VOA慢速英语2014 Holding a Paintbrush Instead of a Gun

 

AS IT IS 2014-10-28 Holding a Paintbrush Instead of a Gun

The United States-led coalition¹ is beginning to provide weapons and ammunition² to fighters defending the city of Kobani, in northern Syria. The city is hoping for help from Kurdish militias⁴ in the fight against Islamic State forces.  

One young Kurd has found an unusual way to help the people of Kobani. Instead of a gun, 27-year-old artist Sherzad Ebrahim is using a paintbrush.

Mr. Ebrahim comes from the mainly Kurdish city of Afrin, in northwestern Syria. When he first heard about the battle for Kobani, he went to join Kurds defending the city. But he says he soon discovered that he is not a fighter. So he decided⁵ to help the best way he could. He crossed the border to Turkey and began to paint.

“The fighter takes up arms to protect people. The writers, they write articles and poetry. And we help by painting for our people.”

His paintings are now being shown in the main square of Suruc, Turkey. Some of the paintings are unpleasant or upsetting. Mr. Ebrahim says the work means to show the evil of the Islamic State. That militant⁶ group is known locally by the name “Daesh.”

“Daesh’s policy is clear. It’s all about bombing, blood, shelling and execution. We draw that, but through our own vision.”

He says he hopes the battle for Kobani will end soon.

“Ensh-Allah (God willing) not one Daesh fighters will remain. And we go back. And we will rebuild everything destroyed by Daesh.”

Sherzad Ebrahim says he will donate the money from the sale of his paintings to the people of Kobani now living in Turkey as refugees.

Words in this Story

militia³ - n. an armed force or private army

paintbrush - n. a tool used for putting paint on a surface

upsetting - adj. mentally or emotionally troubling

evil - n. morally bad

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

3 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

4 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。