Egypt Prepares for Referendum, US Treads Careful Line

Egyptians will vote Saturday in a referendum on changes to the constitution, the first in a series of steps meant to carry out reforms demanded in a popular uprising.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got to see first-hand the continued push for change in Egypt, driving past a crowd of demonstrators seeking economic betterment Wednesday outside the prime minister's office.
Earlier in the day, she walked through Tahrir Square, the heart of the uprising that prompted an end to the old order last month.
"It's just a great reminder¹ of the power of the human spirit and universal desire for freedom and human rights and democracy," Clinton said.
But she also noted² the work ahead is "like drinking from a fire hose": there is much yet to be done, and the United States is ready to help in every way possible.
First on the agenda is a referendum on constitutional change Saturday - simple yes or no votes on whether to approve amendments³ that open up the political system somewhat, or reject them outright⁴.
Many in the opposition⁵ movement plan to say no. They argue the proposed changes are half-measures at best, and mock the spirit of the Tahrir demonstrations⁶.
The vote is the first hurdle⁷ in the path of change, with parliamentary then presidential votes slated⁸ to go ahead in the next six months.
American diplomats⁹ have expressed concern. A State Department official says the compressed time frame for the votes, especially in a country that hasn't had a "proper" political process in 30 years, is daunting¹⁰.
Sa'id Sadek, a professor at the American University in Cairo, says that while things may seem complicated, there are also reasons to be optimistic.
"Politics in Egypt these days is fluid. We see actions by fundamentalists, by many trends that might look disturbing. At the same time, there is also a counterweight force emphasizing secularism¹¹ and civil society," Sadek stated.
Sadek also stresses that however strategic U.S. interests are in Egypt that should not interfere¹² with the business at hand. "The transitional period needs technical advice and assistance from friendly states like the United States. Mind you, the Egyptian revolution was not about foreign policy at all. It was about domestic policy: ending corruption¹³, ending torture, ending a police state, ending a mafia state. It was not about Egyptian foreign relations with Israel or the United States or Europe or any foreign power," Sadek said.
As the United States plays a delicate balancing act in its relations with protesters across the region, people like Sadek have a simple message for Washington: these movements are about internal reform, and help should be limited to that.

1 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 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。

7 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

8 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

9 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

11 secularism   

n.现世主义；世俗主义；宗教与教育分离论；政教分离论

参考例句：

• Unless are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us. 除非我们奉献于神，否则凡俗之心便不会离开我们。 来自互联网
• They are no longer a huge threat to secularism. 他们已不再是民主的巨大威胁。 来自互联网

12 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

13 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。