‘Castro demands return of Guantanamo Bay during historic Obama visit’
President Obama’s visit to Cuba represents a definite thaw in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Before Obama’s visit, no US President had been on an official visit to Cuba since 1928.
Yet, this “rapprochement” should not overshadow the different points of disagreement that oppose the two nations.
Raul Castro raised the question of human rights and criticized the USA for failing to provide universal healthcare and equal pay for women.
On the other hand, the USA pressed for the release of all political prisoners from Cuban jails, while Cuba officials deny that such prisoners are currently still incarcerated.
In the face of these attacks, President Obama has opted for a strategy of appeasement, but he is nonetheless being criticized for having suggested the forthcoming lift on the embargo while Cuba has yet made no commitment as to any substantial political reform.
If this official encounter between Obama and Castro marks a historic turn, the resolution of these divisive issues is paramount to the stabilisation of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba.
The USA presses for / campaigns for the release of all political prisoners as well as economic reforms, while Cuba demands a list of all political prisoners “allegedly” still incarcerated, a lift on the embargo and the return of the US navy base at Guantanamo Bay.
Structures:
To criticize someone for doing something / for not doing something
On the one hand / on the other hand
To commit to doing something
Regard: Note the following structures
(l. 59) With regard to / In regard to / As regards / Regarding + Noun
Regardless of + Noun
Vocabulary:
Historic / Historical
An unexpectedly spirited clash
The Star-Spangled Banner played to spine-tingling effect
To turn the tables (on someone): Fig. to cause a reversal in someone's plans; to make one's plans turn back on one.
To turn the tables (on someone/ something): to change a situation so that someone's position is the opposite of what it was
To release something / someone
The restoration of diplomatic relations
Frank and candid exchanges
A decade
To transform something overnight
Shortcoming (n.): an imperfection or lack that detracts from the whole; also : the quality or state of being flawed or lacking Synonym: fault, imperfection, defect
Conciliatory (adj.), ex: « Conciliatory remarks »): appeasing
To lift an embargo
To anger someone
Critic / criticism
To step down
In nine months’ time
To play a longer game
The consummate communicator Obama / the gruff former general
Consummate (adj.): 1. complete in every detail, perfect / 2. (In the text) extremely skilled and accomplished « a consummate liar » « a consummate professional ». Synonym: accomplished, talented / 3. of the highest degree « consummate skill » « consummate cruelty ».
Gruff (adj.): 1. rough, brusque, or stern in manner, speech, or aspect « a gruff reply », Synonym: blunt, brusque / 2. (also / voice) deep and harsh, hoarse, « a gruff voice »
The contrasting style between the 2 speakers « made for absorbing viewing »
Revealing (adj.), ex: « The spectacle was ridiculous but revealing »: allowing a look at or an understanding of something inner or hidden "a revealing confession".
« Genial » (Adj.) « A genial encounter »: (In the text )1. marked by or diffusing sympathy or friendliness (« your genial host ») / 2. favorable to growth or comfort, mild (« genial sunshine ») / 3. displaying or marked by genius
The highpoint of an historically charged morning
An anthem
To feel chills down one’s spine
A wreath-laying ceremony
To pay one’s respects to someone
To pay tribute to someone
Homeland
A host nation
To « set the stage for » something
To reset neighborly ties / « warming ties »
A serving president
In the intervening years
The dismal condition of the Cuban economy
To break the ice
The White House has steadily relaxed controls on trade, travel and finance
A legacy
A summit between two leaders
To hold bilateral talks
A thorny issue / (A thorn) / « Many thorny issues remain unresolved »
To be adamant about something / Cuba is adamant that no full rapprochement is possible unless the US meet certain conditions
To press forward with something (v.), ex: « To press forward with market reforms »: push on, advance
To allow the people more say in decision making
Vocabulary selected by students from G 47
Adamant (adj): Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind, determined
Aim to + infinitive (to aim to do something): Have the intention of achieving.
Archetype (noun): A very typical example of a certain person or thing.
Conciliatory (adj): Intended or likely to placate or pacify, calm.
Lack (noun): The state of being without or not having enough of something
Gruff (adj): Abrupt or taciturn in manner
Inherently (adv): In a permanent, essential, or characteristic way (/ « inherent » adj.)
Legacy (noun): Something left or handed down by a predecessor.
To speak out in favour / against something (phrasal verb): Express one's opinions frankly and publicly
Spine-tingling (adj): Thrilling or pleasurably frightening
A wreath(noun): An arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring and used for decoration or for laying on a grave.
Dismal (adj): depressing, sad (/ about atmosphere, weather, economy)
‘Senator’s 15-Hour Filibuster Gains ‘Path Forward’ on Gun Control Measures’
Summary proposed by a student from G 63.
