2006年VOA标准英语-US, Arab Business Leaders Meet

By Greg Flakus
Houston, Texas
06 July 2006
 
watch Economic Forum¹ report

 
U.S. Arab Economic Forum participants
  
Some 800 people came together in downtown Houston last week for the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, organized by Arab-American organizations and supported by a number of U.S. corporate² sponsors.

There are long-standing ties between Middle Eastern nations and many Houston-based oil, oil services and construction companies. But in general, Arabs see a huge gap between their nations and the United States.

One man expressed his surprise at the negative image Americans have of Muslims   
  
A Saudi man said,"The recent Pew survey -- which has really made a stark³ figure -- showed 43 percent of American public opinion considered Muslims, all Muslims, to either be fanatic⁴ or radical⁵."

The forum brought together representatives of several Arab nations with U.S. business executives and Arab-American leaders. They discussed ways of promoting better understanding.

One active participant was Mombai-born Kam Shah, project manager for the Middle East and North Africa section of the U.S. Department of Commerce Business Information Center.

Shah spent many years working in the Persian Gulf⁶ region before coming to the United States several years ago. He says this forum can do a lot to promote business ties between the Arab World and the U.S.

"Overall, ambassadors from many countries in the gulf region are here at one location. The entire media is out and forefront. It does improve and does give a better feel about what is out there in terms of gaining on both sides."

Karen Hughes at the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in Houston, June 26, 2006  
  
Also on hand at the forum was U.S. State Department Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy⁷ and Public Affairs Karen Hughes. She told participants the Bush administration wants to promote better understanding as part of its effort to defeat terrorists. "I represent almost seven million American Muslims who live and work and practice their faith freely here in our country. Together we must undermine the extremists, by providing platforms for debate, by empowering mainstream⁸ voices of tolerance⁹ and inclusion."

The Arab-Americans who started this forum say they hope to take it to other U.S. cities in the years ahead.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

3 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

4 fanatic   

n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a football fanatic.亚历山大是个足球迷。
• I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.我不是宗教狂热分子，但我是基督徒。

5 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

6 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

8 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

9 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。