Paras. 7-9

7 This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own story.

8 I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived the Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and the white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world's poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners─an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers，sisters，nieces，nephews，uncles and cousins，of every race and every hue，scattered across three continents，and for as long as I live，I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

9 It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional of candidates. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts-that out of many，we are truly one.

Q1: What do paragraphs 7-19 tell?

A1: They are on the reality featuring racial discrimination in presidential campaign.

Q2: What do paragraphs 7-9 mainly talk about?

A2: They are on Obama’s unique identity and his personal experience.

Q3: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. Function of Paragraph 7

Paragraph 6, a long paragraph, is followed by a short one of two lines. This is for emphasis.

2. This belief... of the American people. (Para.7)

1) unyielding: not bending easily; inflexible

2) unyielding faith: firm, unquestioning belief

3) Obama used” the American people” instead of "the people” or "my people" to stress his family background which would come in the next paragraph. Because of his family background, he could see the qualities of the American people more clearly.

3. But it also comes from my own story. (Para.7)

Obamas story consists of two parts. One is his ethnic background: black father, white mother, white maternal grandparents, Asian stepfather. The other is his experience: best school in Hawaii, Columbia University and Harvard Law School.

He taught law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. This part is an "American Dream” realized. His life and experience is a success story of a non-white in American society, showing that the American Dream” is still alive. This personal story will appeal to many potential voters because this is still a myth which many Americans believe in.

4. I was raised... while he was overseas. (Para.8)

1) survived the Depression: lived through the 1929 depression

2) to serve in Patton's Army: The grandfather was in Europe in World War II, fighting under General Patton, noted for his courage, dash and commanding skill

5. I've gone to... the world's poorest nations. (Para.8)

This is an example of antithesis; the best school vs. the poorest nation. This is to bring out his rich experience in life. Another contrast is the blood of slaves and slave owners.

6. I have brothers... even possible. (Para.8)

I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible. I can become what I am only in America and I am grateful and will never forget this.

hue: used to indicate modification of a basic color

7. It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional of candidates. (Para.9)

I did well in the United States so people would think I would be for the status quo.

I would be happy with where I am. But no, I wanted change.

conventional: conforming to formal or accepted standards or rules rather than nature

8. But it is a story... we are truly one. (Para.9)

My life experience has infused deeply in me the concept that in spite of the fact that we are different in race, ethnicity, political view religious belief, we are united because we have shared belief-the American creed.

1) sear: to brand with a hot iron

2) genetic makeup: natural constitution

3) sear into my genetic makeup: to be deeply ingrained in me

4) this nation is more than the sum of its parts: The United States is not just adding all the states or all the elements together; when the parts are melted or fused into whole. Its power or influence is much greater.

Paras. 10-19

10 Throughout the first year of this campaign，against all predictions to the contrary，we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens，we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. In South Carolina，where the Confederate Flag still flies，we built a powerful coalition of African Americans and white Americans.

11This is not to say that race has not been an issue in this campaign. At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either "too black “or "not black enough. “We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every single exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well.

12 And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that the discussion of race in this campaign has taken a particularly divisive turn.

13 On one end of the spectrum, we've heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it's based solely on the desire of wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap. On the other end, we've heard my former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; and that rightly offend white and black alike.

14 I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy and in some cases pain. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in the church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely-just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.

15 But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's efforts to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country-a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.

16 As such, Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems-two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all.

17 Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church? And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television sets and YouTube, if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way.

18 But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. marine; and who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth-by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

19 In my first book, Dreams from My Father, I described the experience of my first service at Trinity. It goes as follows: "People began to shout, to rise from their seats and clap and cry out, a forceful wind carrying the reverend's voice up into the rafters.… And in that single note-hope! I heard something else; at the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion's den, Ezekiel's field of dry bones. Those stories-of survival, and freedom, and hope-became our stories, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears; until this black church, on this bright day, seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world. Our trials and triumphs became at once unique and universal, black and more than black; in chronicling our journey, the stories and songs gave us a meaning to reclaim memories that we didn't need to feel shame about-memories that all people might study and cherish-and with which we could start to rebuild."

Q1: What do these paragraphs tell?

A1: They are on the barrier posed by racial discrimination against his election

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. Throughout the first year of this campaign... this message of unity. (Para.10)

When Obama first announced his intent of running for Democratic candidate for presidency, public media said the United States was not ready to have a black president and Obama would fail in the campaign. However, his campaign gained momentum which proved that ordinary Americans overlooked the issue of color and were eager for unity and change.

