Lesson 9 A More Perfect Union (Part I)

Pre-readingQuestions 1.Whendeliveringaspeech,howcouldyouimpressyouraudience? 2.WhenandwherewasthespeechdeliveredbyObama? 3.WhydidObamadeliverthespeech? 4.CouldyougivesomebriefintroductiontoObama?1.Anamusingstatement，incidentorjoke2.Astartlingstatement3.Aquotation4.Astory5.Rhetoricalquestions6.Suspense BarackObama BarackHusseinObamaII(bornAugust4,1961)isthe44thandcurrentPresidentoftheUnitedStates,inofficesince2009.HeisthefirstAfricanAmericantoholdtheoffice.BorninHonolulu,Hawaii,ObamaisagraduateofColumbiaUniversityandHarvardLawSchool.HeworkedasacivilrightsattorneyinChicagoandtaughtconstitutionallawattheUniversityofChicagoLawSchoolfrom1992to2004. HeservedthreetermsintheIllinoisSenatefrom1997to2004,runningunsuccessfullyfortheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesin2000.HewonelectiontotheU.S.SenateinNovember2004. Hebeganhispresidentialcampaignin2007,andin2008,afteracloseprimarycampaignagainstHillaryClinton,hewonsufficientdelegatesintheDemocraticpartyprimariestoreceivethepresidentialnomination.HethendefeatedRepublicannomineeJohnMcCaininthegeneralelection,andwasinauguratedaspresidentonJanuary20,2009.Ninemonthslater,Obamawasnamedthe2009NobelPeacePrizelaureate.Hewasre-electedpresidentinNovember2012,defeatingRepublicannomineeMittRomney,andwassworninforasecondtermonJanuary20,2013. TheJeremiahWrightControversy TheJeremiahWrightControversyisanAmericanpoliticalissuethatgainednationalattentioninMarch2008whenABCNews,afterreviewingdozensofU.S.2008PresidentialElectioncandidateBarackObama’spastorJeremiahWright’ssermons,excerptedpartswhichweresubjecttointensemediascrutiny. WrightisaretiredseniorpastorofTrinityUnitedChurchofChristinChicagoandformerpastoroftheU.SPresidentBarackObama.Obamadenouncedthestatementsinquestion,butaftercriticscontinuedtopresstheissueofhisrelationshipwithWrighthegaveaspeechtitled“AMorePerfectUnion,”inwhichhesoughttoplaceDr.Wright’scommentsinahistoricalandsociologicalcontext.Inthespeech,ObamaagaindenouncedWright’sremarks,butdidnotdisownhimasaperson. "Thegovernmentgivesthemthedrugs,buildsbiggerprisons,passesathree-strikelawandthenwantsustosing'GodBlessAmerica.'No,no,no,GoddamnAmerica,that'sintheBibleforkillinginnocentpeople,"hesaidina2003sermon."GoddamnAmericafortreatingourcitizensaslessthanhuman.GoddamnAmericaforaslongassheactslikesheisGodandsheissupreme." "WebombedHiroshima,webombedNagasaki,andwenukedfarmorethanthethousandsinNewYorkandthePentagon,andweneverbattedaneye,"Rev.WrightsaidinasermononSept.16,2001. "WehavesupportedstateterrorismagainstthePalestiniansandblackSouthAfricans,andnowweareindignantbecausethestuffwehavedoneoverseasisnowbroughtrightbacktoourownfrontyards.America'schickensarecominghometoroost,"hetoldhiscongregation. IssueofRacial Discrimination RacialDiscrimination Inthe1800stheslaveswerefreedbyPresidentAbrahamLincoln.Afterthisstartinginaboutthe1870sJimCrowlawswereintroduced.Theselawspromotedtheidea"separatebutequal",meaningthattheracesalthoughhavingtobeindifferentareasandnotallowedtointerminglewereequal. TheJenaSixweresixblackteenagersconvictedinthebeatingofJustinBarker,awhitestudentatJenaHighSchoolinJena,Louisiana,onDecember4,2006. 