VOA标准英语2011--Mideast Students in US Riveted by Egypt

Students from more than 100 countries live and socialize at International House while studying at New York's universities. The peaceful atmosphere seems a world away from Egypt, where millions have demonstrated to force President Hosni Mubarak from power. Yet, for Middle Eastern students at the house, it all hits very close to home.
"I thought he'd be assassinated¹. That's mean, but I thought he would end up like that because that's what happens to people who rule like that," says Mary, an Egyptian law student who was born the year Mubarak came to power. "Honestly, I didn't think people would go on the street. I would be scared to go on the street given how the regime is. They beat up people. It's pretty scary."
Mary says her 55-year-old mother has watched Egypt's public life and infrastructure² crumble³ since she was a student in the 1970s. She is a middle-class businesswoman who also supports the uprising. But Mary says that Egypt's wealthy class continues to support Mubarak because they're afraid the Muslim Brotherhood⁴ and other Islamist political movements will come to power.
"They fear that the bad we know is better than the bad we don't know. I agree with that statement, but not in this case. If the people taking care of the country are not corrupt⁵, it will work out."
Mary doesn't believe Mubarak's recent promise to step down in September, despite his 2006 declaration he would stay in office for life.
Haleem, a 29-year-old international affairs student from Lebanon, adds that even if Mubarak does step down, it will not necessarily not mean that a democratic form of government will emerge.
"There is a difference between democracy and liberalism. It's not only about having free and fair elections. It's also about the range of freedoms you can have in your country - any kind of freedom," he says. "Ask any Egyptian and he can tell you what he is deprived of. Transition is not an easy thing. We can see for example what happened in the Iranian Revolution, and I cannot really rule out the Iranian case to repeat itself in Egypt. It can have also many spillover effects, either on Israel, and if on Israel, it can also have some impact on Lebanon. The Middle East is like a system in itself, and I include North Africa. It's a dynamical system. We can't predict."
Avner, a music student from Israel - which has had a cold peace with Egypt since 1979 - is divided over recent events.
"As a human being, as a person, living in a democratic country, I think there is probably nothing worse than living under a regime you don't believe in and there is nothing you can do about it," he says. "On the other hand, I think we're afraid of what's going to happen in Israel. People are afraid that some regime that's unfavorable to Israel will rise. In my opinion, I don't think Egyptians have an incentive⁶ to make war on Israel. I think if an agreement was made they'll honor it."
Because of Egypt's reliability⁷ as a staunch ally, Washington has supported Mubarak, giving his government billions of dollars in military and other aid over the years. That is one reason why many who oppose Mubarak also oppose the United States.
The situation poses a dilemma⁸ for Cairo-born Nesrine. She supports the uprising, but is in New York on a scholarship paid for by the Egyptian and American governments.
"For me, I felt freedom here that I never felt in my own country. I wear whatever I want. I say whatever I want. I am not afraid. So I am enjoying things here and this is the psychological thing. I can be anything in this country if I wanted," she says. " And at the same time there are people dying. So it's really not easy. I cannot say I hate the U.S. but I love my country at the same time."
Nesrine has contemplated⁹ staying in the United States once her studies are complete, but now feels she would rather go back home. While she can't predict the outcome of the upheaval¹⁰ in Egypt, she is certain about what she wants.
"I hope for a future that will take away all the pain and all suffering, all the long lines and corrupt bureaucratic¹¹ offices. I hope for better education, for water to reach everywhere, for new buildings to be built, new factories, new job opportunities, a better future, people getting married, people smiling again. I just want a better future that will take away the pain that the Egyptians have been suffering for 30 years."

1 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

4 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

5 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。

6 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

7 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

8 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

9 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

10 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。

11 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。