VOA常速英语2021--美国之音开播79周年（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government. On February 24th, the Voice of America celebrates the 79th anniversary of its first broadcast. In the dark, early days of the Second World War, the United States Government concluded that there was a need to counteract Nazi propaganda by establishing its own outlet, which would offer accurate and unbiased news and information. Thus, the Voice of America was founded on February 1, 1942, and broadcast its first 15-minute show, in German, on February 24th. “This is a voice speaking from America. Daily at this time we shall speak to you about America, and the war. The news may be good, or bad. We shall tell you the truth.” From the beginning, the Voice of America has sought to provide a window into American life. Indeed, as required by law, the VOA must present accurate, objective, and comprehensive news; a balanced, comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions; as well as the policies of the United States.

以下是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。今年2月24日，美国之音迎来首播79周年纪念日。在二次世界大战初期的黑暗岁月中，美国政府认定有必要建立能够提供准确公正新闻信息的属于自己的电台，来对抗纳粹的宣传。美国之音因此在1942年2月1日宣告成立，并在2月24日用德语开始播出首个15分钟的节目。“这是美国传来的声音。我们每天在这个时候都将对你讲讲美国以及这场战争。消息可能是好的也可能是坏的。我们将告诉你真相。”美国之音从一开始就寻求提供了解美国生活的窗口。法律也确实要求美国之音必须提供准确、客观和全面的新闻；平衡全面地呈现美国的重要思想和制度以及反映美国政府的政策立场。

It is the task of the Voice of America “to tell America’s story around the world,” said President John Kennedy on VOA’s 20th anniversary: “This is an extremely difficult and sensitive task. On the one hand you are an arm of the Government and therefore an arm of the Nation, and it is your task to bring our story around the world in a way which serves to represent democracy and the United States in its most favorable light. But on the other hand, as part of the cause of freedom, and the arm of freedom, you are obliged to tell our story in a truthful way, to tell it, as Oliver Cromwell said about his portrait, "Paint us with all our blemishes and warts, all those things about us that may not be so immediately attractive." "Forward... Forward.... 40 feet down, 2 and a half.... picking up some dust..." And so, people around the world heard the century’s great events on the Voice of America, including a record 615 million people who listened to the July 20, 1969, moon landing. “Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed..." As the State Department said in a tweet on February 1, 2021, “During its first broadcast VOA told listeners: ‘The news may be good or bad. We shall tell you the truth.’ From that broadcast to today, VOA has informed, engaged, and connected people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.” That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

肯尼迪总统在美国之音成立20周年时说，美国之音的职责就是“在世界各地讲述美国的故事。”肯尼迪总统说：“这是一件极为困难和敏感的工作。你们一方面是美国政府的机构，因此是这个国家的一个手臂，你们的任务就是在世界各地讲述我们的故事，以最有利的角度代表民主和美国。但另一方面，作为自由事业和自由之臂的一部分，你们必须以真实的方式讲述我们的故事，正如奥利弗·克伦威尔在谈到他的肖像时所说，‘把我们所有的瑕疵和肉赘都画进去，展现我们可能不是那么立即吸引人的全貌’。”“向前，向前，下降了40英尺，下降了两英尺半，尘土起来了。”世界各地的民众因此通过美国之音了解到本世纪的大事，包括1969年7月20日创纪录的6亿1500万人从这里听到了登月的声音。“这里是静海基地。‘鹰’已着陆。”正如国务院在2021年2月1日的一个推文中所指出，“美国之音在首次播音时对听众说：‘消息可能是好的也可能是坏的。我们将告诉你真相。’从那次播音到今天，美国之音向世界各地的民众提供信息，接触民众并连接民众，支持自由和民主的发展。”这是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。