2004成名演讲稿:无畏的希望Theaudacityofhope2008.3.18费城演讲AMorePerfectUnion 2008.7.24柏林演讲Aworldthatstandsasone 2008.11.06胜选演讲：ChangeHasComeToAmerica 2009.1.20就职演讲BarackObama’sInauguralAddress 奥巴马在宾夕法尼亚州费城发的演讲，也是他在参选以后第一次就种族问题发表公开演讲 Structure Part1(P1-5):ThebackgroundleadingtoObama’scampaignin2008. PartII(P6-11):Bymentioninghisownstoryasablackperson,Obamapointsoutthatbiasedopiniononracedoesexistandalsobringmuchinfluence. PartIII(P12-16):Obamacondemnedsomedivisivediscussionofrace,includinghisformerpastorReverendWright’sopinions. PartIV(P17-23)ThegoodfeaturesofReverendWrightandtheTrinityChurch:loveforandbetweeneveryAmericanpeople. PartV(P24-26):Conclusion.Urgencyforperfectingtheunion. Part1(P1-5):ThebackgroundleadingtoObama’scampaignin2008. 1.WhydoesObamabeginhisaddresswiththewords“Wethepeople,inordertoformamoreperfectunion.”? 2.AreyoufamiliarwiththefirstsentenceofPara2? 3.Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventuallysignedoutbutultimatelyunfinished.Howtounderstandthesentence? 4.AccordingtoObama,howtonarrowthegapbetweenthepromiseandreality? 5.What’sthefunctionofP1-5? "Wethepeople,inordertoformamoreperfectunion." AquotefromthePreambletoConstitutionoftheUnitedStates. “WethepeopleoftheUnitedStates,inordertoformamoreperfectUnion,establishjustice,insuredomestictranquility,provideforthecommondefense,promotethegeneralwelfare,andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity,doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.” 我们美利坚合众国的人民，为了组织一个更完善的联邦，树立正义，保障国内的安宁，建立共同的国防，增进全民福利和确保我们自己及我们後代能安享自由带来的幸福，乃为美利坚合众国制定和确立这一部宪法。 Purposeforthequotation:Toshowwherethetitlecamefrom;ToappealtotheaudiencebecauseAmericanpeopleworshiptheConstitution,regardingitasasacreddocumentliketheBible. Twohundredandtwentyoneyearsago,inahallthatstillstandsacrossthestreet,agroupofmengatheredand,withthesesimplewords,launchedAmerica'simprobableexperimentindemocracy. improbable:notlikelytohappen Improbableexperimentindemocracy:Itwasthefirstwrittendocumentinitiatingthebeginningoftheendoftheconceptofthedivinerightofkings.Atthattime,Americaissmallandweak,sonoonecanbesurewhetherthecountryorthisConstitutionwouldsurviveorsucceed. Fourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinent,anewnation,conceivedinLiberty,anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal. 87年前，我们的先辈们在这块大陆上建立了一个崭新的国家。这个国家以自由为立国之本，致力于实现人人生而平等的理想。 Farmersandscholars;statesmenandpatriotswhohadtraveledacrossanoceantoescapetyrannyandpersecutionfinallymaderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconvention… traveledacrossanocean:referringtotheearlysettlers,thePuritanswhosailedacrosstheAtlanticocean. maderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconvention: turnedtheconceptembodiedintheDeclarationofIndependenceintoarticlesintheConstitution declarationofindependence独立宣言 theproclamationmadebythesecondAmericanContinentalCongressonJuly4,1776,whichassertedthefreedomandindependenceofthe13ColoniesfromGreatBritain; 1776年7月4日美国第二次大陆会议上通过的宣言，宣告美国13个殖民地脱离英国获得独立和自由. …finallymaderealtheirdeclarationofindependenceataPhiladelphiaconventionthatlastedthroughthespringof1787. TheConstitutionalConventionmetinthePhiladelphiaStateHousefromMay25toSept.17,1787;theConventionwasattendedby55delegatesfrom12states.