VOA标准英语2015--美国公民权利回顾

US Reflects on Civil Rights 美国公民权利回顾

WASHINGTON—

U.S. President Barack Obama and former president George W. Bush participated Saturday in the 50th anniversary observance of the beating of peaceful civil rights demonstrators by police in Selma, Alabama.  The incident came to be known as "Bloody¹ Sunday."  The anniversary served as an opportunity to reflect on a half-century of civil rights progress.  It was also an occasion to take stock of inequality that continues to exist.

The marchers in 1965 demanded an end to discrimination against African-American voters.  Scenes of police violence shocked Americans and built support for laws forbidding voter discrimination.

Obama paid tribute to the activists² who helped clear the path he followed to the White House, and he acknowledged the continued existence of discrimination in the United States.

“We know the march is not yet over, the race is not yet won, and that reaching that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character requires admitting as much,” said Obama.

Obama pointed³ to a recent Justice Department report on police practices in Ferguson, Missouri, where weeks of protests followed the killing⁴ of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman during a confrontation⁵.  The report found police in Ferguson routinely violated black citizens' rights.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was not surprised by allegations of discriminatory policing.

“I know these things have existed in other parts of our country.  This should not have been that great a surprise to any of us. ”

Powell said chiefs of police across the United States should inspect their own procedures and practices to eliminate unfair treatment of minority citizens.  Ferguson Mayor James Knowles says he is doing just that as he decides how to respond to the criticism of his police force.

"I think what is important now is that we go through that report, find out where the breakdown⁶ was and the patterns and practices and the safeguards that we should have had in place and need to have in place to insure that we protect the safety and civil rights of everyone who comes to Ferguson and lives in the city of Ferguson.”

In Selma, President Obama said it is a sign of progress the police discrimination in Ferguson is no longer sanctioned by law or custom as it would have been 50 years ago.  He called for all U.S. citizens to work toward eliminating racial inequality.  

1 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 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。

5 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

6 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。