导读:作为美国的首都，华盛顿特区列于美国的50个州之外。它是一个“联邦特区”，因此，“哥伦比亚特区”缩写成为“D.C.”，不过，可能很快就会发生变化了——目前其正在致力于获得州地位。
As the capital of the United States, Washington DC is not one of the 50 states. It’s a “federal district,” hence “District of Columbia,” shortened to “D.C.” But that could soon change, as they are currently bidding for statehood. If that happened, Washington DC would become the 51st state, and its leaders would give it an entirely new name.
作为美国的首都，华盛顿特区列于美国的50个州之外。它是一个“联邦特区”，因此，“哥伦比亚特区”缩写成为“D.C.”，不过，可能很快就会发生变化了——目前其正在致力于获得州地位。一旦成功，华盛顿特区将成为第51个州，而它的州长也将给它一个全新的名字。
That name could quite likely be “New Columbia,” an old name that was approved by voters in a 1982 referendum in which Washington DC tried for statehood. It originates from Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who is obviously a critical part of U.S. history.
这个名字很有可能是“新哥伦比亚州”，是在1982年华盛顿特区想要升格为州的全民公投中，被批准的一个老名字。它起源于意大利探险家克里斯托弗哥伦布，他显然是美国历史上关键的一部分。
Of course, some long time DC residents are anxious about the name change. Columbus’ reputation as a hero has undergone quite a sea-change since the 1980s, with many seeing him as a brutal conqueror rather than a noble explorer. According to Matthew Green, an associate professor of politics at Catholic University in Washington DC, “It’s hard to come up with a name that would honor the city’s political, living and symbolic dimensions equally.” He mentions that one of the alternative suggestions, “Douglass Commonwealth” might also be appropriate due to the fact that Frederik Douglass was an important figure in African-American politics. He lead the abolitionist movement, which ended slavery in the U.S.
当然，长时间以来特区居民对名字的改变充满担忧。自上世纪80年代以来，哥伦比亚作为一个英雄的美名经历了翻天覆地的改变：很多人将他视作野蛮的侵略者，而非高尚的探险家。据华盛顿特区天主教大学的副教授马修.格林称，“很难找出一个名字来，能与这个城市的政治、生活和其他象征性维度相匹配。”他提出了一个建议，考虑到弗雷德里克.道格拉斯是非裔美国人政治上一个重要人物，他领导了废奴运动，终结了美国的奴隶制，“道格拉斯联邦”可能还比较合适。
People are joining in the conversation on social media, adding in their opinion about the name change and possible statehood.
更名和升州事宜引起了网友们在社交媒体上的热烈讨论，很多人分享了他们的观点。
I don’t want to live in #NewColumbia #WashingtonDC #51StState— LauraEnDC (@lauendc) July 2, 2016
2016年7月2日，LauraEnDC说，我不想生活在#新哥伦比亚州#华盛顿特区#美国的第51个州。
#NewColumbia? You’ve gotta be kidding me!! Please stick to Washington, DC a/k/a Capital City!— Roro Tétreault (@LeMondeDuRoro) July 2, 2016
2016年7月2日，Roro Tétreault 说，#新哥伦比亚州？别开玩笑了！还是华盛顿特区好，首都好！
Statehood has long been a fraught issue for DC residents, as many who actually live in the district support it, while Congress has typically been against the idea. Among the reasons for statehood include the fact that DC isn’t fully represented in Congress by voting members, and that decisions typically made by organizations like a city council instead often require Congressional approval, taking them out of local government’s hands.
对于特区居民来说，升格为州一直以来都充满争议。尽管生活在这儿的部分民众支持此举，国会却极力反对。升州的原因之一在于，华盛顿哥伦比亚特区只有在众议院拥有一名无投票权的代表，且通常市政府作的一些决策还需要国会的批准，当地政府并不能作决定。
Presumptive Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton supports the change along with Bernie Sanders, but nothing is set in stone yet. The statehood issue will probably be debated at the Democratic National Convention in July. Until then, we’ll just have to sit tight and see what happens.
民主党候选人希拉里克林顿和伯尼桑德斯都支持这个方案，然而没有什么是一成不变的。获得州地位的问题极有可能会在七月的民主党全国大会上商议。在此之前，我们就静静的观望看到底会怎样吧。
