In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable Right of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of colar are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient founds."
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check.
1. in a sense：从某种程度上、你也可以这么认为、你也可以这么说，与上文dramatize a shameful condition呼应。
2. cash a check：很形象，很接地气。善用比喻、类比等修辞手法。
When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.
1. architect：一般是建筑师的意思，但在这里是缔造者、设计者、创造者的意思。
例句: Eric is one of the architects of Phenomenal English.
2. republic对应之前的nation。
3. Constitution宪法；Declaration宣言；promissory约定的，许诺的 。
4. to which的to，应该是fall heir to，作者把to前置了。
5. 读法：自然断句，谁干了什么。to which不是重点，只是语法需求，轻读就好。
6. promissory约定的、允诺的；heir继承人、子嗣。
This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
1. A as well as B和not only B, but also A一样是强调A的。
例如：I'm Chinese, I have many foreign friends as well as chinese friends. 如果反过来，逻辑就不对了。
2. guarantee someone sth承诺某人什么事情；被动：would be guarnteed。
3. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness来自独立宣言.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness.
It is obvious today that American has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.
1. obvious=evident。
2. default on放在一起记，表示违约，违背承诺。default还有一个意思是默认值，读法不一样。
3. insofar在…范围，在…情况下。
Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
1. sacred 神圣的、庄严的；obligation职责、义务。
2. bad check又是一个接地气的用法。之后再接一个重复的a check起强调作用。
3. insufficient funds存款不足
例如ATM机碰到的情况：Sorry, you have insufficient funds available. 支票上会退票，盖章NSF：No sufficient funds 。
其他：
1. Eric推荐了大久保幸夫的《12个工作的基本》，其中提到情商高，包括需要学会自我激励。人的压力有2种eustress(积极的压力)和distress(不积极的压力)要以积极的思考为目标，以“学习视角”看待事物。
2. Eric建议：看到中文的时候，可以想想对应的英文怎么说；看到英文的时候，还可以用什么其他的词语进行替换。
