President Bush Attends Iftaar Dinner at the White House

时间：2007-10-10 07:46:28

（单词翻译:单击）

October 4, 2007

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Ramadan Mubarak. Laura and I are pleased to have you here for our seventh Iftaar dinner. Tonight we celebrate traditions of Islamic faith, which brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people. For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a special time of prayer and fasting. It is a time for charity and service to those less fortunate. It's a time to celebrate Islam's learned and vibrant1 culture, which has enriched civilization for centuries.

President George W. Bush welcomes guests to the Iftaar Dinner with Ambassadors and Muslim leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. White House photo by Chris Greenberg Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common -- including love of family, gratitude2 to the Almighty3, devotion to community, and a commitment to religious liberty. The freedom of worship is central to the American character. It's the first protection in the Bill of Rights. It holds together the fabric4 of American society -- supporting every individual's right to practice his or her beliefs without fear.

Today, our world is at war with violent extremists who seek to tear the fabric of our society -- and stop the advance of freedom in Muslim societies around the world. They attack holy sites, destroy mosques5 and minarets6, and kill innocent men, women and children -- including Muslims who do not share their radical7 views. They believe that by spreading chaos8 and violence they can frustrate9 the desire of Muslims to live in freedom and peace. We say to them, you don't represent Muslims, you do not represent Islam -- and you will not succeed.

America is standing10 with mainstream11 citizens across the broader Middle East. We stand with nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a democratic future for their children. We're standing with Afghan people, as they defend their young democracy against the Taliban and al Qaeda. We're standing with the Lebanese people, who raised the banner of a Cedar12 Revolution to reclaim13 their freedom and independence. We're standing with all who seek the blessings14 of liberty -- and the peace that freedom brings.

Americans have a history of standing with Muslims facing suffering and hardship -- and it's a proud history. Our country defended Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo after the breakup of Yugoslavia. We supported Kuwait after it was invaded by Saddam Hussein. Americans came to the aid of victims of devastating16 earthquakes in Pakistan, India, and Iran. Americans responded with urgency and compassion17 to the wreckage18 of the tsunami19 in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and Thailand. We're rallying the world to confront the genocide in Sudan, and deliver humanitarian20 aid for those in dire21 need. And we support the establishment of a Palestinian democracy to live side by side with Israel in peace.

As you break your Ramadan fast at this Iftaar dinner, let us renew our faith in the universality of freedom. Let us celebrate the millions of Muslims that we are proud to call American citizens. And let us honor the many Muslim nations that America is proud to call friends.

Laura and I are grateful you're here. Thank you for coming. We wish you a blessed Ramadan. And now I ask the Imam to say the blessing15.

END 7:20 P.M. EDT


分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 vibrant CL5zc     
adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的
参考例句：
  • He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
  • She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。
2 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激，感谢
参考例句：
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
3 almighty dzhz1h     
adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的
参考例句：
  • Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
  • It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。
4 fabric 3hezG     
n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织
参考例句：
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
5 mosques 5bbcef619041769ff61b4ff91237b6a0     
清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
  • The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。
6 minarets 72eec5308203b1376230e9e55dc09180     
n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Remind you of a mosque, red baked bricks, the minarets. 红砖和尖塔都会使你联想到伊斯兰教的礼拜寺。 来自互联网
  • These purchases usually went along with embellishments such as minarets. 这些购置通常也伴随着注入尖塔等的装饰。 来自互联网
7 radical hA8zu     
n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的
参考例句：
  • The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
  • She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。
8 chaos 7bZyz     
n.混乱，无秩序
参考例句：
  • After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
  • The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。
9 frustrate yh9xj     
v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦
参考例句：
  • But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
  • They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。
10 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
11 mainstream AoCzh9     
n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的
参考例句：
  • Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
  • Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。
12 cedar 3rYz9     
n.雪松，香柏(木)
参考例句：
  • The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
  • She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。
13 reclaim NUWxp     
v.要求归还，收回；开垦
参考例句：
  • I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
  • You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。
14 blessings 52a399b218b9208cade790a26255db6b     
n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福
参考例句：
  • Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
15 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿
参考例句：
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
16 devastating muOzlG     
adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的
参考例句：
  • It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
  • Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。
17 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情，怜悯
参考例句：
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
18 wreckage nMhzF     
n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏
参考例句：
  • They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
  • New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。
19 tsunami bpAyo     
n.海啸
参考例句：
  • Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
  • Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。
20 humanitarian kcoxQ     
n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者
参考例句：
  • She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
  • The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。
21 dire llUz9     
adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的
参考例句：
  • There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
  • We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

©2005-2010英文阅读网