H☆Mさんの おぼえた日記 - 2018年4月7日(土)

[Thousands of Classified JFK Assassination Files Released] -Lesson 1 / English in Today's World-

The U.S. government has released more than 2,800 previously classified files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

The National Archives published the files on its website on Thursday. They include decades of information compiled by the FBI, CIA, and other agencies.

Under a 1992 law, all remaining documents related to the assassination were supposed to be made public by Thursday. But President Donald Trump, citing a clause in the law, delayed the release of some records.

In a memo, Trump explained that certain government agencies requested that some material remain secret. "I have no choice - today - but to accept those redactions, rather than allow potentially irreversible harm to our nation's security." The memo says all files will be released after a review period except in extremely rare cases.

Government investigations concluded that a Marine Corps veteran acted alone in gunning down Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. But the event continues to be the subject of numerous "conspiracy theories." (2017/10/27, NHK World)


[Discussion]
Sam: Hannah, are you familiar with the popular JFK assassination "conspiracy theories?"

Hannah: Not very familiar. I know some people who are convinced there was more than one shooter, or that it was an inside job.

Sam: I wonder if the files the National Archives recently published on its website will change some conspiracy theories' minds, or if the new information will just strengthen their theories.

Hannah: I guess that depends on what is in the files. We'll have to see if there is any significant difference between the previously available information and the newly released files.

Sam: That's true.


◆見出し[Thousands of classified JFK assassination files released]
=[Thousands of classified John F. Kennedy assassination files have been released.]

◆言い換え
①「文書」 [file]⇒[document]⇒[record]⇒[material]
②「公開する」[release]⇒[publish]⇒[make public]

■[previously]「これまでは、以前は」
The U.S. government has released more than 2,800 previously classified files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
　⇒Tokyo was previously known as Edo.

■[website]「ウェブサイト、ホームページ」
The National Archives published the files on its website on Thursday.
　⇒Is it OK if I put your photo on my website?

■[and other]「～などの」
They include decades of information compiled by the FBI, CIA, and other agencies.


[words and phrases]
-[JFK]=[John Fitzgerald Kennedy]
-[the National Archives]国立公文書館

-[FBI]=[Federal Bureau of Investigation]アメリカ連邦捜査局(主にアメリカ国内で連邦法に関する捜査を担当する)
-[CIA]=[Central Intelligence Agency]アメリカ合衆国中央情報局(対外諜報活動を行うアメリカ合衆国の情報機関)

-[cite]-[clause]
　⇒[citing a clause in the law] 法律の(例外)条項を(根拠として)挙げて、
-[redaction]編集/黒く塗りつぶして非公開とすること
-[potentially irreversible harm]潜在的に取り返しがつかない害をもたらす、
-[Marine Corps](米軍の)海兵隊-末尾psは発音しない
-[veteran]元軍人/退役軍人、熟練者、
-[conspiracy theory]陰謀説