(RhodeIslanddeclinedtosenddelegates.) TranslationforPara2: 221年前，在对面街角那座至今仍旧巍然挺立的大厅中，美国自由的先驱聚集在一起，用简单的语词，启动了在当时看来不可能完成的民主试验。这些为逃避暴虐与压迫而远涉重洋来到北美大陆的农场主、学者、政治家和爱国者终于在1787年春天的费城制宪会议上将独立从宣言变为现实。 Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventuallysignedbutultimatelyunfinished. eventually:happeningattheendof, ultimately:bywhichaprocessorseriescomestoanend. TheConstitutionwasfinallyadoptedbytheConstitutionalConvention(firstlyonly39outof55delegatessigned,lateronmorestatesapprovedit.) “Thedocument….unfinished”: theproblemofslaverywasnotsolved,（asalvewascountedasthree-fifthsofapersonforrepresentationintheHouseofRepresentativesandfordirecttaxation）untiltheCivilWarandtheenactmentofConstitutionalAmendments(宪法修正案)14(1868)and15(1870). Paraphraseforthe1stsentence: Afterheateddiscussionandcompromises,theConstitutionwasfinallyadoptedbytheConstitutionalConventionand39outof55delegatessignedthedocument.Butthe“three-fifths”clauseandthetwentyyearallowedforthetradeshowedtheslaveissuewasnotsolved,sotheprocessofformingamoreperfectuniondidnotendwiththeenforcementoftheConstitution. Itwasstainedbythisnation’soriginalsinofslavery,aquestionthatdividedthecoloniesandbroughttheconventiontoastalemate… stain:tospoiltheappearanceorbringshameon… stalemate:asituationinwhichneithersideinanargumentorcontestcanwinorinwhichnoprogressispossible. originalsin原罪:AccordingChristianity,originalsinisthewickednesswhenAdamandEvedisobeyedGod,andallhumanbeingsarebornwithit. 它被原罪的奴隶制玷污了，这个问题使各州对立，并一度使制宪会议陷入僵局。后来开国者们允许奴隶买卖延续至少二十年，而把问题的最终解决留给了后代。 Ofcourse,theanswertotheslaveryquestionwasalreadyembeddedwithinourConstitution… embed:tofixfirmlyanddeeplyinearth,mindormemory,etc.Hereitmeans:TobesetorincludedintheConstitution. ItmaybecorrecttosaytheidealoflibertyandjusticeintheConstitutionmakesitpossiblefortheresolutionoftheslaveissue,buttheConstitutionitselfdosenotprovideanysolution. Otherwise,itwouldnottakeaCivilWar,averydestructivewar,toputanendtoaslaverysystem.AndtherewouldbenonecessityforConstitutionalAmendments14and15andCivilRightsActof1964andtheVotingRightsActof1965. …aConstitutionthathadatitsverycoretheidealofequalcitizenshipunderthelaw;aConstitutionthatpromiseditspeopleliberty,andjustice,andaunionthatcouldbeandshouldbeperfectedovertime. Emphasis Indicatingpossibilityandobligation Parchment羊皮纸 asuperiorpaperresemblingsheepskin Bondage奴役，束缚 thestateofbeingunderthecontrolofaforceorinfluenceorabstractpower e.g.Masterssometimesallowedtheirslavestobuytheirwayoutofbondage. IHaveaDream Inasensewe'vecometoournation'scapitaltocashacheck.WhenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethemagnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.Thisnotewasapromisethatallmen,yes,blackmenaswellaswhitemen,wouldbeguaranteedthe"unalienableRights"of"Life,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness."ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthispromissorynote,insofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned.Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck,acheckwhichhascomebackmarked"insufficientfunds.“ 从某种意义上说，我们来到国家的首都是为了兑现一张支票。我们共和国的缔造者在拟写宪法和独立宣言的辉煌篇章时，就签署了一张每一个美国人都能继承的期票。这张期票向所有人承诺——不论白人还是黑人——都享有不可让渡的生存权、自由权和追求幸福权。然而，今天美国显然对她的有色公民拖欠着这张期票。美国没有承兑这笔神圣的债务，而是开始给黑人一张空头支票——一张盖着“资金不足”的印戳被退回的支票。 