VOA标准英语2013--阿富汗翻译员最终抵达美国

 

Afghan Interpreter Finally Lands in US 阿富汗翻译员最终抵达美国

Janis Shenwary, who worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, is said to have saved the lives of five American soldiers.  But when Shenwary tried to come to the United States - under a special U.S. government visa program for interpreters in Afghanistan and Iraq - he ran into difficulties. At that point, one of the men whose life he had saved launched a campaign to bring Shenwary to the U.S. 

Army Captain Matt Zeller was embedded¹ as a combat adviser² with the Afghan security forces in 2008, when his convoy³ came under attack by a group of Taliban fighters.  Hurt and low on ammunition⁴, Zeller was lying in a ditch when his interpreter, Janis Shenwary, who was also trained to use firearms, came to his rescue.

"Somebody landed next to me and then I heard the unmistakable sound of an AK-47 being shot right next to my head.  And I turned, and it is Janis shooting dead these two Taliban fighters who had rounded the corner of a building.  Had he not been covering my back, I wouldn’t be sitting here.  He literally⁵ saved my life," said Zeller.

Shenwary risked his life and killed two of his own countrymen to save an American.  He says Zeller asked him why.

"I told him that you are my guest in my country.  You are here to fight for my people’s freedom.  You guys are here to bring peace for Afghans.  So, it is our responsibility to protect you and save your lives," said Shenwary.

Shenwary’s association with the U.S. military made him a target for the Taliban. So in 2011, he applied⁶ for a Special Immigration Visa to move with his family to the U.S.  But Zeller says the visa did not come through in a timely fashion.

The problem was that the State [Department] just sat on his visa and did nothing.  This past summer he sent me a Facebook message and said it’s only a matter of time before the Taliban catch me and kill me.  At that point, I went to the press, I started a change.org petition and got 100,000 signatures in a week and I was able to create a groundswell of support that compelled the government to do the right thing and issue him his visa," he said.

Zeller says the State Department then nearly revoked⁷ the visa because of some incorrect information about Shenwary.   At that point he sought help from some members of Congress - allowing Shenwary to come to the United States.  Virginia Congressman⁸ Jim Moran, one of the members Zeller worked with, says the visa process should be expedited.

"There are thousands of people still in Afghanistan who helped the United States, and their lives are at risk.  And a number of them are going to be killed and tortured, and mutilated bodies will be paraded to discourage others from helping⁹ us.  So, the U.S. needs to do its part as they did their part," said Moran.

In an e-mail response to VOA, the State Department said “Overall, over 2,500 Afghans who have worked for the United States in Afghanistan and their family members have benefited from Special Immigrant Visa programs."  

It goes on to say "There is no longer a backlog¹⁰ of applicants¹¹ waiting for an eligibility¹² decision.”

Shenwary is extremely pleased to be safe in the U.S. with his wife and two children.  He says he looks forward to a bright future for not just his own kids but also for the millions of children in Afghanistan.

1 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

2 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

3 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

4 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

5 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

8 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

9 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。

10 backlog   

n.积压未办之事

参考例句：

• It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.要花一个月的时间才能清理完积压的工作。
• Investment is needed to reduce the backlog of repairs.需要投资来減轻积压的维修工作。

11 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

12 eligibility   

n.合格，资格

参考例句：

• What are the eligibility requirements? 病人被选参加试验的要求是什么？ 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望
• Eligibility for HINARI access is based on gross national income (GNI). 进入HINARI获取计划是依据国民总收入来评定的。