VOA标准英语2010年-New York Islamic Center Protests Conti

Protesters in New York City hold posters to express their opinions about the proposed Islamic Center to be built near the site of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, 22 Aug 2010

Opponents of the proposed Islamic center near the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City gathered near the site on Sunday to rally against the project.  Supporters gathered two blocks away, while a national television audience listened to an organizer explain the purpose of the proposed center.  The differing positions are based on each side's view of American liberty.

The protest against the center was announced days in advance and drew a crowd of people that filled a city block.

Criticism

They cheered speakers who denounced the proposed Islamic center as an affront¹ to the terror victims and their families.  A banner behind an impromptu² stage summed up another key concern of opponents.  It read, "Stop Sharia Law Before it Stops You."

"To support Sharia law is an act of treason against the United States," shouted speaker Robert Lawrence.

 

Lawrence won loud approval when he implied that President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other politicians are betraying the U.S. Constitution by supporting the right of Muslims to build an Islamic center so close to what is commonly referred to as Ground Zero - the site where the World Trade Center once stood.

Speaking on the perceived threat posed by Sharia, protest organizer Beth Galinsky cited instances in countries where Islamic fundamentalists stone people to death, deny education to women and repress non-Muslims.

"When you are told to accept as equal to our own a system of values and social mores³ that is harsh and cruel, you will stand up across the country and proclaim, 'I'm sorry imam, hear this:  Sharia is not good for women or other living things," Galinsky said.

About the Imam

The imam she referred to is Feisal Abdul Rauf, who is behind the proposed Islamic center.  He emigrated to the United States 45 years ago.  He currently is on a Middle Eastern speaking tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department.   Rauf also represented the United States in the Muslim world during George W. Bush's presidency⁴.

Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, appeared on ABC television's This Week program on Sunday.  She said her husband's vision for the center is modeled after similar Christian⁵ and Jewish centers that are open to all Americans.  Many include places for worship.

"There will be a 500-seat auditorium⁶; there will be a swimming pool; there will be athletic⁷ facilities; there will be cooking classes; there will be schools, you know, small education forums⁸, conferences.  And it will become a place where ideas can be exchanged," Khan explained.

Support

Appearing with Khan on ABC's This Week program was Rabbi Joy Levitt, director of New York's Jewish Community Center.  Levitt said she welcomes the Islamic center.  She argued that Muslims are confronting many of the same prejudices that Jews faced when Peter Stuyvesant was governor of New York.

"Peter Stuyvesant refused to allow synagogues to be built in New York in the 1600s.  It took an act of Congress here in Washington to allow synagogues to be built.  In Connecticut, there were no synagogues allowed to be built in the 1600s and 1700s," Levitt said.

Islamic center supporters gathered on a street corner two blocks from what many opponents are calling the Ground Zero Mosque⁹.  Many critics say they believe that Khan and her husband have ulterior motives¹⁰ for building the center and that they represent a faith that is at odds¹¹ with American values.  Supporters take the couple at their word and accept them as solid American citizens.

There is little sign of a compromise.  Khan says the Islamic center must be built because there is too much at stake.  Several speakers at the protest rally said it must not be built because it threatens American liberty.
 

1 affront   

n./v.侮辱，触怒

参考例句：

• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
• This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

2 impromptu   

adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地)

参考例句：

• The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
• The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。

3 mores   

n.风俗，习惯，民德，道德观念

参考例句：

• The mores of that village are hard to believe.那村子的习俗让人难以置信。
• We advocate a harmonious society where corruption is swept away,and social mores are cleared.我们提倡弊绝风清，建设一个和谐社会。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

7 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

8 forums   

讨论会； 座谈会； 广播专题讲话节目； 集会的公共场所( forum的名词复数 )； 论坛，讨论会，专题讨论节目； 法庭

参考例句：

• A few of the forums were being closely monitored by the administrators. 有些论坛被管理员严密监控。
• It can cast a dark cloud over these forums. 它将是的论坛上空布满乌云。

9 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。

10 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

11 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？