2007年VOA标准英语-Volunteers Keep Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream

By Brian Padden
Washington, DC
11 January 2007
 
watch MLK Volunteer report

 
Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Monday, January 15th, America commemorates¹ the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the famous African-American leader of the civil rights movement. 

On this day the country remembers King's accomplishments² and his impact on the national character.  In the 1950s and 1960s, King led peaceful protests across the country that helped end legal segregation³ and paved the way for major civil rights legislation. He was assassinated⁴ in 1968. 

The Martin Luther King holiday is often commemorated⁵ with public memorial services, demonstrations⁶ and acts of community service.  But outside the media spotlight⁷ there are other groups that keep Martin Luther King's dream alive all year long. 

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his most famous speech in 1963 in Washington, DC at what was then the largest political rally in American history.  And that speech, as well as all of King’s efforts to promote racial equality and social justice, continues to inspire the nation.   Public recognition of King's contribution to justice, equality and peace include a national holiday honoring him and plans to unveil a memorial next year on the National Mall in Washington.

But across town in the nation's capital, at the Florida Avenue Baptist Church, there is another kind of memorial to Martin Luther King that goes on year round.

Volunteer Rachel Everette asks, "How many points does David have?" Rachel Everette has a dream. "I might be a person who works with graphic⁸ design 'cause I like doing graphic design," she said.

 
Carolyn Taylor
After school she comes here to get help and support to fulfill⁹ her dream.  Carolyn Taylor is a volunteer tutor with the "I Have A Dream Foundation."  "Most of these kids came from situations where no one would think they'd be successful but they will with the right help, so I'm just there to help."

The I Have A Dream Foundation is a national organization inspired by Martin Luther King's call for equal opportunity for all.  

In a speech King said, "We will be able to transform the dangling¹⁰ discourse¹¹ of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood¹²."

The I Have A Dream Foundation helps low income children in 64 cities across the U.S.  The projects focus on academic mentoring¹³ and a variety of student interests, from  sports to photography.  In some cities, close to 90 percent of "I Have A Dream" students have gone on to college.

 
Seth Steed tutors a student
Volunteer tutor Seth Steed says the program in Washington is helping¹⁴ underprivileged students realize King's dream.  “Martin Luther King's dream is one where people are judged on the content of their character not the color of their skin, and this gives these kids a better chance to get ahead in life.  So definitely this is consistent with Martin Luther King's message."

And the students, such as the Leach¹⁵ sisters -- Porshia and Aquila -- have big dreams. Porshia wants to be a lawyer and Aquilia a successful doctor.

 
Lonell Johnson
Program coordinator¹⁶ Lonell Johnson says Martin Luther King's years of struggle on behalf of civil rights should also inspire these young people not to give up on their dreams. "Getting them to understand that you just don't quit when you run into that roadblock.  Or you just don't give up and say it's not achievable if someone says you just can't do it."

By pursuing their dreams, Johnson says the young people are keeping Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream alive.

1 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

4 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

5 commemorated   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Lincoln commemorated the soldiers killed in the battle in his address. 林肯在演说中表扬阵亡将士。 来自辞典例句
• You'll be commemorated for killing a spy, and be specially discharged. 你们每杀一个间谍将会被记录到特殊档案。 来自电影对白

6 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。

7 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

8 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

9 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

10 dangling   

悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果，那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
• The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上，摇晃着他们的双腿。

11 discourse   

n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述

参考例句：

• We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
• He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。

12 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

13 mentoring   

n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• One of the most effective instruments for coaching and mentoring is the "role rehearsal" . 辅导和教学的最有效的手段之一是“角色排练。” 来自辞典例句
• Bell Canada called their mentoring system a buddy-buddy system. 加拿大贝尔公司称他们的训导系统是伙伴—伙伴系统。 来自互联网

14 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。

15 leach   

v.分离，过滤掉；n.过滤；过滤器

参考例句：

• Liquid water can leach soluble materials from the interface.液态水能够从界面溶解出可溶性物质。
• They believe that the humic materials are leached from decaying plant materials.他们认为腐植物料是从腐烂的植物体浸沥而来。

16 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？