【文／高志豪／中華民國國際職能教育發展協會執行長】
■ 意見理由型（Opinion-Reason Pattern）
1998年，美國總統Bill Clinton和白宮女實習生Monica Lewinsky「轟動武林、驚動萬教」的性醜聞（sex scandal）曝光之後，在司法調查和共和黨提出的彈劾案下，Clinton雖然「滿面豆花」，卻也驚險過關，未被定罪，這是史上有名的Zippergate（拉鍊門醜聞）。此一事件中，Clinton總統以一場簡短而令人動容的電視演說，為這件不光彩而煽情的醜聞，劃下了休止符。且讓我們欣賞一下這篇精彩的演說詞－－
Clinton’s Speech to American Public
“Good evening. This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury.
| testify | v. 作證，證實 |
| Independent Counsel | （美）獨立檢察官 |
| grand jury | 大陪審團 |
“I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer. “Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight.
〔筆者按〕美國人最忌諱去探人隱私（personal privacy），Clinton則表示願意回答有關私生活的問題，且又肯負責。 您看！多麼坦蕩蕩、多麼偉大！
“As you know, in a deposition in January, I was asked questions about my relationship with Monica Lewinsky. While my answers were legally accurate, I did not volunteer information. “Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible.
| deposition | n. 證詞，宣誓作證 |
| volunteer | v. 主動提供（資訊） |
| critical | a. 非常重要的，吹毛求疵的 |
| lapse | n. 過失，疏忽，行為失檢 |
| failure | n. 失敗 |
〔筆者按〕這段話的意思：我只是沒有主動提供檢察官資料而已，在法律上，我還是站得住腳的。我和Lewinsky的關係，可說是「不恰當」（有什麼大不了的！）嘿，不對，不對！只是觀念上有嚴重過失，是我個人的失敗啦！
“But I told the grand jury today and I say to you now that at no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence or to take any other unlawful action. I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that.
| mislead | v. 誤導 |
〔筆者按〕這段話意味著：我沒有要別人撒謊、隱藏或摧毀證據，或者採取不法行動（是我自己撒謊…）。我公開的談話也好、沉默也好，都會造成你們錯誤的印象（你們真的不好「款待」）。我深深地regret（遺憾）。但是我絕對不講I’m very sorry for that. 或者I sincerely apologize for that. 因為這件事情沒那麼嚴重嘛！
“I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors. First, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct. “I was also very concerned about protecting my family. The fact that these questions were being asked in a politically inspired lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, was a consideration, too.
| motivate | v. 激起，促使 |
| conduct | n. 行為，處理方式 |
| inspired | a. 被激起(喚起)的 |
| lawsuit | n. （非刑事案件的）訴訟 |
| dismiss | v. 駁回，不受理 |
〔筆者按〕這段話的意思：我撒謊，是因為不願意受困窘嘛！我還顧慮到家人呢！（我的老婆Hillary Clinton可不好惹的！）還有，這絕對是政治化的訴訟造成的（可能是政治迫害）！
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