2007年VOA标准英语-Americans Celebrate Independence Day

By Paula Wolfson
Washington, D.C.
05 July 2007
 

President Bush is calling on Americans to be patient, as the U.S. troop buildup takes effect in Iraq.  Mr. Bush spoke¹ at an Independence Day event in the state of West Virginia -- as Americans across the country celebrated² the July 4th [Independence Day] holiday. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson has more.

Americans celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks

Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with parades, fireworks and a sense of caution.

Just days after attempted car bombings in Britain, security was tight in major U.S. cities where large crowds gathered for the holiday.

At an appearance before military personnel and their families, President Bush spoke of the importance of meeting the terrorist threat, both at home and abroad.

"In the war against radicals³ and extremists, in this war on terror, you are showing that the courage that won our independence more than two centuries ago is alive and well here in West Virginia," said Mr. Bush in his speech.

The president defended his Iraq policy and urged Americans to be patient as additional U.S. forces join a troop surge.

President Bush during his visit to West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Airlift Wing, in Martinsburg, West Virginia, 04 Jul 2007

"We must succeed for our own sake. For the security of our citizens, we must support our troops. We must support the Iraqi government and we must defeat al-Qaida in Iraq."

The president returned by mid-day to a Washington already packed with holiday visitors.

They gathered under unusually tight security. Those hoping for a prime spot to view the fireworks passed through security checkpoints that ringed the vast lawn between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument.

A citizen on the National Mall

"It's kind of funny (strange) because I think the intent of the terrorists was to remove and scare us,” said one citizen at a checkpoint. “But if you look around, I don't see, to be honest, I don't see any fewer people. I don't see people walking around afraid."

This July Fourth marked the passing of 231 years since the U.S. declared its independence from Britain. And in Washington and elsewhere, Americans joined in one big national birthday party.

1 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。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 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