VOA常速英语2007-Bush Hosts Traditional Ramadan Dinner at White H

By Scott Stearns
Washington
05 October 2007
 

President Bush welcomed Muslim leaders to the White House Thursday evening for an Iftaar dinner breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

The special guests at this year's Iftaar dinner were American Muslim women who have contributed to the nation's science, education, arts, and culture.

Mr. Bush said Ramadan is a time of charity and service to those less fortunate and a time to celebrate Islam's learned and vibrant¹ culture which he says he enriched civilization for centuries. "Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common including love of family, gratitude² to the Almighty³, devotion to community, and a commitment to religious liberty," he said.

Today, the president said, the world is at war with violent extremists who seek to stop the advance of freedom in Muslim societies around the world. "They attack holy sites, destroy mosques⁴ and minarets⁵, and kill innocent men, women and children including Muslims who do not share their radical⁶ views. They believe that by spreading chaos⁷ and violence they can frustrate⁸ the desire of Muslims to live in freedom and peace. We say to them, 'You do not represent Muslims. You do not represent Islam. And you will not succeed,'" he said.

Mr. Bush says America is standing⁹ with mainstream¹⁰ citizens across the Middle East including Iraqis who voted for a democratic future and Lebanese who are reclaiming¹¹ their freedom and independence.

This was the seventh Iftaar dinner the president and Mrs. Bush hosted at the White House for American Muslim leaders and ambassadors and representatives from Muslim nations.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant¹² Commander Abuhena Saifulislam offered the evening's prayer. "On this day and days to come, by all our differences, by all our aspiration¹³, by fear by sorrow and joy in life and death, teach us and lead us nearer to you. Almighty God, thank you for the fellowship, and please bless the food that we are about to share. We all ask this in your Almighty name and recognize you as our provider and sustainer. Amen," he said.

Saifulisam quoted the Prophet Mohammad as saying that whoever in the month of Ramadan invites a person to break their fast, that person receives the same reward as the person who is fasting. So, "Mr. President", he said, "we have got you covered, man."

1 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

2 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

3 almighty   

adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的

参考例句：

• Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
• It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。

4 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

5 minarets   

n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Remind you of a mosque, red baked bricks, the minarets. 红砖和尖塔都会使你联想到伊斯兰教的礼拜寺。 来自互联网
• These purchases usually went along with embellishments such as minarets. 这些购置通常也伴随着注入尖塔等的装饰。 来自互联网

6 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

7 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

8 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

9 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。

10 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

11 reclaiming   

v.开拓( reclaim的现在分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• People here are reclaiming land from the sea. 这儿的人们正在填海拓地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• How could such a man need reclaiming? 这么一个了不起的人怎么还需要别人拯救呢？ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

12 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

13 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。