VOA常速英语2008年-Bush Pays Tribute to Prominent Women

By Paula Wolfson
White House
10 March 2008

President Bush presided at a White House ceremony Monday honoring women around the world who are fighting for freedom. VOA's Paula Wolfson has details.

March is women's history month in the United States. And the president recognized not only those who have made a difference in the past, but those who are changing lives today.

"We take pride in the progress women have made here at home and we know that millions of women abroad are still working to secure their basic rights," said President Bush.

He made specific mention of women who are playing a key role in emerging democracies, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. And he pointed¹ to Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as an example of just how much an empowered woman can do to bring a country on the brink² of collapse³ to a hopeful future.

"Liberians call President Johnson 'the iron lady' and 'Ma', said Mr. Bush. "I am proud to call her 'friend.'"

Mr. Bush also spoke⁴ of the women who take on tyrants⁵ in an effort to bring freedom to their countries. He told the stories of activists⁶ in Cuba and Belarus. And he pledged America's ongoing⁷ commitment to the Democracy movement in Burma led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Aung San Suu Kyi has never wavered," he said. "Her courage and her writings have inspired millions. And in so doing, they have put fear into the hearts of the leaders of the Burmese junta⁸."

Among those attending the event at the White House were women who hold key posts in the president's cabinet, serve in Congress, and represent their countries as ambassadors in Washington.

1 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

2 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

3 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

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 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。