Supreme Court Ruling Makes Same-Sex Marriage a Right Nationwide

Fri, June 26, 2015

By Doug Mills/ The New York Times

WASHINGTON — In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage.

“No longer may this liberty be denied,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority in the historic decision. “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”

Marriage is a “keystone of our social order,” Justice Kennedy said, adding that the plaintiffs in the case were seeking “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.”

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and resistance — or at least stalling — in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

        The court’s four more liberal justices joined Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion. Each member of the court’s conservative wing filed a separate dissent, in tones ranging from resigned dismay to bitter scorn.

In dissent, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said the Constitution had nothing to say on the subject of same-sex marriage.

“If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. “Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.”

In a second dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia mocked the soaring language of Justice Kennedy, who has become the nation’s most important judicial champion of gay rights.

“The opinion is couched in a style that is as pretentious as its content is egotistic,” Justice Scalia wrote of his colleague’s work. “Of course the opinion’s showy profundities are often profoundly incoherent.”

As Justice Kennedy finished announcing his opinion from the bench on Friday, several lawyers seated in the bar section of the court’s gallery wiped away tears, while others grinned and exchanged embraces.

Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired in 2010, was on hand for the decision, and many of the justices’ clerks took seats in the chamber, which was nearly full as the ruling was announced. The decision made same-sex marriage a reality in the 13 states that had continued to ban it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html

Structure of the Lead:

WHAT- same-sex marriage is legal

WHO-homosexual people

WHEN- June 26, 2015

WHERE-United States

WHY-the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage

HOW- The decision set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country

Keywords:

1.      Profound 深刻的

2.      Embody 體現

3.      Fidelity 忠誠

4.      Marital 婚姻的

5.      Jubilation 歡呼

6.      Dignity 尊嚴

7.      Embraces 擁抱

Myanmar begins historic vote

April 1, 2012

By the CNN Wire Staff

Voters in Myanmar went to the polls Sunday in a historic election, the first time credible alternatives to the ruling party have appeared on the country's ballot.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who symbolizes the fight for democracy in the Asian nation, was one of the candidates competing for 45 parliamentary vacancies created by the promotion of lawmakers to the Cabinet and other posts last year.

Released in 2010 by Myanmar's military rulers after years under house arrest, Suu Kyi has been traveling up and down the country, rallying support for her once-banned National League for Democracy party.

Followed by hundreds of people in Wathinkha, Suu Kyi visited a polling station, where she spoke with election monitors and voters. Suu Kyi was planning to make other stops around the country.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday), and were set to close eight hours later. Voters will weigh in during a time of enormous change in Myanmar, also known as Burma, which has been secluded and ruled by a military junta for decades.

In the past 12 months, the country has pardoned hundreds of political prisoners, secured a cease-fire with Karen rebels and has agreed to negotiate with other ethnic rebel groups. Freer press rules have encouraged the proliferation of journals and magazines.

Myanmar's efforts to thaw its frosty relations with the rest of the world have been warmly welcomed and rewarded. In recent months, a steady procession of foreign ministers has visited the country and, in February, the EU lifted a travel ban on Myanmar officials.

There have been hints, too, that the a free and fair vote on Sunday will lead to the relatively swift unraveling of sanctions that have long choked the country's economy.

Unlike the 2010 general election, international observers have been invited to monitor the vote. The United States, the European Union and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are sending monitors, as are Japan, Canada and Australia.

Analysts say the election will be the first real test of the government's commitment to removing the fear and paranoia of citizens silenced by nearly five decades of military rule. After attracting international condemnation for manipulating the voting process two years ago, Myanmar's leaders know that a fair election will be proof to the world that it can conduct a legitimate vote.

Thousands of Burmese living in exile around the world are watching the election for a clear sign that it is safe to return home. Young voters in Myanmar appeared to be particularly excited about the polling.

The vote will not tip the balance in Myanmar's Legislature, which has 664 members according to ElectionGuide.org. And analysts say that the sheer number and spread of polling booths across the country will make it impossible for international monitors to ensure an honest count.

Suu Kyi said she believes voting irregularities, illegal activities and intimidation have been encouraged by official entities.

But she doesn't "regret having taken part" in the election campaign because it has raised political awareness among Myanmar's population. Suu Kyi is expected to win her seat in Kawhmu, south of Yangon(仰光) .

The daughter of Gen. Aung San, a hero of Burmese (緬甸語) independence, the 66-year-old Suu Kyi herself became an inspiration with her long struggle for democracy in the country.

