VOA标准英语2008年-South Africa Joins Nelson Mandela in Celebratin

South Africa's elder statesman Nelson Mandela is marking his 90th birthday Friday in a private celebration with his family at his home in the Eastern Cape¹. However, as VOA's Delia Robertson reports from our bureau in Johannesburg, the rest of the country is celebrating very publicly.
　
Former South African President Nelson Mandela sits beside a bowl of roses during an interview with the media at his house in Qunu, southeastern, South Africa, 18 Jul 2008

From the national cabinet to kindergartens, from hospital wards² to prison cells, and shopping malls to sidewalk-sellers, most South Africans seem to be celebrating the 90th birthday of the much-loved Nelson Mandela, these days affectionately and almost exclusively known here by his clan-name, Madiba.

For many, such as President Thabo Mbeki, marking Madiba's birthday means honoring his legacy³.

"And I do hope that when we celebrate the birthday, it will not be only that we say: thank you for the past 90 years, but we must say, thank you for 90 years that have shown us how to move forward, because the task of the transformation⁴ of South Africa has not been completed," said Mr. Mbeki.

F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid-era president, and the man who released Mr. Mandela from nearly three decades of imprisonment⁵, recalled "the six tumultuous years" when as political opponents and leaders of their respective groups, they worked together, not always harmoniously⁶. Even so, Mr. de Klerk says that Mr. Mandela is one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, a man he is now proud to call friend.

"Happy birthday Madiba," he said. "My friend, what you have done for South Africa is wonderful. Your legacy will remain forever, may you live many, many more years to continue in person to promote that legacy."

In a brief address at his Qunu home, Mr. Mandela urged the world's political and business leaders to address global poverty. He told young South Africans to be disciplined in their lives. It is a message that seems already to have been heard by Zama, a young Soweto student speaking on national radio.

"If I had to give Nelson Mandela anything as a 90th birthday present, it would be all the years that he spent in prison, all the years that he dedicated⁷ to making our lives better," said Zama. "I am here because of what [he] and other democrats⁸ have done for us."

Mr. Mandela's birthday has been marked by many events both in South Africa and abroad. A marathon was run around Robben Island, his prison home for more than two decades; numerous books have been published; he earlier hosted his annual children's party, and a concert in London in support of his charities.

In London he urged the adoption⁹ of values of caring for others.
　
Nelson Mandela, left, waves from the stage, as US actor Will Smith smiles from behind, at the 46664 charity concert in honor of Mandela's 90th birthday in London, 27 June 2008

"If a 90-year-old may offer some unsolicited advice on this occasion, it would be that you, irrespective of your age, should place human solidarity¹⁰ [and] a concern for others at the center of the values by which you live," he said.

Mr. Mandela's birthday also marks the tenth anniversary of his marriage to Graca Machel, the former first lady of Mozambique.

　

 

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 wards   

区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态

参考例句：

• This hospital has 20 medical [surgical] wards. 这所医院有 20 个内科[外科]病房。
• It was a big constituency divided into three wards. 这是一个大选区，下设三个分区。

3 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

4 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

5 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

6 harmoniously   

和谐地，调和地

参考例句：

• The president and Stevenson had worked harmoniously over the last eighteen months. 在过去一年半里，总统和史蒂文森一起工作是融洽的。
• China and India cannot really deal with each other harmoniously. 中国和印度这两只猛兽不可能真心实意地和谐相处。

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

10 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。