Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
..........(we) are conducting business, but it is not business as usual.
English answer:
doing their jobs
Added to glossary by
Carol C.W. CHUNG
Mar 29, 2005 13:17
19 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
Translator and voiceover actress from HK
Native in: Chinese (Variants: Mandarin, Traditional, Cantonese, Simplified, Sichuanese ) 
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese, Chinese
..........(we) are conducting business, but it is not business as usual.
English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
911 rhetoric
Is " conducting business" an american slang referring to something else? what kind of "business" did Bush mean?
Below is the full text of Bush's address the day after the 911 incident. The phrase that needs explanation is in the second paragraph.
Thank you!
-------------------
I just completed a meeting with our national security team, and we've received the latest intelligence updates. The deliberate and deadly attacks, which were carried out yesterday against our country, were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war. This will require our country to unite in steadfast determination and resolve. Freedom and democracy are under attack. The American people need to know we're facing a different enemy than we have ever faced. This enemy hides in shadows and has no regard for human life. This is an enemy who preys on innocent and unsuspecting people, then runs for cover, but it won't be able to run for cover forever. This is an enemy that tries to hide, but it won't be able to hide forever. This is an enemy that thinks its harbors are safe, but they won't be safe forever. This enemy attacked not just our people but all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world.
The United States of America will use all our resources to conquer this enemy. We will rally the world. We will be patient. We'll be focused, and we will be steadfast in our determination. This battle will take time and resolve, but make no mistake about it, we will win. The federal government and all our agencies are conducting business, but it is not business as usual. We are operating on heightened security alert. America is going forward, and as we do so, we must remain keenly aware of the threats to our country.
Those in authority should take appropriate precautions to protect our citizens. But we will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms. This morning, I am sending to Congress a request for emergency funding authority so that we are prepared to spend whatever it takes to rescue victims, to help the citizens of New York City and Washington, D. C., respond to this tragedy, and to protect our national security. I want to thank the members of Congress for their unity and support. America is united. The freedom-loving nations of the world stand by our side. This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail.
Thank you very much.
Below is the full text of Bush's address the day after the 911 incident. The phrase that needs explanation is in the second paragraph.
Thank you!
-------------------
I just completed a meeting with our national security team, and we've received the latest intelligence updates. The deliberate and deadly attacks, which were carried out yesterday against our country, were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war. This will require our country to unite in steadfast determination and resolve. Freedom and democracy are under attack. The American people need to know we're facing a different enemy than we have ever faced. This enemy hides in shadows and has no regard for human life. This is an enemy who preys on innocent and unsuspecting people, then runs for cover, but it won't be able to run for cover forever. This is an enemy that tries to hide, but it won't be able to hide forever. This is an enemy that thinks its harbors are safe, but they won't be safe forever. This enemy attacked not just our people but all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world.
The United States of America will use all our resources to conquer this enemy. We will rally the world. We will be patient. We'll be focused, and we will be steadfast in our determination. This battle will take time and resolve, but make no mistake about it, we will win. The federal government and all our agencies are conducting business, but it is not business as usual. We are operating on heightened security alert. America is going forward, and as we do so, we must remain keenly aware of the threats to our country.
Those in authority should take appropriate precautions to protect our citizens. But we will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms. This morning, I am sending to Congress a request for emergency funding authority so that we are prepared to spend whatever it takes to rescue victims, to help the citizens of New York City and Washington, D. C., respond to this tragedy, and to protect our national security. I want to thank the members of Congress for their unity and support. America is united. The freedom-loving nations of the world stand by our side. This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail.
Thank you very much.
Responses
| 5 +7 | doing their jobs |
Robert Donahue (X)
|
| 3 +1 | Work WILL go on. |
Derek Gill Franßen
|
Responses
+7
4 mins
Selected
doing their jobs
Bush is saying that the agencies of the federal government are doing their jobs, but not in the stereotypical lazy civil servant kinda way. This time they mean it : )
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 7 mins (2005-03-29 21:24:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I was a bit too flippant. Bush said this to reassure the American people that although we had just suffered a terrorist attack, the federal government was still working. The \"not business as usual\" part is meant to affirm that the government was taking its work much more seriously than before.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 7 mins (2005-03-29 21:24:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I was a bit too flippant. Bush said this to reassure the American people that although we had just suffered a terrorist attack, the federal government was still working. The \"not business as usual\" part is meant to affirm that the government was taking its work much more seriously than before.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks robert"
+1
8 mins
Derek Gill Franßen
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Germany
German Attorney & University Lecturer
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, English to German, and 1 more.
Work WILL go on.
I think what they are getting at is that the agencies did (will) not shut down because of the attacks, but will continue to function, albeit at an even higher level of security (I don't think Bush would ever suggest that the government officials are "lazy" - IMHO).
:-)
:-)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Robert Donahue (X)
: No American thought that the government was going to shut down after 9-11. I do agree with your comments on the higher level of security though.
1 hr
|
|
Actually, I think it was exactly those fears that Bush was trying to calm (no one knew what was coming, even the Pentegon had been attacked) - I can see no other reason for him saying so, but perhaps you are right. :-)
|
|
| agree |
Michael Schubert
: Yes! The government will continue to function. "Business as usual" is the expression here = the old way of doing things.
3 hrs
|
Something went wrong...