1) against all predictions to the contrary: in spite of all announcements saying that Obama would not succeed

2) hungry: The word is used metaphorically, meaning craving, eager.

3) how hungry... message of unity: The American people were eager to support a candidate who advocated unity and change.

2. Despite the temptation... in the country. (Para.10)

In the campaign, three issues were often raised by his opponents to terrify ordinary Americans: Obama was not a native-born American, he was black and would give privileges to blacks and he was Muslim, not Christian. But the campaign so far proved if we insisted on the message of unity, many Americans, white Americans, conservative Americans, would support this idea.

1) purely racial lens: in terms of race and color

2) commanding: very large

3) whitest populations: referring to the white people living in the Southern States, who are more racially biased, more conservative; these states, since the 1980s, were states supporting the Republican Party.

3. In South Carolina... white Americans. (Para.10)

South Carolina was one of the Confederate States in the Civil War. In 1962 the confederate battle flag of the "Southern Cross” was placed on top of the South Carolina statehouse by vote of the all-white legislature. It was not until July 1,2000 that the flag was removed from the South Carolina Statehouse.

4. This is not to say that race has not been an issue in this campaign. (Para.11)

This statement serves as a correction and a change, leading to the discussion of race.

5. We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface... Carolina primary. (Para.11)

Before the Democratic selection of candidates to the national convention in South Carolina, racial tension which seemed insubstantial in the past became a boiling issue.

6. The press has scoured... but black and brown as well. (Para.11)

1) scour: to search thoroughly

2) The press has checked or run over polls of people who have just voted to find evidence of people dividing into two opposing groups.

3) brown: referring to people of black and white origin, like Obama

7. And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks... divisive turn. (Para.12)

This one-sentence paragraph serves as a further turn of the discussion. From this paragraph on, Obama took up the issue of his former pastor's incendiary language on race, and made his position clear.

8. On one end of the spectrum... on the cheap. (Para.13)

At one end of the wide range of opinions, there are people who say that I decided to run because I wanted to show the blacks and the whites should have equal opportunity and I wanted to play on the desires of naive liberals in achieving racial harmony without making a great effort.

1) spectrum: a continuous range or entire extent

2) wide-eyed liberals: naive or unsophisticated people who favor liberalism

3) on the cheap: at very little cost

4) Note how Obama presented the case. He did not just raise Reverend Wrights case. He put it in a conflict of two opposing views, two extremes. The implication may be Wright was not the only one who took a wrong position yet he was picked out because of his relations with Obama.

9. On the other end... white and black alike. (Para.13)

Obama considers Wright wrong because his views, and the language he used in expressing his views, will not only widen the gap between the blacks and the whites but attack the basic nature of America as a nation, so his words cause the anger and condemnation of both white and black.

1) former: indicating Obamas relationship with Wright has ended

2) racial divide: divisions between races

3) the greatness and the goodness: example of alliteration

4) that rightly offend white and black alike: Note the choice of words: “rightly" and "white and black alike,” indicating that the anger is justified and is shared by white and black, so it is not a matter of race.

10. I have already condemned… controversy and in some cases pain. (Para.14)

When Reverend Wrights statements were broadcasted in the news stations in early March, Obamas relations with his former pastor were repeatedly brought up. This would very negatively affect his campaign. So, in one statement he condemned such statements in clear and unambiguous words.

In unequivocal terms: in words that express a clear and unambiguous attitude

11. For some, nagging questions remain. (Para.14)

for some people such condemnation seems not enough. They still have doubts about which trouble them.

nagging: causing continuous discomfort; troubling

12. Did l... Absolutely... (Para.14)

Three parallel questions beginning with “Did Ir and three definite answers of “of course," "yes' and "absolutely" are used here to address the doubts in people’s minds. His affirmative answers show he is not avoiding straight answers he has nothing to hide.

13.… just as I'm sure. strongly disagreed. (Para.14)

At the end of his answers, he brings in the experience of the audience, saying that they may have similar experiences so this is not unique to Obama. He also carefully mentions pastors, priests or rabbis, referring to different churches of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

14. But the remarks that have caused... controversial. (Para.15)

1) firestorm: a strong, often violent, outburst, disturbance

2) controversial: stirring up disputes

15. They weren't simply... perceived injustice. (Para.15)

1) Note the use of "not simply” in the two sentences, forming a parallel structure.

to be followed by a contrast through the use of “instead” achieve emphasis.

