VOA标准英语2009年-Obama 'Humbled' by Winning Nobel Peace Pri

By Kent Klein
White House
09 October 2009
 
President Barack Obama speaks about winning the Nobel Peace Prize, 09 Oct 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, less than nine months into his presidency¹. Even the administration was surprised by the news. 

Mr. Obama says he is both surprised and deeply humbled² by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

"Let me be clear - I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments³, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations⁴ held by people in all nations," said President Obama.

Mr. Obama took office only 12 days before the February 1 nomination⁵ deadline. Some Nobel observers say the award is premature⁶, considering that many of the president's diplomatic efforts have yet to produce results. 
 
The president says he recognizes that the honor is a surprise to many people.

"To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize-men and women who have inspired me, and inspired the entire world through their courageous⁷ pursuit of peace," said Mr. Obama. "But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build."

 
Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, holds a picture of US President Barack Obama, in Oslo, Norway, 09 Oct 2009
Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland says, however, Mr. Obama has captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future.

"If you look at the history of the Nobel Peace Prize, we have on many occasions tried to enhance what many personalities⁸ are trying to do," said Thorbjorn Jagland.

The Nobel committee specifically mentioned the president's outreach to the world's Muslims and his work for a world without nuclear weapons. 

Jagland also credits Mr. Obama with creating "a new climate in international politics," by emphasizing multilateral diplomacy⁹.

"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population," he said.

The Nobel voters have, in recent years, chosen several winners who opposed the more unilateral foreign policy of Mr. Obama's predecessor¹⁰, former President George W. Bush. 

After awarding the 2002 Peace Prize to former President Jimmy Carter, the Nobel committee chairman said it should be seen as a "kick in the leg" to Mr. Bush's approach in the buildup to the Iraq war. In 2007, the committee honored Al Gore¹¹, Mr. Bush's opponent in the 2000 election, for his campaign to publicize global warming.

The Nobel committee's decision does not impress Mr. Obama's domestic political opponents. A statement from Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele says, in part, "It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights." 

Mr. Obama also acknowledged people around the world who work for peace.

"This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration," said President Obama. "It is about the courageous efforts of people around the world. And that is why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity."

The president was one of a record 205 nominees¹² for this year's Peace Prize.

Mr. Obama is the third sitting U.S. president to win the prize, and the first since Woodrow Wilson in 1919. 

He is also the third African-American to win the prestigious¹³ honor. Ralph Bunche, a high-ranking United Nations official, won the 1950 prize for mediating¹⁴ a peace accord between Israel and the Arab states over Palestine. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. won in 1964 for his work in the U.S. civil rights movement.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says Mr. Obama will travel to Oslo to accept the award on December 10. White House officials say he will donate the $1.4-million prize to charity.

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

3 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》

4 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

5 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

6 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

7 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

8 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

9 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。

10 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。

11 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

12 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

13 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

14 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。