voa标准英语2008年-Obama Win Sparks African Euphoria

People in Africa are celebrating the election of Barak Obama as the next president of the United States. In Senegal, some people stayed up late into the night watching the returns on satellite television or listening on international radio. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from Dakar.
　

Senegalese Nouridine Seye points to a photo of US President-elect Barack Obama affixed1 to his car in Dakar, Senegal, 05 Nov 2008

Senegalese, Americans and people from other parts of the world cheered the announcement, shortly before dawn Wednesday, of Barak Obama's election as the next president of the United States.

In one such gathering² at a café in Dakar, Senegalese businessman Roch Peton said Africans were impressed that a black person who grew up under difficult circumstances could be elected president of such a nation.

He congratulates the American people for its greatness, saying they have set an example for the entire world.

American educator Amy Johnson, who organized the evening, said Mr. Obama's election would provide tremendous encouragement to young black people everywhere.

"Having an African-American president means that we have just turned this leaf in the world where the color of your skin doesn't predict who is the president of a country," she said.

Lamine Savane, who studied and lived in the United States, called it an unbelievable, historic³ event. He says the world is at a crossroads and people need new leadership.

"What is it [leadership] going to be? Is it going to be a big brother-little brother in a positive way? Or is it going to be a big brother in a bully⁴ way? I think the way the world is today, the bully thing doesn't work anymore," he said.

Many, however, do not expect great changes in U.S. policy toward Africa.

Tricia Lawrence-Savane, who is originally from Trinidad, says Mr. Obama is still going to be an American president holding American interests foremost⁵.

"But I think he'll be more sensitive because he has African heritage⁶. I think he'll be definitely more sensitive to the needs of Africa and he will try to deal with Africa in a way that will hopefully improve the situation here," she said.

Karima Grant Abbott, a Senegalese who grew up in the United States, hopes the Obama administration will also encourage greater transparency.

"Because Obama had some familiarity with growing up in a developing country, he knows that you have to hold people accountable," she said. "I'm hoping he can come and be like [say], wait, we're not just pouring millions of dollars into it [your country]. We're asking people what are you doing with the money that's already there?"

As Mr. Obama came on television to accept his victory, emotions ran high in the group. People were laughing, crying, and hugging strangers.

Some sang the U.S. national anthem⁷ leading one participant to observe that it seemed as if the whole world had voted in this election.

1 affixed   

adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章）

参考例句：

• The label should be firmly affixed to the package. 这张标签应该牢牢地贴在包裹上。
• He affixed the sign to the wall. 他将标记贴到墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

4 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

5 foremost   

adj.最初的，最前的，第一流的；adv.在最前

参考例句：

• He is considered the foremost British artist of this century.他被认为是本世纪英国第一流的艺术家。
• The premier occupies the foremost place in the world of politics.首相是政界的首要人物。

6 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

7 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。