VOA标准英语2010年-Mexico's President Addresses US Congre

Vice¹ President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. applaud as Mexican president Felipe Calderon waves after addressing a joint² meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington Thursday, May 20, 2010

Mexico's president is appealing directly to the American people and their elected leaders to reform immigration laws, and strengthen gun control along the U.S.-Mexican border. 

The Mexican president was cheered as he entered the House chamber³, and was introduced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you, his Excellency Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, the President of Mexico," said Nancy Pelosi.

From his first words, this speech was different.

"It is a great honor to stand before you today," said President Calderon.

Usually, foreign leaders address Congress in their native language.  But President Calderon chose English, instead of Spanish.

"I have come here as your neighbor, as your partner, as your ally, and as your friend," he said.

It was a sign that his remarks were not designed for domestic consumption in Mexico, but rather to capture the attention of the American public.

He spoke⁴ bluntly, as sometimes only a friend can do.  He talked about border violence, and the need to find a way to curb⁵ illegal immigration.

The Mexican leader said comprehensive immigration reform is critical to border security.

"What we need today is to fix a broken and inefficient⁶ system," said Felipe Calderon.

President Calderon went on to criticize a new law in the border state of Arizona that requires police to question anyone they believe may be in the country illegally.  That law was sparked, in part, by an outbreak of violence along the border.

Mexico's president said his government is making an all out effort to go after criminals and drug gangs responsible for the bloodshed.  He said America must do its part by re-imposing a ban on the sale of military-style semi-automatic weapons.

Mr. Calderon said these assault weapons are fueling the violence.

"We have seized 75,000 guns and assault weapons in Mexico in the last three years," he said. "On more than 80 percent of those we have been able to trace, [they] came from the United States."

The Mexican president was the first foreign head of state or government to address Congress this year.  On Wednesday, he was honored at the White House with all the trappings of a state visit
 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

6 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。