奥巴马政府闪耀华裔之光
2月底，美国总统巴拉克－奥巴马任命骆家辉为美国商务部长。IN late February, US President Barrack Obama nominated Gary Locke as the US secretary of commerce.
这项任命在中国引发很大的轰动。
The nomination has caused a stir in China.
轰动的原因很简单：首先，美国和中国是世界上最大的两个经济体。
The reasons are simple: first, the US and China are two of the world's biggest economies.
近年来，中美两国的贸易往来十分紧密。
In recent years they have enjoyed close trade relations.
如今，如今面对全球金融危机，中国人急切地想知道谁将在美国贸易领域扮演这样一个要职。
Now, with the global economic crisis, the Chinese are anxious to know who will be filling such an important management role in America's trade efforts.
此外，还有一个更显而易见的原因：59岁的骆家辉是第三代美籍华人。
Then there's an even more obvious reason: the 59-year-old Gary Locke is a third-generation Chinese-American.
从1997年到2005年，他连续两次当选华盛顿州州长。
He served two terms, between 1997 and 2005, as governor of the state of Washington.
除了骆家辉，1997年荣获诺贝尔奖的物理学家朱棣文被提名为能源部长。
Along with Locke, Steven Chu , the 1997 Nobel Prize-winning physicist was named secretary of energy.
这两个人是最被中国人所熟知的美籍华人。
The two men are the most well-known Chinese-Americans among Chinese people.
很多中国人都想知道，这两个人的家庭和文化背景是否能够影响美国对中国的政策。
Many Chinese are wondering whether the men's family and cultural backgrounds will affect US policies toward China.
其中，最常被人们问及的话题就是：“他们会对中国更‘友好’么？”以及“这项任命是否证明奥巴马把对中美关系放在首位？”
Among the most asked questions are: "will they be 'nicer' to China?" and "does their appointment mean that Obama will prioritize China relations?"
骆家辉和朱棣文在中国所引起的关注不禁让人想起赵小兰。
The attention Locke and Chu have received in China reminds one of Elaine Chao .
2001年到今年年初，赵小兰在布什政府中任劳务部长一职。
Chao was the Bush administration's Labor Secretary from 2001 to earlier this year.
赵的工作和中国相关不大，但她同样为中国人所熟知。
Chao's job, however, had less to do with China, yet she was as equally well-known among the Chinese.
而这必然和她的家庭背景相关。8岁时，她举家从台湾前往美国。
That, of course, was due to her family background. Her family moved from Taiwan to the US when she was eight.
赵、朱和骆三人代表了360万美籍华人的成就和优异表现。
Chao, Chu and Locke represent many firsts and unusual honors for the 3.6 million Chinese-Americans.
祖国人民自然为这些流着相同血液，有着相同肤色和姓氏的同胞们的成就感到骄傲。
People in the motherland are naturally proud of the achievements of these people who share their blood, skin color and family names.
骆家辉和朱棣文都曾和中国人一起共事。
Both Locke and Chu have had experience working with the Chinese.
这很可能促进两国间的交流和相互理解。
This will probably help improve communication and understanding in the two countries' relations.
然而，也有专家指出，期望骆家辉和朱棣文比奥巴马政府中的其他官员更“亲华”似乎并不现实。
However, some experts say that it may not be realistic to expect Chu and Locke to be more "China-friendly" than others in the Obama administration.
不管怎么说，他们始终是美国官员，要为美国人民服务。
They are, after all, American officials serving the American people.
尤其在关乎国家利益的事件上，他们更可能会毫不犹豫地采取强硬路线，向中国施压。
Especially on matters of national interest, they will most likely not hesitate to play the hard line and put pressure on China.
页:
[1]