World News for Students of English

21-05-2014 07:00

US President Barack Obama had to break away from his speech to the Democratic National Committee in California when he was interrupted by a heckler.

A man in the crowd began shouting “Freedom for Ethiopia!”, and despite the president’s best efforts, he didn’t manage to stop the taunts.

“And if we do, then I guarantee you…”

“Freedom! Freedom for Ethiopia!”

“I agree with you. Although, why don’t I talk about it later because I’m just about to finish? You and me, we’ll talk about it! Alright, I’m going to be coming around. There you go! I agree with you. I want to hear it from you! I love you back! You kind of screwed up my ending, but that’s okay. The uh… That’s okay. And we’ve got free speech in this country, which is great too!”

The man, who described himself as an exiled journalist and freedom activist trying to raise the voices of Ethiopians, later handed out copies of a letter he wrote to the president about aiding the “oppressed people of Ethiopia”.

Difficult words: interrupt (start speaking when somebody’s speaking), heckler (somebody who interrupts you), taunt (comment), oppress (to treat somebody cruelly).

Source: www.itn.co.uk