Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
We define “courage” too loosely. Real courage is conscious self-sacrifice, either for the sake of others or to uphold a value. But we typically identify a single aspect of courage—daring or honesty, for example—as the entire virtue. We even say it takes courage to differ from the mainstream in one’s preferences in fashion or music or to speak out about certain wrongs. Such acts, though admirable, are not necessarily courageous.
Adapted from John McCain with Mark Salter, Why Courage Matters
Assignment: Should we limit our use of the term “courage” to acts in which people risk their own well-being for the sake of others or to uphold a value? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
第一部分：
写作思路：
不同意。为了他人的利益或者为了坚守某个价值观而牺牲自己的利益或福利的确可以称之为勇气。但是，还有一些行为，比如不随波逐流，比如得了绝症坚持乐观地生活下去，也是要极大勇气的。因此，很多的行为，即便没有为了别人的利益失去自己的福利，也可以是勇气。
有一位身患癌症的医生写过一篇文章，请大家看看我节选的部分。能从中获取某些思路和感悟：Hemingway once wrote that courage is grace under pressure. But I would rather think with the 18th century Italian dramatist, Vittorio Alfieri, that “often the test of courage is not to die but to live.” For living with cancer engenders more than pressure; it begets terror. To live with it, to face up to it---that’s courage.(翻译：海明威曾经写道，勇气就是临危不惧。不过，我更赞同18世纪意大利戏剧家维多利奥.阿尔菲利的观点：“对勇气的考验往往不是去死，而是要活。”身患癌症，不仅带来痛苦，而且引起恐惧。抱病生活，并敢于正视这一现实，这就是勇气。)
从这位作者的文章我们可以看出，正视糟糕的现实，也是勇气的表现。作为一名癌症患者，作者不仅没有消沉，反倒比以前更积极快乐地去生活，这种行为不仅没有损害个人的利益，反倒还有利于自己的身体。你能说这种勇于面对现实的态度不是勇气吗?
此外，我也反对John McCain说的“We even say it takes courage to differ from the mainstream in one’s preferences in fashion or music or to speak out about certain wrongs. Such acts, though admirable, are not necessarily courageous.”从古到今，有太多随波逐流的人，太多不敢发表自己观点和意见的人。因为这些人从小就被教育要听话，不要与大众对着干。不管是随波逐流也好，还是隐藏自己的观点也罢，都不利于社会的进步。而正是那些敢于特立独行，敢于勇于陈述自己观点和意见的人，往往是推动社会进步的人。比如时尚界的香奈儿，勇敢地讲男性化的元素引入女装;比如科技界的乔布斯，力排众议推出ipad。我觉得这两位的行为，就是有勇气的体现。很多时候我们不敢尝试新的事情，因为我们害怕失败。对于敢于创新的人，我们不得不赞赏他们的勇气。
所以，只要一个人做了别人或自己通常不敢做，不会做的，而又无损于甚至是有利于他人的事儿，就可称之为勇气。(自己不敢做的事儿比如向喜欢的人表白，这个也是需要勇气的：)。活生生的个人事例也能很好说明自己的观点。大家不要担心个人的事例没有说服力。只要写得靠题，个人事例和名人事例一样有说服力!)
第二部分：
本篇必背短语和句子：
1) From the time people are very young, they are urged to get along with others, to try to “fit in”.
2) People are often rewarded for being agreeable and obedient.
3) 随波逐流：go with/follow the crowd
4) 从古到今：from ancient times to the present/from ancient to modern times
5) 力排众议：do one’s utmost to hold one’s own opinion against that of the majority;denounce the majority opinion
6) 勇气的表现：a display of courage/an exhibition of courage
7) 缺乏勇气：be deficient in courage/be lacking in courage/lack the courage to do sth
8) 有巨大魄力和勇气的人：a man of great soul and courage
9) 有勇气的人将来会大有出息：A man with courage will go far.
10) 勇敢地面对困苦：face the hardship with courage
11) 鼓起勇气向大群听众致辞：find/gain/gather/muster up the courage to address a large audience
12) 他勇敢地面对困难：He faced the difficulty with courage.
13) 面临困难她并不气馁：Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
14) 他被她的美貌弄得心荡神驰，可缺乏勇气向她表明：He was tantalized by her beauty, but lacked the courage to speak to her.
15) 他的勇气(渐渐)消失了：His courage drained away/crumpled.
16) 我不得不赞赏他的勇气：I cannot help but admire his courage/I deeply respect his courage/I take off my hat to him for his courage/Such courage is beyond praise(勇气令人赞叹不已).
17) 消防队员在抢救孩子时表现很勇敢：The fireman demonstrated great courage in saving the child.
18) 士兵表现出极大的勇气：The soldier displayed great courage.
19) 勇敢的化身the incarnation/personification of courage
20) 推动社会向前发展：propel the society forward
21) 决不能损害人民的利益：Never do anything to harm the interests of the people/the masses.
