VOA常速英语--美国呼吁消除种族歧视

美国呼吁消除种族歧视

The marchers in 1965 demanded an end to discrimination against African-American voters.Scenes of police violence shocked Americans and built support for laws forbidding voter discrimination.

1965年的那场游行旨在结束对非裔美国选民的歧视。但警方的暴行使得美国人民为之震惊并且为禁止选民歧视的法律提供支持。

Mr Obama paid tribute to the activists¹ who helped clear the path he followed to the White House, and he acknowledged the continued existence of discrimination in the United States.

奥巴马总统对帮助他清理前往白宫之路的积极分子们大加赞扬,而且他承认在美国一直以来存在歧视。

“We know the march is not yet over, we know the race is not yet won, and we know that reaching that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character requires admitting as much.”

“我们知道对抗种族主义的游行远未结束,我们知道这场角逐还没有分出胜负,我们知道想要达到幸福自由不存在歧视的彼岸，我们仍有很多未竟事业。”

Mr Obama pointed² to a recent Justice Department report on police practices in Ferguson, Missouri, where weeks of protests followed the killing³ of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman during a confrontation⁴. The report found police in Ferguson routinely violated black citizens' rights.

奥巴马也提到最近司法部对于密苏里州弗格森警方行为的一份报告, 那里一名手无寸铁的黑人少年与一名白人警察对峙中被枪杀引发数周抗议。这一报告显示弗格森警方经常违反黑人公民的权利。

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was not surprised by allegations of discriminatory policing.

美国前国务卿科林·鲍威尔表示对于涉嫌歧视性政策他并不感到惊讶。

“I know these things have existed in other parts of our country. This should not have been that great a surprise to any of us. ”

“我明白这些东西已经渗透进入我们国家的其他部分。我们对此并不感到非常惊讶。”

Powell said chiefs of police across the United States should inspect their own procedures and practices to eliminate unfair treatment of minority citizens. Ferguson Mayor James Knowles says he is doing just that as he decides how to respond to the criticism of his police force.

鲍威尔表示美国警方高层应该检查自己的规章制度并且落实消除少数民族公民的不公平待遇。弗格森市长詹姆斯·诺尔斯表示在决定如何应对他的警察部队的质疑声时他正在这样做。

"I think what is important now is that we go through that report, find out where the breakdown⁵ was and the patterns and practices and the safeguards that we should have had in place and need to have in place to insure that we protect the safety and civil rights of everyone who comes to Ferguson and lives in the city of Ferguson.”

“我认为现在重要的是我们要仔细分析这份报告,找出弊端及各种模式，切实贯彻落实并且确保保护弗格森及生活在弗格森市市民的的安全和民权。”

In Selma, President Obama said it is a sign of progress the police discrimination in Ferguson is no longer sanctioned by law or custom as it would have been 50 years ago.

在塞尔玛,奥巴马总统表示这是进步的标志，因为弗格森警察歧视已不再像50年前那一受法律或依照传统制裁。

 

He called for all U.S. citizens to work toward eliminating racial inequality.

他呼吁所有美国公民努力消除种族不平等。

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

5 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。