VOA标准英语2010年-Symbolic Coffins Mark Anti-War Protest

Several days of anti-war activities in Washington have culminated¹ with the procession of symbolic² coffins³ across the streets of the capital.  Many demonstrators said they had supported President Barack Obama in his election in 2008,  but were now disappointed in the lack of change from previous policies, and the ongoing⁴ wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The sound of drums rallied thousands of protesters who came together to denounce the use of American military force.

Demonstrators then prepared symbolic flag-draped coffins marking the presence of the U.S. military in different foreign countries.

Some protesters on bicycles and roller blades also staged mock attacks with cardboard drones right in front of the White House.

H.K. Suh from the group Korean Americans for Peace said he believes a drawdown of U.S. troops everywhere, including on the dividing line between the two Koreas, would be beneficial to the United States."You are sacrificing social programs, domestic programs here, which are being felt.  We have high unemployment, and people are struggling in making ends meet.  They are realizing that instead of all these wars overseas, they need to focus on here."

Howard University mechanical engineering student Brian Menafee organized an anti-war dance demonstration⁵, seeking more help for students and lower military spending. "We are all out here to show that we are in a bad romance with the Obama administration, with the government.  We are here to show that students came and we really need investment in our future because we are the future of this country," he said.

In front of the National Monument, protesters lined the grass with symbolic tombstones honoring soldiers and civilians⁶ killed in recent U.S. military action.

Josh Stieber, an Iraq war veteran, explained his transformation⁷ from soldier to protester. "I guess it was a process of waking up to what I was actually doing and just as I am helping⁸ set up all these memorials out here, I think back to some of the things that were part of my day to day life in the military even before I got to Iraq, just how some of our battle cries would be things like kill them all," he said.

U.S. officials said rencently that they were considering sending an additional 2,500 troops to fend⁹ off Taliban extremists in northern Afghanistan, as part of an ongoing policy to defeat terrorists and prevent them from having safe havens¹⁰. 

Last week also marked the seventh anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.  U.S. officials have said they hope to reduce troop presence in Iraq to 50,000 in non-combat roles by September.
Anti-war organizers said turnout was much lower than at similar marches before Mr. Obama became president, but they said disenchantment with U.S. foreign policy was growing again.
 

1 culminated   

v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
• The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 coffins   

n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物

参考例句：

• The shop was close and hot, and the atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins. 店堂里相当闷热，空气仿佛被棺木的味儿污染了。 来自辞典例句
• Donate some coffins to the temple, equal to the number of deaths. 到寺庙里，捐赠棺材盒给这些死者吧。 来自电影对白

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

10 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网