Reader question: In this passage – In Spain, about 75,000 lorry drivers have been on strike since Sunday night and more than 70 have been arrested. The Spanish government has promised zero tolerance for any violence by the drivers, following a series of incidents which included an attack on a trucker who broke the strike. That attack left him with 25% burns to his body (Truckers strike worldwide, BBC Learning English, June 13, 2008) – what does "zero tolerance" mean? Is it a good phrase to learn to use?
My comments: "Zero tolerance", literally meaning no tolerance at all is by and large a political jargon. Use it with care.
I mean, by all means use it insofar as you use it in the right situations and in proper context.
"Zero tolerance" was originally a law enforcement term popularized by the police in America, at first referring to "get tough" policies against certain widespread crimes. It's very similar to what the Chinese police call a "crackdown". A "crackdown" on theft, for instance, means severe punishment for pickpockets, burglars and the like – during a crackdown, even the slightest crimes could get the longest sentences allowable by law. In fact, a pickpocket might get the same sentence during a crackdown as does a government official who has stolen millions from the people in normal circumstances. That's what a crackdown means. That's exactly what "zero tolerance" means. In the trucker strike story, when the Spanish government "promises zero tolerance for violence", it means to punish violent strikers most severely, without leniency and disregarding extenuating circumstances which in normal times might lead to nicer treatment. In other words, all violence during the strike, whether serious or not serious, will be treated as, well, serious (for lack of a more specific word). Authorities like to be vague, anyway, so that may as well do.
These days, the term has gone somewhat rampant, littering all over the place. We see agriculture authorities introducing "zero tolerance" measures against fake pesticides, police having "zero tolerance" for prostitution, offices showing "zero tolerance" for employees coming to work late, schools meting out "zero tolerance" punishments against plagiarizing...
In short, quite consistent of our impatient times, everybody seems to grow less intolerant of everyone else. I myself am no exception. I have total tolerance for our footballers. I don't mind, you see, that they failed to qualify for the next World Cup Finals. I don't even mind that this time, they failed at the very first hurdle (getting eliminated at the group stage). I have no problem with that. In fact, I am fine with it because one, I thoroughly believe they thoroughly got what they thoroughly deserved and two, I have long outgrown the habit of being one of their naïve and suffering fans.
Kidding aside, here are media examples of "zero tolerance".
1. zero tolerance for underachieving English schools:
'Zero-Tolerance': Schools Lay Down Law
Under-performing schools should face a crack-down and "zero-tolerance" approach to unruly pupils, according to the schools' watchdog.
2. zero tolerance for athletes using drugs:
IOC President assertszero tolerance against doping as top priority of his mandate
Speaking ahead of the World Conference on Doping in Sport that will open in Madrid next week, IOC President Jacques Rogge said that the fight against doping remained at the top of the agenda of the Olympic Movement.
3. zero tolerance for passengers:
Passengers at Heathrow face zero tolerance
Passengers at Heathrow airport's glittering new terminal, which opens three months from today, will face a tough new zero-tolerance policy: be in the queue for security at least 35 minutes before the flight or count as a "no show".
4. less tolerance for "zero tolerance" itself:
At schools, less tolerance for 'zero tolerance'
"Zero tolerance" discipline policies that are enforced widely in U.S. schools are backfiring: They may be promoting misbehavior and making students feel more anxious, the American Psychological Association (APA) said Wednesday. The group called for more flexibility and common sense in applying the policies, reserving zero tolerance for the most serious threats to school safety.
成本效益分析(Cost-Benefit Analysis)
坚持你的梦想(Hold to Your Dreams)
英文便条写作方法
生命中的感动(Life touched)
我的嗜好(My Hobbies)
Going abroad for studies
人文科学(The Humanities)
明天又是新的一天(Tomorrow is a new day)
Large Companies and Small Companies,Large Companies and Smal
误送的留言条(A Note Wrongly Sent)
我的同学(My Classmate)
爱和喜欢的区别(The Difference between Love and Like)
我的卫士(My Guardsman)
成功要素(factors of success)
关于指路的
离婚率为什么上升?(Why Divorce Rate Is on the Rise?)
比较美国的初中生活和中国的初中生活有什么不同
婚姻、爱情与自由(Marriage, love and freedom)
关于兴建造纸厂(On Building a Paper Factory)
知识和经验 Knowledge or Experience
我如何度过暑假(how i spent my summer vacation)
关于怎样学好英语的话题(How to learn English well?)
2004年江西中考英语作文
公益劳动(voluntary labour)
电脑游戏与我们的视力(Computer games and our eyesight)
为四川汶川哀悼的英语作文
我最喜欢的节日(My Favorite Holiday)
去西山植树
我对考试的意见(My Views on Examinations)
中考英语写作专练-Lost and Found
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |