VOA标准英语2014--Search for Positive Change in Ferguson

 

Search for Positive Change in Ferguson

FERGUSON, MO—

A grand jury in Missouri continues to hear evidence in a case involving the fatal shooting of an African American teenager by a white police officer in the town of Ferguson on August 9. The shooting of Michael Brown, of which eyewitnesses¹ give differing accounts, touched off days of violent demonstrations², resulting in more than 100 arrests.  In Ferguson, life is slowly returning to normal as people look for ways to bring positive change to the community.

"I hope everybody can be able to pick up and move on," said one local.

Residents in this predominately African American community are getting on with their lives but not forgetting 18-year-old Michael Brown. They still wonder about the circumstances surrounding the unarmed teenager's shooting by white police officer Darren Wilson, as Brown was walking to his grandmother's house in this neighborhood.

John Bonds said that despite the passage of time, people shouldn't forget about the victims of the shooting.

"Pray for both families. Officer Wilson and Michael Brown's family. Two families are destroyed and a community,” said Bonds.

People in Ferguson are rebuilding and fixing damage from the days of violent demonstrations, and the looting and burning of stores.  Many here are now waiting to see if a grand jury will bring criminal charges against officer Wilson.

Resident James Thomas said regardless of the outcome of the case, something needs to be done to address excess force by police against African Americans.

"I would hope that police would take a different angle in dealing³ with people. Maybe get to know people maybe not to look at especially my race and associated it with crime or that we are in violation⁴ of something. I just want them to take a whole different attitude towards the community," said Thomas.

Ferguson community leaders say more job opportunities are needed for African Americans. Keysha Nelson said investing in young people will have long term benefits.

"I hope every business in Ferguson give these children a chance, give them a chance at an education, give them a chance at jobs. I would also like for them to give them a chance at being apprentices⁵ and allow them to have a better quality of life because their quality of live gives all of us a better quality of life," said Nelson.

In addition to creating more jobs, community leaders say blacks have to get more involved in the political process and vote for people who are determined⁶ to make this city better place to live.

1 eyewitnesses   

目击者( eyewitness的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The examination of all the eyewitnesses took a week. 对所有证人的质询用了一周的时间。
• Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw the officers hit Miller in the face. 几位目击证人证明他们看见那几个警官打了米勒的脸。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 apprentices   

学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were mere apprentices to piracy. 他们干海盗仅仅是嫩角儿。
• He has two good apprentices working with him. 他身边有两个好徒弟。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。