Title:
Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg Get a History
Lesson in the Roots of US Democracy
Description: This is
a VOA Special English General News Report.
See text below
Text:
Colonial Williamsburg is a living history center in
the state of Virginia. More than 1,000 of its
employees work as historical interpreters. They
demonstrate how 18th century Americans lived. One of
them is Bill Rose.
BILL ROSE: "If you have a good interpreter, you
don't have to change the facts of history. They can
make those facts palatable and enjoyable to a modern
audience and help draw those connections. And I
think that's the best thing in the world."
The actors talk, work and look as if they lived in
colonial times. For most, re-enactment is their
full-time job and career. Jim Sutphin is director of
historic programs at Colonial Williamsburg.
JIM SUTPHIN: "It's their job, but it's also their
passion to come and dress up in funny clothes, in
18th century clothes and interpret history for our
guests."
Before they start acting like an 18th century
American, the actors receive training. Hope Smith
plays a slave woman. In the 1700s, half of the
people in Williamsburg were slaves.
HOPE SMITH: "Doing what I do puts a human face on
what was going on. You're able to see the
Revolutionary War through the eyes, you know, of the
specific character that I am doing. You're able to
connect, you know, what happened to an individual
through their eyes so it's not just these big
events."
Colonial Williamsburg is home to several businesses
where re-enactors demonstrate 18th century skills.
Matthew Ocketzo has studied blacksmithing.
MATTHEW OCKETZO: "People have a lot of preconceived
notions about blacksmiths. And it's interesting to
see people come in with what they know, and tell
them this is what we actually do, and to see how
surprised they are when they realize what was going
on."
The blacksmith provides tools for the other
businesses and cares for historic buildings. Matthew
is happy to help carry on a tradition that goes back
thousands of years.
MATTHEW OCKETZO: "Today people go to jobs that they
hate in offices and, you know, they just loathe
being there. But every day in a blacksmith's shop,
it's really engaging, fascinating, satisfying work
to do."
Visitors can see the re-enactors at Colonial
Williamsburg all year long. The actors give meaning
to a place rich in history and the roots of American
democracy. I'm Steve Ember.
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Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
