VOA标准英语2011--Obama Hails Democracy, Social Progress i

Nearing the end of his two day stay in Brazil, President Barack Obama has spoken about values he says connect the people of the hemisphere's two largest democracies, and people striving for change around the world.
After spending the first day of his visit focused on expanding U.S. - Brazil economic and trade ties, the president and his family spent time seeing some key sights in Rio de Janeiro.
But one of those stops, a visit to the large "favela" or slum known as City of God, also buttressed¹ a key message - that inclusion of people from all levels of society and all races strengthens democracy and furthers development and economic progress.
Mr. Obama, his wife Michelle, and his daughters watched drum and martial² arts performances, kicked soccer balls with neighborhood children, and posed for photographs.
The visit there carried over to Mr. Obama's address at Rio's Municipal Theatre in which he said hope is returning"to places where fear once prevail" and hailed Brazil's success in lifting millions from poverty through new security and social programs.
Brazil he said has gone from dictatorship to a thriving democracy and in so doing has inspired the world.
"For so long, Brazil was a nation brimming with potential but held back by politics, both at home and abroad. For so long, you were called a country of the future, told to wait for a better day that was always just around the corner. Meus amigos, that day has finally come. And this is a country of the future no more. The people of Brazil should know that the future has arrived and it is time to seize it," he said.
Mr. Obama said the U.S. and Brazil had similar histories, as former colonies that welcomed waves of immigrants, eventually cleansing"the stain of slavery," with similar struggles for equality for people of all races and backgrounds.
Referring to what he called the unfolding struggle by people for rights in the Middle East and North Africa, the president said that despite differences of opinion, Americans and Brazilians also share common aspirations³.
"We all seek to be free. We all seek to be heard. We all yearn⁴ to live without fear or discrimination. We all yearn to choose how we are governed and we all want to shape our own destiny. These are not American ideals, or Brazilian ideals, or Western ideals.? These are universal rights, and we must support them everywhere," he said.
Mr. Obama also joked about his home town of Chicago losing out to Rio de Janeiro in the competition to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and received loud applause when he said he intends to return to see the games.
The president receiving continuous updates on allied⁵ military operations in Libya to enforce a no-fly zone to protect civilians⁶ from attacks by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.
He had a secure conference call with his National Security Adviser⁷ Tom Donilon, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense⁸ Bob Gates, and General Carter Ham, who heads the U.S. Africa Command.
White House officials say Libya came up in "broad terms" during discussions President Obama had on Saturday with Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, focusing on shared concerns for the Libyan people.
Before departing Brazil, the president, his wife Michelle, and their daughters will visit the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, an icon⁹ of Rio and for Brazil, atop Corcovado Mountain towering above the city.
Next stop is Chile, where Mr. Obama will meet with President Sebastian Pinera.
National Security Council Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs Daniel Restrepo says like Brazil, Chile is another example of successful democratic transition and economic progress.
"A country that has also had a very successful democratic transition over the course of the last 20 years, that has used its global connectivity, economic connectivity and commercial connectivity to lift people out of poverty and to consolidate¹⁰ its democratic experience," he said.
The two presidents will also discuss cooperation on disaster response, something Chile has developed expertise¹¹ in because of frequent earthquakes, and last year's tsunamis¹², and Chile's role in judicial¹³ and police training in Latin America.

1 buttressed   

v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court buttressed its decision. 法院支持自己的判决。 来自辞典例句
• The emotional appeal was buttressed with solid and specific policy details. 情感的感召有坚实的和详细的政策细节支持。 来自互联网

2 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

3 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

4 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

5 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

10 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

11 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

12 tsunamis   

n.海啸( tsunami的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our oceans are alive with earthquakes, volcanoes, and more recently, tsunamis. 海中充满着地震、火山，包括最近发生的海啸。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年2月号
• Please tell me something more about tsunamis! 请您给我讲讲海啸吧！ 来自辞典例句

13 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。