[双语阅读]奥巴马与儿童共迎圣诞

Kids, cookies and Christmas cheer: an afternoon with Obama

US President Barack Obama reads the Christmas book "The Polar Express" to children during a visit to a Boys and Girls Club in Northeast Washington December 21, 2009. Obama read the Christmas story "Polar Express" and gave holiday cookies to the children during his visit.

 

President Barack Obama got into the Christmas spirit Monday, stopping by a children's club to read a story and deliver some cookies, with the US capital cloaked in a deep snow.

Obama read aloud from "The Polar Express," the award-winning Christmas book also made into a film, and joked with youngsters, asking: "Have you guys been good?"

Sounding a bit like an avuncular television host, the visibly relaxed president asked some two dozen children, age six to 11, at the Boys and Girls Club what they wanted for Christmas.

He looked surprised by their pricey high-tech wishes, from MP3 players to cell phones and video games.

"Whatever happened to, like, asking for a bike?" Obama asked.

"Everybody has a bike!" one child informed him, as others nodded.

But the president made sure the children understood that the holiday was more than just about presents.

When he asked the children why Christmas is celebrated, one of them piped up: "The birth of baby Jesus."

Obama agreed, adding that "what he symbolizes for people all around the world is the possibility of peace, and people treating each other with respect."

本周一，美国首都华盛顿笼罩在一片皑皑白雪之中，而总统贝拉克•奥巴马则沉醉在圣诞的节日气氛中，他探访了一家儿童活动中心，并给孩子们讲故事，发饼干。

奥巴马为孩子们朗读了《极地特快》书中的一段，这本获奖圣诞图书还被拍成了电影。他还逗小朋友们说：“大家都乖不乖啊？”

当天“男孩女孩活动中心”共有约二十几个孩子，年龄在6岁至11岁之间。奥巴马明显很放松，他问在场的小朋友们都想要什么圣诞礼物，口气听起来像一个慈爱的电视节目主持人。

没想到小朋友想要的礼物都是些昂贵的高科技产品，如MP3播放器、手机和视频游戏等，让总统先生颇为惊讶。

奥巴马问道：“其它东西呢？比如自行车？”

一个小朋友说：“我们都有自行车。”其他小朋友纷纷点头表示赞同。

但让奥巴马总统“放心”的是，孩子们都知道圣诞节不仅意味着礼物。

当他问大家为什么要庆祝圣诞节时，有个孩子脱口而出：“纪念耶稣诞生。”

奥巴马表示同意，并补充说“耶稣对全世界的人们来说象征着和平，以及人与人之间相互尊重。”