VOA慢速英語：南卡羅來納州移除聯(lián)邦旗幟

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

來自南卡萊羅納州的高速護衛(wèi)巡邏隊的隊伍降下國會山前內(nèi)戰(zhàn)時期的聯(lián)邦旗幟。在國會建筑前飄揚了近50年后，這面旗幟將被放進博物館。

The Confederate battle flag is permanently removed from the South Carolina statehouse grounds during a ceremony in Columbia, South Carolina July, 10, 2015.

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.

九名非裔美國人在南卡羅來納州的查爾斯頓教堂中被殺后，才決定降下此面旗幟。照片顯示，承認罪行的謀殺者扛著一面聯(lián)邦旗幟。

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

殺人事件發(fā)生之后，積極分子展開運動要求移除政府公共建筑前飄揚的聯(lián)邦旗幟。

A powerful symbol … but of what?

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.

反對此面旗幟的人說這面旗幟是白人優(yōu)于黑人的象征，是種族壓迫的表現(xiàn)。南部士兵在十九世紀六十年代的美國內(nèi)戰(zhàn)支持南方各州奴隸制合法時就用的這面旗幟。

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.

南方被打敗后一百年后，官員在南卡羅來納州政府前又重新升起了這面旗幟。反對者表示該旗幟在紀念戰(zhàn)爭爆發(fā)時就一直矗立在國會山。該旗幟變成了阻止二十世紀六十年代民權(quán)運動實現(xiàn)種族平等的一種方式。

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

約納遜·布蘭克斯是加圖研究所的成員。他表示，許多人將聯(lián)邦旗幟視為民族壓迫的象征。

“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.”

“因為每次這面旗幟出現(xiàn)時，使用時就會肯定白人比黑人更加優(yōu)越的斷定，阻止了他們實現(xiàn)民權(quán)的道路。”

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.

支持者稱這面旗幟是南方歷史的標志，李·布萊特——一位共和黨參議員稱在國會前矗立這面旗幟是為了紀念在內(nèi)戰(zhàn)中為南卡羅來納州獨立而戰(zhàn)的士兵們。

“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.”

移除這面旗幟并不會改變這個民族，只是沒有尊重這些無論是黑人還是白人，為自己家園而戰(zhàn)的兩千多名士兵。

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.

一些支持者補充道，這面旗幟同時也是慶祝南方文化的一種有趣的方式。他們指出在二十世紀七十年代和八十年代風(fēng)靡一時的電視節(jié)目——《赫薩特公爵》。這部電視節(jié)目描述了一輛畫有聯(lián)邦旗幟的賽車。這輛車也叫“李將軍”——內(nèi)戰(zhàn)時南方一名司令官。

Lawmakers debate

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.

周三晚上和周四上午，南卡萊羅納州議會的會員們圍繞著旗幟的意義和將來展開激烈辯論。在13多個小時的爭論過后，他們同意移除國會山的旗幟。

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.

州長哈雷支持該項舉措，在法案上簽署了九次名。然后她把這九支筆分別送給了九名受害人家屬。

The flag comes down

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

周五上午，不同民族的百余人集中在國會山，他們歡呼道，“美國”“美國”

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 rightfulplace in a museum.

在短暫的慶祝儀式上，政府護衛(wèi)隊的成員換換降下旗幟。哈雷州長稱旗幟將會安放在博物館。

General Lee retires

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.

其它組織也通過私人渠道為移除聯(lián)邦旗幟努力。一些零售商店——包括沃爾瑪，亞馬遜和西爾斯百貨稱他們將不會出售帶有聯(lián)邦旗幟標志的商品。

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.

赫薩特公爵的車將會怎么樣呢？美國一位高爾夫選手布巴·沃森幾年前購買了李將軍賽車。他表示他將用美國國旗掩蓋聯(lián)邦旗幟。

And that’s In the News. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Kelly Jean Kelly adapted this story from VOA reports. Hai Do was the editor.

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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