2006年VOA标准英语-Congressional Critics Blast Iran on Human Right

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
20 September 2006

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's address to the United Nations coincided with sharp criticism of the Iranian leader in the U.S. Congress. The House of Representatives debated three resolutions dealing¹ with political and human rights issues in Iran.

-----

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly  
  
The resolutions, which are symbolic² and non-binding, were debated on the House floor a few hours before the Iranian leader delivered his address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

One resolution condemns³ the repression⁴ of Iran's Bahai religious community by the Islamic government in Tehran.

Congressman⁵ Tom Lantos, a Democrat⁶, was among lawmakers pointing to a deterioration⁷ of conditions for adherents⁸ to the Bahai faith in Iran over the past year.

 
Tom Lantos
  
"The U.S. Congress needs to speak out strongly against these policies," said Tom Lantos. "We cannot stand by quietly as another pogrom [crackdown] against the Bahai is quietly being prepared by the bigoted⁹ regime in Tehran."

Republican Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois linked the issue of persecution¹⁰ of Bahai in Iran, to the address by Iran's president to the United Nations:

"It is incumbent¹¹ on Congress to reveal the real truth about this Iranian leader," said Mark Kirk. "We must demonstrate to the international community that while Iran's president has become a ruthless dictator who espouses¹² hatred¹³, discrimination and tyranny, the U.S. is standing¹⁴ for liberty, and toleration, human rights and freedom, especially for Bahais in Iran."

Lawmakers cited reports by human rights groups and the U.S. State Department about arrests, detentions¹⁵ and interrogations of the Bahai minority in Iran.

A second House resolution condemned¹⁶ in general terms human rights abuses by the Iranian government.

And a third measure, recognizing the 100th anniversary, of the first Iranian constitution, gave lawmakers another opportunity to reiterate¹⁷ their hopes for political change in Iran.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen  
  
Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen chairs the Middle East Subcommittee:

"This resolution is an opportunity for the American people to send a positive message to the Iranian people about their indigenous¹⁸ Democratic tradition," said Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. "We hope that this tradition will be an inspiration for the Iranian people as they seek to increase their political freedoms."

Another Republican, Congressman Steve King of Iowa, was more blunt:

"I hope the recognition contained in this bill can help inspire Iranians to rise up and expel their country's dictators," he said. "Given the current threat the Iranian regime poses to global security today, the whole world should join in supporting and encouraging the Iranian people in their fight for freedom and constitutional representation."

Debate on the resolutions came amid attempts by some House Democrats¹⁹, fueled by some recent media reports, to press the Bush administration on the question of planning that might be underway for a military strike on Iran.

Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich:

"I think we have to be very cautious about the path this country is taking," said Dennis Kucinich. "We can stand for a democracy in Iran. We can stand for human rights in Iran. We can do all those things without taking steps, and letting our efforts [here], that might be in good faith by the way, without letting those efforts be used as a build up towards war."

Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday, President Bush said the U.S. continues to work for a diplomatic solution to the standoff with Tehran over its nuclear development program, adding the U.S. looks forward to the day when America and Iran can be good friends and close partners in the cause of peace.

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

5 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

6 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。

7 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

8 adherents   

n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙

参考例句：

• He is a leader with many adherents. 他是个有众多追随者的领袖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The proposal is gaining more and more adherents. 该建议得到越来越多的支持者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bigoted   

adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的

参考例句：

• He is so bigoted that it is impossible to argue with him.他固执得不可理喻。
• I'll concede you are not as bigoted as some.我承认你不象有些人那么顽固。

10 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 espouses   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She followed the feminist movement; The candidate espouses Republican ideals. 她支持女权运动；这个侯选人支持共和党人的观点。 来自互联网
• Give me a break – every decent company espouses these things! 让我歇歇吧–每一个正规公司都赞成这些！ 来自互联网

13 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

14 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

15 detentions   

拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校

参考例句：

• Teachers may assign detention tasks as they wish and some detentions have been actually dangerous. 老师可能随心所欲指派关禁闭的形式，有些禁闭事实上很危险。
• Intimidation, beatings and administrative detentions are often enough to prevent them from trying again. 恐吓，拷打和行政拘留足以阻止请愿者二次进京的脚步。

16 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

17 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

18 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

19 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》