CNN 2010-05-25

A showdown in the Lone¹ Star State over history and how it's taught. Here is CNN's national correspondent Gary Tuchman.

The people on the Texas Board of Education are not professional historians but that doesn't stop them from controversial and confident pronouncements.

There would be those who would say, you know, automatically say the reason for the Civil War was over slavery. No, it was over states' rights.

Most of the board members are conservative and they're on the verge² of changing social studies teaching standards in Texas. For example, students will soon be discussing whether the separation of church and state is a legitimate³ historical concept. That's the kind of debate, board member Don McLeroy wants to see.

Is there such a thing as a separation of church and state?'

There is such a thing as the First Amendment⁴. The First Amendment has been interpreted lately by judges in a different way.

'Well, no states- sponsored religion but what do you think about the phrase 'separation of church and state'?

It's really been abused. It's swung way out of kilter. It's my personal view.

People pushing for the new curriculum say it will dwell more on the positive in America and less on the negative. Biblical values will be highlighted more. Free enterprise will be emphasized. The term 'capitalism⁵' which sometimes has negative connotations, not so much. And yes, when it comes to the Civil War, discussions about states' rights.

The board does this review every decade. The initial recommendations come from educators and historians. All agree the recommendations have never been changed this much.

And that has left many in the public who have come out to these hearings disenchanted.

Your actions have produced a series of curriculum standards which undermine the importance of multiculturalism⁶ and respect for alternative viewpoints, foundations upon which America's society and democracy have been built. Our siblings⁷ should learn that America is not just a Christian⁸ nation.

But many Texans are very pleased.

I want to thank you for the work you do, for the children of Texas, and for the children in the other 49 states. You are a truly unique group of elected servants of the great state of Texas.

More than 200 Texans were on a list to testify about their feelings. The testimony⁹ went late into the night on Wednesday, finally ending just before the stroke of midnight after 14 hours. Some of the comments went beyond the scope of debate and were quite derogatory.

I need to tell you that Islam is coming and Islam brings death. So, I say repent¹⁰ America, repent.

The one Muslim member of the board told the man not only was what he was saying irrelevant¹¹, but it was also hateful.

I think it was very insulting to our population and everybody that we represent.

But not one other board member, Republican or Democrat¹² complained about it.

1 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

2 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

3 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。

6 multiculturalism   

n.多元文化

参考例句：

• Switzerland is well known for cheese fondue, penguin parades and its multiculturalism. 瑞士一向以芝士火锅，企鹅游行和多元文化等特色闻名于世。
• That may be one reason why multiculturalism came easily to it. 这也是多元文化容易适应发展的原因之一。

7 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

11 irrelevant   

adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的

参考例句：

• That is completely irrelevant to the subject under discussion.这跟讨论的主题完全不相关。
• A question about arithmetic is irrelevant in a music lesson.在音乐课上，一个数学的问题是风马牛不相及的。

12 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。