2) perceived injustice: acts that are perceived as injustice

16. Instead, they expressed... radical Islam. (Para.15)

When Obama accused Wright of distortion, he raised two points. One is that Wright thought America embraced white racism. The other is the cause of the conflict in the Middle East lies with Israel, not radical Islam. He thought Wright was wrong on both points.

1) the parallel structure: a distorted view, a view that sees.; a view that sees...

2) a view that sees white racism as endemic; a view that considers white racism as an inseparable part of America

3) elevate: to lift up, raise

4) that elevates... right with America: to put white racism which we all consider to be wrong as characteristic of America, leaving out all the good characteristics which we associate with America

5) in the actions of stalwart allies. radical Islam: Note the contrast and choice of words: actions vs. ideologies and the description of “perverse” and "hateful" ideologies. The way of presenting the idea brings out the position of Obama.

6) In the United States, in discussing the conflict of the Middle East, criticizing Israel is politically incorrect. This is the result of popular sympathy for the victims of the Holocaust, and of the economic power of Jewish Americans and the work of Jewish interest groups. American elites want to curry favor with Israel and the Jewish interest groups in America. It is particularly so in an election year.

17. As such... that confront us all (Para.16)

Obama pointed out in the previous paragraph why Wright's statements were wrong. In this paragraph he stressed the point that these statements were divisive, especially when unity was called for.

1) racially charged: to be filled or loaded with racial bias

2) monumental: great, colossal

3) Latino: a usually Spanish-speaking person of Latin American birth or descent who lives in the U.S.

18. Given my background... are not enough. (Para.17)

1) given: taken as a premise

2) professed: openly declared

19. And I confess that...I would react in much the same way. (Para.17)

If Reverend Wright were the person represented by the repeatedly shown scraps of sermons, if the Trinity United Church of Christ were the one sold to the public by some commentators, I would have long deserted them. In this part, Obama wanted to show what was on the television sets and You lube was not all, not even the major side of Reverend Wright. There was another side, an important side, of the pastor which was not shown to the public.

1) snippet: a small piece, scrap, or portion, specifically of information

2) loop: a segment of film or magnetic tape joined end to end to form a continuous strip for endless repetition

3) The subjunctive mood of the sentence shows that this is not the case.

4) peddle: to circulate(ideas), often used with mild contempt

20. But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. (Para.18)

In this paragraph, Obama points out that the above-mentioned problems are one side of Reverend Wright. There is another side, a positive side, to the man. And he goes on to talk about this side. The framing of the statement is very important. The use of "isn't all” and "I know of” limits the scope of his evaluation of the person.

The phrase “isn’t all” concedes what has been said about Wright is true but not

the whole truth and “I know of” limits the following evaluation to his personal experience and observation.

21.The man I met...reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS. （Para.18）

In this part，Obama mentions the things Reverend Wright taught him and Wrights’ services to the country. Parallel structures are used in this paragraph，e.g.，the man I met，a man，a man，（He is）a man；（He is a man）who served，who has studied and lectured，who…led a church；by housing…ministering…providing…reaching out.

1）minister: to give help to

2）ministry: the function or service of a religious minister

22."People began to shout.…and with which we could start to rebuild."（Para.19）

The description of Obama's first experience at Trinity is typical of sermons and responses of the pastors and congregations at black churches. The stories of survival，freedom and hope are repeated. The shouting，crying，stamping, clapping and singing are common scenes. This can be seen in news reels and films. The Bible stories are often used to relate the struggles of the blacks to the struggles as recorded in the Bible. And the whole paragraph is written in a highly rhetorical style. This again is typical of writings by black pastors. You would find this in many of Martin Luther King，Jr's writings.

23."I heard something else...Ezekiel’s field of dry bones."（Para.19）

Obama is linking the particular scene with the experience and history of the black people，with the heroic stories in the Bible. The black people were not alone，they were a part of a greater struggle，a struggle for realizing God's teaching.

24.“Those stories.…into a larger world."（Para.19）

The history，the struggle，the spirit became part of me and the church served as a carrier to pass this onto future generations and to spread it to the world beyond the black community.

vessel:（Bible）a person thought of as being the receiver or repository of some spirit or influence

25. "Our trials and triumphs.…and with which we could start to rebuild."（Para.19）

In recalling the hardship and suffering and the successes and victories which the black people had gone through but were not limited to the black people，we were filled with confidence and did not need to feel ashamed of the past. The past is food for study for all people and a starting point for the building of a bright future.

trials and triumphs；unique and universal；stories and songs: alliteration