VOA标准英语2011--Tahrir Square Looms Over Egyptian Elections

 Tahrir Square Looms¹ Over Egyptian Elections

Egypt's military rulers insist parliamentary elections will go ahead as planned Monday, despite unrest that has left dozens of anti-military protesters dead, and the center of Cairo in upheaval².

A capital city convulsed with violence just days before the first democratic elections in decades might not seem ideal. But some voters think the demonstrations³ will keep the transition from stalling.

Abdul Rahman Mansour, a graphic⁴ designer in the capital, says the people on Tahrir Square are making sure their rights are respected and the country moves ahead.

American University in Cairo professor Said Sadek agrees, saying the protests serve as a wake-up call for the ruling Supreme⁵ Council of the Armed Forces. "After the end of Mubarak rule SCAF has no legitimacy⁶ except obeying and meeting the demands of the revolution. This is revolutionary legitimacy. So they have to follow what is happening," he said.

After days of excusing the violent crackdown on demonstrators, the SCAF Thursday reversed course and apologized for the deaths. They, too, say they want to see the elections go ahead.

Potential voter Mohamad Abu al Alaa, said he is keen to take part, but only if it moves the country forward. He said if he sees nothing has changed and his choices are only those part of the old "corrupt⁷ regime", he thinks he'll pass.

According to AUC's Sadek, the chances people like Abu al Alaa will be disappointed are high. For the most part, the revolutionaries are not the ones running for office.

He said that four forces have been competing for influence: Islamist groups, who envision an Islamic emirate; the secular⁸ liberals and the minorities, who he said want a modern Egypt based on human rights; and the remnants of the former government, who he argues "want to keep the booty they stole under Mubarak."

"And finally the fourth force is the military, the SCAF. Those people benefited from Mubarak regime and they want to keep their privileges. So all those forces today are fighting for a bit of this cake, pie, and nobody cares about Egypt as a country," he said.

Which is why, Sadek argues, the demonstrators have already made a difference. He says by using the only tool the revolutionaries have, protest, they are reminding those forces that the principles of the revolution must be upheld, or the upheaval will continue.

1 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

3 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。

4 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。