Human Rights‏

The time is 1905. A steamship sails on a vast ocean.“Daddy, will we ever get to America?”asks a weary lad. "Soon, my child, soon,”his father replies.“We've been on this ship for weeks. I wish we were back home in Russia,”complained the boy.
時間是在一九○五年，一艘汽船航行在浩瀚的大海上。「爹地，我們到底到不到得了美國啊？」一個小男孩疲憊地問道。「快到了，我的孩子，快到了。」他的父親回答。「我們已經坐了好幾個禮拜的船了，我真希望我們現在是在蘇俄的家裡。」男孩抱怨著。

Son, you know how they persecute Jews there. We can never go back," the father reminded him. "Will things be better in America?” the young boy asked. "I hope so,” his father sighed. "Look! The Statue of Liberty!" the boy shouted. "Just like in the picture!”His father smiled. "Yes, my son,”he said. "I think she's waving to us.”
「孩子，在那兒他們怎麼迫害猶太人，你是知道的，我們絕對不能回去。」這位父親提醒著他。「在美國情況會比較好嗎？」小男孩問道。「希望如此。」他的父親嘆氣道。「你看！自由女神！」男孩喊著：「跟圖片裡的一模一樣！」他的父親微笑著說：「是啊，孩子。我想她正向我們招手呢。」

America has long been a haven for immigrants from around the world. Until the 19th century,the majority of immigrants were from northern Europe. By the mid-20th century, they were coming from all over the globe. In recent years, scores of refugees from Southeast Asia and Latin America have fled to American shores. Why? To find a sanctuary—a place where human rights are respected.
美國長久以來一直是世界各地移民們的避難所，在十九世紀之前，移民主要來自北歐。
到了二十世紀中期，移民則來自全球各地。
近幾年來，很多來自東南亞和拉丁美洲的難民都逃往美國。
這是為什麼呢？為了要尋找一個避難所一尊重人權的地方。

The American idea of respecting human rights came from several sources. First, the colonists had been persecuted and deprived of their rights in the Old World. They realized that people’s rights must be preserved. Moreover, the Bible and literature from Greece and Rome taught that people are born with basic rights.
美國人尊重人權的概念有幾個起源。首先，移民們在歐洲的舊世界中曾被迫害並被剝奪權利，因此他們深覺保護人權的必要。再者，聖經以及希臘羅馬文學中都教導他們人類與生俱來的一些基本權利。

English writer John Locke emphasized that governments should protect these rights.
As a result, the Declaration of Independence reflected the belief that God created all people equal. The U.S. Constitution included 10 amendments to guarantee citizens’ basic rights. This “Bill of Rights”promised freedom of religion, freedom of speech and of the press, the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial.
英國作家約翰‧洛克強調政府應保障人民這些權利。於是，獨立宣言中便反映出神造世人、生而平等的意念。美國憲法中包含了十項保障國民基本人權的修正案，這些權利法案承諾給予人民信仰的自由、言論及新聞的自由、擁有武器的權利，以及擁有公平審判的權利。

Throughout American history, the belief in individual human rights has influenced government policies and laws. Slavery opponents argued that even slaves had rights as human beings. Finally, after the Civil War slavery was outlawed. As industries developed, many people protested the poor working conditions.
縱觀美國歷史，尊重個人人權的信念一直影響著政府的政策和法律。反黑奴政策者認為甚至連奴隸都該擁有作為人的基本權利。終於在美國南北戰爭之後，法律便禁止奴隸制度的存在。隨著工業的發展，很多人抗議不良的工作條件。

Eventually, laws were passed guaranteeing workers fair wages and working hours and prohibiting child labor. The Civil Rights Movement used human rights arguments in the fight against discrimination. Even today, U.S. trade relations with other countries depend on their having a positive human rights record.
最後，終於通過法案保障工人合理
的工資、工時、並且禁用童工。在美國
民權運動中，也以人權的基本論點來抗
議各樣的歧視和差別待遇。甚至在今
天，美國與其他國家的貿易關係如何，
也視對方是否擁有良好的人權記錄而
定。

Human rights have become a global concern. The cruelty of Nazi Germany illustrated the danger of not protecting human rights. As a result, the United Nations was established in 1945 with a belief in the basic human rights of all people. Three years later, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document stated that, “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Later, groups like Amnesty International were formed to keep an eye out for human rights abuses wherever they occur.
人權已成為全球各國關注的焦點，
德國納粹黨的殘酷史實即說明了罔顧人
權的危險。於是，聯合國在一九四五年
設立，該組織深信所有人類都應擁有基
本人權。三年之後，聯合國正式通過世
界人權宣言。這一份文件提出「所有人
類生而擁有尊嚴及權利的平等和自由」。
稍後，國際特赦組織成立，以監督防止
任何違反人權的事件發生。

Most nations in the world today would agree that human beings have basic rights.
Of course, different countries have different perspectives about the issue. Some governments feel the need to restrict individual rights to protect the rights of society. They resent being forced to accept America’s definition of human rights. But to Americans, no matter how you define the issue, people deserve to be treated like people.
今天，世界上大部分的國家都認同
人類應擁有基本的權利。當然，不同的
國家會用不同的角度來看這件事。有些
政府覺得有必要以限制個人權利來保障
社會權利；他們痛恨被迫接受美國的人
權定義。然而對美國人而言，無論你如
何定義這個主題，只要是人就應該以人
⊙Word Bankvast (adj) 廣大的；浩大的
persecute (v) 迫害

haven (n) 港口；避難所
score (n) 二十（個）
sanctuary (n) 庇護；避難所

deprive (v) 剝奪

amendment (n) 修正案
bear arms (v phr) 擁有武器

discrimination (n) 歧視；差別待遇

cruelty (n) 殘酷
dignity (n) 尊嚴
amnesty (n) 大赦；特赦
keep an eye out for something (v phr) 留心注意以防止某事發生

resent (v) 憤恨；憎惡

The Day's Phrase

Learn more about the world's favorite sport
深入了解這種全世界最受喜愛的運動
Arnold wanted to make a good first impression with Joanie's parents.
He made a point of smiling and shaking their hands.阿諾想要讓瓊妮的父母有好的第一印象。他特別注意面帶微笑並與他們握手。

The clowns are going to bring up the rear at the parade.
小丑們將在遊行隊伍中殿後。

An architect discusses the importance of design in buildings
聽建築師娓娓道來建築設計的重要性
My older sister warned me to buckle down. She said otherwise I will not graduate on time.我姊姊警告我要努力用功。她說否則我無法如期畢業。

Our estimate of how many people would show up at the party missed by a mile.
我們所估計會出席派對的人數與實際人數差了一大截。

Wendy went from rags to riches since she won the lottery.
自從溫蒂贏了彩券後，就從此由貧窮變為富有。

Emily Osment is making her own name famous
艾蜜莉‧奧斯蒙打響了自己的名號
Loretta realized she had opened Pandora's box when she asked JoJo what was wrong.當羅莉塔問嬌嬌有什麼不對勁時，她發現她挖出了一些驚人的內幕。

"I only have eyes for Samuel," Sarah said. "I'll never love anyone else."
「我只鍾情於薩姆爾，」莎拉說著，「我不會愛別人了。」

Learn how to choose the right program for you
學習如何挑選適合自己的學程

"Pipe down!" the mean baby sitter shouted.
「安靜！」那個脾氣暴躁的褓母喊叫著。

Whenever we go out to eat, my dad picks up the tab.
每次我們到外面吃飯時，我爸爸都會付賬單。