VOA标准英语2009-Czech Republic Marks 'Velvet Revolution' Ann

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
17 November 2009

 
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel (background center) attends a group of people lighting¹ candles and laying flowers as they commemorate² the 20th anniversary of the Velvet³ Revolution in Prague, Czech Republic, 17 Nov 2009
Thousands of people took to the streets of the Czech capital Prague on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the mass demonstrations⁴ that led to the collapse⁵ of communist rule in what was Czechoslovakia. But, the anniversary of the "Velvet Revolution" has been overshadowed by concerns over political tensions in the Czech Republic.

Twenty years ago, thousands of students braved riot police in Prague, demanding an end to decades of communist rule in what was then Czechoslovakia.

They were inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall a week earlier, which had divided East and West Germany for more than a quarter of a century.

Initially⁶, Czech police used force against the demonstrators. But it became increasingly difficult to continue the crackdown as the protests grew to hundreds of thousands of people.

The demonstrations were dubbed⁷ the "Velvet Revolution" because those involved wanted to overthrow⁸ the regime peacefully.

Within weeks, the Communist Party leadership resigned, and dissident writer Vaclav Havel, who had spent years in prison, was named president on December 29, 1989.

Speaking at a commemorative gathering⁹ at the Czech Senate in Prague on Tuesday, Mr. Havel urged Czechs not to forget those involved in the country's surge to freedom.

The former Czech Republic president said the changes in 1989 were "undoubtedly¹⁰ aided by people who, for long years" tried to show the world "the real situation" in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Yet as president, Mr. Havel was unable to keep the country together. In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both countries are now members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union.

Tuesday's anniversary of the Velvet Revolution has sparked a debate about the Czech Republic's brand of multiparty democracy and the perceived growing gap between rich and poor in the country.

The government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek was ousted¹¹ in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in March. Analysts¹² say the country now has a weak caretaker government and that a new cabinet will be formed only after general elections scheduled for May.

Czech Ambassador at Large for Energy Security Vaclav Bartuska, who was a student activist¹³ during the Velvet Revolution, told Radio Prague that the country's political tensions overshadow the celebrations.

"It is funny to watch the situation today, 20 years later, when we basically have the same disregard toward our present politicians and see them as jerks, basically," said Vaclav Bartuska. "And at the same time, we don't care enough to change anything. That is rather sad, I would say." 

Bartuska is not alone. A recent public opinion poll shows that eight out of ten adults in the Czech Republic say they are not satisfied with the current political situation.

Even the Communist Party still commands as much as 15 percent in voter support, although most people doubt that the Czech Republic will ever return to its autocratic past. 

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

3 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

4 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。

5 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

6 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

7 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》

8 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

9 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。

10 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

11 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 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。