us the chance for hope."

Senator Talent, a Republican, is campaigning in Missouri for reelection to the U.S. Senate.  He opposes federal embryonic⁶ stem cell research, saying it involves killing⁷ a human embryo⁵, which violates the sanctity of life.  Research advocates argue that it has the potential of saving the lives of people inflicted⁸ with debilitating⁹ diseases or injuries. 

Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh entered the fray¹⁰ by attacking Michael J. Fox personally. "In this commercial, he is exaggerating the effects of the disease.  He is moving all around and shaking.  And it's purely¹¹ an act," he said during one of his recent programs.

Except that Fox's movements are not an act, but rather the symptoms of Parkinson's.  Limbaugh apologized after members of his audience called to complain.  But another conservative commentator, Sean Hannity, says Michael J. Fox's ad is deceiving.

"This is about the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research," said Hannity.  "Stem cell research is legal in Missouri, it's being funded and it's going on in state universities, and that's not put in the ad."

The Republican Congress in July fell a few votes shy of overriding¹² President Bush's one and only veto:  a measure to expand public funding of embryonic stem cell research.  Private funding is legal.  Those who favor such research, such as Michael J. Fox, are campaigning for candidates who would help create the two-thirds congressional majority necessary to pass veto-proof legislation.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 spawn   

n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产

参考例句：

• The fish were madly pushing their way upstream to spawn.鱼群为产卵而疯狂地向上游挤进。
• These fish will lay spawn in about one month from now.这些鱼大约一个月内会产卵。

3 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

4 endorsing   

v.赞同( endorse的现在分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• Yet Communist leaders are also publicly endorsing religion in an unprecedented way. 不过，共产党领导层对宗教信仰的公开认可也是以前不曾有过的。 来自互联网
• Connecticut Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman is endorsing Republican Senator John McCain. 康涅狄格州独立派参议员约瑟夫。列波曼将会票选共和议员约翰。麦凯恩。 来自互联网

5 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

6 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 inflicted   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
• Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。

9 debilitating   

a.使衰弱的

参考例句：

• The debilitating disease made him too weak to work. 这个令他衰弱的病，使他弱到没有办法工作。
• You may soon leave one debilitating condition or relationship forever. 你即将永远地和这段霉运说拜拜了。

10 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

11 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

12 overriding   

a.最主要的

参考例句：

• Development is of overriding importance. 发展是硬道理
• My overriding concern is to raise the standards of state education. 我最关心的是提高国民教育水平。