VOA标准英语2011--Hundreds Hold Prayer Vigil for Unemployed on Capitol Hill

Hundreds Hold Prayer Vigil for Unemployed¹ on Capitol Hill

Thousands of jobless workers from around the country, community members, and clergy² held a prayer vigil on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to extend unemployment benefits. Millions of jobless workers and their families are in danger of losing their benefits by the end of the month if Congress does not act. The prayer vigil and march to House Speaker John Boehner's office was part of "Take Back the Capitol," three days of events sponsored by labor³ unions and community organizations.

Chanting slogans calling for jobs, thousands prayed for the unemployed in a Capitol Hill park. Michael Livingston, director of the Poverty Initiative for the National Council of Churches, say Congress needs to get serious about creating jobs. “I don’t think the Congress has been responsible at all. I think they have been dragging their feet. I think they have been playing politics with this," he said.

Protesters fear Congress will not renew unemployment benefits for millions due to run out at the end of the month. Political analysts⁵, however, say it is likely the benefits will be extended. The battle is over how to pay for them without adding to the federal budget deficit⁶.

David, an unemployed stock analyst⁴ from Denver, Colorado, says Congress is out of touch. “America is out of work. And you can’t fix a deficit when America is out of work. That is the first thing is you have to give people jobs again," he said.

A jobs bill put forward by President Barack Obama has stalled in Congress. He said this week that Congress should not leave town for Christmas without extending unemployment benefits and a tax cut for the middle class.

Nathan Belanger, an unemployed electrician from Maine, says the country is broken. “We need to start employing people with real jobs. With jobs that matter, not service. Not ... you know making latte’s for these folks on the Hill," he said.

The protesters tossed white carnations⁷ on the Capitol steps. Reverend Paul Sherry is Washington director of Interfaith Worker Justice. “It symbolizes⁸ each of us placing our lives on those Capitol steps. In support of the unemployed and in support of changing this economy so people will receive the sustenance⁹, the food, and the children’s needs will be served," he said.

They then marched to the office of Speaker of the House John Boehner. As they chanted outside, workers peered out.

This was the final day of "Take Back the Capitol," three days of protests that brought unemployed workers from across the country to Washington. The protesters say they will return home ready to press forward - fighting for jobs.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

3 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。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 carnations   

n.麝香石竹，康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You should also include some carnations to emphasize your underlying meaning.\" 另外要配上石竹花来加重这涵意的力量。” 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Five men per ha. were required for rose production, 6 or 7 men for carnations. 种植玫瑰每公顷需5个男劳力，香石竹需6、7个男劳力。 来自辞典例句

8 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。