VOA标准英语2013--South Africans Want to Give More This Mandela Day

 

South Africans Want to Give More This Mandela Day

Mandela dedicated¹ his life to giving South Africa the biggest gift he could imagine: freedom.

On his 91st birthday, this extraordinary man finally asked the world for something in return. Since that day in 2009, July 18 has been celebrated² as Mandela Day - a day with a call to charitable service.  

This year, South Africa is hoping to make his 95th birthday into the biggest Mandela Day ever.

Charitable service

This year’s festivities are off to a raucous³ start in Johannesburg, at an impoverished⁴ school that also turns 95 this year. Bertrams is the oldest suburb in Johannesburg. Like Mandela, this neighborhood was a force of resistance during apartheid, defying segregation⁵ laws to become a mixed-race suburb.  

The charitable initiative "Lead SA" gathered sponsors this past weekend to donate books, computers and other needed equipment to this struggling school.

Two of Mandela’s grandchildren, Zondwa and Zoleka, were on hand to encourage more good works.

“Sometimes people get worried as to, ‘where to from here?’ if one day our grandfather was no longer with us. And that reminds me of a quote by Albert Pike that says, ‘what we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others remains⁶ and is immortal⁷.’ That really is a lesson that says through his legacy⁸ and through his effort, he will live on, and he will live forever,” said Zondwa.

Ongoing⁹ initiative

Lead SA Chairman Yusuf Abramjee, referring to Mandela by his clan¹⁰ name, "Madiba," said Mandela Day should not be just one day.

“It’s not a question of 67 minutes. It’s a whole philosophy of what Madiba has been preaching for many, many years. We need to turn every day into a Mandela Day," said Abramjee. "The Mandela Day concept is a one-day concept, but every day should be turned into a Mandela Day. If we can improve the lives of any individual in a small way, we’ll be making a big difference.”

Sello Hatang has spent years poring over Mandela’s documents at the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory. He said that has given him a good idea of what to get for the man who has done it all.

“I think the greatest gift that we can give Madiba is to ensure that we make Mandela Day the biggest that has ever been," said Hatang. "Around the world, Voice of America, people who listen to and watch Voice of America, for them to also know that every small contribution you make in terms of making Mandela Day bigger will be the biggest gift you can give Madiba.” 

1 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

2 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。

3 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

4 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 immortal   

adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的

参考例句：

• The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
• The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽！

8 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。