VOA标准英语2009年-Holder Speech Sparks Debate on Race

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder¹ sparked a debate over race relations this week with a speech in which he said the United States was a nation of cowards because most Americans prefer to avoid candid² talk about race.
　
Attorney Gen. Eric Holder makes remarks commemorating³ African American History Month at the Justice Department, 18 Feb 2009

At a Justice Department commemoration of Black History month, Eric Holder, the nation's first African-American attorney general, had some strong words about the state of race relations in the United States.

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic⁴ melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially⁵ a nation of cowards. Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race," he said.

Holder said while Americans have largely integrated the workplace during the week, blacks and whites still tend to segregate⁶ themselves on weekends.

The attorney general said it was time for straight talk about an issue that has vexed⁷ the country since the earliest days of the Republic.

"If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another, and tolerant enough of each other, to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us. But we must do more, and we in this room bear a special responsibility," he said.

Re-igniting the race debate

Holder's comments have re-ignited a debate over the state of race relations in the United States, and prompted a variety of reactions in a random⁸ sampling of tourists and government workers near the U.S. Capitol building.

"I think, you know, it rests on everybody's shoulders to improve where we are," one woman said. "You know, white, black, Latino, green, blue."

"We fought a civil war over race and a lot of brave people died to end slavery," one man said. "And there were people of many different races and ethnic backgrounds that participated in the civil rights movement. I think we have come a long way."

"I agree partially⁹ with what he said, but also that America has become more diverse and a lot of other people's cultures are here and we have to respect and deal with that too," said another man.

A new page in American history
　
US President Barack Obama attends 102nd Abraham Lincoln Association Banquet in Springfield, Illinios, 12 Feb 2009

Holder's speech came just weeks after a new chapter was opened in race relations in the United States with the inauguration¹⁰ of Barack Obama as the nation's first African-American president.

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed¹¹, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath," he said.

Attorney General Holder said the celebration of Black History month should serve as an occasion for dialogue, tolerance¹² and understanding on the issue of race relations.

"This will be, at first, a process that is both awkward and painful, but the rewards are potentially great. The alternative is to allow to continue the polite, restrained mixing that now passes as meaningful interaction but that accomplishes little," he said.

Holder said that no understanding of America is complete without an examination of the history of Africans in the United States. To get to the heart of the country, Holder said, you have to examine its racial soul.

 

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

3 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 segregate   

adj.分离的，被隔离的；vt.使分离，使隔离

参考例句：

• We have to segregate for a few day.我们得分离一段日子。
• Some societies still segregate men and women.有的社会仍然将男女隔离。

7 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

9 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

10 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

11 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

12 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。