［時事英文］《紐約時報》回顧李登輝一生
Like any historic figure, former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui is not immune to criticism. However, our freedom to criticize him is precisely his biggest contribution to democracy. Can you, no matter who you are or where you are from, criticize your leaders and call out social injustices without fear?
就如所有的歷史人物，李前總統也無法倖免於被批評的命運。而今天人們得以公開批評他，恰好是他對民主的最大貢獻。今天，是否每個人都能在自己的國家，毫無畏懼地評論領導人，以及社會上的不公不義？這或許是更值得思考的地方。
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《紐約時報》：
Lee Teng-hui, who as president of Taiwan led its transformation from an island in the grip of authoritarian rule to one of Asia’s most vibrant and prosperous democracies, died Thursday at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, according to Taiwan’s official Central News Agency. He was 97. The cause of his death was septic shock and multiple organ failure, according to the news outlet.
1. transformation 徹底改觀；轉變*
2. be in the grip of sth 處於無法控制的不利局勢中；受制於⋯⋯
3. authoritarian rule 威權統治；專制統治；獨裁統治
4. a vibrant and prosperous democracy 一個蓬勃繁榮的民主政體
5. Taipei Veterans General Hospital 臺北榮民總醫院
6. Taiwan’s official Central News Agency 臺灣的中央通訊社
7. septic shock 敗血性休克
8. multiple organ failure 多重器官衰竭
9. news outlet 新聞出處
據臺灣中央社消息，臺灣前總統李登輝週四於臺北榮總逝世，享壽９７歲。李登輝帶領臺灣從一個專制統治島嶼變為亞洲最繁榮的民主政體之一。中央社稱他的死因是敗血性休克和多重器官衰竭。
*transformation (n.): undergo a transformation; transformation from something to/into something
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/transformation
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/transform
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Mr. Lee’s insistence that Taiwan be treated as a sovereign state angered the Chinese government in Beijing, which considered Taiwan part of its own territory and pushed for its unification with the mainland under Communist rule. His stance also posed a political quandary for the United States in its efforts to improve relations with Beijing while dissuading it from taking military action.
10. a sovereign state 一個主權國家
11. territory 領土
12. push for unification 推動統一
13. stance (n.)（尤指公開表明的）立場；觀點
14. pose a political quandary 造成一個政治上的困境
15. dissuading 勸阻；勸說⋯⋯別做某事*
李登輝堅持臺灣是一個主權國家，這激怒了北京的中國政府，後者認為臺灣是其領土的一部分，並推動其與共產黨統治下的大陸統一。他的立場也讓美國陷入了政治上的困境，在努力改善與北京關係的同時，還要勸說北京不要採取軍事行動來實現對該島的主張。
*dissuade (v.) somebody from (doing) something: https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/dissuade
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Mr. Lee dismantled the dictatorship and worked to end the animosity between those born on the mainland and the native Taiwanese. He pushed the concept of “New Taiwanese,” a term suggesting that the islanders — no matter their backgrounds — were forging a new, common identity based on a democratic political system and growing prosperity.
16. dismantle（逐漸地）廢除；取消；解散
17. dictatorship 獨裁統治國家；獨裁；獨裁統治
18. animosity 仇恨；敵意；憎惡
19. islander 島民；島上的居民
20. forge（尤指努力地）建造; 鍛造
李登輝廢除了獨裁統治，並努力消除外省人和本省人之間的敵意。他提出了「新臺灣人」的概念，這個詞表明島民——不論其背景如何——正在建立一種以民主政治制度與日益繁榮為基礎的新的共同身份。
《紐約時報》完整內容：https://nyti.ms/2DqJGWj
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Do you still remember the Wild Lily student movement in 1990, when thousands of students demonstrated for democratic reforms? President Lee Teng-huei not only met with student leaders, but pledged his commitment to fully democratize Taiwan and hold direct elections.
還記得１９９０年的野百合學運嗎？時任總統的李登輝先生，不僅接見了當時的學運領袖，更承諾將讓臺灣全面民主化——正副總統直接民選。
１９９０年的野百合學運: https://youtu.be/skaC-sivTD8
A true leader is someone who listens to the voice of the people and engage them in open dialogue. A true leader does not seek to suppress dissent through violence and fear.
真正的領袖，願意傾聽人民的聲音，哪怕立場迥異，也願意與自己的人民展開對話。而非以恐懼與暴力，消除異議人士的聲音。
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圖片出處：Google Image
