CNN 2012-06-07

 Our next report today is from Cynthia Lee with affiliate¹ KABB in Texas. It`s about a high school graduation and specifically about two words written on the program for that graduation ceremony. The two words can have religious connotations, and one of this year`s graduates, the valedictorian, in fact, is an atheist². He doesn`t follow a religion; he doesn`t believe in God. And he wanted a change.Not everyone agrees.

 

 

Stop anywhere in Poteet, and you`ll start hearing the talk of the town: religion taken out of graduation.

 

 

But they need to stop and remember nothing is given to us without our good Lord.

 

 

It`s even on the front page of the local paper.

 

 

I`m a Christian<sup>3</sup>. I don`t think it should be taken out. But if that person feels that strongly about it, I think they have that right as an American to act that way.

 

 

For it to be changed on us all of a sudden, I don`t feel like it`s right for anybody.

 

 

The issue surrounds Poteet High School valedictorian, Mark Reyes, who is an atheist. Reyes says he`s not trying to be malicious⁴, rather just uphold the Constitution.

 

 

We are all very different people and in order for us to survive in unison⁵, we have to have something keeping order and that is the Constitution.

 

 

Reyes recently filed a complaint with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, stating that Poteet ISD endorses⁶ prayer by having invocation and benediction⁷ within graduation ceremonies.

 

 

I know it`s been tradition, but tradition isn`t always right.

 

 

The district has replaced the controversial words with opening and closing remarks to comply with the law. However, students giving speeches are legally allowed to make religious references.

 

 

As times evolve, I think that we need to make sure that we are，we honor those beliefs, we honor their rights with trying to remain true to tradition.

 

 

Superintendent⁸ Castillo says they are not taking any chances, especially since, he says, a neighboring school district just spent thousands of dollars in legal fees to fight the exact same issue last year.That district being Medina Valley. Officials there just wrapped up a year-long legal process. While Reyes is happy Poteet ISD has complied, he doesn`t want this issue to overshadow graduation day.

 

 

I have no problem if they talk about religion in their speeches or they make a reference to Jesus Christ or Allah. I don`t care. What I really do care about is the separation of church and state.

 

 

 

All right. If you`d like to comment on this story, we have the place for you to do it. We`re discussing it on our blog at cnnstudentnews.com. We look forward to what you have to say, but there`s one rule we want you to follow on the blog: it`s first names only, please.

 

 

See if you can ID me. I was born in London in 1926. I`m head of state, but I don`t run my country`s government. Most people know me by my royal title, which I`ve had since I was 25 years old.

 

 

I`m Queen Elizabeth II, and I`ve been on the throne for 60 years.

 

 

The United Kingdom is celebrating those 60 years with Queen Elizabeth`s Diamond Jubilee<sup>9</sup>. The big part of that was yesterday`s pageant¹⁰ on the River Thames. Thousands of people came out to see the royal barge¹¹, as it carried members of the royal family down the river.Other than Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne longer than any British monarch¹².

 

 

And finally today, if over the years you think you`ve come up with some pretty good excuses for missing school, listen to this one.

 

 

Really? He`s going to really write me an excuse note?Mr. Ackerman, please excuse Tyler. He was with me. Barack Obama.And then I kind of want to brag¹³ at school and tell them, look at what I got.

 

 

Well, whatever you think, that is one serious excuse, an executive excuse. Tyler Sullivan was absent last Friday because he went with his dad to see President Obama. Tyler actually met him, and that`s when the president realized Tyler was missing school to do it. So he grabbed an official White House pad, wrote out the absent note. Getting an official excuse from the president is one thing.The big question that remains<sup>14</sup> is whether Tyler`s teacher accepts it today.Well, it`s time for us to excuse ourselves. We`re going to be absent for the next 23 hours and 50 minutes, but we will be back for more CNN Student News tomorrow. Hope to see you then.

1 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

2 atheist   

n.无神论者

参考例句：

• She was an atheist but now she says she's seen the light.她本来是个无神论者，可是现在她说自己的信仰改变了。
• He is admittedly an atheist.他被公认是位无神论者。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

5 unison   

n.步调一致，行动一致

参考例句：

• The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。
• My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。

6 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

7 benediction   

n.祝福；恩赐

参考例句：

• The priest pronounced a benediction over the couple at the end of the marriage ceremony.牧师在婚礼结束时为新婚夫妇祈求上帝赐福。
• He went abroad with his parents' benediction.他带着父母的祝福出国去了。

8 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

9 jubilee   

n.周年纪念；欢乐

参考例句：

• They had a big jubilee to celebrate the victory.他们举行盛大的周年纪念活动以祝贺胜利。
• Every Jubilee,to take the opposite case,has served a function.反过来说，历次君主巡幸，都曾起到某种作用。

10 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

11 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

12 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

13 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。