VOA慢速英语-IN THE NEWS - Just What Does Patriotism Mean in Amer

Obama, pushed to defend himself, says "the question of who is, or is not, a patriot¹ all too often poisons our political debates." Transcript² of radio broadcast:
04 July 2008

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
　

A new United States citizen waves a small flag during a naturalization ceremony in Lake Buena Vista3, Florida

Dictionaries define patriotism⁴ as love and loyalty⁵ to one's country. For Americans, patriotism can mean many things -- for example, celebrating the Fourth of July, Independence Day.

Yet Americans often debate the idea of patriotism. Political scientist Neil Diamant at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania says this is because there is no clear agreement on what it means.

Some, he says, believe patriotism involves service or sacrifice. But there is no required national service. And the last military draft ended thirty-five years ago this month.

Tom Smith of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago has led two studies of national identity and pride. Both involved between twenty and thirty countries. Both studies rated Americans first or tied for first place in different measures of national pride.

Tom Smith says patriotism, however, is often discussed more during American presidential campaigns, especially in wartime.
　

Senator Barack Obama speaks in Fargo, North Dakota on July 3

In the current campaign, Barack Obama has had his patriotism questioned by some people. The expected Democratic Party nominee⁶ says that at times this has been a result of his own "carelessness." But more often, he says, it has resulted from what he called "the desire by some to score political points" and raise fears about him.

Senator Obama discussed patriotism in a speech Monday in Independence, Missouri. He said dissent⁷ does not make one unpatriotic and that "the question of who is, or is not, a patriot all too often poisons our political debates."

At the same time, he rejected a comment from one of his supporters about John McCain. Retired⁹ Army general Wesley Clark said he did not think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

Senator Obama said he will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign, and will not stand by when others question his.

Some, for example, have criticized his position on wearing an American flag pin. Like many public officials he wore one after the terrorist attacks of two thousand one. But he said he stopped wearing one every day because it became a "substitute" for "true patriotism." Lately, the Illinois senator has been seen wearing a flag pin more often.
　

Senator John McCain speaking in Mexico City also on July 3

The Republican Party's expected nominee does not always wear one either. But ninety percent of registered voters in a study released this week described John McCain as patriotic⁸. The Arizona senator was a Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner.

By comparison, one-fourth said Barack Obama lacks patriotism. But that same study showed him five points ahead of John McCain among registered voters nationwide. It was too narrow, though, to represent a clear lead for the election in November.

American history has other examples of a presidential candidate's patriotism being questioned. In the election of eighteen hundred, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams accused each other of being unpatriotic.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve Ember.

1 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

4 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

5 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

6 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

7 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

8 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

9 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。