VOA常速英语2017--美国庆祝宗教自由日

Today, as we observe Religious Freedom Day, we note the recent successes and accomplishments¹ of the U.S. State Department in promoting religious liberty, said Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein:

今天，当我们庆祝宗教自由日(Religious Freedom Day)之时，我们也注意到近来国务院在提升宗教自由方面所取得的成功和成就，美国国际宗教自由无任所大使大卫萨佩斯坦(DavidSaperstein)说。

“Clearly as you look back on my two years at the State Department our ability to assist Secretary of State Kerry in his findings that ISIL's activities in Iraq constitute a genocide against Christian², Yezidis, Shia communities and crimes against humanity against the Kakai and the Mandeans and other minority groups was a very important achievement here and had the impact of grabbling the attention of the international community.”

“显然，如果大家回首我在国务院工作这2年的历程就会发现，我们协助国务卿克里发现了IS在伊拉克的活动存在对基督教徒、耶西迪人、什叶派的种族灭绝行为，以及IS针对Kakai人、曼达派和其他少数群体的反人道罪。我们的发现不仅对这里是重要的成就，同时也对吸引国际社会注意力产生了影响。”

This world-wide attention made it possible to hold two pledging conferences that helped raise over $2.2 million from countries around the world to help make it possible for these religious minorities return home safely.

而全球的关注又促成了2个拨款会议的开办，这2次会议帮助从全球多国募集到了220多万美元的资金，让这些宗教少数群体得以安全返乡。

The United States as a country will continue its commitment to the principle of religious freedom at home and abroad, said Ambassador Saperstein:

美国作为一个国家，将继续奉行其对国外内宗教自由原则的承诺，萨佩斯坦说。

“I'm very optimistic that the robust³ efforts on behalf of religious freedom that has marked the last several administrations, Republican and Democrat⁴, will remain a hallmark of our foreign policy moving into the future. . . .It really shows the consensus⁵ view that religion plays such an influential⁶ role in foreign policy issues that we confront and must be addressed more effectively, must engage religious communities around the world on behalf of the values that we promulgate⁷.”

“我相信，过去几届美国政府以宗教自由之名所做的卓绝努力，无论是共和党还是民主党，依然会是我国未来外交政策的标志……这无疑证明了大家的共同观点，即宗教在我们所面临的外交政策事宜上发挥了如此重要的影响，并需要以我们所宣传的价值观之名，发动全球各地的宗教社群以更加有效的方式加以解决。”

Religious liberty is one of America's great contributions to the world, said Ambassador Saperstein. “And as an American I'm extraordinarily⁸ proud to see how many countries join us in that vision of the fundamental rights of people to live equally as citizens without regard to their religion.”

宗教自由是美国对世界所作的巨大贡献之一，萨佩斯坦说。“而同时，作为一名美国人，我极为骄傲地看到很多国家加入了我们的愿景——信仰任何宗教的公民都有平等生活的根本权利。”

The United States is making a difference in the world on this issue and will continue to do so.

在这个议题上，美国正有所作为，并将继续坚持。

1 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

7 promulgate   

v.宣布；传播；颁布（法令、新法律等）

参考例句：

• The king promulgate a decree.国王颁布了一项命令。
• The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code.航运业对自律守则进行了宣传。

8 extraordinarily   

adv.格外地；极端地

参考例句：

• She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
• The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。