VOA标准英语2014--Egyptians Observe Ramadan with Prayer, Politics

 

Egyptians Observe Ramadan with Prayer, Politics

CAIRO —

One year after the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Egyptians are celebrating a much calmer Ramadan.  But politics, both local and regional, still weigh heavy on many people's minds.  

In Cairo’s Sayyida Zaynab district, Ramadan has taken hold.  Whether buying festive¹ lamps ... or dried fruits for Iftar to break the daily fast, people happily mix the festive with the holy.

It represents to us all that is good, prayers and fasting and of course getting closer to God, everything good, said Fatima, a resident in the region.

Yet even as people go about their preparations for the nightly feasts, the suffering of fellow Muslims is never far from some minds.  The rise of Sunni militants² in Iraq and Syria and the intervention³ of foreigners leave this shopkeeper unnerved.

“May God rescue Iraq from Americans and Da’ash [ISIL] and such problems.  May God rescue them.  Frankly we are in great pain for our brothers in Iraq and our brothers in Syria," said merchant Mohamed Marwan.

Ramadan prayers also go to fellow Egyptians, who just a year ago saw a president overthrown⁴ and a crackdown on dissent⁵ begin.  Some are grateful for this year’s relative calm.

“There’s a great difference. At least this year we are somehow optimistic.  Last year, we were in a state of destruction.  We could not really feel the taste of what we eat at Iftar, truly,” Om Walid noted⁶.

As night falls, some cares fall away.

There is, at least on some streets, joy.

Family members use whatever they can to brighten their homes for nightly gatherings⁷, living in hope that the turmoil⁸ of the past few years will bring a better life.

“In fact, it is much better than the last three or four years, and may God make it a year of blessing⁹ on the Arab and Islamic world.  Like those days we were in Tahrir [Square] for the sake of the homeland and its safety.  But this year, thanks be to God, we are optimistic,” Saleh Hamed said.

1 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

4 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

5 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

6 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。

7 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

8 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

9 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。