2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Encourages Muslim Moderates

By Scott Stearns
White House
27 June 2007

Watch Paula Wolfson Bush Islam report 

President Bush says he is confident that religious moderates in the Middle East will ultimately overcome the extremism fueling terrorist violence. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush also announced a special envoy¹ to the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

President Bush speaking at the Islamic Center of Washington, 27 Jun 2007

President Bush says the concept of religious freedom and individual rights is expanding in every region of the world except one.

"In the Middle East, we have seen instead the rise of a group of extremists who seek to use religion as a path to power and a means of domination," said President Bush. "This self-appointed vanguard presumes to speak for Muslims. They do not."

The president says extremists falsely claim that America is at war with Muslims, when he says it is radicals² who are Islam's true enemies by attacking religious shrines³ in hopes of dividing Shi'ite from Sunni.

Mr. Bush spoke⁴ at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Islamic Center of Washington. The president first visited that mosque⁵ six days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to denounce reprisals⁶ against Muslim Americans.

On Wednesday, Mr. Bush said he is working to encourage democracy in the Middle East, not as a plan imposed from outside but as something that he says is being seized by the people of the region themselves.

"Millions seek a path to the future where they can say what they think, travel where they wish, and worship as they choose," he said. "They plead in silence for their liberty. And they hope someone somewhere will answer."

The president says elections in Afghanistan and Iraq are important milestones⁷ on the path to democracy, but he says the struggle does not end there.

"We say to those who yearn⁸ for freedom from Damascus to Tehran, you are not bound forever by your misery," said Mr. Bush. "You plead in silence no longer. The free world hears you. You are not alone. America offers you its hand in friendship."

At the ceremony, President Bush announced that he will name the first U.S. envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a group based in Saudi Arabia that represents 57 Islamic states and territories.

Mr. Bush says that person, whom he did not name, will listen to and learn from representatives of Muslim states while sharing with them America's views and values. He calls this an opportunity for Americans to demonstrate respectful dialogue and continued friendship with Muslim communities.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

3 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

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 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

6 reprisals   

n.报复（行为）( reprisal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals. 他们因为害怕报复而不想作证。
• They took bloody reprisals against the leaders. 他们对领导进行了血腥的报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

8 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。