VOA标准英语2010年-Obama's Mosque Comments Fuel Controver

U.S. President Barack Obama has ignited a political controversy¹ with his comments about the rights of American Muslims to build an Islamic center and mosque² near Ground Zero, the site of the 2001 terror attacks on New York City.  The administration had claimed the issue was local, until the President made his remarks at the annual White House Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan. 

President Obama is crisscrossing the nation, speaking about the economy, campaigning for Democrats⁴ ahead of November's congressional elections.  Political experts say he needs the diversion to steer⁵ public attention away from his recent comments. 

What Obama said

On August 13, the President spoke⁶ about the proposal to build a mosque two blocks from the site of the September 11 terror attacks.

"Muslims have the right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," President Obama said.  "And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan."

And, that set off a political firestorm.

A CNN poll finds that nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose the mosque, even though the project was approved by New York City authorities. 

 

Criticism

Republicans have criticized President Obama as disconnected from Americans.

And the Senate's top Democrat³ Harry⁷ Reid, in a close campaign for re-election, spoke out against it.

"It's very obvious that the mosque should be built someplace else," Reid said.

At the heart of the matter is the first amendment⁸ to the U.S. constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.  But Americans have become sensitive when that issue intersects with the tragedy of September 11.

Analysis

John Farina wrote a book of spiritual reflections a month after the bombings.  He says the President's intent on Friday was to highlight religious freedom.

"We really believe in our ideals, even when they are inconvenient⁹. and who could object to that? That's a wonderful message. That's not the way, at least, Americans are going to hear it," Farina said.

On Tuesday, a group of interfaith leaders spoke out about the controversy.

"Religious freedom exists in part to protect the rights of the minority from the whim¹⁰ of the majority," noted¹¹ Arielle Gingold, reading a pre-released statement on behalf of Rev¹². Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance. "In fact it would not be a stretch of the imagination to say that if the founding fathers have relied on polling data, the first amendment might not exist at all."

Steven Taylor who teaches government at American University in Washington DC, predicts that President Obama's comments will be used against Democrats in campaign commercials.

"A good segment of the public doesn't make the distinction between moderate Islam/ al-Qaida, or those who don't belong to al-Qaida," noted Taylor.  "They don't see it that way. All they see is that Muslims bombed the world trade center.  Muslims killed three thousand people and the president is supporting the rights of these Muslims to do that."

Taylor says Mr. Obama might have been reaching for a better relationship with Muslims in other countries.  But, it might come at the expense of Americans who would vote for him. 

 

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

8 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

9 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

10 whim   

n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想

参考例句：

• I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
• He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 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。