美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-12-26（在线收听） |
It's our panel to make program of 2013 and it starts withnext year's Winter Olympics. They are happening in February in the Russian cityof Sochi. There's been some controversy involving the games about the Russianlaw regarding homosexuality that under the law, it is not illegal to behomosexual, but it is illegal to promote homosexuality or same sexrelationships to minors. Russian President Vladimir Putin says everyone,athletes and spectators, will be welcomed at the Olympics. Yesterday, the USannounced its delegation for the Olympics for people who will represent the USin Sochi. Some analysts think that who's going and who's not could be sending amessage. The delegation includes several openly homosexual American athletes.It doesn't include President Obama, any members of the first family or anymembers of the Presidential cabinet. The first time more than ten years that'shappened. Next up, diplomacy.How countries and governments interact. US and North Korea don't havediplomatic relation, so you don't usually see officials from one countrymeeting with officials from the other. One high-profile American is visitingNorth Korea's leader, but we're not talking about ambassador or governmentemployee. It's a former pro-basketball star.
With his andtattoos and at times outlandish behavior, there's no denying former NBA starDennis Rodman loves attracting attention. And the way he's heading is certainthe world will be watching, as the 52-year-old makes his third visit into acountry ruled by one of the world most repressive regimes.
"I want tobridge a gap with North Korea. That's all I want. "
It comes at a timeof dramatic political upheaval in North Korea. Just last week, the country'syoung leader Kim Jong-un had his uncle executed, in what some experts believeis just a beginning of many more purges to come. A power struggle is believedto be the reason why he had his mentor and second in command allegedly killedby machine gun fire. And with all the instability, it would appeal that the supremeleader could use a good friend.
"I'm callingon my friend. He is my friend. If you hate my cousin, hate my cousin. He is myfriend. "
Rodman istravelling with a documentary crew that will film him training the North Koreanbasketball team. They are preparing for exhibition match in January, against agroup of former pro-basketball players to celebrate the birthday of KimJong-un, a die-hard basketball fan. Many are wondering whether Rodman willraise the issue of 45-year-old American missionary Kenneth Bae, who issentenced to 15 years prison in Pyongyang for what the authority say was anattempt to overthrow the regime.
But Rodman saysthis trip isn't political, although in previous visits he has made himselfavailable for basketball diplomacy, offering to be a mediator between his closefriend Kim and US president Barack Obama.
"And this guyjust wanna do one thing, just to have a conversation with you. That's it. Sowhy Obama, are u afraid to talk to Dennis Rodman? " |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/cnn2013/12/243289.html |