VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Marks Ramadan At White House

U.S. President Barack Obama hosted an iftar dinner Tuesday evening at the White House - the special meal used to break the daily sunrise to sunset fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ambassadors, top administration officials and members of Congress joined him in saluting¹ the contributions of Muslim Americans.
　
President Barack Obama speaks during a dinner celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room of the White House, 01 Sep 2009

President Obama called the event a celebration of Ramadan and the accomplishments² of the American Muslim community.

"Islam, as we know, is part of America," said President Obama. "And like the broader American citizenry, the American Muslim community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity - with families that stretch back generations and more recent immigrants; with Muslims of countless³ races and ethnicities, and with roots in every corner of the world."

The president said the contributions of Muslim Americans to the United States are vast and range from business to science, from the arts to athletics⁴.

The guest list for the dinner provided a sample. Among those seated in the State Dining Room were the first two Muslims elected to the U.S. Congress - Keith Ellison and Andre Carson.

Also attending was the mother of an American Muslim soldier named Kareem Khan who was killed in Iraq, and Nashala Hearn, a young girl who led a successful legal battle for the right to wear a traditional head covering to school.

One special guest was unable to attend. But the president went out of his way to salute⁵ Muhammad Ali.

"He has grown from an unmatched fighter in the ring to a man of quiet dignity and grace who continues to fight for what he believes, and that includes the notion that people of all faiths hold things in common," said Mr. Obama.

That notion was reflected in the people congregated⁶ in the State Dining Room for the iftar meal. Interspersed⁷ among the tables were Americans representing other religions: Christians⁸, Jews and Hindus.

"Together, we have a responsibility to foster engagement grounded in mutual⁹ interest and mutual respect," President Obama said. "And that's one of my fundamental commitments as president, both at home and abroad. That is central to the new beginning that I've sought between the United States and Muslims around the world. And that is a commitment that we can renew once again during this holy season."

The president said Ramadan is a time for people of all faiths to recommit themselves to the work of building a better and more hopeful world

1 saluting   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• 'Thank you kindly, sir,' replied Long John, again saluting. “万分感谢，先生。”高个子约翰说着又行了个礼。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at once to converse with her. 他走近那年青女郎，马上就和她攀谈起来了，连招呼都不打。 来自辞典例句

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

4 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

5 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

6 congregated   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the mayor speak. 人群聚集到市镇广场上来听市长讲话。
• People quickly congregated round the speaker. 人们迅速围拢在演说者的周围。

7 interspersed   

adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The grass was interspersed with beds of flowers. 草地上点缀着许多花坛。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

9 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。