95 A Terrible Year

Many people remember horrible years in their lives, times when nothing seemed to go right. Sometimes countries can have years like this too.

To many Americans, 1968 was a truly terrible year for their country. More and more people were protesting the government’s involvement in Vietnam. African Americans were continuing to demand equal rights as citizens. The country was in a tense, hostile mood.

In early April, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., went to Memphis to lead a protest march of black sanitation workers. On the evening of April 4, as he was leaving his motel to go to dinner, he was shot and killed by an assassin. This senseless death provoked riots in many cities.

Just two months later, another political assassination took place. Robert Kennedy, brother of the late President, had decided to run for president himself. Many people saw Kennedy as a leader who might bring the country together. Kennedy won the California primary and had just made a victory speech. Then he too was shot.

These two violent deaths frightened many people. But the Democratic National Convention in August was a final outrage. While the delegates bitterly debated to select a candidate, out on the Chicago streets police were clashing with antiwar protesters. Once again, violence ruled.

Looking at the United States today, it may be hard to believe this year of trouble occurred. But those who lived through it will never forget it.

95 可怕的一年

很多人会记得生命中那些糟糕的年份，那些似乎事事不顺的时光。有时候，国家也会经历这样的年份。

对许多美国人来说，1968年是他们国家真正可怕的一年。越来越多的人抗议政府卷入越南战争，非裔美国人继续要求获得平等的公民权利。整个国家都处于紧张、敌对的氛围中。

4月初，小马丁·路德·金牧师前往孟菲斯，领导黑人环卫工人的抗议游行。4月4日晚上，当他离开 motel 去吃晚餐时，被刺客枪杀。这一无谓的死亡在许多城市引发了骚乱。

仅仅两个月后，又发生了一起政治暗杀事件。已故总统的弟弟罗伯特·肯尼迪决定自己竞选总统。许多人认为肯尼迪是能团结国家的领袖。肯尼迪赢得了加利福尼亚州的初选，刚发表完胜利演讲，就也遭到了枪击。

这两起暴力死亡事件让许多人感到恐惧。但8月的民主党全国代表大会是最后的暴行：当代表们激烈辩论以选出候选人时，芝加哥街头的警察正与反战抗议者发生冲突。暴力再次占据了主导。

看看今天的美国，可能很难相信这一年的动荡真的发生过。但那些经历过这一切的人永远不会忘记。