JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight
about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics, and to remember, while we may disagree,
we are not enemies. We're neighbors. We're friends, coworkers, citizens. And most importantly, we are
fellow Americans. And we must stand together. Yesterday's shooting at Donald Trump's rally in
Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are, how we go forward from
here. Thankfully, former Trump is not seriously injured. I spoke with him last night. I'm grateful he's
doing well. And Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers.
We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. Corey was a
husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter, a hero, sheltering his family from those bullets. We should all
hold his family and all those injured in our prayers. Earlier today, I spoke about an ongoing investigation.
We do not know,the motive of the shooter yet. We don't know his opinions or affiliations. We don't
know whether he had help or support, or if he communicated with anyone else. Law enforcement
professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions. Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know.
A former president was shot. An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support
the candidate of his choosing. We cannot, we must not go down this road in America. We've traveled it
before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer, whether it's with members of
Congress in both parties being targeted in the shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January
6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and
intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted
assassination on Donald Trump.
There is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions. We
can't allow this violence to be normalized. You know, the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very
heated. It's time to cool it down. And we all have a responsibility to do that. Yes, we have deeply felt
strong disagreements. The stakes in this election are enormously high. I've said it many times that the
choice in this -- we make in this election is going to shape the future of America and the world for
decades to come. I believe that with all my soul. I know that millions of my fellow Americans believe it as
well. And some have a different view as to the direction our country should take. Disagreement is
inevitable in American democracy. It's part of human nature. But politics must never be a literal
battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field.
I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice, to make decisions guided by
the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We stand for an America, not of extremism and
fury, but of decency and grace. All of us now face a time of testing as the election approaches. And the
higher the stakes, the more fervent the passions become. This places an added burden on each of us to
ensure that no matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend into violence. The Republican
convention will start tomorrow. I have no doubt they'll criticize my record and offer their own vision for
this country. I'll be traveling this week, making the case for our record and the vision -- my vision of the
country, our vision. I'll continue to speak out strongly for our democracy, stand up for our Constitution
and the rule of law, to call for action at the ballot box. No violence on our streets. That's how democracy
should work. We debate and disagree. We compare and contrast the character of the candidates, the
records, the issues, the agenda, the vision for America. But in America, we resolve our differences at the
battle box. You know, that's how we do it, at the ballot box, not with bullets. The power to change
America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin. You
know, the path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved
peacefully, not through acts of violence. You know, we're blessed to live in the greatest country on Earth.
And I believe that with every soul, every power of my being. So, tonight, I'm asking every American to
recommit, to make America so -- make America -- think about it. What's made America so special? Here
in America, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect, and hate must have no safe harbor.
1.condolences a.政党
2. harbor b.お悔やみ
3. ballot c.修辞
4. assassin d.候補者
5. candidate e.避難所
6. rhetoric f.降りる
7. parties g.暗殺者
8. descend h.投票
1. Joe Biden called Donald Trump last night to confirm that he was safe. (True)
2. Corey was a politician who was shot during a campaign event. (False)
3. Biden said that Americans are not enemies but neighbors and friends. (True)
4. The motive of yesterday’s shooter has already been identified. (False)
5. Joe Biden mentioned the history of violence in America. (True)
6. Yesterday’s shooting incident is related to the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s spouse. (False)
7. Joe Biden stated that political disagreements are part of American democracy. (True)
8. Biden believes that politics should always be a battlefield. (False)
9. Biden said that America should be a country of decency and grace. (True)
10. Biden mentioned that passions rise as the election approaches. (True)
11. The Republican convention will start next week. (False)
12. Biden believes that the power to change America's future should rest in the hands of an assassin.
(False)
President Joe Biden called for lowering the temperature in political **rhetoric** and unity among
Americans following a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania. He expressed relief that Trump
was not seriously injured and extended **condolences** to the family of a victim. Biden condemned all
forms of political violence, emphasizing that such actions have no place in America. Hate must have no
safe **harbor**. He urged for peaceful debate and resolution of differences at the **ballot** box, not
through violence by an **assassin**. As the election approaches, Biden stressed the importance of
maintaining decency and grace, reaffirming the country's commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
He reminded that political disagreement is inevitable between **parties** and should never
**descend** into violence.