FunctionofPara1-5: ObamastartswithaquotationfromtheConstitution,bringingouttheideaof“amoreperfectunion.” ThenhemovesontodescribethebirthoftheConstitutionandpointsoutthatbecauseofthecompromiseontheslaveryissue,theprocessofperfectingtheuniondidnotstophere. Inthecourseofhistory,generationsofAmericanshavestruggledhardtonarrowthegapbetweenpromiseandrealityandtoperfecttheunion. TheninPara6hepointsoutthisisoneofthetaskhesetforthatthebeginningofthiscampaign.Asmoothtransitionisthusachieved. PartII(P6-11):Obama’sownstory 1.WhatisthepurposeofObamatoexplainhistask? 2.What’sObama’sstory?WhydoesObamamentionhisownstory? 3.WhatproblemsdoesObamaconfrontduringthecampaign? 4.Howtounderstand“thewhitestpopulations”and“ConfederateFlagstillflies”?WhydoesObamamentionthese? Thiswasoneofthetaskswesetforthatthebeginningofthiscampaign… setforth: 1)explainsth.inwritingorspeechinaclear,organizedway;Eg:Dr.Smithsetforthhisapproachtoteachingstudents.2)startajourney;Eg:ItwasduringthereignofQueenIsabellathatChristopherColumbussetforthonhisgreatvoyageofdiscovery. …tocontinuethelongmarchofthosewhocamebeforeus,amarchforamorejust,moreequal,morefree,morecaringandmoreprosperousAmerica. WhatisthepurposeofObamatoexplainhistask?Obama,throughsuchdescriptionofhisintentiontorunforpresidency,puthimselfonthemoralhighground.Hisrunningwasnotoutofpersonalinterests,notoutofdesireforpowerbutoutofawishtomakeAmericabetter,andthisisacontinuationofalongmarchforanoblegoal.Notethattheconceptsof“alongmarch”and“tomakeAmericabetter”areoftenfoundinpresidentialrhetoric.In1910,TheodoreRoosevelt,inthepresidentialcampaign,hadthistosay,“Wecameheretodaytocommemorateoneoftheepoch-makingeventsofthelongstrugglefortherightsofman–thelongstrugglefortheupliftofhumanity.” IchosetorunforthepresidentatthismomentinhistorybecauseIbelievedeeplythatwecannotsolvethechallenges… runforthepresident/presidency竞选总统 atthismomentinhistory: ObamameantthatthiswasacriticalmomentinhistorybecauseAmericawasexperiencingtwowars（theIraqWarandAfghanWar）andaneconomicrecession. Parallelstructure:“unless…unless…” Antithesis: “wemay…but…”; “wemaynot…but…” ButitalsocomesfrommyownAmericanstory. Obama’sstory:Theethnicbackground:blackfatherandwhitemother,whitematernalgrandparents,Asianstepfather.Hisownexperience:bestschoolinHawaii,ColumbiaUniversityandHarvardLawSchool.HetaughtlawatUniversityofChicagoLawSchoolfor12years.HewaselectedtotheU.S.Senatein2004.That’shisAmericandreamrealized,soishiswife’sAmericandream.ThispersonalstorywillappealtomanypotentialvotersbecausethisisstillamythwhichmanyAmericansbelievein. ButitalsocomesfrommyownAmericanstory. Paraphrase: Mypersonalbackgroundandmysuccessstory,risingfromragstoriches,alsoteachesmetheimportanceofunity. I'vegonetosomeofthebestschoolsinAmericaandlivedinoneoftheworld'spoorestnations. Antithesis,Tobringouthisownrichexperience. …andforaslongasIlive,IwillneverforgetthatinnoothercountryonEarthismystoryevenpossible. Paraphrase: IcanbecomewhatIamonlyinAmericaandIamgratefulandwillneverforgetthis. It‘sastorythathasn’tmademethemostconventionalcandidate. Conventional:Conformingtoformaloracceptedstandardsorrulesratherthannature.Eg: Peoplestillworetheirhairshortanddressedconventionally.人们还留着短发、穿着传统服饰。 