VOA标准英语2009年-British Prime Minister Addresses US Congress

In an address to a joint¹ meeting of the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged the United States to seize the opportunity to expand cooperation with Europe to solve the world economic crisis and tackle other issues.
　
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington , Wednesday, 04 March 2009

In the fifth address to Congress by a British prime minister, Mr. Brown recognized what he called the latest chapter in America's story, the election of President Barack Obama which he said gave the world renewed hope.

Referring to two previous American presidents, he said one, John F. Kennedy, dared Americans to explore the new frontier of space, while Ronald Reagan insisted on freedom for the people of Eastern Europe and quickened the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Now under President Obama, Prime Minister Brown said, the United States has an opportunity to forge a new relationship with a more unified² Europe prepared to be a partner in facing global challenges.

"Let me say to you directly," Mr. Brown said. "You now have the most pro-American European leadership in living memory. It's a leadership that wants to cooperate more closely together, in order to cooperate more closely with you. There is no old Europe, no new Europe, there is only your friend Europe."

Referring to an "economic hurricane" that has swept the world, Prime Minister Brown said the United States and Britain must with equal determination, adding that the world faces a need not just to manage the crisis but carry out transformative change to rebuild prosperity.

"We need to understand what went wrong in this crisis, that the very financial instruments that were designed to diversify³ risk across the banking⁴ system instead spread contagion⁵ across the globe," Mr. Brown said. "And today's financial institutions, they are so interwoven that a bad bank anywhere is a threat to good banks everywhere."

In tackling the crisis, Mr. Brown said governments should not succumb⁶ to protectionism but have the confidence to seize opportunities ahead.

The prime minister received loud applause as he paid tribute to American and British soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, and pledged Britain's continued support against terrorists.

"Let me therefore promise you our continued support to ensure that there is no hiding place for terrorists, no safe haven⁷ for terrorism," Mr. Brown said. "You should be proud that in the years after 2001, that while terrorists may destroy buildings and even, tragically⁸, lives, they have not, and will not ever, destroy the American spirit."

On specific foreign policy issues, Mr. Brown pledged British support for Middle East peace efforts and a two state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. He said Britain will work tirelessly with the United States to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation, and he urged Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

"And our shared message to Iran, it is simple," Mr. Brown said. "We are ready for you to rejoin the international community. But first, you must cease your threats and suspend your nuclear program."

Returning to the global economic crisis, Prime Minister Brown said governments must act with resolve to restructure banks and financial systems, develop environmentally-sound technologies and expand education. He urged U.S. support for a new agreement on global climate change.

Efforts to end recession, he added, must not forget the needs of the world's poor, including education, saying the United States and Britain must work to improve the global economic condition.

"All of us know that in a recession the wealthiest, the most powerful and the most privileged can find a way through," Mr. Brown said. "So we do not value the wealthy less when we say that our first duty is to help the not so wealthy. We do not value the powerful less when we say our first responsibility is to help the powerless. And we do not value those who are secure less, when we say that our first priority must be to help the insecure.

The British leader ended his address with a reference to Franklin Roosevelt, who he recalled challenged Americans to battle fear in the depths of the Great Depression of the 1930's.

"It was not simply by the power of his words, his personality and his example that he triumphed," Mr. Brown said. "Yes, all these things mattered. But what mattered more was this enduring truth: that you, the American people, at your core, were, as you remain, every bit as optimistic as your Roosevelts, your Reagans and your Obamas."

While he paid tribute to former U.S. presidents, Prime Minister Brown also singled out for attention Senator Edward Kennedy, the brother of slain⁹ U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Mr. Brown announced that Senator Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer but still pushing for progress in Congress on the difficult issue of health care reform, will be given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

3 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

4 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

5 contagion   

n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延

参考例句：

• A contagion of fear swept through the crowd.一种恐惧感在人群中迅速蔓延开。
• The product contagion effect has numerous implications for marketing managers and retailers.产品传染效应对市场营销管理者和零售商都有很多的启示。

6 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

9 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。