The text is a press article taken from The New York Times. It deals with a filibuster staged by Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator who held the floor for more than 14 hours, in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting. His goal was to force Republican Senators to put two amendments to a vote.
In doing this, Senator Murphy actually aimed to raise public awareness on the need for more systematic background checks before purchasing a gun, as well as on the need to ban gun sales to suspected terrorists listed on the Government watch list.
Indeed, as Majority leader Mitch McConnell explained, he had no intention to prevent these amendments from being put to a vote as Republican Senators also wished to have their own amendments voted on. In his view, Senator Murphy mainly intended to attract media coverage.
Note:
To “stage a filibuster“
To put a question / an amendment to a vote
“To vote a bill“ is different from “to vote on a bill“
Vocabulary selected by students from G 30
To seize: to take or grasp suddenly
To be heightened by: to be increased by something
To yield: to give up, to surrender : Ex: « To yield the floor » (Opposite: « to hold the floor »)
To relinquish: to abandon
Counterpart: a person or thing equivalent to another in position
To take over: to take control of / to do something after someone else stops doing it
A chunk (n.): 1. a thick piece / 2. a large part of something
Lengthy (adv.): of great, often too great, length
To be « deadlocked » (adj): to be a situation in which no further progress towards an agreement is possible
Underway: if something is underway, it is happening now
Unhinged: mentally deranged
To heal: to become healthy or well again / to make (someone or something) healthy or well again
To delay: to put off to another time / to keep or stay back or slow down
To deny: to refuse
Vocabulary selected by students from G 63
A filibuster (noun): it’s a way to stop the legislation processus
ex: a democratic filibuster
To relinquish something (verb): to abandon something
ex: to relinquish the floor
To tighten something (verb): to restrict
ex: to tighten a legislation
« In the aftermath of »: the period of time after a bad and usually destructive event
ex: in the aftermath of the massacre in Orlando
An outlier (n.): 1. a person whose residence and place of business are at a distance / 2. something (as a geological feature) that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body / 3. a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample
‘Alabama Judge defies gay-marriage law’
A federal district court recently ruled that Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, however, encouraged state probate judges not to act on Federal Judge Granade’s decision and not to issue marriage licenses. Indeed, the federal decision, Judge Moore argues, has persuasive value but is in no way binding on state courts.
This decision, which can be interpreted as an act of defiance towards federal authority and a reassertion of state power on the part of Judge Roy Moore, reflects just as much concerns about « federal overreach », as an ideological bias against gay marriage (supported by an overwhelming majority of Alabama citizens who in a recent referendum voted against same-sex unions).
However / Nonetheless, in spite of / despite Judge Moore’s contention, the Supremacy Clause of Article 6 of the US Constitution clearly states that federal prevails over state law so that Alabama has no choice but to recognize same-sex marriage.
OR
Notwithstanding Judge Moore’s contention, the Supremacy Clause of Article 6 of the US Constitution, guarantees the authority of federal law over state law so Alabama courts have no choice but to recognize same-sex marriage.
Note:
“The judiciary“ but “the judicial power“.
Vocabulary selected by students from G 29
To speak to (phr.): to give evidence of or comments on (a subject)
Binding power: qualify a form of power reflected by a judge’s decision and bounds the other judge with the same way of law’s interpretation.
State court: qualify the jurisdiction of a state, each of the fifty states in the United States include one and operates independently under the constitution and the laws of the particular state.
Probate judges: term that is given to the judge of a probate court with is a court that has the authority to rate wills and supervise the administration of assets to the beneficiaries.
To issue a marriage licence: qualify the decision of the judge to deliver a marriage licence to a couple.
Sanctity of marriage amendment: Also known as the Alabama Sanctity of marriage amendment, is a amendment to the Alabama Constitution that made unconstitutional for the state to recognize or to perform a same-sex marriages.
Vocabulary selected by L2 students from G 63
A probate judge (noun): a state judicial official who is in charge of overseeing all aspects of the process of authenticating a last will and testament of the estates of deceased persons (and, in this context, a state judicial official who issues marriage licences).
To issue something (verb): to make something known formally.
A chief justice (noun): the presiding judge of a high court having several judges (especially supreme courts).
To abide by (verb): 1.to conform to ‘abide by the rules’ / 2: to acquiesce in « will abide by your decision ».
Be careful: ‘To abide’ and ‘to abide BY something’ do not mean the same thing.
A constituency (noun): a body of voters or a district represented by an elected legislator or official.
To be mandatory on someone to do something (verb): to be required or commanded by authority.