TheconventionalpracticeflourishesintheUnitedStates. 这种常规做法在美国很盛行。 Paraphrase: IdidwellintheUnitedStatessopeoplewouldthink IwouldbeforthepresentsituationandIwould behappywithwhereIam.Butno,Iwantedchange. Butitisastorythathassearedintomygeneticmakeuptheideathatthisnationismorethanthesumofitsparts-thatoutofmany,wearetrulyone. Sear:toburnwithintenseheat;tomarkwithahotiron; geneticmakeup:naturalconstitution; searedintomygeneticmakeup:tobedeeplyingrainedinme. thisnationismorethanthesumofitsparts: TheU.S.isnotaddingallstatestogether,whenthepartaremeltedorfusedintowhole,itspowerorinfluenceismuchgreater. Paraphrase: Iamdeeplyingrained,throughmyexperienceinAmerica,withtheideathatAmericaisnotthetotalofaddingeverythingtogetherbutistheproductoffusion,ofsharingthesamecreed. “outofmany,wearetrulyone”: QuotefromanActofCongressin1782“Outofmany,one.” 相对于大多数而言，我们是独一无二的；？ 在众人之中，我们也是其中一个；？ 我们出于众而合为一；？ …whileweareoutofmany，weareone…/…althoughweareoutofmany，weareone…   …我们出于众而合为一…（寓意“合众国”） Throughoutthefirstyearofthiscampaign,againstallpredictionstothecontrary,wesawhowhungrytheAmericanpeoplewereforthismessageofunity. allpredictions: herereferstopublicmedia’sannouncementsthatObamaasablackpeoplewouldnotwinthecampaign. Paraphrase: InspiteofallannouncementsthatAmericawasnotreadyforablackpresident,thatIwouldfailinthecampaign,wegainedmomentuminthefirstyearofcampaign,whichshowedthatordinaryAmericansoverlookedtheissueofcolorandwereeagerforunityandchange. Despitethetemptationtoviewmycandidacythroughapurelyraciallens,wewoncommandingvictoriesinstateswithsomeofthewhitestpopulationsinthecountry. Backgroundinformation:issuesraisedbyhisopponentstoterrifyordinaryAmerican:Obamaisnotanative-bornAmericanbutborninHawaii,notaChristianbutaMuslim,notwhitebutblack.凡是美国48州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区构成美国本土，阿拉斯加州、夏威夷州和波多黎各、关岛为美国非本土。Paraphrase: Peoplewereencouragedtojudgemefromtheperspectiveofablackcandidate,raisingthequestionofwhethertheUnitedStateswouldfarebetterwithablackcandidate.However,wewongreatvictorieseveninsomeofthemoreconservativestates,stateswithstrongerracialbias. InSouthCarolina,wheretheConfederateFlagstillflies,webuiltapowerfulcoalitionofAfricanAmericansandwhiteAmericans.“ConfederateFlagstillflies”:SouthCarolinawasoneoftheConfederateStatesintheCivilWar.In1962theconfederatebattleflagofthe“southerncross”wasplacedontopoftheSouthCarolinaStatehousebyvoteoftheall-whitelegislature.Itwasnotuntil1July2000thattheflagwasremovedfromtheSouthCarolinaStatehouse. Translation 这场竞选的第一年里，所有相反的预测被美国人民对于这种团结的渴望所超越。尽管有人试图通过种族的有色眼镜来歪曲这次竞选，在这个国家白人州里所取得的压倒性胜利让所有质疑变得苍白无力。在那邦联旗帜飘扬的南卡罗来纳州，黑人和白人联合起来，一起站在我的身后摇旗呐喊。 WesawracialtensionsbubbletothesurfaceduringtheweekbeforetheSouthCarolinaprimary. Paraphrase: BeforethedemocraticselectionofcandidatestothenationalconventioninSouthCaroline,racialtensionwhichseemedinsubstantialinthepastbecameaboilingissue. Thepresshasscouredeveryexitpollforthelatestevidenceofracialpolarization,notjustintermsofwhiteandblack,butblackandbrownaswell. Scour:makeathoroughsearch;Eg: Rescuecrewshadscouredanareaof30squaremiles. 救援人员已经搜遍了30平方英里的范围。 exitpoll Anexitpollisasurveyinwhichpeoplewhohavejustvotedinanelectionareaskedwhichcandidatetheyvotedfor. Brown:referringtopeopleofblackandwhiteorigin,likeObama. PartIII(P12-16):Obamacondemnedsomedivisivediscussionofrace,includinghisformerpastorReverendWright’sopinions. 