VOA标准英语2013--Obama Visit: Acknowledging Senegal’s Democratic Track Record

 

Obama Visit: Acknowledging Senegal’s Democratic Track Record

Obama visits Senegal a little more than a year after a hotly contested presidential race tested the country.

That election in 2012 began with deadly street protests against the incumbent's unconstitutional bid for a third mandate¹, but ended with a peaceful, transparent² vote, and the country's third democratic handover of power since independence in 1960.

Senegalese are well aware of their accomplishments³, but say Obama's visit is an honor all the same.

"What would be ideal is to not need people to come from the outside to tell us, 'yes, you are a good democracy, you are good students.' But it still makes people happy. It's Obama. He's a busy guy. It's an honor," said rapper Keyti.

West Africa Research Center Director, Ousmane Sene, said Obama's visit will "reinvigorate" progress being made in Senegal.

"His visit shows that this country, as little as it is, matters. Senegal has only 12 million inhabitants… and I don't think Senegal's economy is even as big as New York City's. We are small compared to the United States, but what we can bring to the world is something else entirely," said Sene.

Obama has only made one other trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president, to Ghana in 2009. He called for better governance.

"Africa does not need strongmen. It needs strong institutions," he said.

Soccer coach Ady Ndoye said Obama has a certain influence with African leaders and should use it more.  

"Not necessarily giving them lessons but rather instilling⁴ in our presidents a way to run their countries that benefits everyone, not just the leaders and their families," said Ndoye.

Major challenges remain in Senegal. Young people here say they would tell Obama about how hard it is to pay for school or find a job.  

"We had hope with the new government, but we still don't have jobs. We are still here waiting. We need a new way to get there," said Ousmane Ndaw.

"We want our country to be rich," said Ndeye Aram.

Africa has the youngest and one of the most rapidly growing populations in the world. The White House says meeting with this "next generation" of African leaders is, indeed, on the president's agenda. 

1 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

2 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

3 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 instilling   

v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instil的现在分词 )；逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Make sure your subordinates understand your sense of urgency and work toward instilling this in allsubordinates. 确保你的下属同样具备判断紧急事件的意识，在工作中潜移默化地灌输给他们。 来自互联网