2006年VOA标准英语-Religious Leaders Call for Interfaith Dial

By Mohamed Elshinnawi
Washington, D.C.
20 February 2006
 
watch report on Religion

The protests in the Muslim world over the newspaper cartoons making fun of the Prophet Muhammad continue. In the search for a solution, Muslims, Christians¹ and Jews are suggesting that people should start talking with each other, not past each other.

-----------------------------------------------------

The demonstrations² continue, but in Bangladesh, the Council for Interfaith Harmony is asking the United Nations to frame a code of conduct sanctifying the dignity of religious figures. 

 

 
Shamsher Chowdhury is Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States 
  

Shamsher Chowdhury is Bangladesh's Ambassador in Washington. He said, "If you want really to achieve peace and understanding, there is a need for dialogue among civilizations and not play up this theme of clash of civilizations."

The ambassador says there has to be an alternative to religious extremism of any kind. "There should not be stereotyping³, the religious extremism in any religion is wrong, it creates hatred⁴, it creates distrust, it takes away human dignity, and that should not be the case.  "

Rev⁵. Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan⁶ Washington  
  
In Washington DC, the Council on American-Islamic Relations brought together a group of religious leaders. The Reverand Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, told us, "It is our responsibility as people of any one faith to learn about other faiths. And in that process to deepen understanding, to build trust, work together to solve any problems, so we know that we are together in this world to build justice, to help overcome poverty, to help relieve hunger, and that is a mutual⁷ responsibility we have as people of all faiths. If we are committed to do that, we can undercut those who are the real extremists who abuse religion to justify⁸ their own ends."  

CAIR convened⁹ a panel discussion of several religious leaders to discuss harmony  
  
Rabbi Mark Gopin, Director of The Center for World Religions at George Mason University in Virginia, says negotiation¹⁰ can settle cultural differences and added, "I think the best way to do that is developing relationships of substantive¹¹ nature between groups that are enemies. I spent my life on that, it works particularly when there is a gesture of respect that goes along with different negotiations¹² over things that we differ about."

The demonstrations get covered by the news media, but there is a growing number of interfaith dialogue sessions around the United states and elsewhere. For Muslims in some Western countries, these sessions offer a chance to talk about their faith and correct some of the stereotypes¹³ and misperceptions about Islam. They believe it's a more useful alternative to expressing anger by taking to the streets.

1 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 stereotyping   

v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I realize that I'm stereotyping. 我认识到我搞的是老一套。 来自辞典例句
• There is none of the gender stereotyping usually evident in school uniforms. 有没有人的性别刻板印象通常是显而易见的。 来自互联网

4 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

5 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

6 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

7 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

8 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

9 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

10 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

11 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

12 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

13 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》