VOA常速英语2020--美国2020年劳工节（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions. On the first Monday of September every year, the United States pauses to honor its workers and the contributions they make to our nation’s prosperity. On September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 men and women paraded through the streets of Manhattan to celebrate the first Labor Day. New York’s Central Labor Union organized the day of celebration in honor of the workers who fought to secure higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions for laborers. It was a day of celebration, but also a day of sacrifice; the workers sacrificed that day’s wages to demonstrate their commitment to gaining fair compensation for hard work. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for working people, problems unlike anything we have seen in the past. While millions have for months been working from home to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus, hundreds of thousands were called upon to fight the disease. Emergency personnel and medical professionals put their lives on the line to aid the sick and comfort the dying, and indeed, hundreds of health care workers have paid for their dedicated service with their lives.

以下是一篇反映美国理想和制度的社论：每年9月的第一个星期一，美国都会纪念美国劳工以及他们为国家繁荣做出的贡献。1882年9月5日，一万多名民众在曼哈顿街头游行，庆祝第一个劳动节。纽约中央工会组织了当天的庆祝活动，以纪念那些为争取更高工资、减少工时和更好的工作条件而斗争的劳工们。这是一个庆祝的日子，也是一个牺牲的日子；工人们牺牲了这一天的薪资，展示他们致力于为繁重的劳动争取对等的酬劳的决心。今年，新冠肺炎疫情的爆发给劳动人民带来了新的挑战，引发的问题不同以往。尽管有数百万人在几个月中一直居家办公，以防止冠状病毒的传播，但也有数十万人响应抗击疫情的号召。急救人员和医护人员救死扶伤，将生死置之度外，事实上，有数百名医疗工作者已经在奉献敬业中付出了生命。

And then there are the millions of others, many of them working in low-paying jobs, who stepped up to keep the country going. Food still has to be grown, processed, delivered and sold, so others can eat. Mail still needs to be transported across the country, sorted and delivered. Those who keep the power plants and water treatment stations going are no less important to the survival of the rest than are political leaders across the country who organize a response to the spread of the Corona Virus or find new ways to obtain scarce protective gear and medical supplies. “In this hour of need, the world has once again witnessed the unbeatable strength of the United States of America,” said President Donald Trump. “All across our land, heroes have raced into action. Doctors and nurses are enduring sleepless nights to save every possible life. Farmers, truck drivers, and grocers are working to keep our shelves stocked and our people fed. Families are helping neighbors in need, and entire communities are rallying together to defeat the plague,” he said. “But it’s a tribute to this country and the people of our country what they’ve been able to do and the amount of lives that have been saved.” That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

还有数百万其他行业的人，他们中的许多人收入低微，却挺身而出，担负起维持国家运转的责任。仍然需要有人负责种植、加工、运输和销售食品，其他人才能饱腹。仍然需要有人在全国各地运送、分拣和投递邮件。那些维持发电厂和水处理厂运转的人，对其他人的生存发挥着重要作用，且重要性不亚于全国各地的政治领导人，领导人们组织防范新冠病毒传播，或想方设法获取稀缺的防护装备和医疗用品。美国总统特朗普说：“在这个需要帮助的时刻，世界再次见证了美国无与伦比的力量。”“全国各地的英雄们争先恐后地投入行动。医护人员们彻夜无眠，尽可能挽救生命。农民、卡车司机和杂货商们都在努力维持货架上的存货充足，满足人民的食物需求。家庭邻里也相互帮助，整个社区都团结起来对抗疫情。”他说。“他们所做的一切以及拯救的生命，都是为美国和美国人民做出的贡献。”这是一篇反映美国理想和制度的社论。