2006年VOA标准英语-Small Turnout of Pilgrims for Christmas in Beth

By Robert Berger
Bethlehem
24 December 2006

Christmas is being celebrated¹ at the traditional birthplace of Jesus. But there is little Christmas cheer, as we hear in this VOA report from Robert Berger in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Palestinians and tourists gather for the traditional Christmas procession in Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

Hundreds of Palestinian boy and girl scouts² marched through Manger Square in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. They passed the Church of the Nativity, where tradition says Jesus Christ was born. Security was tight -- paramilitary policemen armed with assault rifles stood guard on rooftops and on the cobblestone streets below.

Bethlehem was decked out for the holiday. All the trees were lit up with red, white and yellow lights, and stars and bells illuminated³ the buildings. Ironically, money for the decorations came from the ruling Islamic militant⁴ group Hamas.

Despite the marches and decorations, an atmosphere of gloom hung over Bethlehem. Pilgrims who used to come in droves stayed away because of the war in Lebanon a few months ago and the recent fighting between Palestinian factions⁵.

That is bad news for Palestinian residents who depend on tourism. Mary Jakaman owns a shop in Manger Square packed with olive wood souvenirs. She told VOA there are few customers. "It's not good, you know, because of the situation here, the tourists are afraid to come here," she said.

Still the few pilgrims who came were glad they did. David Bogenrief is from the U.S. state of Iowa. "It's joyful⁶ being here. We come to celebrate the birth of Jesus, to see all the people, to sing songs and just praise God and give him the glory. It's good to be here," he said.

But it was not easy to get here. Pilgrims arriving from nearby Jerusalem have to cross Israel's massive separation barrier which has become the de-facto border. Israel says the barrier was constructed to keep suicide bombers⁷ out, but Palestinians say Bethlehem has been changed from the city of peace into a big prison.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。

3 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

6 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

7 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》