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106 独立日布什发表讲话赞美自由和人权
On Independence Day, Bush Touts Faith-Based Initiative
Paula Wolfson
White House
4 Jul 2001 22:59 UTC
President Bush spent part of the Independence Day holiday, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a visit full of political and historical 1)symbolism.
President Bush stood before the building where America was born. 2)Squinting slightly into the summer sun, he talked of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence 225 years ago in Philadelphia's Independence Hall. "This is a 3)dynamic and modern city," he said. "Yet if the founders themselves were here, they would know the place."
The president 4)motioned to the huge bell nearby that once rang out to signal the start of a new nation. Centuries later, the Liberty Bell remains a symbol of the American Revolution. "A wonderful country was born," he said. "And a revolutionary idea sent forth to all mankind: freedom, not by the good graces of government, but as the birthright of every individual... 5)equality, not as a theory of 6)philosophers, but by the design of our creator."
Mr. Bush said the nation's founders fought for religious freedom. He said they would agree that faith-based 7)institutions have a role to play in treating the nation's social ills. "America's founding documents give us religious liberty in 8)principle," he said. "These Americans show us religious liberty in action."
The president wants churches, 9)synagogues and 10)mosques to be 11)eligible for federal funds to run social programs that help children and families touched by crime and poverty. Some in congress worry this may violate the Constitutional separation of church and state, others fear these programs might be 12)hampered by too much federal regulation.
But President Bush remains adamant. He told his 13)audience that religious freedom has many meanings. "Religious liberty is more that the right to believe in God's love," he said. It is the right to be an instrument of God's love."
Earlier in the day, Mr. Bush went to a community party hosted by a church in the heart of Philadelphia. He left the Greater Exodus Baptist Church with Mayor John Street, stopping to talk to members of the 14)choir and help some children painting a 15)mural.
Philadelphia's mayor is a Democrat. And on many issues, he is a strong 16)partisan politician. But he is one of the biggest supporters of the president's faith-based initiative. He said the children of America's toughest urban neighborhoods can not wait. "They are on the streets of this city and they need help," added Mr. Street. And when it is time to help them, we don't need to 17)engage in a Constitutional debate! We need to engage the faith-based communities in an organized way to help the 100,000 children in our city who are looking for after-school programs so that they can reach their 18)potential."
The president flew back to Washington after his speech in Philadelphia to engage in another holiday tradition, joining hundreds of thousands in the nation's capital for the annual Fourth of July 19)fireworks display.
(1) symbolism[5sImbElIz(E)m]n.象征主义
(2) squint[skwInt]v.斜视
(3) dynamic[daI5nAmIk]adj.动力的, 动力学的, 动态的
(4) motion[5mEJF(E)n]n.运动, 动作v.运动
(5) equality[i:5kwRlEtI]n.等同性, 同等, 平等,等式
(6) philosopher[fI5lRsEfE(r)]n.哲学家, 哲人
(7) institution[InstI5tju:F(E)n; (?@) InstE5tu:Fn]n.公共机构, 协会, 制度
(8) principle[5prInsIp(E)l]n.法则, 原则, 原理
(9) synagogue[5sInE^R^]n.犹太人集会, 犹太教会堂, 犹太教
(10) mosque[mRsk]n.清真寺
(11) eligible[5elIdVEb(E)l]adj.符合条件的, 合格的
(12) hamper[5hAmpE(r)]v.妨碍, 牵制
(13) audience[5C:dIEns]n.听众, 观众, 接见, 拜见
(14) choir[5kwaIE(r)]n.唱诗班, 唱诗班的席位
(15) mural[5mjJEr(E)l]adj.墙壁上的n.壁画, 壁饰
(16) partisan[pB:tI5zAn]n.游击队
(17) engage in v.使从事于, 参加
(18) potential[pE5tenF(E)l]adj.潜在的, 可能的n.潜能, 潜力
(19) fireworks n.烟花
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