soapbox #2
人前で演説を行う機会がある高校の話です。
Project Soapbox gives teens in Aurora a chance to speak out
At a speech competition in downtown Aurora Thursday, Metea Valley High School junior Leslie Mejia's voice trembled as she delivered comments urging a revising of immigration laws. "Your voice matters, and it's never too early to start taking action," she said before an audience of teens, teachers and competition staff. "Somewhere in America, an immigrant family is thanking you for your kind gesture. Including mine." Mejia was one of several participants in the Project Soapbox competition whose speech centered on political issues. She and several others said their speeches and choice of topics were influenced by the presidential election. The competition, sponsored by the Mikva Challenge, an organization that advocates civic participation among youth, allows teens to deliver speeches about issues that affect them. They spoke Thursday about the environment and bullying, and also about racism, immigration, social movements and the voting age.
今回取り上げるのはsoapboxです。
LDOCEでは“If someone is on their soapbox, they are telling people their opinions about something in a loud and forceful way.”と定義されているように、「即席の街頭演説台」の意味があります。
ひっくり返した箱の上に立って話すイメージが浮かびました。
『ジーニアス英和辞典』（第五版、大修館書店）では“be (get, climb) on one’s soapbox”で「持論を力説する（立場にある）」という意味になることがわかりました。
人前で話すことに慣れていない私にとって、高校生のうちから学校でこのような機会が与えられるのは、うらやましいことだと思いました。(flyingbird)