1.Paraphrasethesentence“Ononeendofthespectrum,we'veheardtheimplicationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeaction;thatit'sbasedsolelyonthedesireofwide-eyedliberalstopurchaseracialreconciliationonthecheap.” 2.WhydoesObamabelieveJeremiahWright’sviews“rightlyoffendwhiteandblackalike”? 3.What’sObama’sanswerstosomenaggingquestions? WhydoesObamagivethatkindofreplies? 4.WhatwasthefundamentalmistakemadebyReverendWright?HowisObama’scondemnationrelatedtothetitleofhisaddress“AMorePerfectUnion”? Andyet,ithasonlybeeninthelastcoupleofweeksthatthediscussionofraceinthiscampaignhastakenaparticularlydivisiveturn. divisive: Somethingthatisdivisivecausesunfriendlinessandargumentbetweenpeople.Eg: Hebelievesthatunemploymentissociallydivisiveandisleadingtothecreationofanunderclass. 他认为失业会造成社会分化，导致贫困阶层的产生。 Ononeendofthespectrum,we'veheardtheimplicationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeaction;thatit'sbasedsolelyonthedesireofwide-eyedliberalstopurchaseracialreconciliationonthecheap. Affirmativeactionisthepolicyofgivingjobsandotheropportunitiestomembersofgroupssuchasracialminoritiesorwomenwhomightnototherwisehavethem.   （支持、鼓励聘用女性、少数族裔等受歧视者的）积极行动或措施，反歧视行动，平权行动 　“平权行动”是60年代随着美国黑人运动、妇女运动兴起的一项。由美国总统约翰逊在1965年发起，主张在大学录取学生、公司招收或晋升雇员、政府招标时，应当照顾少数种族和女性。目的就是扳回历史上对黑人和女性的歧视，把他们在历史上受的委屈折算成现实的利益。“平权行动”实施之后，黑人和妇女的大学录取率、政府合同中的黑人中标率大大提高。　然而从70年代开始，人们开始对“平权行动”嘀嘀咕咕――其主要的矛头，就是它矫枉过正，形成了一种“逆向歧视”。  Paraphrase: Atoneendoftheentirerangeofopinion,therearepeoplewhosaythatIdecidedtorunbecauseIwantedtoshowblackandwhiteshouldhaveequalopportunityandIwantedtoplayonthedesiresofnaiveliberalstoachieveracialharmonywithoutmakinggreateffort. Ontheotherend,we’veheardmyformerpastor,ReverendJeremiahWright,useincendiarylanguagetoexpressviewsthathavethepotentialnotonlytowidentheracialdivide,butviewsthatdenigrateboththegreatnessandthegoodnessofournation;thatrightlyoffendwhiteandblackalike. denigrate:tocriticizesb.unfairlyorinsultsb. Eg:TheCanadianSupremeCourtruledthattheStatecanbanpornographicimageswhichdenigratewomen. 加拿大最高法院裁定国家有权查禁“侮辱女性”的色情图片。 “rightly”“whiteandblackalike”: indicatingthattheangerisjustifiedandissharedbywhiteandblack,soitisnotamatterofrace. ObamaconsidersWrightwrongbecausehisviews,andthelanguageheusedinexpressinghisviews,willnotonlywidenthegapbetweentheblacksandthewhitesbutareattacksonthebasicnatureofAmericaasanation,sohiswordscausetheangerandcondemnationofbothwhiteandblack. Ihavealreadycondemned,inunequivocalterms,thestatementsofReverendWrightthathavecausedsuchcontroversy. Reverendisatitleusedbeforethenameorrankofanofficiallyappointedreligiousleader.(可缩写为Rev.orRevd.) Eg:TheservicewasledbytheReverendJimSimons. 这次礼拜仪式是由吉姆·西蒙斯牧师大人主持的。 Forsome,naggingquestionsremain. nag:1) Ifsomeone nags you,theykeepaskingyoutodosomethingyouhavenotdoneyetordonotwanttodo.  Eg:Mygirlfriend naggedmetocutmyhair... 2）Ifsomethingsuchasadoubtorworrynagsatyou,ornagsyou,itkeepsworryingyou.Eg:Hecouldbewrongabouther.Thefeelingnaggedathim. Paraphrase: Forsomepeople,suchcondemnationseemsnotenough.Theystillhavedoubtswhichtroublethem. DidIknowhimtobeanoccasionallyfiercecrit