感恩节小插曲

上周，美国国会一名高级助手因批评奥巴马女儿，迫于舆论压力而辞职。

我们来看看这个小事件，

感恩节，美国人家家要吃火鸡，依惯例，奥巴马在白宫举行感恩节火鸡赦免仪式，有点像我们的放生， 就是个趣味性活动。

White House Turkey Pardoning Event

奥巴马的两个女儿 Sasha 和 Malia 也参加了这个仪式，基本是傻傻的站在奥巴马身边，看上去她们对赦免活动兴趣不大，有点无聊。

Sasha Obama and Malia Obama

事后，国会一位众议员助手 Elizabeth Lauten 在 Facebook 发帖对 Sasha 和 Malia 进行评论，认为姐妹俩举止欠妥，衣着不当，没有第一家庭女儿的风范。

Elizabeth Lauten 的原帖：

Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.(department 此处意为“范围、领域”)

大概的意思是：

我知道你俩正处于不耐烦的青少年阶段，可你们是第一家庭成员，拜托能不能有点品位。至少尊重你们扮演的角色。不过，你们的父母就不很敬重他们的职位和国家，所以你们会这样是缺乏“好榜样”。还是振作起来，表现的得体点，把白宫的活动当回事。穿着也得像样点，别像在酒吧似的。还有，也别在电视直播的公开活动中满脸不耐烦的。

此帖一出，引起很多人反感和气愤，网友纷纷认为这位女助理不该这样刻薄说话，尤其是对只有16和13岁单纯的孩子。

Elizabeth Lauten

媒体这样报道：

Lauten came under fire last week when she criticized Obama's daughters for their seemingly bored demeanor at an appearance with their father as he "pardoned" a turkey at a White House pre-Thanksgiving ceremony.（came under fire 遭到各方攻击和责难）

网友 Reese 写道：If Lauten were a mom, particularly of teen girls, she'd have a lot more empathy, I suspect, and she'd probably agree with me that kids in the White House should be off-limits to media scrutiny。(empathy 感同身受，media scrutiny 媒体的审视和挑剔)

周六， Lauten 再次在 Facebook 发帖， 为此事道歉：

"I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager." （真的感同身受了）

"After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents, and re-reading my words online I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were."

“Furthermore, I'd like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words."

周一，Lauten 辞职。

其实美国各大媒体也注意到了姐妹俩在仪式上的漫不经心，但媒体都“懂规矩”，总统可以骂，但对未成年的孩子，是不该品头论足的。

更敏感的是，Lauten 是共和党众议员的助手，其言论有政党攻讦之嫌。所以 Lauten 在舆论压力之下，只好辞职了。

这些帖子因为是网络语言，所以比较口语化，短语用得多是美国英语的特点。我们看这些帖子和媒体报道，并不是很难，却正是我们需要的原滋原味的英语。英语学到一定阶段，应该多接触 native English。如果只是读教科书和名著之类，会和社会实际语言脱节的。