VOA常速英语2016--西贡 越南难民社区的首都

西贡 越南难民社区的首都

LOS ANGELES— Ever since the death of Supreme¹ Court Justice Antonin Scalia, names of his possible successor have been circulating in Washington and throughout the legal community, including that of Jacqueline Nguyen, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam.

More than 50 kilometers south of Los Angeles is Little Saigon – also known as the “capital of the Vietnamese refugee community.” There is excitement here as news circulates that a Vietnamese-American could be named to the Supreme Court.

距离洛杉矶南部50公里的地方是小西贡，也被称作“越南难民社区的首都”，有消息称一名越南裔美国人可能被提名为大法官，这个消息让这里的人们很兴奋。

“They want to have somebody over here achieve something, like represent them, so they can tell the people (Vietnamese communists), 'Hey, we ran away from you but now we’re successful.' So that’s kind of the feeling that people have," said Dzung Do, Nguoi Viet managing editor.

“他们希望这个社区的人能做出成就，能够代表他们，这样他们就能对越南共产党说，‘我们从越南逃离，但现在我们成功了。’所以人们有这样的想法。”

Vietnamese community

As managing editor of the largest Vietnamese newspaper outside of Vietnam, Dzung Do has interviewed Nguyen. He says many in the Vietnamese community can relate to her.

作为越南国外最大的越南报刊主编，Dzung Do采访过杰奎琳·阮，他说越南社区的很多人都可以联系她。

Nguyen and her family fled their homeland when the communists took over South Vietnam. As a refugee in the U.S., Nguyen first lived in a tent city before settling in Los Angeles. She spoke² about her experience in this video produced by U.S. Courts.

在共产党执政越南南部后，杰奎琳·阮和家人就逃离了祖国。作为一名在美国的难民，杰奎琳·阮先是生活在一个帐篷城里，然后搬到洛杉矶，在美国法院制作的这段视频中，她谈到自己的经历。

“My parents were in shock because not only did they have to deal with the loss of their homeland but also with the prospect³ of starting all over again, trying to figure out how to provide food and shelter and raise six children in a foreign land. Whenever job opportunities came our way my mom would take it," Nguyen said.

“我的父母先是很震惊，因为他们不仅要面临失去家园的痛苦，还要一切从头开始，想方设法在异国他乡给六个孩子找住处和食物，不管是什么工作机会，我妈妈都会去努力抓住。”

Long time friend Mia Yamamoto said Nguyen’s background shaped her dedication⁴ to service throughout her legal career.

多年好友Mia Yamamoto说阮的背景影响了她，让她在整个法律生涯中都致力于工作。

"She passed up a lot of more advantageous⁵ and, certainly, more lucrative⁶ options in order to pursue her passion for public service," said Yamamoto, a criminal defense⁷ attorney.

“她拒绝了很多有钱途的好工作，目的就是执着于法律公共事业。”

US Court of Appeals judge

Nguyen is currently serving as a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge.

阮目前是美国上诉法庭的法官。

”Now we have a pipeline⁸, finally, of Asian Americans who can be truly and seriously considered for the Supreme Court, something we didn’t have a few years ago, and that’s really exciting," said Karin Wang of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles.

“现在我们有这样一个机会，让亚裔美国人能真正被考虑作为最高法院法官的候选人，而这在几年前是不可能的，这实在令人激动。”

Yamamoto added: “The fact that we’re talking about it right now is a triumph. ... For every refugee, for every immigrant, to look at her and say. 'I can do this, too. My children can be empowered and they can rise up in the same way' ... and that really is the American ideal.”

“事实上我们现在讨论的事情是一场胜利，对每个难民、每个移民来说，都可以看到她说，‘我也可以做到的，我的孩子也可以被赋权，将来一样成为这样的人，这就是美国梦。’”

 

Regardless of who is named as the Supreme Court nominee⁹, many Asian Americans say Nguyen’s story of overcoming the odds¹⁰ and becoming a federal judge is already a legacy¹¹ and an inspiration for immigrants from around the world.

不管谁被提名为最高法院候选人，很多亚裔美国人称阮克服种种困难成为联邦法官的故事已经成为一种榜样，激励着来自世界各地的移民。

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

4 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

5 advantageous   

adj.有利的；有帮助的

参考例句：

• Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
• You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。

6 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

9 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

10 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

11 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。