VOA慢速英语：南卡罗来纳州移除联邦旗帜

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.

来自南卡莱罗纳州的高速护卫巡逻队的队伍降下国会山前内战时期的联邦旗帜。在国会建筑前飘扬了近50年后，这面旗帜将被放进博物馆。

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.

九名非裔美国人在南卡罗来纳州的查尔斯顿教堂中被杀后，才决定降下此面旗帜。照片显示，承认罪行的谋杀者扛着一面联邦旗帜。

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

杀人事件发生之后，积极分子展开运动要求移除政府公共建筑前飘扬的联邦旗帜。

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.

反对此面旗帜的人说这面旗帜是白人优于黑人的象征，是种族压迫的表现。南部士兵在十九世纪六十年代的美国内战支持南方各州奴隶制合法时就用的这面旗帜。

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.

南方被打败后一百年后，官员在南卡罗来纳州政府前又重新升起了这面旗帜。反对者表示该旗帜在纪念战争爆发时就一直矗立在国会山。该旗帜变成了阻止二十世纪六十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.

约纳逊·布兰克斯是加图研究所的成员。他表示，许多人将联邦旗帜视为民族压迫的象征。

“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.”

“因为每次这面旗帜出现时，使用时就会肯定白人比黑人更加优越的断定，阻止了他们实现民权的道路。”

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.

支持者称这面旗帜是南方历史的标志，李·布莱特——一位共和党参议员称在国会前矗立这面旗帜是为了纪念在内战中为南卡罗来纳州独立而战的士兵们。

“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.”

移除这面旗帜并不会改变这个民族，只是没有尊重这些无论是黑人还是白人，为自己家园而战的两千多名士兵。

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.

一些支持者补充道，这面旗帜同时也是庆祝南方文化的一种有趣的方式。他们指出在二十世纪七十年代和八十年代风靡一时的电视节目——《赫萨特公爵》。这部电视节目描述了一辆画有联邦旗帜的赛车。这辆车也叫“李将军”——内战时南方一名司令官。

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，南卡莱罗纳州议会的会员们围绕着旗帜的意义和将来展开激烈辩论。在13多个小时的争论过后，他们同意移除国会山的旗帜。

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.

州长哈雷支持该项举措，在法案上签署了九次名。然后她把这九支笔分别送给了九名受害人家属。

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国会山，他们欢呼道，“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 rightfulplace in a museum.

在短暂的庆祝仪式上，政府护卫队的成员换换降下旗帜。哈雷州长称旗帜将会安放在博物馆。

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.

其它组织也通过私人渠道为移除联邦旗帜努力。一些零售商店——包括沃尔玛，亚马逊和西尔斯百货称他们将不会出售带有联邦旗帜标志的商品。

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.

赫萨特公爵的车将会怎么样呢？美国一位高尔夫选手布巴·沃森几年前购买了李将军赛车。他表示他将用美国国旗掩盖联邦旗帜。

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