VOA慢速英语2015 美国人通过服务他人来纪念马丁·路德·金

 

AS IT IS 2015-01-19 Americans Serve Others to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. 美国人通过服务他人来纪念马丁·路德·金

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve…You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated¹ by love.”

Those are the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke² them in 1968, two months before his murder. Service is how the United States celebrates his life and work every year around his birthday, January fifteenth.

Monday, January 19th is the federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Most schools and government offices are closed that day. The U.S. Congress established the holiday in 1983. In 1994, it became a National Day of Service.

Dr. King’s life was about service in the name of peace, justice and equality. He led efforts to end the racial separation laws in place in America in the first half of 20th century. He did this by organizing acts of civil disobedience. He urged people to disobey unjust laws through non-violent resistance.

He led protests and was arrested 30 times. His activism in America led to the signing of important legislation³ including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He continued working for peace and justice until his murder in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.

On Monday, Americans will serve in different ways including working to feed the hungry at soup kitchens, collecting bicycles for the poor in Africa, and visiting with people all alone at homes for the elderly.

Wendi Cherry and her daughter Sydni Barra of Arlington, Virginia got an early start on the Day of Service. On Saturday, they joined a large group at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Washington.

“We weeded and hoed⁴ and put down mulch to beautify the whole area.”

Sydni enjoyed herself despite the weather.

“I liked it. It was cold outside but I liked it. It was fun.”

The family believes in serving others. And not just on Dr. King’s birthday. Ms. Cherry says Sydni is in involved in a volunteer group that meets weekly. The Delta⁵ Academy is an international organization for girls 11 to 14 years old. They take on all kinds of community projects says Wendi Cherry.

“They do stuff at the shelters, they play bingo with the eldery, they do sorting at the food bank…so different activities.”

Charlie King, his wife Ashley Nunn and their two children live in Holly⁶ Springs, North Carolina. They also believe in serving others, also…the four-legged kind.

“We’ve become involved in dog and pet rescue. We really love animals. They're fun. I really can’t imagine our lives without all these animals in our house.”

Right now the family is caring for four dogs, two cats and two horses. Most of the animals will stay with them forever. But they are seeking permanent homes for two of the dogs.

“I guess we believe in just constantly trying to put something positive out into the world. Positive energy.”

Charlie King says animal rescue provides good learning experiences for his children, too.

“to care for another living creature…to, obviously, teach responsibility in taking care of a pet. But, to teach them empathy towards, really, any living creature.”

Americans of all ages will get out on Monday including Mary Holt of Arlington. But volunteering is not unusual for the 91-year-old.

“I volunteer a lot at my church.”

When she says a lot, she means it.

“I volunteer in the office at least twice a week. I volunteer Mondays for the homeless meals, making meals for 70 people. And then on Wednesday  I volunteer for what we call refill dinners, where we serve dinners and anyone is welcome to come to the dinner. I’m busy. I love it.”

And why does she enjoy the work so much?

“Because I feel like I’m helping⁷ people. When they need help at the church, I’m always available. I’ve been doing this for probably 20 or25 years.”

Wendi Cherry feels the same way about service.

“I feel like we get more giving to others.”

Words in This Story

grace – n. help or kindness that God gives or shows to people

soup kitchen – n. a place that gives food (such as soup and bread) to poor people

elderly – adj. old or rather old : past middle age

positive – adj. good or useful

empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions

1 generated   

a.生成的

参考例句：

• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。
• It generated much excitement and frenetic activity. 这使人们非常激动并导致了狂热的行动。

2 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。

3 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。

4 hoed   

锄( hoe的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoed up weeds from about the flowers. 他锄去了花旁边的杂草。
• The old woman hoed and weeded with utmost care. 老妇人精心松土，除草。

5 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

6 holly   

n.[植]冬青属灌木

参考例句：

• I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.最近我从一棵冬青树上弄了些木料。
• People often decorate their houses with holly at Christmas.人们总是在圣诞节时用冬青来装饰房屋。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。