每日口說挑戰【CNN10】冬季奧運閉幕／中美競合五十年 (The Beijing Winter Olympics / 50 Years of the China-US Relations)

[Transcript]

【The Beijing Winter Olympics】

The Winter Games have officially ended in Beijing, China. The European nation of Norway dominated the Winter Games, as Norway tends to do. This medal count is ranked by golds, but the Russian Olympic Committee won the second-highest number of overall medals with 32. In hosting these games, Beijing became the first city to do that for both the Summer and Winter Olympics. However, if you’ve been following the news reports, you’ll know that there were, in fact, some controversies throughout the Winter Games. Hundreds of people had to spend part of the event in isolation after testing positive for COVID, and some athletes even missed their events due to China's strict policies. There were also reports that conditions inside China's quarantine hotels weren't very good, with isolated athletes saying that meals served did not achieve healthy standards, nor did they have any clean facilities, internet connections, and training equipment.

The American viewership of this year’s Winter Games hit a record low. While Americans tuned out, China tuned in. Games broadcasters say no Winter Olympics have ever been followed this keenly in China. Some spectators were even allowed in the stands, creating national heroes and overnight stars. Having already won more medals than in the three previous Winter Games, China will remember Beijing 2022 as a great success. And that's despite some negative coverage overseas⏤ evidence of the growing gap between the two worlds.

【50 Years of the China-US Relations】

The Beijing Winter Games closing on the eve of a momentous anniversary—one that paved the way for a new era in US-China relations, has a significant meaning. February 21st, marking 50 years since the historic visit of President Richard Nixon, the first US leader to visit the People's Republic of China. After its founding in 1949 under the Chinese Communist Party, disastrous policies led to millions of deaths in the Great Famine and the Cultural Revolution. For more than two decades, China remained largely closed off to the West, with millions of Chinese being told every day to prepare for war with their number one enemy, US Imperialists. Nixon’s trip to China, however, changed it all, he even called it “the week that changed the world”. The trip opened up the floodgates for the period of engagement for Chinese and Americans working together.

On his visit to China's Great Wall, Nixon noted the symbolism. “Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.” But today, barriers are back up. From a digital great firewall restricting internet access in China to the COVID-controlled bubble that hosted the Olympic Games, it seems both ideology and philosophy are dividing once again. As presidential visits to China continued for nearly every administration after Nixon, US leaders hoped China would become more democratic. For a time, it reflected a collective leadership in its power structure, which coincided with China's rapid surge in wealth, power, and confidence.

Under Xi's control, China flexed its military might in the South China Sea and around the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Domestically, China has become a surveillance state, monitoring people's every move. Economically, Beijing continues to tighten its grip over the domestic private sector, while there is an ongoing trade war with the United States. All in all, likely not the path envisioned by Nixon as he prepared for his visit 50 years ago. And five decades on, that open door to peaceful diplomatic relations appears to be closing day by day.

Check out today’s CNN10 video to find out interesting news about your favorite food, avocado, and a lost-and-found story of an engagement diamond ring.

And now it’s time for our sentence of the day from former President Richard Nixon:

“Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.”

【Vocabulary words】

1. physical
relating to things you can see or touch

Ex: All physical objects occupy space.
一切實物都佔據空間。

2. ideology
a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system, party, or organization is based

Ex: Socialism and capitalism are a set of opposing (conflicting) political ideologies.
社會主義和資本主義是一組對立的政治意識形態。

3. philosophy
The system and a set of beliefs used to understand and interpret the world and the existences.

Ex: Live in the moment. That’s my philosophy of life! 活在當下，這是我的人生哲學。


Alright, that’s all we have time for today.
Our thoughts and prayers to the people of Ukraine and may there be peace.
Folks, I threw in some useful references for you down in the comment sections.
Be sure to check them out.
This is Ken Miao. I’ll see you guys again next time. Bye!

整個三天連假有兩天在工作
人生好難…

Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.

Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.

☺Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.
無論是像這樣實體的一面牆，或是其他意識形態或政治思想所築成的壁壘，都不會分裂世界上的人民。
【心得】大家一同反戰，不要犧牲無辜的性命，也不要讓家庭破碎，一開戰，人民永遠是輸家，即便是取得勝利的一方，人民也會留下很多身心靈的創傷。
■physical [ˋfɪzɪk!] (adj.)身體的、肉體的；物質的；自然界的；自然(法則)的；物理(學)的；粗野的、激烈的
(n.C){口語}身體檢查
■ideology [͵aɪdɪˋɑlədʒɪ] (n.C or U)思想體系；思想意識；觀念形態、意識形態；空論、空想
■philosophy [fəˋlɑsəfɪ] (n.U) 哲學；哲人態度；達觀；鎮靜
(n.C or U)人生觀、人生哲學；生活或工作準則；哲理；原理
(n.C)哲學體系；哲學思想

Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ide'ology or phi'losophy, they will not divide people in the world.

Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.

DAY 1161
Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.

Thank you, Ken. Have a great day, everyone.
..............................

Whether they are physical walls like this or whether they are other walls of ideology or philosophy, they will not divide people in the world.
無論是像這樣實際的一面牆，或是其他意識形態或政治思想所築成的壁壘，都不會分裂世界上的人民。