2007年VOA标准英语-Thousands of Anti-War Protesters March in Washi

By Michael Lipin
Washington
15 September 2007

Thousands of anti-war activists² rallied in Washington Saturday to demand an end to the Iraq war, the immediate³ withdrawal⁴ of U.S. troops and the impeachment⁵ of President Bush. At least 5,000 people marched from the White House to Capitol Hill, while hundreds of counter-demonstrators lined the route to show their support for the U.S. troops in Iraq. VOA's Michael Lipin reports.

Anti-war protesters march demanding an end to the war in Iraq, the return of US troops and the impeachment of US President George W. Bush in Washington, DC

Thousands of anti-war activists rallied in Washington Saturday to demand an end to the Iraq war, the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops and the impeachment of President Bush. At least 5,000 people marched from the White House to Capitol Hill, while hundreds of counter-demonstrators lined the route to show their support for the U.S. troops in Iraq. VOA's Michael Lipin reports.

Anti-war protesters march demanding an end to the war in Iraq, the return of US troops and the impeachment of US President George W. Bush in Washington, DC
The anti-war protest began with Iraq war veterans, military families and other activists gathering⁶ in a park outside of the White House.

Speakers condemned⁷ the Democratic Party-controlled U.S. Congress for continuing to fund the war, and demanded that war funds be diverted to solve U.S. domestic problems.

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, one of the keynote speakers, accused the Bush administration of carrying out torture, kidnapping and other human rights abuses. "Nothing is going to stop this machine except the impeachment of George Bush and his gang ... when you remove him for high crimes, then you know the next president will pay attention," he said.

Anti-war activist¹ Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in the Iraq war, came out of a self-imposed retirement⁸ from the protest movement to address the crowd. "If we don't want to become like Nazi⁹ Germany, and you know, these people want us to become like Nazi Germany, it's time for us to stand up and lay down, and it's time for us to do civil disobedience on a massive scale," she said.

She later told VOA that she believes most Iraqi people would let American troops withdraw from their country with honor. "We do have enemies, but the way to deal with those enemies is to use diplomacy¹⁰, economics, to secure our own country - and not to go and occupy other countries it only increases our enemies," she said.

Iraq war veterans led the thousands of activists on a march from the White House to Capitol Hill. One veteran named Leonard who served in Iraq described his experience there as horrible. "The longer we stay over there, the more people will die for no reason at all. It's genocide, what's going on over there," he said.

About 1,000 counter-demonstrators lined the route of the march, waving American flags and shouting their support for the U.S. military presence in Iraq.

One counter-demonstrator said the anti-war marchers meant well but were misguided. "The hubris¹¹ they sell in saying that we can end the war simply by leaving Iraq is just stupid. The war is not going to end when we leave Iraq - if we leave, it's just going to go some place else," they said.

Many of the anti-war activists and counter-demonstrators hurled¹² insults at each other, but remained peaceful.

In his weekly radio address to the nation Saturday President Bush said the success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United States. "If we were to be driven out of Iraq, extremists of all strains would be emboldened¹³. Al Qaida could find new recruits and new sanctuaries¹⁴. And a failed Iraq could increase the likelihood that our forces would someday have to return and confront extremists even more entrenched¹⁵ and even more deadly," he said.

The president has announced that 5,700 U.S. troops will be withdrawn¹⁶ from Iraq by the end of the year. And he intended to reduce the American troops level in Iraq to about 130,000 by next Summer.

The march ended with hundreds of anti-war activists lying down at the foot of the Congress building to symbolize¹⁷ the American troops who have died in Iraq. About 100 anti-war demonstrators were arrested by police as they tried to cross the barricade¹⁸ in front of the U.S. Congress building.

 

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

7 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

10 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

11 hubris   

n.傲慢，骄傲

参考例句：

• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
• The very hubris of French claims alarmed the other powers.法国贪婪的胃口使其他大国惊恐不安。

12 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

15 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。

16 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

17 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

18 barricade   

n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住

参考例句：

• The soldiers make a barricade across the road.士兵在路上设路障。
• It is difficult to break through a steel barricade.冲破钢铁障碍很难。