2007年VOA标准英语-Iraq Sectarian Violence Affects American Muslim

By Brian Padden
Detroit, Michigan
10 May 2007
 

There has long been concern within the Iraqi-American community in the United States that the war in Iraq, and the violence there between Sunnis and Shias, could spark tensions at home.  Today, in our weekly series "Searching for Solutions," we look at efforts within one American Muslim community to ease those tensions. 

Twenty prominent Muslim leaders in Detroit, Michigan today signed an "Intra-Faith Code of Honor," condemning² all forms of sectarian violence and forbidding hate speech.   VOA's Brian Padden visited Detroit, and nearby communities in central Michigan, where some 500,000 Muslims and Arab Americans live.  He filed this report.

Fadhel Iljebori closely monitors the events in Iraq

Iraqi-American Fadhel Iljebori has been closely following the Iraq war on television and what he sees makes him angry.  

"It's like what we see on TV.  What's going on TV, car bombs, and innocent people falling dead every day, for no reason?  It makes us mad to see that happen over there, Iraq."

Like most people who live in this Arab American community in Dearborn, Michigan, his anger has not turned into acts of sectarian violence. Such upheavel is rare in American communities where the police and courts maintain law and order. 

Also instrumental in keeping the peace among Muslims in Michigan are leaders such as Sunni Farhan Latif, the Muslim student advisor³ at the University of Michigan.  "The need for dialogue has increased.  And the need to discuss issues and to understand one another better and to basically to set an example for others to follow, has become more of a priority."

Latif says after the 2006 bombing of the Golden Mosque⁴ in Samarra, one of Shia Islam's holiest shrines⁵, both Sunni and Shia leaders in Michigan began to meet regularly.  At prayer services at the Islamic Center of America, Imams emphasized Muslim similarities over differences, and urged reconciliation⁶ over confrontation⁷. 

Najah Bazzy

Najah Bazzy, a community activist⁸ in the Shia mosque, says most Muslims in the United States also see the violence in Iraq as political in nature rather than religious.  "What is coming across is there are those who instigating⁹ this sectarian violence and giving it a name, calling it sectarian violence but that is not how we want to treat one another.  But there is an overwhelming feeling that there is an agenda that is flaming that fire and that's where the stress is."

There have been moments that tested the unity¹ of the Michigan Muslim community, such as when Saddam Hussein was executed on the Sunni holiday of Eid.  

Latif adds, "When Saddam was hanged you saw a mixed reaction in the community.  Everyone was extremely happy that he was removed, whether Sunni or Shia, because he was a dictator and he had committed atrocities¹⁰ across the board.  I know there was some discussion as to the timing¹¹ of when it happened.  That was something people were somewhat upset about, that it was insensitive to the Muslim community for happening on Eid -- the day."

Bazzy comments, "The execution caused some words, some exchanges but did that erupt in violence?  No.  That manifested itself in, 'that is a very barbaric thing to do'."

There were also some recent incidents of vandalism.  In January, the words "9/11 Murderers" and "You Idol¹² Worship" were spray-painted on the front of the mosque.  But many people here believe this was an anti-Muslim hate crime, and not a Sunni on Shia attack.

Promptly¹³ investigating these incidents, and stressing that what unites them is stronger than what divides them, the Muslims of Michigan are preventing violence before it can erupt. 

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 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。

5 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

7 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 instigating   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
• The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网

10 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

12 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

13 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。