VOA标准英语2008年-Americans Celebrate 232nd Anniversary of Indepe

Americans are celebrating Independence Day Friday, the 232rd anniversary of the declaration of independence from Britain. As VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington, that celebration is taking the form of parades, picnics, fireworks, and one very special day for 72 new Americans.

U.S. President George Bush welcomed 72 new American citizens in a ceremony at Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence.
　
President Bush at Monticello's 46th annual Independence Day celebration and naturalization ceremony, in Charlottesville, Va., 04 Jul 20008

"Those of you taking the oath of citizenship¹ at this ceremony hail from 30 different nations," he said. "You represent many different ethnicities and races and religions, but you all have one thing in common, and that is a shared love of freedom. This love of liberty is what binds² our nation together, and this is the love that makes us all Americans."

On his final Fourth of July as President, Mr. Bush paid tribute to the beliefs Thomas Jefferson set out in the Declaration of Independence.

"The principles that Thomas Jefferson enshrined in the Declaration became the guiding principles of the new nation. And in every generation, Americans have rededicated themselves to the belief that all men are created equal, with a God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," he added.

John Adams, who signed the Declaration and later preceded Jefferson as President, said the Fourth of July would be "the most memorable³ in the history of America...solemnized with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations."
　
President George W. Bush holds new citizen Julia White Freeman, of China, at Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, 04 Jul 2008

Each year, Americans from coast to coast celebrate the holiday just as Adams had intended, with picnics, festivals, concerts, fireworks displays and parades.

Here in Washington, an Independence Day parade drew thousands of people from across the country.

And Independence Day has a special meaning to each one.

WOMAN1: "Just living in a free country, and enjoying all the freedoms that we have."
WOMAN2: "It means freedom, and an appreciation⁴ of."
WOMAN3: "Food and beer."
MAN1: "Independence, freedom, American Way. Life as an American."
MAN2: "I love America. It's patriotic⁵, everything about it."
MAN3: "Well, the Fourth means years and years of struggle for freedom. Over the years, we sometimes seem to take that for granted, but I am a former military guy, so (it is) something I do not take for granted, and we should never forget what we have come through in the struggles."
MAN4: "The chance to be free in a country that promotes freedom all across the world, and I am proud to be an American."

More than 1,200 U.S. troops serving in Iraq marked Independence Day by re-enlisting.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took part in a parade in the Northwestern state of Montana, and Republican candidate John McCain celebrated⁶ the holiday in his home state of Arizona.

　

 

1 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

2 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

4 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

5 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

6 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。