VOA慢速英语2013 奥巴马称经济公正是未竟事业

 

Obama: Economic Justice is Unfinished Business 奥巴马称经济公正是未竟事业

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。

President Barack Obama this week joined hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country in marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for civil rights. The president noted¹ what he called "unfinished business" in the struggle for equality and justice in the United States. His comments come at a time when Americans are talking about civil rights and race relations.

本周，奥巴马总统加入了美国各地成千上万美国人的行列，参加了在华盛顿举行的纪念民权50周年游行。奥巴马指出了美国争取平等和正义未竟的事业。他的言论出台正值美国人都在讨论公民权利和种族关系。

Some are still reacting to a Florida court's decision in the murder trial of George Zimmermann. The jury found the neighborhood watch volunteer not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American.

一些人仍然对佛罗里达州法院就乔治·齐默尔曼谋杀案审判的裁决愤愤不平。陪审团裁定邻里守望志愿者齐默尔曼在枪杀17岁非洲裔少年特雷沃恩·马丁(Trayvon Martin)案件中罪名不成立。

On August 28, 1963, 250,000 people marched in Washington for jobs and civil rights. It was the biggest demonstration² of its kind. Many people stood outside the Lincoln Memorial to hear speakers talk about civil rights for African Americans.

1963年8月28日，25万人在华盛顿为争取工作和公民权利举行游行示威，也是这类游行规模最大的一次。许多人站在林肯纪念堂外面，通过大喇叭聆听关于非裔美国人公民权利的讨论。

The march ended with civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. His comments energized³ the civil rights movement in the United States and led to important laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law bars major forms of discrimination against minorities and women.

游行以民权领袖牧师马丁·路德·金（Martin Luther King, Jr.）最著名的演讲“我有一个梦想”收尾。他的言论激励了美国公民权利运动，并导致重要的法律出台，其中包括1964年民权法案。该法律禁止歧视少数民族和妇女。

Last Wednesday, the nation's first black president stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Mr. Obama remembered King and the sacrifices of those who marched here in Washington. He said the marchers brought change not only for African Americans, but also for other groups and for those hoping for freedom around the world.

上周三，美国首位黑人总统奥巴马站到了林肯纪念堂的台阶上。他回忆了马丁·路德·金，以及参加那次华盛顿游行者所作出的牺牲。他说，游行者不仅给非裔美国人带来了改变，也为世界各地其它团体和渴望自由的人们带来了改变。

The president's speech marked one of the first times since he took office in 2009 that he has spoken about issues of race. It also came two months after the nation's highest court ruled against part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

奥巴马的这次讲话是他2009年上任以来首次谈到种族问题，也正值美国最高法院裁定否决1965年投票权法案部分内容的两个月之后。

Mr. Obama said those who suggest little has changed in America dishonor the marchers of 50 years ago. At the same time, he said work toward racial equality is not complete. The president noted that challenges to voting rights, high unemployment rates and other problems need attention.

奥巴马表示，那些认为改变微乎其微的人，对不起50年前的这些游行者。与此同时他表示，争取种族平等的工作尚未完成。奥巴马指出，我们需要对投票权、高失业率和其它问题的挑战引起注意。

"To secure the gains that this country has made requires constant vigilance, not complacency, whether by challenging those who erect⁵ new barriers to the vote, or ensuring that the scales of justice work equally for all, and the criminal justice system is not simply a pipeline⁶ from under-funded schools to overcrowded jails. It requires vigilance."

他说，“为了维持这个国家已经取得的进步，必须时刻保持警惕，不可意得自满。无论是挑战那些给投票设立新壁垒的人，还是确保正义的天平对所有的人一视同仁，以及刑事司法系统不单纯是从资金不足的学校到人满为患的监狱之间的通道，都须要保持警惕。”

The crowd on the National Mall here in Washington also heard from present-day civil rights leaders, movie stars and two former U.S. presidents. Like Mr. Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter belong to the Democratic Party. Mr. Carter also criticized the Supreme⁷ Court decision on the Voting Rights Act.

华盛顿国家广场的人群还听取了当今民权领袖、电影明星以及两位前任美国总统的演讲。和奥巴马一样，比尔·克林顿（Bill Clinton）和吉米·卡特（Jimmy Carter）都属于民主党。卡特先生也批评了美国最高法院就投票权法案的裁决。

"I believe we all know how Dr. King would have reacted to the new ID requirements to exclude certain voters, especially African Americans. I think we all know how Dr. King would have reacted to the Supreme Court striking down a crucial part of the Voters Rights Act just recently passed overwhelmingly by Congress."

他说，“我想大家都知道，金博士对排除某些选民，特别是非裔美国人的新选民身份要求将作何反应。我想大家都知道，金博士对最高法院推翻投票权法案重要内容刚刚获得国会压倒多数通过将作何反应。”

Another speaker was Martin Luther King's youngest child, Bernice King. She spoke⁴ about her father's message to "Let Freedom Ring."

另一位发言者是马丁·路德·金最小的孩子，柏妮丝·金（Bernice King）。她谈到了父亲的教导“让自由之声回响。”

"Today, 50 years later, my friends, we are still crippled by practices and policies steeped in racial pride, hatred⁸ and hostility⁹, some of which have us standing¹⁰ our ground rather than finding common ground."

她说，“如今，50年过去了，我的朋友们，我们仍然困于沉浸在种族优越感、憎恨和敌意的现实和政策中，这其中一些使得我们坚守我们的立场，而不是寻找让我们寻找共同点。

Some people in the crowd also took part in the 1963 march. They said they are prepared to keep the dream of racial equality alive.

这次游行的一些参与者还参加过1963年游行。他们表示，他们准备好了让种族平等梦想继续下去。

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

6 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

9 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。