南卡罗来纳州呼吁移除南方邦联旗帜（在线收听）

It’s Gone: South Carolina Removes Confederate Flag 南卡罗来纳州呼吁移除南方邦联旗帜

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

美国之音慢速学英语节目，这里是时事新闻。

An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway Patrol has removed the Confederate battle flag from the state Capitol grounds. The flag will be moved to a museum after 50 years at the state house.

南卡罗来纳州高速公路巡警仪仗队从州议会大厦降下邦联战旗。在州议会大厦悬挂50年之后，这面旗帜将被转移到一家博物馆保存。

The move comes three weeks after nine African Americans were murdered in their church in Charleston, South Carolina. Photos show the alleged killer carrying the Confederate battle flag.

此举发生在南卡罗来纳州9名非裔美国人在查尔斯顿一家教堂被杀害三个星期之后。照片显示该嫌疑人手持南方邦联战旗。

After the killings, activists renewed a long campaign to remove official public displays of the battle flag.  

这次凶杀案之后，活动人士重新发起一项由来已久的活动，希望取消这面战旗的官方公开展示。

A powerful symbol … but of what?

强大的象征……但是象征什么？

Flag opponents say the flag is a symbol of white supremacy and racial oppression. Southern soldiers used the flag during the U.S. Civil War of the 1860s, when they fought to keep slavery of African Americans legal in their states.

旗帜反对者表示，这面战旗是白人至上主义和种族压迫的象征。19世纪60年代美国南北战争期间南方士兵使用的正是这面旗帜，当时他们是为了维持黑人奴隶制度的合法性而战。

One hundred years after the South lost the war, officials raised the battle flag over the South Carolina state house. Flag opponents point out the flag remained on the Capitol grounds long after the anniversary of the war. They say the flag became a way to reject the 1960s Civil Rights movement to achieve racial equality.

南方在战争中失败一百年之后，官员们在南卡罗来纳州议会大厦升起了这面旗帜。旗帜反对者表示，在这场战争100周年纪念日之后很长之间，这面旗帜一直悬挂在议会大厦。他们表示，这面旗帜成了反对20世纪60年代民权运动实现种族平等的一种方式。

Jonathan Blanks is with the CATO Institute. He says many people view the flag as a symbol of racial oppression.

Jonathan Blanks就职于卡托研究所。他说，许多人将这面旗帜视作种族压迫的象征。

“Because every time that the flag has come up, it has been used – and it has been – to assert this sort of racial superiority of whites against blacks, to stop, to end their civil rights.”

“因为每次这面旗帜亮相都被用于，而且一直被用于宣扬白人相对黑人的种族优越感，以阻止和终结他们的公民权利。”

Flag supporters say the flag is a symbol of the South’s history. Lee Bright, a Republican state senator, says flying the flag in front of the state house honors the soldiers who fought for South Carolina’s independence in the Civil War.

旗帜的支持者表示，这面旗帜是南方历史的象征。共和党州参议员Lee Bright表示，让这面旗帜在州议会大厦前飘洋是纪念内战中为南卡州独立而战的士兵。

“And removing this flag from out front is not going to do anything to change this nation. All we’re going to do is we’re going to disrespect these 20-plus-thousand men, black and white, that fought to defend your state.”

“从门前移除这面旗帜对于改变这个国家没有任何影响。我们所做的一切都是亵渎为整个州的独立而战的2万多名白人和黑人战士。”

Some supporters add that the flag is also a fun way to celebrate Southern culture. They point to the popular 1970s and 80s television show called the “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The show features a sports car with the Confederate battle flag painted on top. The car is called the General Lee, after a Southern commander in the Civil War.

一些支持者表示，这面旗帜也是纪念南方文化的一种有趣的方式。他们指的是上世纪七八十年代流行的电视节目《赫扎德的杜克斯》。该节目以一台喷了邦联战旗的跑车为特色。这台车被称为“李将军号”——南北战争期间的南方指挥官就是李将军。

Lawmakers debate

议员们的辩论

On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, South Carolina members of the House of Representatives debated over the meaning and future of the battle flag. After more than 13 hours, they approved a measure to remove the flag from state house grounds. 

周三晚上和周四早晨，南卡罗来纳州众议院议员就这面战旗的意义和未来展开了辩论。经过13个多小时的辩论，他们批准了将这面旗帜从州议会移除的举措。

Governor Nikki Haley, who supported the measure, used nine pens to sign the bill. Then she gave a pen to each of the families of the nine church shooting victims.

支持这项措施的州长妮基·哈蕾(Nikki Haley)用九支笔签署了这项法案。然后她将这九支笔分别送给了9名教堂枪击案受害者的家属。

The flag comes down

旗帜落下

On Friday morning, a racially diverse crowd of hundreds gathered on the Capitol grounds. They cheered and chanted, "USA, USA."

周五早晨，数百名不同种族人士聚集在议会大厦。他们欢呼着“美国，美国。”

In a short ceremony, members of an official honor guard lowered the flag and rolled it tightly. Governor Nikki Haley said the flag will be put in its rightful place in a museum.

在一个简短的仪式后，官方仪仗队成员将旗帜降下并卷紧。哈蕾州长表示，这面旗帜将被送进一座博物馆妥善保存。

General Lee retires

李将军号跑车谢幕

Other groups are also taking steps to remove the Confederate battle flag from the public eye. Some retailers -- including Walmart, Amazon and Sears – say they will no longer sell products with images of the Confederate flag.

其它组织也在采取措施从公众视线中移除邦联战旗。包括沃尔玛、亚马逊和西尔斯在内的一些零售商表示，他们将不再销售有邦联旗图像的产品。

And the Dukes of Hazzard car? U.S. golfer Bubba Watson bought the General Lee several years ago. He says he will paint over its Confederate battle flag roof with an American flag.

《赫扎德的杜克斯》剧中的那辆跑车呢？美国高尔夫选手布巴·沃森(Bubba Watson)几年前购买了李将军号跑车。他说，他将会喷涂美国国旗覆盖掉车顶上的邦联旗帜。

Words in This Story

Confederate – n. Of or relating to the Confederacy of the American Civil War

renewed – v. began again with more force or enthusiasm

diverse – adj. made up of people who are different from each other

rightful – adj. proper or appropriate

retailers – n. a business that sells things directly to customers