Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Alarming shift: on the U.S. government and free speech rights

Alarming shift: on the U.S. government and free speech rights

Donald Trump’s executive overreach calls (मांग करना, आवश्यकता होना) for judicial intervention (हस्तक्षेप)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that there is an ongoing (चल रहा, जारी) programme in the United States to revoke (रद्द करना, निरस्त करना) the visas of foreign students who are “taking activities that are counter (विरोध में, विपरीत रूप से) to our national interest (हित, रुचि), to our foreign policy”. Reports suggest (सुझाव देना, संकेत करना) that several hundred visas have been revoked, which include those held by Indian students. These reports also indicate that the U.S. government is using surveillance (निगरानी) of social media activity as a basis for these revocations (निरस्तीकरण, रद्द करना). Mr. Rubio also referenced (उल्लेख करना, संदर्भ देना) the more troubling aspects of the Gaza (a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt) war protests — Jewish students were reportedly (कथित तौर पर) harassed (परेशान करना, उत्पीड़न करना) or university buildings were occupied. In his view, if an action would justify denying a visa at the application stage, it is grounds (reason, cause, basis, pretext, rationale, factor) for revocation after issuance (जारी करना, निर्गमन). However, this development (turn of events, incident, situation, circumstance, occurrence, happening) raises concerns about the U.S. government’s stance (point of view, viewpoint, position, policy, opinion) on the free speech (अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता) rights of foreign nationals who reside in the country legally. Not all those affected by these visa revocations have been disruptive. The right to free speech is enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Although the amendment explicitly (absolutely, directly, clearly, unambiguously, conclusively, unconditionally, unequivocally, unqualifiedly, categorically, outright) restricts Congress from curtailing (reduce, decrease, cut down, lessen, diminish, restrict, limit) speech, it has long been interpreted (explain, elucidate, clarify, make clear) broadly (in general, on the whole, mainly). It protects “people”, not just “citizens” — though the distinction (difference, variation, contrast, dissimilarity, differentiation) may have been less defined at the time of its writing.

Whether this right extends to foreign nationals legally present in the U.S. remains a grey area (unclear situation/condition). Various laws — from those of the late 18th century to more recent regulations (rule, law, act, directive, statute, decree, ordinance, fiat) concerning (with regard to, regarding, in terms of, in respect of, with reference to) the impact on U.S. foreign policy — have placed limits on such expression. Yet, historically, foreign students have often been vocal (vociferous, outspoken, forthright; relating to someone who expresses his/her views frankly) critics (criticizer, censurer, castigator, attacker, fault-finder) of U.S. domestic and foreign policies without facing punitive (disciplinary, corrective, retributive) action. And, university administrations have generally defended the free speech rights of students and academics (intellectual, scholar, learned person, pandit). Despite its imperfections (fault, flaw, defect) — both historic, such as the internment (incarceration, captivity, custody, arrest, restraint, confinement, imprisonment, detention) of Japanese Americans during the Second World War, and ongoing, such as systemic (relating to a system) racial inequalities (Inequality is simply defined as “the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities; imbalance, unevenness, disproportion, disparity) — the U.S. has been a beacon (guiding light; a source of inspiration) of liberal values and due process ((equally and fairly) correct process; fair treatment). These are principles admired around the world, often more than its material wealth (a very large quantity of valuable material possessions or resources; riches) or professional opportunities. For many, it is the commitment (dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability) to values such as free speech that makes the U.S. exceptional (special, superb, phenomenal, outstanding, fantastic). That commitment now appears to be at risk. The U.S. system of checks and balances (a system in which all departments of a government organization have right to amend/limit the powers of the other departments in order to avoid dominance of one department), which guards against the abuse (misuse, exploitation, misapplication) of power, should assert (state, insist, uphold, stand up for confidently & forcefully) itself — perhaps (maybe, possibly) through judicial intervention — to rein in (to control, restrain, restrict, limit someone/something) the overreach by the Trump administration (government, governance, regime) and preserve (protect, care for, look after, take care of) the freedoms that define American democracy (a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through fairly & freely elected representatives) and inspire large parts of the world.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.alarming (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चिंताजनक, भयावह
English Meaning - worrying, disturbing, shocking, distressing, terrifying, frightening, scary, intimidating.

2.free speech (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता
English Meaning - the right to express one’s opinions publicly (without any restraint).

3.call (for) (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - मांग करना, आवश्यकता होना
English Meaning - require, demand, ask for, need, necessitate, entail.

4.intervention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हस्तक्षेप
English Meaning - the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference.

5.ongoing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - चल रहा, जारी
English Meaning - current, existing, continuing.

