VOA常速英语2013--美国退伍军人敦促立法者结束政府关闭（在线收听）

US Veterans Urge Lawmakers to End Shutdown 美国退伍军人敦促立法者结束政府关闭

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government remains shut down in a partial closure that has put hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work, at least temporarily. Lawmakers have yet to reach common ground, and that means many federal workers stay home and national parks, monuments and museums stay closed.  Some vocal veterans’ groups visited Washington over the weekend to protest the closures. But they were not the only ones there. Seeking their place in the spotlight were lawmakers aligned with the “Tea Party,” a group of lawmakers within the Republican Party vehemently opposed to compromising with Democrats on matters of budget.

The Million Veterans March-as it was called-was supposed to be a peaceful call for an end to the government shutdown now threatening many veterans' benefits.

百万退伍军人游行，正如其名被认为是一次结束现在威胁到许多退伍军人福利政府关闭的和平呼吁。

But that changed on Sunday when Tea Party politicians took the stage.

但一切在周日茶党政治家走上舞台时变了味道。

Among them was Senator Ted Cruz.

参议员泰德·克鲁兹就身在其中。

“Let me ask a simple question.

“让我问一个简单的问题。

Why is the federal government spending money to erect barricades to keep veterans out of this memorial?” asked Cruz.

为什么联邦政府花费财力设置路障让退伍军人离开纪念馆?”克鲁兹问道。

Protestors tore down barricades and carried them to the White House where they tossed them in front of the gates and shouted slogans against the president.

于是抗议者们拆除路障得以来到白宫,他们在大门前高喊反对总统的口号。

“Obama's got to go! Obama's got to go!” they yelled.

“奥巴马下台!奥巴马下台!“他们喊道。

Critics of the rally say that it became more about Tea Party politics than about the plight of veterans.

批评人士表示这次集会更多是关于茶党政治而非处境艰难的退伍军人。

But on Tuesday, at the World War Two Memorial, several veterans' groups rallied for their benefits; not politics.

但在周二在二战世界大战纪念馆中一些退伍军人团体集合为自身利益声讨,而非出于政治目的。

Retired Marine Ken Hopper was one of them.

退役海军肯·赫普尔就是其中之一。

“It's time to end the nonsense.

“是时候让胡闹结束。

It's time to remember their obligations.

是时候让他们将自己的义务铭记在心。

These are representatives elected by the people, and they should remember that they serve the people instead of serving themselves,” said Hopper.

这些由人民选出的代表应该记住服务于人民,而不是为自己谋利。”赫普尔说道。

The group was joined by Iraq war veteran Ray Kelley.

伊拉克战争老兵雷·凯利也加入到了该集团。

“It is time that Congress starts the government again.

“现在是时候让国会再一次重新恢复政府。

Veterans paid a price.

退伍军人付出了代价。

Promises were made to them that if they serve our country, that our country will take care of them.

他们作出了如果他们为国效忠,国家将会照顾他们承诺。

We're failing in that mission,” said Kelley.

我们不能有辱使命,”凯利说道。

Death benefits are paid to families of fallen soldiers, but due to the shutdown, those payments may take longer than normal.

抚恤金应该发放给阵亡士兵的家属,但由于政府关闭,这笔钱可能需要更长时间才能到手。

Joann Fischer is a post commander for the Disabled American Veterans.

乔安·费舍尔是美国伤残退伍军人的助理指挥官。

“By doing this it has caused catastrophic problems for all of our veterans. Our old, our young, our men, our women and our families.

“这样做对我们所有的退伍军人造成灾难性的问题。我们的老人,我们的年轻人,我们的男人，女人及我们的家庭。

Congress, get it together, today. Not tomorrow. Today.

国会今天就要在一起讨论这个问题。不是明天。就在今天。

Now. Something has to be done,” said Fischer.

现在有些事情必须要做,”费舍尔说道。

And now some veterans, like Gary Benenati, fear they'll lose their disability benefits, too.

而现在像加里·本那迪这样的一些老兵担心他们也会失去自己的残疾福利。

“Look at your children in the face.

“看看你孩子的脸。

Just sit down and look at them in the face, and try to imagine telling them you don't have money to feed them.

只是坐下来,看看他们,试着去想象,告诉他们你没有钱养活他们。

Try to do that, and then you'll know what it's like to be a disabled veteran without his Check,” said Benenati.

试试看,然后你就会明白没有福利残疾老兵会是何窘境。”本那迪说道。

His message was something that resonated well in the crowd-a feeling that benefits guaranteed by the government now hang in jeopardy.

他所表达的在人群中引起了共鸣，大家感到由政府担保的福利现在置于危险之中。

Craig Meinhardt is with the Army National Guard.

克雷格·梅茵哈特是陆军国民警卫队中的一员。

“We give up our lives.

“我们不顾自己的性命。

I've lost several brothers in these wars in these last ten years that I've served with.

在我服役最后十年的这些战争中我已经失去了很多好兄弟。

If our government doesn't care enough to make sure that we're taken care of, why are we doing it?” asked Meinhardt.

如果我们的政府不关心足以确保我们得到照顾,我们这样做价值究竟何在?” 梅茵哈特质问道。

Congressional lawmakers remain deadlocked on the shutdown issue, and with the looming issue of the debt ceiling just a few short days away, the country may need to brace itself for the next hit.

国会议员们就政府关闭问题仍然深陷僵局之中,而迫在眉睫的债务上限问题仅在短短数天的时间之内,这个国家可能需要做好准备应对接下来的打击。