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2006年VOA标准英语-Fewer Christians in Birthplace of Jesus

时间:2007-05-14 01:06:06

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(单词翻译)

By Jim Teeple
Bethlehem
21 December 2006
 
watch Bethlehem Christians2

Every year at this time, Christians around the world turn their attention to Bethlehem, a small city in the West Bank where, according to Christian1 tradition, Jesus Christ was born.  Christians have lived in Bethlehem for centuries, but now many are leaving.  A bloody3 Palestinian uprising over the past few years and the construction of a massive security barrier around the city have diminished the Christmas spirit from Bethlehem.

Church of Nativity, Bethlehem, tourism low compared to previous years
Church of Nativity, Bethlehem. Tourism is low compared to previous years.
The Church of the Nativity -- the site that Christians venerate4 as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is located in Bethlehem -- one of the largest cities in the Palestinian territories.

Manger Square, which is just across the street from the Church of the Nativity, would have been filled with thousands of tourists at this time of the year.  However, last year less than 3,000 tourists visited at Christmas time -- down from an average of 90,000 at this time of year less than a decade ago.

This year does not look much better.  Pilgrims still come to Bethlehem, but they are few in number.  Fears over possible violence and an Israeli security barrier have kept them away.

At the same time, many residents of this historic city are leaving -- especially members of Bethlehem's once-majority Christian population.

More than 3,000 Christians -- about 10 percent of Bethlehem's population -- have left the city since the Palestinian Intifada began six years ago.  Now, even though the Intifada is dormant5, Christians continue to flee the city, crippling its once vibrant6 economy.

At City Hall, officials are struggling to cope with the effects of a fleeing population and the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories -- brought on this year by the Islamic militant7 group Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel.  Donors8 have cut aid as a result to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government and Israel has stopped turning over customs and tax revenue to the Palestinians -- Bethlehem city employees have not been paid in months. 

Mayor Victor Batarseh, who is not a member of Hamas, and is from one of Bethlehem's leading Christian families, says Israel's separation barrier -- built to keep suicide bombers9 out of Israel -- has also crippled the city. "Well, the impact of the wall, not only on Manger Square but on all merchants in the city actually, is very bad.  Because this hindered the free entrance of tourists and pilgrims to the city of Bethlehem which is a major source of income to Bethlehem." 

Israel's 650-kilometer separation barrier slices through Bethlehem's streets, turning many into dead-ends.  The barrier has cut Bethlehem off from its traditional neighbor, Jerusalem, which lies just on the side of the towering barrier.  Bethlehem's Palestinians say the wall has turned their city into a prison.  

But Israelis say neighborhoods, visible from Bethlehem's hills, are now safe from suicide bombers.

Israeli authorities say the restrictions10 that Palestinians endure at checkpoints like this are necessary because the security barrier has stopped suicide bombers from entering Jerusalem from Bethlehem.  One hundred seventy two Jerusalem residents died in suicide bombings in recent years.   There have been no attacks in the city since the security barrier was built. 

Atallah Mansour, who is an expert on Arab Christian populations throughout the Middle East, says Christians are leaving the region, mainly for economic reasons.  He says some Bethlehem Christians who had returned to the city in recent years are leaving again because of the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

"Bethlehem, up to 15 years ago, had a majority of Christian people.  People who left the country 100 years ago and 50 years ago to Chile and Brazil, they were coming back and there was a feeling that things were improving,” says Mansour. “Now, more and more people will leave and there will be less and less Christians and if this story will go on for another decade or two, maybe there will only be monks11."

George Baboul and his family have run the Bethlehem Star Store selling souvenirs just off Manger Square for 40 years.  He says life for Christians in Bethlehem has become very hard and most, especially the young, want to leave.

"They are leaving because they are for a better life, better work.  Most of the Christians go back to United States, as well as Europe, Sweden, or something like that, or Germany.  They're fed up with life here. They want to live like a human being, to feel like a human being."

George Baboul says he has seen a few tourists starting to return in the past few days, but not enough to ease the economic burdens of Bethlehem's Christians.  Christmas in Bethlehem, he says, is no longer merry. 


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1 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
2 Christians 28e6e30f94480962cc721493f76ca6c6     
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
  • His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
3 bloody kWHza     
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染
参考例句:
  • He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
  • He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
4 venerate VL4zv     
v.尊敬,崇敬,崇拜
参考例句:
  • They came to venerate him as a symbolic figure.他们把他当作偶像来崇拜。
  • We were taught to venerate the glorious example of our heroes and martyrs.我们受到教导要崇敬英雄、烈士的光辉榜样。
5 dormant d8uyk     
adj.暂停活动的;休眠的;潜伏的
参考例句:
  • Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
  • This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。
6 vibrant CL5zc     
adj.震颤的,响亮的,充满活力的,精力充沛的,(色彩)鲜明的
参考例句:
  • He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
  • She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。
7 militant 8DZxh     
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士
参考例句:
  • Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
  • He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。
8 donors 89b49c2bd44d6d6906d17dca7315044b     
n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 );献血者;捐血者;器官捐献者
参考例句:
  • Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去,请给我们发电子邮件。
  • About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 bombers 38202cf84a1722d1f7273ea32117f60d     
n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 );投弹手;安非他明胶囊;大麻叶香烟
参考例句:
  • Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
11 monks 218362e2c5f963a82756748713baf661     
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
  • He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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