As a member of parliament, Suu Kyi would also be expected to be free to travel outside Myanmar -- and more importantly to return -- something that wasn't possible during her long years of repression and confinement.

She told hundreds of journalists gathered outside her residence Friday that she didn't plan on becoming a minister in the military-backed civilian government, if a position was offered to her. Under Myanmar's constitution, lawmakers can't hold ministerial office.

Asked where she would place Myanmar's democracy on a scale of one to 10, Suu Kyi said, "We're trying to get to one."

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/31/world/asia/myanmar-elections/index.html

Structure of the Lead:

WHAT-Voters in Myanmar went to the polls Sunday in a historic election

WHO- Aung San Suu Kyi

WHEN- April 1, 2012

WHERE- Myanmar

WHY- Myanmar's leaders know that a fair election will be proof to the world that it can conduct a legitimate vote.

HOW-not given

Keywords:

1.      Ballot 選票

2.      Parliamentary 國會的

3.      Vacancies 空缺

4.      Seclude 使隔離

5.      Negotiate 談判

6.      Ethnic 種族的

7.      Proliferation 擴散

8.      Thaw 瓦解

9.      Unravel 拆散

10.  Sanctions 制裁

11.  Monitor 監控

12.  Manipulate 操縱

13.  Legitimate 合法的

14.  Entity 實體

15.  Constitution 憲法

Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi share Nobel Peace Prize

Tue, October 14, 2014

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

The Nobel Peace Prize(諾貝爾和平獎) was awarded Friday to India's Kailash Satyarthi(凱拉西·薩塔亞提) and Pakistan's(巴基斯坦的) Malala Yousafzai(馬拉拉·優素福扎伊) for their struggles against the suppression of children and for young people's rights, including the right to education.

Thorbjorn Jagland (托爾比約恩·亞格蘭), chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (挪威諾貝爾委員會), said, "Children must go to school, not be financially exploited."

Yousafzai came to global attention after she was shot in the head by the Taliban -- two years ago Thursday -- for her efforts to promote education for girls in Pakistan. Since then, after recovering from surgery, she has taken her campaign to the world stage, notably with a speech last year at the United Nations.

Through her heroic struggle, Yousafzai has become a leading spokeswoman for girls' rights to education, said Jagland.

According to the Nobel committee, at 17 she's the youngest ever peace prize winner.

Yousafzai said that the award is a "great honor for me," and that she's honored to share it with Satyarthi.

"I'm proud that I'm the first Pakistani and the first young woman or the first young person getting this award," she said in Birmingham(伯明罕) , England.

Yousafzai learned she won the award while she was in chemistry class in England on Friday morning, she said. She wasn't expecting to get the award, and at 10:15 a.m., she was sure she hadn't won. But soon afterward, a teacher called her over and told her she had.

Yousafzai said she continued to attend classes, and it was a "normal day," besides teachers and fellow students congratulating her.

She said she doesn't believe that she deserved the award but considers it an encouragement to continue her campaign and "to know that I'm not alone," Yousafzai told reporters.

New beginnings

Her award will not mark the end of her campaign to advocate for girls' education, she said.

"I think this is really the beginning," she said, adding that children around the world "should stand up for their rights" and "not wait for someone else."

Yousafzai spoke with Satyarthi by phone Friday, and they agreed to work together to advocate that every child is able to go to school. She said they also decided to try to build a stronger relationship between their countries, which are longtime rivals.

She said she wants the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to attend the December ceremony where she and Satyarthi will receive their awards. Peace between the two nations, Yousafzai said, is important for their progress.

Awarding the Peace Prize to a Pakistani Muslim(穆斯林) and an Indian Hindu(印度教) "gives a message to people of love between Pakistan and India, and between different religions," Yousafzai said. The decision sends a message that all people, regardless of language and religion, should fight for the rights of women, children and every human being.

The Malala Fund, set up to promote girls' education, said via Twitter that Yousafzai called the prize "an encouragement for me to go forward. It means we are standing together to ensure all children get quality education."

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/10/world/europe/nobel-peace-prize/index.html

Structure of the Lead:

WHO- Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi

WHEN- October 14, 2014

WHAT- Awarding the Peace Prize

WHY- For their struggles against the suppression of children and for young people's rights, including the right to education.

WHERE- Norwegian

HOW- Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi agreed to work together to advocate that every child is able to go to school.

Keywords:

1.          struggle 鬥爭

2.          suppression 抑制

3.          chairman 主席

4.          exploit 利用

5.          campaign 運動

6.          notably 特別是

7.          spokeswoman 演說者

8.          congratulate 祝賀

9.          advocate 提倡

10.      progress 發展