Words and Their Stories
揭人隐私的人
MUCKRAKER
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, coined the word, "muckraker," in 1906. Roosevelt was not only an exciting politician, but also a writer with a talent for lively speech. When he was aroused, he let you know it, and his words were as strong as his temper. And in his 1906 speech, his anger was strong indeed. It fired his imagination and made his words ring. It was in his furnace of anger that "muckraker" was born.
Why was he so worked up? A group of journalists had been making searching investigations of corruption in business and politics. The early years of the 1900's gave them a rich field for such investigations. Their reports shocked the people.
As the nation's chief leader at this time, President Roosevelt felt that the investigators had gone too far. He feared that their reports might lead to dangerous dissent.
And so he lashed out at the investigators. He declared that they were like the man in "Pilgrim's Progress," a book by the English writer, John Bunyan. The man was offered the crown of heaven for his muckrake. He would not even look at the crown when he was offered. He could look no way but downwards with a muckrake in his hands.
Roosevelt felt that the investigators of his time were just like this man, raking the muck with wild, irresponsible charges against leading business companies and their control over politicians.
The men President Roosevelt called muckrakers were not unhappy about it. They knew that Roosevelt himself was a reformer and was really one of them. And they accepted the name with pride. Their writings in time created nation-wide concern over the problems they investigated. As a result, many changes were made in the conditions described by muckrakers. New laws were passed by Congress. Greater government control was begun over national evils that had existed for many years.
Today, "muckraker" is not always used to criticize, certainly not by an honest investigating journalist. The muckrakers have left a crusading tradition, and there is always a need for the more responsible of them in most industrial societies. So, the crown of heaven can still be offered to a responsible man who keeps his eyes on his muckrake.
- 注解：
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- Theodore Roosevelt 老罗斯福总统
- coin 创造(新字)
- muckraker 揭发别人丑事的人
- exciting politician 活跃的政治人物
- aroused 被激怒
- fire 激发
- furnace of anger 愤怒的熔炉
- worked up 被激怒
- journalist 新闻杂志业者
- corruption 贪污
- dissent 不满；不和
- lashed out 大骂
- Pilgrim's Progress 天路历程
- downwards 向下
- muckrake 粪耙；揭发隐私的行为
- irresponsible charges 不负责任的控告
- nation-wide concern 全国的关注
- conditions 状况
- criticize 指责
- crusading tradition 改革传统
- keep eyes on 注视