VOA标准英语2014--In Ukraine, Mourning Amid Political Drama 乌克兰政治动乱中的哀悼

 

In Ukraine, Mourning Amid Political Drama 乌克兰政治动乱中的哀悼

KIEV — It was a day of mourning on Kiev's Independence Square for the dozens of people killed during the past week's clashes between police and pro-reform protesters, but it played out against a backdrop of political high drama.

The protest camp on Kiev's main square hosted funerals and memorial services Saturday, as thousands of people came out to mourn protesters cut down by police attacks and snipers.

There were prayers and tributes, and tears from people who probably never knew the victims. People stopped at makeshift shrines¹ to pay their respects.

"I am commemorating² those who died for our freedom, for people who just want to live a better life," said Olga, a Kiev resident who gave only her first name.

The traditional Ukrainian saying "Glory to the Heroes" took on new meaning as it was displayed on a hillside and repeated as a greeting over and over.

In spite of Friday's political deal for new elections and other concessions³ by President Victor Yanukovych, protesters took over his office and residences, and police withdrew. Many want him to resign, and there were reports he had done so. But from his power base near the Russian border, he denied them.

People on Kiev's Independence Square had a different, passionate⁴ reaction.

"His resignation should be immediate⁵, and not only should he resign, this person should be put in jail," said a man named Mikhail.

"I come here on weekends to show my support because surely we should live in a free country," said Oksana, a bank worker.

Ukrainian entrepreneur and researcher Valerii Pekar says this is a political revolution, but also much more.

"This is a revolution in mentality," he said. "This is a revolution of values, new values against old values. ... It's values of modern society against values of old paternalistic Soviet-style society."

Indeed, these protests started when President Yanukovych pulled back from an economic agreement with the European Union, and made one with Russia instead. That decision could be reversed if Friday's agreement is fulfilled.

But that became less and less clear as the day went on. A rebellious⁶ parliament passed a series of laws the president said he won't sign, so it voted to fire him.

It also voted to free his bitter rival, popular former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was in jail for corruption⁷.

Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister called the protesters "armed extremists" and accused the opposition⁸ of breaking the Friday accord.

It was all too much to follow for people who seemed to be trying to return Independence Square to normal. Bullet holes, missing pavement stones and a layer of soot⁹ and burned rubber on everything were among the scars from a week of street battles and fires.

 

And people also wanted to show their pride in what they had accomplished¹⁰, possibly putting Ukraine on the path to greater democracy, even as they remembered those who had died in the effort.

1 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

2 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

3 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

4 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

7 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。

8 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。

9 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

10 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。