VOA标准英语2009年-Berlin Wall Celebration Marked by Joy and

By Sonja Pace
Berlin
09 November 2009

 
Fireworks at Brandenburg Gate for celebrations of 20th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall, 9 Nov 2009
Berlin celebrated¹ the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Monday with symbolism, fireworks and concerts as current and former world leaders joined tens of thousands of people who marked the event. But amid much joy was also a note of caution. 

A sea of umbrellas surrounded Berlin's Brandenburg Gate as tens of thousands of people braved the cold rain to join in the celebrations.

The reason for it all - 20 years ago, a series of peaceful revolutions and change broke down the massive gray wall that for nearly three decades divided Berlin, Germany and Europe with an Iron Curtain.

German Chancellor² Angela Merkel described the fall of the Berlin Wall as the happiest day of her life.

 
Former Soviet³ leader Mikhail Gorbachev(L), German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Polish President Lech Walesa in Berlin, 09 Nov 2009
"We have every reason to celebrate today, to celebrate freedom," she said. The chancellor praised the courage of Germany's eastern neighbors who, with their peaceful uprisings, paved the way for freedom. And she thanked the Western allies for their staunch support throughout the Cold War.

Representatives from East and West were on hand - from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Polish labor⁴ leader and later president, Lech Walesa, to current Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton represented the United States and President Barrack Obama made a surprise video appearance.

"Like so many Americans, I'll never forget the images of people tearing down the Wall," said President Obama. "There could be no clearer rebuke⁵ of tyranny; there could be no stronger affirmation of freedom."

 
Fall of Berlin Wall is celebrated with display of giant dominos falling along wall's route, 9 Nov 2009
Amid praise and joy, German Chancellor Merkel spoke⁶ of another November 9, even longer ago that, she said, should always serve as a warning.

She said that 71 years ago, the pogroms of Adolph Hitler's Third Reich opened the darkest chapter in Germany's history - the systematic⁷ persecution⁸ and murder of Europe's Jews and many other minorities. "That too we do not forget today," she said.

On November 9, 1938, on Kristallnacht, or The Night of Broken Glass, at least 91 German Jews were killed and more than 200 synagogues were destroyed by rampaging Nazi⁹ mobs.

Chancellor Merkel said the Nazi pogroms and the Berlin Wall serve as reminders¹⁰.

She said both show that freedom cannot grow and flourish on its own, "it has to be fought for and it must always be defended."

In a show of symbolism, a line of oversized, brightly painted dominoes had been set up across the Brandenburg Gate - running along an area where the Wall had once stood. On Monday night, the wall of dominoes fell, just as the Berlin Wall once did.

The crowd was full of young people and the message for them from past and present political leaders was that many walls - both physical and mental - remain to this day, walls and barriers to be broken down no matter where they exist.

1 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。

2 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

3 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

6 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。

7 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

8 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

9 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

10 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。