Eagerness (noun): ambition, longing to do something
(See adj. = eager / structure: ‘to be eager to do something’)
To unnerve (verb): to agitate, to upset.
To prompt someone to do something (verb): to spur, to incite or to inspire.
A misgiving (noun, (often plural: ‘misgivings’)): a doubt or a distrust.
Verbatim (adverb): corresponding word for word.
A scholar (noun): a specialist in a given branch of knowledge.
Scope (noun) (in the scope of something): the extent of a given activity or subject that is involved, treated or relevant.
An iconoclast (noun): one who attacks and seeks to overthrow popular ideas or institutions.
‘After Charleston, South revisits its many Confederate Images’
Recent tragic events, such as the killing of churchgoers in Charleston by Dylann Roof, has spurred a movement of protest questioning the legitimacy of the numerous memorials or statues paying tribute to Confederate (Civil War 1861-1865) veterans.
Indeed, in Kentucky or Tennessee, politicians, who for a long time have remained silent on the subject, implicitly condoning or sanctioning (i.e. officially supporting) such displays, are now taking a stand and call for their removal.
Without a doubt / Undoubtedly, the Confederate flag comes across as the most controversial of these symbols. (Or: At the heart of this controversy lies the Confederate flag.)
Its supporters see it as a symbol of Southern pride and identity. It was, however, adopted during the Civil War by the Confederacy and for this reason has blatantly racist overtones.
What’s more, this flag had fallen into « oblivion » for decades before being dug out from the past in the second part of the 20th century.
As Stan Deaton explains, this revival of interest for the flag throws light on / sheds light on « history as being a necessarily artificial and subjective process », implying a reshaping of the past into a narrative.
It also underlines the fundamental distinction between history and memory and shows that a flag, (just like a statue or a memorial) plays a significant part in giving a community a sense of cohesion by structuring an identity around the shared memory of a common experience. Memory, however, can also be a reconstruction, a reinterpretation of the past. When memory proposes to shape the identity of a community by obliterating historical facts (like, in this case, the intrinsically racist nature of the Confederate flag), it is highly problematic.
Finally, it was interesting to examine the causes of the popularity the Confederate flag has enjoyed in recent years in Southern States and wonder if this interest for the flag is not suggestive of a rejection of the more unifying official US flag (i.e. « The Stars and Stripes » / « The Star-Spangled Banner »), symbolic of the US nation as a whole.
Vocabulary selected by L2 students from G. 2
A churchgoer (noun) : A person who goes to church regularly.
A license plate (also, a number plate) (noun) : A sign affixed to the front and rear of a vehicle displaying its registration number.
Widely (adverb): Far apart; with a wide space or interval between. (Adj: Wide)
Realm (noun) : A field or domain of activity or interest.
Spray-paint (noun) : Paint held in aerosol can for spraying on to a surface.
Rooted (adj.) : 1. having developed from something (Ex: The problems were rooted in the area's history) or 2: very strong and firmly fixed (Ex: deeply rooted loyalty)
Vocabulary selected by L2 students from G. 3
To yield (to pressure) (v.): to stop resisting a strong influence / to be forced to do something
Be careful, when used as a transitive verb, to yield, takes on a totally different meaning:
A sore point (phr.): a subject that people prefer not to mention because it is a sensitive issue
To overrule (v.): to invalidate
To ignite (v.) (intransitive or transitive) to (cause to) start burning or explode (Ex: The fuel spontaneously ignites because of the high temperature and pressure.), or to cause a dangerous, excited, or angry situation to begin (Ex: The proposed restrictions have ignited a storm of protest.)
To cope with something: when you have to deal with a situation in an adequate way
To be behind bars (phr.): to be in jail
To be charged WITH a criminal offence: to be accused of having doing something criminal
The Attorney General (n.): the chief lawyer of a country or state who represents the government in legal matters
To do / try ONE’S utmost (do your / his / her / our / your / their utmost) (phr.): to do something as well as you can by making a great effort. (Ex: she did her utmost to finish on time.)
Outcry (n.): a strong expression of anger and disapproval about something, made by a group of people or by the public. (Ex: The release from prison of two of the terrorists has provoked a public outcry.)
