2005年NPR美国国家公共电台三月-Quitting the Public Eye -- for How Long?

Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell said goodbye on Friday. Several high-profile government officials have resigned recently. And Weekend Edition essayist Al Lubrano senses a certain similarity in their exits.

Government big shots keep on ditching fabulous¹ careers to, they say, spend more time with the family. It's the beautiful American excuse, perfect for its homely² sentiment and apparent courage. Embattled Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell needs to see more of his family and would begin hanging with them very soon. There are others: Former embattled CIA Director George Tenet, former embattled EPA head Christie Whitman, former embattled FBI Director Louis Freeh, and many many more. When the going gets tough, the tough go home.

You would think that the American family would be in better shape than it is, given all the people who drop out of jobs that feature limos and White House access, just to play Boggle on a Wednesday night with Junior. Never mind that in many cases, Junior is now 45. No one just comes out and says, "I've been coleslaw-shredded and marginalized and the president is setting my desk on fire." Truth is Michael Powell was pilloried³ by both the left and the right and leaving seems smart. Whitman was being assailed⁴ by the Bush administration for perceived things. While Freeh was taking hits for FBI missteps. And by coyly declaring that he would step down from running the largest spy network in earth history to, learn how to "instant- message" his son's friends, Tenet avoided any talk about intelligence failures.

Some of these family missing folks get home, invest a few nights reuniting with the cat,then speed out of the house faster than you can say, "Wasn't it your turn to take the kids to soccer practice, Mr.Secretary?" After leaving the FBI, Freed signed on as a senior executive of an MBNA corporation, the second largest credit-card issuer in the United States. He's in charge of 26,000 people. That burden might cut into one or two pizza nights with his six sons. People should come up with more honest or, at least original things to say about quitting.

"I am leaving my job to order a room service for seven weeks until the pain this job inflicted⁵ ebbs⁶."
"Join the Carmelite nuns⁷, I hear they are nice."
"Learn how to properly start a fire the Boys Scout⁸ way."
"Cash in on my public service by pulling down more money than God and Oprah."

Al Lubrano is a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hey, I love you so I want you to know that I gonna miss your love the minute you walk out that door.So Please don't go, don't go.

1 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。

2 homely   

adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的

参考例句：

• We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
• Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？

3 pilloried   

v.使受公众嘲笑( pillory的过去式和过去分词 )；将…示众；给…上颈手枷；处…以枷刑

参考例句：

• He was regularly pilloried by the press for his radical ideas. 他因观点极端而经常受到新闻界的抨击。
• He was pilloried, but she escaped without blemish. 他受到公众的批评，她却名声未损地得以逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 assailed   

v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对

参考例句：

• He was assailed with fierce blows to the head. 他的头遭到猛烈殴打。
• He has been assailed by bad breaks all these years. 这些年来他接二连三地倒霉。 来自《用法词典》

5 inflicted   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
• Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。

6 ebbs   

退潮( ebb的名词复数 )； 落潮； 衰退

参考例句：

• When the tide ebbs it's a rock pool inhabited by crustaceans. 退潮时，它便成为甲壳动物居住的岩石区潮水潭。
• The new Russia steadily ebbs away drive out of Moscow. 驶离莫斯科愈来愈远以后，俄罗斯崭新的景象也逐渐消失。

7 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

8 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。