VOA标准英语2009年-Muted, Mixed Reaction in Asia to Obama Nob

By Kate Pound Dawson
Bangkok
09 October 2009

 
President Barack Obama at the White House
 
The surprise announcement that President Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize brought muted and mixed reaction in Asia.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee gave the prize Friday to Mr. Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy¹ and cooperation between peoples."

The award comes nine months after Mr. Obama took office.
 
The president, the son of an African immigrant and an American mother is extremely popular overseas, unlike his predecessor² President George W. Bush. He is particularly well-liked in Indonesia, where Mr. Obama spent part of his childhood, living in Jakarta with his mother and stepfather.

Wimar Witoelar is a political commentator³ and former presidential spokesman in Jakarta. He calls the announcement fantastic news.

"The Nobel Prize is not defined in terms of cookbook recipes, not like you have to disarm⁴ 5,000 people and you win the Peace Prize," Witoelar said. "But his inspiration, his leadership, I think he has done already, just by getting elected, he has taken America away from the path of mass destruction. I mean Bush was committing mass destruction. And now he has taken the American people on the road to peace. Now how is that for achievement! And then he has confirmed to people in Indonesia who are for moderation, pluralism, that we can believe in America and the more people believe in a peaceful America, the more peace there will be in this world."

1 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。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

4 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。