Civil Disobedience
Mar 21 2014
Intro
No matter where you live, there are probably some things that the government does that you don’t agree with. Often it’s easiest and best to simply follow the rules, but what if the problem is something really important?
When people are sick of a government making bad decisions, they can protestwith a march, a mob, or even picket signs that talk about what they don’t agree with. Protestors do take a risk when they stand up for their beliefs. In extreme cases, they might get put in prison or worse.
Somebody is upset with the government. Read this week’s English lesson to find out who wants to protest.
When people are sick of a government making bad decisions, they can protestwith a march, a mob, or even picket signs that talk about what they don’t agree with. Protestors do take a risk when they stand up for their beliefs. In extreme cases, they might get put in prison or worse.
Somebody is upset with the government. Read this week’s English lesson to find out who wants to protest.
Dialogue
Marni: Man, I am just so sick of the government.
Amanda: Why, what did they do this time?
Marni: It doesn’t matter. It’s just like every decision they make… I’m just so sick of it. I feel like we should just protest. All these other countries, people, when they don’t like something that’s happening, they just take to the streets. Why can’t we do that here?
Amanda: I think you should go for it. Nothing gets done, and there are no results from being passive.
Marni: Yeah, I guess you’re right. I need to stand up for my beliefs, right? No matter what the consequences are.
Amanda: It never hurts to risk something.
Marni: That’s true. I’ve always been scared of going to prison or something, but really, no matter what happens, I just need to make my voice heard. Things are just not right right now.
Amanda: And there’s really nothing more attractive than a protestor.
Marni: Why do you think a protestor’s attractive?
Amanda: You’re standing up for what you believe in.
Marni: That’s attractive?
Amanda: Absolutely. You’re not being a doormat. Be aggressive, assertive.
Marni: OK…
Amanda: Own it!
Marni: You’re right. I just have to go for it. I have to stand up for my beliefs and not take no for an answer.
Amanda: I’m going to paint you a picket sign.
Amanda: Why, what did they do this time?
Marni: It doesn’t matter. It’s just like every decision they make… I’m just so sick of it. I feel like we should just protest. All these other countries, people, when they don’t like something that’s happening, they just take to the streets. Why can’t we do that here?
Amanda: I think you should go for it. Nothing gets done, and there are no results from being passive.
Marni: Yeah, I guess you’re right. I need to stand up for my beliefs, right? No matter what the consequences are.
Amanda: It never hurts to risk something.
Marni: That’s true. I’ve always been scared of going to prison or something, but really, no matter what happens, I just need to make my voice heard. Things are just not right right now.
Amanda: And there’s really nothing more attractive than a protestor.
Marni: Why do you think a protestor’s attractive?
Amanda: You’re standing up for what you believe in.
Marni: That’s attractive?
Amanda: Absolutely. You’re not being a doormat. Be aggressive, assertive.
Marni: OK…
Amanda: Own it!
Marni: You’re right. I just have to go for it. I have to stand up for my beliefs and not take no for an answer.
Amanda: I’m going to paint you a picket sign.
Discussion
Marni is tired of the bad decisions she thinks the government is making. She feels like she needs to do something, maybe even protest.
Amanda encourages Marni to do what she thinks is right. She tells Marni that sitting around and doing nothing won’t help things get better. Amanda thinks that being assertive is actually really attractive. For her, it’s important that people act on what they believe.
Marni seems to like Amanda’s advice, and decides she’s ready to take a risk. Amanda lets Marni know she’ll help her out by painting a picket sign. That way, everyone will know what Marni thinks.
Have you ever been involved in a protest? What should people do when they disagree with the government?
Amanda encourages Marni to do what she thinks is right. She tells Marni that sitting around and doing nothing won’t help things get better. Amanda thinks that being assertive is actually really attractive. For her, it’s important that people act on what they believe.
Marni seems to like Amanda’s advice, and decides she’s ready to take a risk. Amanda lets Marni know she’ll help her out by painting a picket sign. That way, everyone will know what Marni thinks.
Have you ever been involved in a protest? What should people do when they disagree with the government?
Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense
Talking about why she hasn’t protested before, Marni tells Amanda, “I’ve always been scared of going to prison.” She uses the present perfect tense.
The present perfect tense is formed with have/has + a past participle. There are several situations in which we use this tense:
To talk about something that was true in the past, and is still true in the present, as in, “I have been married for five years.” Marni has always been afraid of the consequences for protesting, and she still is.
To refer to something that happened at an unspecified time in the past, as in, “Becky has visited China several times already.”
To talk about something that happened during a period of time that has not yet ended, as in, “I have gone to three parties so far this month.”
Which is correct, “I haven’t heard from Timothy this week,” or “I haven’t hear from Timothy this week”?
Talking about why she hasn’t protested before, Marni tells Amanda, “I’ve always been scared of going to prison.” She uses the present perfect tense.
The present perfect tense is formed with have/has + a past participle. There are several situations in which we use this tense:
To talk about something that was true in the past, and is still true in the present, as in, “I have been married for five years.” Marni has always been afraid of the consequences for protesting, and she still is.
To refer to something that happened at an unspecified time in the past, as in, “Becky has visited China several times already.”
To talk about something that happened during a period of time that has not yet ended, as in, “I have gone to three parties so far this month.”
Which is correct, “I haven’t heard from Timothy this week,” or “I haven’t hear from Timothy this week”?
Quiz
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