2023/1/14(土)SMC
We had the first meeting this year. in the president’s remark, he talked about the difference between the phrases, ‘Glad to see you’, and ‘Glad to meet you.’ At first glance, you may think there’s not a difference whatsoever, but if you stop and think, the difference is as clear as day. Better not to use ‘Glad to meet you.’ for your friend, and especially for your close friend.
Word of the Day: SM Talahata
"score"
[V]
(2) to achieve a particular amount, level, etc. in a test: -She’s hoping to score high on the math test.
(3) to record scores in a game
(4) to be successful in doing something:
(5) to obtain something, especially without paying for it or with little effort:
[n]
(2) a written copy of a piece of music
(3) the true facts of the situation
-John won’t do anything risky – he knows the score.
(4) a group of 20 people or things
-As my three score and ten years come to a close, it
seems a good time to muse a bit about my life.
Phrasal verbs and phrases
Please guess the meaning of the followings.
(1) score off: to gain an (advantage) over someone
- Why does she constantly try to score off her sister?
(2) settle an (old) score (with someone): to do something to (harm) or (hurt) someone who has (harmed) or (hurt) you in the past
- Jack came back after five years to settle some old scores.
(3) score drugs: to get (illegal) drugs
- She tried to score some dope in a nightclub.
(4) score something out/through: to draw a (line) through a piece of writing
- She scored out two names on the list.
(5) go off at score:
1) to have an (exhaustic) or spirited (start) to something
-The musician went off at score, launching immediately into a
madcap arrangement of tunes that got the audience right out of
their seats.
2) to speak or (behave) in an impetuous and (impulsive) manner.
-I very nearly went off at score to tell her how ignorant such a
viewpoint is, but I decided to hold my tongue instead.
Lecture: SM Eda
The purpose of learning foreign languages
1) to understand culture of other races
2) to have a successful deal
3) to have more friends and broaden my horizons by communicating with them
Table Topic Speech
1) What do you like most about your job? What do you dislike most about your job?
2) What do you sometimes compare yourself to?
3) How have you changed in the five years?
4) Would you break the law to save a locved one?
5) What are your 3 favorite personality traits?
6) What is your greatest challenge?
Prepared Speech
1) Things that can save the boredom of my lazy life: SM Kei Narisawa
‘Kindle’ with which you can buy e-books and read digital book and Netflix that provides a wide range of movies are two things that can get him out of the boredom of his lazy life. In passing, he should have added SMC meeting and on-line meeting to the list.
2) Several things I was impressed with during the New Year holidays: SM Yoko Narisawa
The first one is Tokyo-Hakone long-distance relay race ( Hakone Ekiden).
It was held on January 1st and 2nd. It brings us the real feeling of the New Year. This year, as far as time permitted, I watched it. I was much impressed with each runner who was trying to hand his sash to the next runner as fast as possible. But unfortunately, there were a few runners failed to hand his sash in time to the next. One of them could do that with a few seconds, but he couldn’t. He broke down crying. All runners had been training for Hakone Ekiden for a long time. Some experienced unexpected happenings such as injury or disease before Hakone Ekiden. But one runner succeeded in running through the section in spite of having suffered from Covid 19 just one month before. It was a miracle. Others were roused by their managers’ encouraging words from the car when they were running painfully. I watched a lot of dramas through Hakone Ekiden. I enjoyed it to the full.
Tne second one is my daughter bought me a vacuume-cleaner as my birthday present. My husband, daughter and I went Nojima on the New Year’s Day and bought the best one. But before buying it, we asked a staff, “ Could you make it cheaper?” He said this was the new year’s first sale price, but he gave a discount of 2000yen. And more I got 3000 points of Nojima. And moreover, I applied for the campaign that if I would win the first prize, the vacuum-cleaner we bought might become free. The result is supposed to announce at the end of this month. I’m looking forward to it.
The third one is a new year’s greeting mail by my son. He sent us our grandson’s picture. When we met his family last October, our grandson was walking unsteadily. I was surprised to see the picture, because he sat on the chair drinking tea with his legs on the table. It was as if an adult was relaxing. But his smile and behavior made us very happy. My family had peaceful new year days.
3) World Calendars: SM Kakisu
Until last year, Christmas in Ukraine was celebrated on January 7, but this year, since they do not want to celebrate Christmas with the invading country Russia, Ukraine have changed Christmas to December 25, in line with Western countries.
Japan celebrates the three days of the New Year as New Year's Day, but most countries designate January 1 as a national holiday but have no special celebration. This prompted me to look into calendars around the world.
The calendar used in most countries is the Gregorian calendar, which Japan also uses. It is a solar calendar, with 365 days in a year and a leap year every four years.
Islamic countries use the Islamic calendar. It is a lunar calendar, with 354 days in a year, 11 days shorter than our calendar, so the seasons are 11 days apart.
Iran uses the Persian calendar.
It is a solar calendar, New Year's Day is March 21, the vernal equinox. The first six months have 31 days, the last five months have 30 days, and the last month has 28 or 29 days. Thus, the Persian calendar is a reasonable calendar.
4) DEMOCRACY AT STAKE: SM Yoshikawa
During New Year’s holidays, I read prospects for the new year written by researchers and analysts and almost all of them gave warnings to the way we are. This year, the phrase I encountered often was “democracy at stake.”
Actually, what happened last year has shaken our belief in democracy. Personally, I used to believe that democracy is the most developed and refined political system, where people value freedom and agreement is made through discussion and election, but now, I am not sure. Problems with democracy are getting too complicated for us to deal with.
For example, Japanese people witnessed the murder of former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. It is true that Abe was a shady figure and the culprit’s resentment against the cult is understandable, but at the same time, this killing is an act of terrorism against democracy. It is said that quite a few people have shown sympathy with this man sharing distrust and disappointment with him.
Let me talk about the situation in the U.S., the champion of democracy.
During the midterm election campaign, both parties blamed each other as “threat to democracy.” On one hand, a Republican congress member expressed her support to the idea of sentencing leading Democrats to death including Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Avid fans of Donald Tramp have been suspecting the validity of the last presidential election. On the other hand, left-wing extremists vandalized churches that are against the Democratic Party’s abortion policy. With violence, they express their opinions and try to achieve their goals. If all these happen in a unstable developing country where democratic political system has just been introduced, it is not surprising, but they took place in the pioneer country of democracy.
Before he was shot, JFK had prepared a speech for citizens in Dallas. His undelivered speech read, “In today’s world, freedom can be lost without a shot being fired, by ballots as well as bullets.”
In times of crisis, people tend to choose leaders with extreme ideas and entrust their future easily, but such leaders are likely to mislead people to disasters. We may not have learned enough from history, and we may vote for wrong leaders. We may put an end to democracy through elections that buttress democracy itself.
According to a survey conducted last year, 57% of Americans agreed with the statement that “America is heading toward the end of democracy, where free and fair elections will no longer occur.
If democracy and freedom should be lost, where would we go? I imagine Dystopia and wish the new world would not be cruel.
Meeting Schedule
In-person: 9:30 AM on Jan. 28 at Oyama Community Center (tea room)
(Coordinator: SM Takahata, Word of the Day: SM Kei Narisawa, Lecturer: SM Noro)
Zoom: 7:30 on Jan. 16, 23, and 30
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