VOA标准英语2010年-President Obama Marks International Wo

In an event at the White House on Monday, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle marked International Women's Day. The president and first lady were joined by Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, as they noted¹ the progress women have made in the United States and around the world as well as the obstacles that continue to stand in their way.

Addressing students from several Washington area schools as well as dignitaries such as African-American activist² and social educator Dorothy Height, the Obamas referred to the progress women in America have made over the decades in securing their rights.

Michelle Obama said the purpose of the gathering³ was not only to pay tribute to luminaries⁴ in the struggle for equality, but also to what she called the "quiet heroes" who, in the process of shaping America, achieved extraordinary things. "We honor the women who traveled those lonely roads to be the first ones in those court rooms, to be the first ones in those board rooms, to be the first ones on those playing fields, and to be the first ones on those battlefields.  We honor women who refused to listen to those who would say that you couldn't or shouldn't pursue your dreams," she said.

President Obama told those gathered in the White House East Room that the story of America's women, like that of the United States itself, has peaks and valleys, but that ultimately it has been one of progress against hardships that women continue to confront. "Even as we reflect on the hope of our history, we must also face squarely the reality of the present -- a reality marked by unfairness, marked by hardship for too many women in America," he said.

The president pointed⁵ to some of what he called the "statistics of inequality" -- women earning 77 percent of what men earn; one in four women becoming victims of domestic violence; women making up more than half of the U.S. population while occupying only 17 percent of the seats in Congress, and constituting less than three percent of Fortune 500 company chief executive officers.

Madeleine Albright, who served as Secretary of State during the Clinton administration, pointed to the challenges women still face globally in achieving the same basic rights and dignity as men.  Although women have made great strides in gaining legal recognition of their rights, Albright said, they run up against crushing realities.

"Appalling⁶ abuses that are still being committed against women.  And these include domestic violence, dowry murders, coerced⁷ abortions⁸, honor crimes and the killing⁹ of infants simply because they are born female.  Some say all this is cultural and there is nothing anybody can do about it.  I say it is criminal and we each have an obligation to stop it,"  she said.

Singer and song writer Mozhdah Jamalzadeh explained why she wrote a song for young girls in Afghanistan, who were attacked by men throwing acid. "I came here from Kabul, Afghanistan and I am trying to do everything I can for the women of Afghanistan.  I wrote this son, my father and I wrote this song, for the acid victims of Kandahar City -- a few young girls who were trying to make their way home from school when they got attacked by acid.  And I thought I had to do something for them," she said.

In his remarks, President Obama referred to women serving in high leadership positions in his administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, and others.

And he referred to his daughters, Sasha and Malia. "I think about the world that they, and all of America's daughters, will inherit.  And I think about all of the opportunities that are still beyond reach for too many young women, and too many of our brothers and sisters, too many of our sisters and mothers and aunts -- all of the glass ceilings that have yet to be shattered," he said.

Mr. Obama said he ran for president to put the American Dream within the reach of everyone in the United States, regardless of their gender¹⁰, race, faith or station in life.

At one point, the president added that the story of America over the centuries has been one in which many accomplished¹¹ women like his wife Michelle have "probably looked across the dinner table at their husbands and thought, 'I'm smarter than that guy.'
 

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 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。

4 luminaries   

n.杰出人物，名人（luminary的复数形式）

参考例句：

• In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. 亚14:6那日、必没有光．三光必退缩。 来自互联网
• Includes household filament light bulbs & luminaries. 包括家用的白炙灯泡和光源。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

7 coerced   

v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• He was coerced into making a confession. 他被迫招供。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

11 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。