VOA常速英语2020--美国退伍军人节

Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

以下是一篇反映美国理想与制度的社论。

During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called on his countrymen in his famous Gettysburg Address to ensure that liberty "shall not perish from the earth." His words have inspired many over the years, including millions in our nation's armed services who fought to preserve not only America’s freedom, but that of other nations as well. Today, Veterans Day, America pauses to honor these men and women, and the values of duty and sacrifice they represent. Long after they leave uniform, they symbolize¹ what it means to be a citizen of a free land.

美国内战期间，总统亚伯拉罕·林肯在著名的《葛底斯堡演说》中呼吁他的同胞们确保自由“不会从地球上消失”。多年来，他的这番话激励了很多人，包括数百万美国军人，他们不仅为维护美国自由而战，也为维护其他国家自由而战。今天是退伍军人节，美国在这一天纪念这些男女军人以及他们所代表的职责和牺牲的价值。他们卸下戎装很久之后，还一直是自由国家公民的象征。

The holiday, observed every year on November 11, originated with the armistice² that ended The First World War in 1918. The conflict, fought in Asia, Africa, scattered³ islands in the Pacific and the waters off South America, as well as on the battlefields of Europe, was seen as "the war to end all wars." But other wars followed, and in 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower expanded the holiday to honor all who have served in uniform both in war and peace. Our government continues this effort to this day, with program to help veterans leaving the military to find employment and ease their transition into civilian⁴ life. Our government continues this effort to this day, with program to help veterans leaving the military to find employment and ease their transition into civilian life. At its core, though, Veterans Day isn't about war. It commemorates⁵ no battlefield victory or defeat, it celebrates no advancement⁶ of political or territorial⁷ ambition. Rather, it's a day of remembrance, echoing similar holidays in Great Britain, Canada, South Africa and other nations that honor military veterans for their service and sacrifice.

美国每年在11月11日庆祝退伍军人节，这个节日起源于结束1918年第一次世界大战的停战协定。第一次世界大战的战火蔓延亚洲、非洲、太平洋岛屿、南美洲沿海和欧洲战场，被认为是“终止所有战争的战争”。可随后还是发生了其他战争。德怀特·艾森豪威尔总统在1954年将退伍军人节的纪念对象扩大到战时与和平时期所有服过役的军人。我们的政府将这一努力一直延续到今天，并推出了一项计划，帮助退伍老兵找到工作并向平民生活过渡。不过，退伍军人节的核心并不是关于战争。它不是去纪念战场的胜利或失败，也不是去庆祝推动政治或领土上的雄心壮志。相反，它是纪念的日子，就像英国、加拿大、南非和其他国家那样用类似的节日去纪念老兵们的功劳和牺牲。

That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

这是一篇反映美国理想与制度的社论。

1 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

2 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

3 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

7 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。