6.revoke (verb)

Hindi Meaning - रद्द करना, निरस्त करना
English Meaning - nullify, annul, cancel, quash, overturn, overrule, abolish, repeal, invalidate.

7.counter (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - विरोध में, विपरीत रूप से
English Meaning - against, in opposition to, in opposition to, contrary to, at variance with.

8.harass (verb)

Hindi Meaning - परेशान करना, उत्पीड़न करना
English Meaning - disturb, trouble, torment, bother, annoy.

9.suggest (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सुझाव देना, संकेत करना
English Meaning - indicate, denote, point to, signify.

10.surveillance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निगरानी
English Meaning - monitoring, observation, scrutiny, inspection.

11.revocation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निरस्तीकरण, रद्द करना
English Meaning - repeal, cancellation, reversal, annulment, nullification, invalidation, abolition, abrogation, withdrawal.

12.reference (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उल्लेख करना, संदर्भ देना
English Meaning - mention of, remark about, comment on.

13.reportedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित तौर पर
English Meaning - allegedly, supposedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently.

14.interest (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हित, रुचि
English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

15.issuance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जारी करना, निर्गमन
English Meaning - an act of issuing/providing something.

16.overreach (noun)

English Meaning - an act of trying to do too much or overdoing something.

17.The U.S. Secretary of State (noun)

English Meaning - a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser.

18.held past participle of hold (verb)

English Meaning - have, bear, carry, possess.

19.Gaza (noun)

English Meaning - a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt.

20.grounds (noun)

English Meaning - reason, cause, basis, pretext, rationale, factor.

21.development (noun)

English Meaning - turn of events, incident, situation, circumstance, occurrence, happening.

22.stance (noun)

English Meaning - point of view, viewpoint, position, policy, opinion.

23.explicitly (adverb)

English Meaning - absolutely, directly, clearly, unambiguously, conclusively, unconditionally, unequivocally, unqualifiedly, categorically, outright.

24.U.S. Congress (noun)

English Meaning - legislative assembly, parliament; The United States Congress is the bicameral (two chambers) legislature of the federal government of the United States, and consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

25.curtail (verb)

English Meaning - reduce, decrease, cut down, lessen, diminish, restrict, limit.

26.interpret (verb)

English Meaning - explain, elucidate, clarify, make clear.

27.broadly (adverb)

English Meaning - in general, on the whole, mainly.

28.distinction (noun)

English Meaning - difference, variation, contrast, dissimilarity, differentiation.

29.grey area (noun)

English Meaning - unclear situation/condition.

30.regulation (noun)

English Meaning - rule, law, act, directive, statute, decree, ordinance, fiat.

31.concerning (preposition)

English Meaning - with regard to, regarding, in terms of, in respect of, with reference to.

32.vocal (adjective)

English Meaning - vociferous, outspoken, forthright; relating to someone who expresses his/her views frankly.

33.critic (noun)

English Meaning - criticizer, censurer, castigator, attacker, fault-finder.

34.punitive (adjective)

English Meaning - disciplinary, corrective, retributive.

35.academic (noun)

English Meaning - intellectual, scholar, learned person, pandit.

36.imperfection (noun)

English Meaning - fault, flaw, defect.

37.internment (noun)

English Meaning - incarceration, captivity, custody, arrest, restraint, confinement, imprisonment, detention.

38.systemic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system.

39.inequality (noun)

English Meaning - Inequality is simply defined as “the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities; imbalance, unevenness, disproportion, disparity.

40.beacon (noun)

English Meaning - guiding light; a source of inspiration.

41.liberal values (or) liberalism (noun)

English Meaning - a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, the right to private property and equality before the law.

42.due process (phrase)

English Meaning - (equally and fairly) correct process; fair treatment.

43.material wealth (noun)

English Meaning - a very large quantity of valuable material possessions or resources; riches.

44.commitment (noun)

English Meaning - dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability.

45.exceptional (adjective)

English Meaning - special, superb, phenomenal, outstanding, fantastic.

46.checks and balances (plural noun)

English Meaning - a system in which all departments of a government organization have right to amend/limit the powers of the other departments in order to avoid dominance of one department.

47.guard against (verb)

English Meaning - take care for, protect, safeguard, defend, shield, look after, keep watch for, be alert to.

48.abuse (noun)

English Meaning - misuse, exploitation, misapplication.

49.assert (verb)

English Meaning - state, insist, uphold, stand up for confidently & forcefully.

50.perhaps (adverb)

English Meaning - maybe, possibly.

51.rein in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to control, restrain, restrict, limit someone/something.

52.administration (noun)

English Meaning - government, governance, regime.

53.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - protect, care for, look after, take care of.

54.democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through fairly & freely elected representatives.