VOA常速英语2013--美国人民缅怀曼德拉

 

Americans Reflect on Passing of Mandela 美国人民缅怀曼德拉

WASHINGTON — Across the United States, Americans are marking the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela with personal reflection and public tributes.

Visitors have been leaving flowers at the South African Embassy in Washington, creating a makeshift memorial in front of a statue of the anti-apartheid leader and former president.

来访者们在南非驻华盛顿大使馆临时搭建的一座纪念碑前向这位反种族隔离领袖及前总统的雕像敬献鲜花。

“I think it's very sad. He had a long hard life, but he did some wonderful things.

“我想这非常令人难过。他一生艰苦,但做的一些事情令人赞叹。

So it's a sad day for the world,” said Washington resident Priscilla Sabatilli.

所以对于全世界而言这都是悲伤的一天,”华盛顿居民帕流西卡·萨巴特利说道。

The statue is a replica¹ of one that stands outside the South African prison where Mandela spent 27 years of his life as a political prisoner.

这尊雕像是是矗立在南非监狱前的复制品，而曼德拉就是在这里度过了27年政治犯生涯。

In New York, commuters paused to remember the prisoner turned president, who negotiated a peaceful end to apartheid and urged forgiveness for the white government that imprisoned² him.

在纽约,上班族们纷纷停下来缅怀这位最终当选为总统的囚犯，他和平谈判结束种族隔离,并呼吁监禁他的白人政府宽恕。

“I think more the lesson that Mandela left for us is that we can have polar opposite viewpoints and still find a way to sort of end up where we need to be,” said Max Moondoc, a New York resident.

“我认为曼德拉留给我们更多的是我们尽管有截然相反的观点但最终都能找到一种我们需要的方法。”纽约居民马克斯·默多克说道。

During his radio program in California, civil rights activist³ Earl Ofari Hutchinson remembered Mandela as a revered⁴ champion of human rights.

在民权活动家厄尔·哈钦森的广播节目在加州播放时,他回忆曼德拉是一位令人尊敬的人权捍卫者。

"People felt, we're in the presence of a giant.

“人们感到,我们面前的一位伟人。

We're in the presence of a special person, someone who really is a gift to the world,” said Hutchinson.

我们面前的一个特别的人,他真的是献给世界的一份礼物,”哈钦森说道。

Across America there are words of praise and quiet prayers at the passing of this international icon⁵ of peace and reconciliation⁶.

全美国将赞美和安静的祈祷献给这位投身于国际和平与调解的老人。

1 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

2 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

5 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。