VOA标准英语2011--Controversy Surrounds Muslim-American Reality TV Show

Controversy¹ Surrounds Muslim-American Reality TV Show

A new controversy over Islam has arisen in the United States, this time over a reality TV show that profiles Muslim Americans and a home improvement chain's decision to pull its advertising² from the show. The company, Lowe's, decided³ to end its ties to the program after a conservative Christian⁴ group labeled the show "propaganda" that hides the "danger" of the Islamic agenda.

It's a scene from All-American Muslim...

"I have no concerns about traveling around the anniversary of 9/11," says one young Muslim American woman on the show.

...focused on discrimination.

"It's annoying to walk through an airport and know people are looking at you," she goes on to say.

Muslim-American leaders say the Lowe's home improvement chain's decision to pull ads from the show is more of the same.

"I'm really disappointed, because it promotes hate. It's so un-American. It is bigotry⁵ at its core," said Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan state representative.

"I think that it's frankly⁶ pitiful that Lowe's corporation, a corporation that touts⁷ itself on being inclusive and promoting diversity, would capitulate to bigots," said Dawud Walid of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

All-American Muslim follows five families in Dearborn, Michigan - home to one of the nation's largest Arab-American communities. The channel that airs it, TLC, says it offers an "intimate look" at misconceptions and conflicts the families face.

Lowe's said in a statement it withdrew its advertising after the program became what it called a "lightning rod" for strong political views.

That followed a campaign by the Florida Family Association. The group calls All-American Muslim "propaganda," designed to counter concerns about Muslims by only profiling those who appear to be ordinary people.

VOA's calls to the association were not returned.

Daniel Cox is director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute in Washington. He said the controversy over the show speaks to the public opinion challenges Muslim Americans face.

"American attitudes toward Muslims are changing, but overall there is still a significant level of discomfort⁸. You see this evident in our research and other research," said Cox. "We find that Americans are really divided overall whether they'd be comfortable with a mosque⁹ being built in their neighborhood, a Muslim teaching elementary school or a Muslim woman wearing the burqa. And you see an even greater discomfort among certain religious groups like white evangelicals."

Now facing threats of a boycott¹⁰, Lowe's is not the only company distancing itself from the series. Travel website Kayak.com says it also is stopping its ads, but not because of the Florida Family Association.

One of its reasons: It doesn't think the show is any good.

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 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 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。

5 bigotry   

n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等

参考例句：

• She tried to dissociate herself from the bigotry in her past.她力图使自己摆脱她以前的偏见。
• At least we can proceed in this matter without bigotry.目前这件事咱们至少可以毫无偏见地进行下去。

6 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

7 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网

8 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

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 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。