Vocabulary selected by students from G. 63
To fly the flag (phr.): to support or represent one’s country
A ‘second-rate citizen’ (phr.): a person who is denied a fair share of respect and often a member of minority group who is denied access to the social, economic and political benefits of his citizenship
Imagery (n.): symbolism
An outcry (n.): protest, objection
To spill (v.): to shed (blood) as in killing or wounding
To spur (v.): to encourage an activity or development, or to cause something to develop faster
Structure: to spur someone TO DO something
To curtail (v.): to reduce / limit / stop something before it is finished
Upheaval (n.): a very big change that causes difficulty or confusion (Ex: political / social upheaval)
To turn a blind eye TO something (phr.): to choose to ignore something that you know is wrong or illegal
Aftermath (n.): consequences
To infringe (v.): to act against the law
Be careful, note that the meaning of infringe changes slightly according to the way the verb is structured in the sentence:
To infringe something: to break a rule or law (Ex: They infringed building regulations)
To infringe ON someone’s rights: to limit someone’s rights or freedom (Ex: The law infringes on somebody’s right to bear arms)
Infringement (n.): an infringement of copyright
Vocabulary selected by students from G 29
Antebellum (adj.): occurring in the Southern US during the time before the American Civil War
Outpouring: an act of expressing and emotion or feeling it in a very powerful way
Headwind (n.): a wind that is blowing towards something (a ship or an airplane) as it moves forward
Fraught (adj.): structure = ‘fraught with + noun’: full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers.
Ex: ’The negotiations have been fraught with difficulties/problems right from the start.’
Peddle (v.): to sell (something) usually in small amounts and often by traveling to different places / in the text = to try to get people to accept or believe (something)
‘Peddler of dreams’ (see: a peddler (n.)): someone who sells things in small amounts often by traveling to different places / a person who peddles something / (also: a person who sells illegal drugs)
To convene (v.): to come together in a group for a meeting
Pulpit (n.): a raised platform where a priest or a minister stands when leading a worship sermon
Knee-Jerk (see: ’a knee-jerk reaction’): reactions occurring quickly and without thought
Seek (sought, sought) (v.): to search for (someone or something) / to try to find (someone or something) / to ask for (help, advice, etc.) / to try to get or achieve (something)
Utter (in the text = adj.): complete and total
Indelible (adj.): 1. impossible to remove or to forget or 2. Producing marks that cannot be erased
To equivocate (v.): to use unclear language specially to deceive or mislead someone
Salient (adj.): very important or noticeable
Cloistered (adj.): 1. separated of the rest of the world
2. Protected from the problems and concerns of everyday
Impediment (n.): 1. Something that makes it difficult to do or complete something: something that interferes with movement of progress
2. a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally
Genteel (adj.): relating to people who have high social status / pretending or trying to have the qualities and manners of people who have high social status / having a quietly appealing or polite quality
Tether (n.): a rope or chain that is used to tie an animal to a post, wall, so that it will stay to a particular area
Skirmish (n.): a brief and usually unplanned fight during a war
Sleight: skill or trick
Bewilder (v.): to confuse very much
‘Who’s Deplorable’
The Economist, 17th-23rd September.
Vocabulary selected by L2 students from G 63
Con-man (noun) : A man who cheats or tricks someone by gaining their trust and persuading them to believe something that is not true.
« He is obviously a con-man (Donald Trump) ».
Bigotry (noun) : Intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself.
« He has repeatedly made appeals to bigotry since entering the race more than a year ago »
To rig (verb) : Manage or conduct (something) fraudulently so as to gain an advantage.
« The Republican is already […] growling that debates will be « rigged ».
A fib (noun) : a trivial or childish lie / an untrue statement about something minor or unimportant / phr: ’to tell fibs’
« In a country long used to fibbing candidates »
Squeamish (adjective) : Easily made to feel sick or disgusted.
« Depressing the Trump vote among squeamish Republicans »
Perilously (adverb) : In a way that is full of danger or risk
« It is perilously hard to criticise Donald Trump without seeming to insult his voters ».
Blue-collar (adjective) : Relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry.
« Mr Trump’s support comes from blue-collar whites who hail him not just a candidate, but a champion »
Wretch (noun) : An unfortunate or unhappy person.
« She also sorrows that so many are wretched enough to fall for his empty promises »
Shtick (noun) : A gimmick, comic routine, style of performance, etc. associated with a particular person.
« Put simply, Mr Trump’s shtick should not be working »
Deplorable (adjective) : Deserving strong condemnation; completely unacceptable.
« She puts half of Donald Trump’s supporters in a « basket of deplorables ».
Hook (noun) : a curved piece of metal or plastic used for hanging something on, or a similar object used for catching fish.
In the text: ’To get / let someone off the hook’ (phr.): to allow someone to escape from a difficult situation or to avoid doing something that they do not want to do
« Alas, if Clinton allies think that sympathy will get them off the hook, they may be misjudging how much voters enjoy being called « desperate ». »
Scold (verb) : Remonstrate with or rebuke (someone) angrily.
« Mrs Clinton’s best chance to challenge Mr Trump’s nonsense directly, without seeming to scold his fans »
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