和谐英语

英语六级阅读 Supporters: Multicultural Obama to bring different people together

2009-01-22来源:和谐英语
  Barack Obama's multicultural background would help bring people of different races together, agreed many Americans who had been waiting for the arrival of the U.S. president-elect at the Union Station in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
  "He has an African father, an American mother and his experience in the upbringing will bring another dimension to the immigration experience and culture that we all share as Americans," said Kate Clary, a white woman in her late 50s who was among the cheering crowds waiting for Obama to get off the Amtrack train.www.hxen.net
  "This multicultural background will help him bring people of different cultures and ethnic groups closer," she added.
  Obama's train tour to Washington attracted cheering crowds who braved freezing weather and gathered along the tracks in cities and small towns along the way, hoping to get a glimpse of the nation's next president.
  "Although I know that it's almost impossible for me to see him today at the crowded train station because of security reasons, I still insist on coming, in the hope that he (Obama) could give us a surprise," Clary said.
  Obama started the day in a historic, marble-walled room of Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, where he told some 200 supporters: "It was here that a group of farmers and lawyers, merchants and soldiers, gathered to declare their independence and lay claim to a destiny that they were being denied."
  "This is a defining moment for us," Olivia Vagar, who came all the way from New York to Washington for what she called a "historic event," told Xinhua at the Union Station.
  "It was a wonderful time to finally see that Americans have voted to have an African-American president," she said.
  "Obama's not going to be all inclusive for just African-Americans," said Vagar, who is an African-American herself. "He is for every American."www.hxen.net
  "We are just proud to have the first African-American president," she said, with a broad smile, "We have been waiting for an African-American president, and finally we have one."
  Boby Chuckham, an African-American who came with Vagar for the event, said that under the Obama administration, "everyone is going to be united."
  "Let's hope for the best," she said, noting Obama would pay much attention to serious social problems and would do "excellent" jobs for the country.
  Obama is scheduled to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on Jan. 20 in an inaugural ceremony in Washington D.C.
  A new poll showed optimism among Americans was running high, as many believed Obama would make good on his election pledge to renew America's promise.
  Many people also agree that Obama would become one of the best presidents in U.S. history if he could "fulfil 90 percent of what he has promised" and lead the country to get over the current financial crisis.
  "He seems to be a film star now, with this influence, he could work many things out," said a young woman, who preferred to be called " Ms. Obama Fan."