VOA标准英语2010年-American Muslim Group IMAN Reaches Out

A Muslim American group in the Midwestern city of Chicago is trying to break down stereotypes¹ and improve Islam's image through a holistic² model of community service.

Sergio Delgado is an undocumented and jobless Mexican living in Chicago.

He cannot afford health care. So he comes regularly to this free clinic run by the Inner City Muslim Action Network, also known as IMAN.

"The clinic is very important for people like us who can't get help elsewhere. And everyone here is also extremely helpful," said Delgado.

Adiba Khan heads the clinic and a team of doctors, nurses and volunteers.

When patients come through the door, Khan says they discover many other services are available.  And, she says, they also encounter friendly Muslims.

"IMAN clinic is special in the sense that it's not just a clinic," she explained.  "It's inter-departmental. It's part of a career development center and a youth program and an arts and culture development too. So they can see that Muslims are normal people, living normal lives, and it alleviates³ that fear."

Next to the clinic, Muslims and non-Muslims attend a class on filmmaking. The students have film projects and share ideas.

Iraq war veteran Melvin Lyons is working on a music video. During a break, he says he feels at ease here.

"They are not going to preach to you over and over that you should do this, or should become a Muslim," he said.  "They are going to continue to live their lives the way that they feel is the best and, through that, lead by example to the people that come through their doors."

IMAN also gets involved in issues such as trying to get grocery stores to offer healthier options.  The group calls parts of Chicago, a "food desert", meaning healthy food is not available. IMAN also helps former prisoners trying to readjust.

Bilaal Evans used to come here for the activities. He was eventually hired as a security guard.  He works seven days a week, because he has lots of bills to pay.

He says places like IMAN help break down discrimination.

"You are always going to have racism⁴, you are always going to have sexism, you are always going to have classism, that is something that we cannot change in one fell swoop⁵, but with work and efforts like what is being done at IMAN, we chip away at that, one person, one character, one idea at a time," he said.

Ndidi Okakpu has a grant to help IMAN with its expansion plans. She says she's proud of the group's sense of social justice. 

"There's definitely been a call, like a demand," she said.  "Different cities across the country, and even some outside of the country, have observed our work here, [and] believe in the same principles and ethical⁶ guidelines that we try to uphold." 

Okakpu says studies are currently being conducted in her hometown Washington and in New York to see if IMANs can be started there.

For now, Delgado, the Mexican patient, says he is grateful for the help he is receiving here.

He is Catholic, but he says he has started learning a few Islamic expressions, such as the greeting "As-Salamu Alaykum," which means "Peace Be Upon You."
 

1 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》

2 holistic   

adj.从整体着眼的，全面的

参考例句：

• There is a fundamental ambiguity in the use of word "whole" in recent holistic literature.在近代的整体主义著作中，“整体”这个词的用法极其含混。
• In so far as historicism is technological,its approach is not piecemeal,but "holistic".仅就历史决定论是一种技术而论，它的方法不是渐进的，而是“整体主义的”。

3 alleviates   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Heat often alleviates pain. 热常常能减缓疼痛。
• A cold compress often alleviates pain. 冷敷常会减轻疼痛。

4 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

5 swoop   

n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击

参考例句：

• The plane made a swoop over the city.那架飞机突然向这座城市猛降下来。
• We decided to swoop down upon the enemy there.我们决定突袭驻在那里的敌人。

6 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。