News Exercise #208

1st scene Obama: What three adjectives did he use to show how politics seems to him right now?
1st scene Bush: What did he say about two topics – bigotry and politics, in the current situation?
(I think he was referring to some people’s beliefs that he instigated the World Trade Center attacks himself.)

2nd scene Obama (0:25) According to Obama, what happens if you (meaning anybody) have to win a campaign by dividing people?
(It means that you can’t win without dividing people)
2nd scene Bush: What does he think of bigotry?

3rd scene Bush (0:45) What is caused by bullying, and how can this be avoided?

Answers:
Ist scene Obama: What three adjectives did he use to show how politics seems to him right now?
Politics seems so divided, and so angry, and so nasty.
1st scene Bush: What did he say about two topics – bigotry and politics, in the current situation?
Bigotry seems emboldened, and politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication.
(I think he was referring to some people’s beliefs that he instigated the World Trade Center attacks himself.)
2nd scene Obama (0:25) According to Obama, what happens if you (meaning anybody) have to win a campaign by dividing people?
(It means that you can’t win without dividing people)
If you have to win a campaign by dividing people, you’re not going to be able to govern them; you won’t be able to unite them later.
2nd scene Bush: What does he think of bigotry?
Bigotry and white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed.
3rd scene Bush (0:45) What is caused by bullying, and how can this be avoided?
Young people need positive role models. Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone; provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children. The only way to pass along civic values is to first live up to them.