2006年VOA标准英语-Thousands of Immigrants in US Participate

By Michael Bowman
Washington
01 May 2006

Amid heated debate over illegal immigration in the United States, millions of immigrants cut short their workday or stayed home in hopes of demonstrating their collective impact on the U.S. economy. In Washington, many planned to take part in rallies and marches to highlight their opposition¹ to a proposal before Congress that would classify undocumented workers as felons² and extend a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Immigrant rights groups dubbed³ the one-day work stoppage "A Day Without Immigrants." The goal was to show the U.S economy cannot function without immigrants, legal or otherwise.

Several large businesses announced a shutdown of operations in advance of the work stoppage, from wineries in California to food processing companies in the U.S. Midwest.

In Washington's Adams Morgan neighborhood, home to a large Hispanic population, Roberto Reyes sat on a park bench with a friend. A gardener by trade, he would normally be pulling weeds or trimming bushes at this hour. But Reyes, who came to the United States from El Salvador eight years ago, felt compelled to take the day off.

He says, "I am fulfilling my responsibility, and I will take part in a march to the Capitol. We need the government to come out in support of immigrants. I would hope the government would extend its hand to us, as it has in the past."

Restaurant waiter Enrique Gomez, also from El Salvador, says some people in his community are forgoing⁴ a day of work, but he and many others are fearful of losing their jobs if they stay at home.

Gomez shrugs⁵ when asked if he thinks immigrant-led protests will sway U.S. public opinion and have a political impact.

He says, "It all depends on the president [Bush]. He is the one in power, and he will decide whether or not to help the immigrant population." 

Demonstrators gather for immigrant rights rally in Chicago, Monday  
  
Overall adherence⁶ to the one-day economic boycott⁷ appeared spotty in many locations. Some Hispanic leaders urged immigrants to go to work as usual, but to take part in marches and demonstrations⁸ later in the day.

A manager of a janitorial⁹ service, who identified himself as "Charles," says none of his workers were absent Monday.

"We are fortunate enough to have good employees," he said. "Everybody is more worried right now about providing for their families [rather than protesting]."

"A Day Without Immigrants" is the latest in a series of high profile demonstrations undertaken by immigrants and immigrants rights groups in the United States in recent months. Those wanting to crack down on illegal immigration have held rallies of their own.

Howard Davis, who is visiting Washington from southeast Texas, says he thinks the political tactics of immigrants will backfire, alienating¹⁰ rather than swaying most native-born U.S. voters.

"It [immigrant protest] is negative as far as I am concerned," he said. "They [illegal immigrants] should not be here in the first place. They should be able to come here legally, through the legal process. Otherwise, why have a border? Why even call it a border?"

Polls show Americans deeply divided on the immigration issue, and Congress has yet to reach a consensus¹¹ on what should become of the 11-12 million illegal aliens living in the United States. President Bush has proposed strengthening border security and establishing a guest worker program but says that deporting¹² millions of illegal immigrants would be impractical¹³ and unjust.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 felons   

n.重罪犯( felon的名词复数 )；瘭疽；甲沟炎；指头脓炎

参考例句：

• Aren't those the seats they use for transporting convicted felons? 这些坐位不是他们用来押运重犯的吗？ 来自电影对白
• House Republicans talk of making felons out of the undocumented and those who help them. 众议院共和党议员正商议对未登记的非法移民以及包庇他们的人课以重罪。 来自互联网

3 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 forgoing   

v.没有也行，放弃( forgo的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Everything, in short, is produced at the expense of forgoing something else. 总之，每一种东西的生产，都得以牺牲放弃某些其他东西为代价。 来自互联网
• These aren't the only ones forgoing the morning repast, of course. 当然，他们并不是放弃早餐的唯一几个。 来自互联网

5 shrugs   

n.耸肩（以表示冷淡，怀疑等）( shrug的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany shrugs off this criticism. 匈牙利总理久尔恰尼对这个批评不以为然。 来自互联网
• She shrugs expressively and takes a sip of her latte. 她表达地耸肩而且拿她的拿铁的啜饮。 来自互联网

6 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

7 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

8 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

9 janitorial   

adj.管理的(janitor的变形)

参考例句：

• Besides attending class, you will help our janitorial staff after school. 除了正常上课以外，下课后你得帮助学校的工人做做义工。 来自电影对白
• The accommodation will be cleaned 2-3 times every week by janitorial staff. 宿舍每星期更换2~3次备品，并有清洁人员清扫宿舍环境。 来自互联网

10 alienating   

v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
• How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网

11 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

12 deporting   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 )；举止

参考例句：

13 impractical   

adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的

参考例句：

• He was hopelessly impractical when it came to planning new projects.一到规划新项目，他就完全没有了实际操作的能力。
• An entirely rigid system is impractical.一套完全死板的体制是不实际的。