Voici quelques petits tests de révision préparés par Ghanima Ghanem , professeure d’anglais dans les classes préparatoires de Saint-Jean de Douai. Vous pouvez vous exercer. C’est évidemment plus rapide que pour l’épreuve. Ce sont seulement de rapides exercices pour vérifier que tout va bien….
La correction figure dans un billet distinct.
Freedom of speech
Westboro Baptist Church
A group of church members from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kans., regularly picket[1] military funerals, about 600 so far. They meticulously obey police instructions and local laws. For instance, in March 2006 they picketed the funerals of Lance Cpl.[2] Matthew A. Snyder, who had been killed while serving in Iraq, standing about 1,000 feet from the Catholic church in Westminster, Md., where the funeral took place.
The protesters drew counter-demonstrators, as well as media coverage and a heavy police presence to maintain order. the Westboro members held signs with provocative messages, including « Thank God for dead soldiers, » `’You’re Going to Hell, » « God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11, » and slurs against gay men.
The members of Westboro Baptist Church didn’t know anything about Matthew, nor were they claiming that he was gay. They were simply using his funeral as a vehicle to spread their message—that God is punishing the United States for tolerating homosexuality. The church, which consists of 70 members—50 of whom are members of the Phelps family—sends small groups to unrelated events to publicize their views and military funerals are a popular venue.
Snyder sued[3] the Phelps for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, intrusion, and publication of private facts. Initially, the court ruled in favour of Snyder, but eventually after an appeal trial, the Supreme Court ruled – on March 2nd 2011) that although the speech was « utterly distasteful, » it should be considered protected political speech.
I. Comprehension questions, answer the following questions about the text above, in your own words.
1. What conflict opposes the two parties?
2. Why do the Phelpses use funerals to stage their anti-gay protests?
3. What makes it possible for the Phelps family to stage demonstrations at private funerals?
II. Find synonyms for the following words:
slurs:
vehicle:
spread:
venue:
III. Essay
Hate speech and freedom of speech. Discuss.
Vocabulary
General
censorship: la censure
informationÆ (u): l’information/ les informations
the information age : la société de l’information
to speed up democracy: accélérer la démocratie/la démocratisation
to build democracy: construire la démocratie
to strengthen democracy: renforcer/ consolider la démocratie
to legalize: légaliser
to ban/to outlaw: interdire
hate speech: discours haineux/ de haine/ incitation à la haine raciale
prejudice: préjugés
to be prejudiced against: avoir des préjugés (négatifs) envers
scrutiny: examen, étude
debate: débat
Freedom
freedom of speech: liberté d’expression
freedom of worship: liberté de culte/ liberté religieuse
freedom of the press: liberté de la presse
freedom of conscience: liberté de conscience
freedom of opinion: liberté d’opinion
free exercise of religion: liberté de la pratique religieuse
individual liberties: libertés individuelles
La correction figure dans le billet suivant….
[1] manifester en installant des piquets, to demonstrate signifie aussi manifester et est plus courant.
[2] Lance Corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of Corporal, and is typically the lowest Non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.
[3] poursuivre (en justice)
