环球英语 — 261：Building Peace in the Middle East

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby² Jones. Welcome to Spotlight³. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
In an earlier Spotlight programme we introduced Elias Chacour. He is an Arab Christian⁴, a Palestinian refugee⁵, and now an Israeli citizen. We told some of his story from his book, ‘Blood Brothers.’ The conflict and pain in the Middle East has caused anger and hurt in many people. However, Elias Chacour is working for peace there. He works with different religious and ethnic⁶ groups in the area. Together, they are building peace.
Voice 2
The Mars⁷ Elias Institutions are part of his work in the Middle East. The institutions include schools, a college and a university. Students from different backgrounds study together - Muslim and Christian Palestinians, Jews and Druze. Through education, young people learn how to live and study together peacefully. But if you want to bring peace into a major situation, where do you start? In today’s programme we tell how Elias began this work.
It was 1965. The head priest⁸, the bishop⁹, sent Elias Chacour on his first project. He was to go and work in a church in Ibillin, Galilee. After a long trip there, Elias was surprised at his welcome:
Outside the church, an official shouted at Elias. He told him to get out. Elias was shocked! The official was the man he who looked after the church and its grounds. Elias would have to work with him! What kind of place was this?
Elias soon discovered that the church and the village were having many difficulties! Here in Ibillin, lived Muslims, Greek Orthodox¹⁰ Christians¹¹ and Melkite Christians. Three different religious buildings stood on the same hill. The village leaders rarely agreed on anything. The water supply was short. No job was completed. Hatred¹² spread among the people. Elias learned of severe conflicts, even within families. This saddened him. He was even more troubled to discover that these people had once been active church members! Elias remembered Jesus’ words;
Voice 3
‘God blesses the peacemakers. They will be called children of God. God blesses people who mourn they will know comfort... .’
Voice 2
Elias began by visiting the local people - family by family, Christian or not. He did this for several months. And, slowly, he united some of the Christians. But the biggest breakthrough came on Palm Sunday, in the church.
Palm Sunday is an important day for Christians. So, the church of Ibillin was full! Even the divided families were there - though they did not sit together. The service began. Songs without emotion filled the heavy air. Finally, the service came to an end. The people turned to leave. But they did not suspect what was coming.
Nervously¹³, Elias lifted his hand. The people were quiet. Then, he walked to the back of the church. Every eye followed him. Elias pulled the huge doors closed. Then he locked them! He walked back to the front of the church. He turned and faced the people. He took in a deep breath. And began;
Voice 4
‘Sitting in this building does not make you a Christian. You people are divided. You argue. You hate. You lie about each other. You cannot love your brother that you can see. So how can you say you love God - whom you cannot see?’
Voice 2
The people’s shock turned to anger. He saw the church official’s face red with anger. Elias continued;
Voice 4
‘For many months I have tried to unite you. I have failed because I am only a man. But there is someone else who can bring you together in true unity¹⁴. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the one who gives you power to forgive. So now I will be quiet - so he can give you that power. If you will not forgive, we will stay locked in here. You can kill each other. I will provide your funerals for free.’
Voice 2
There was silence. The people sat still. Everyone looked at Elias. He waited. His breathing became faster.
Then, there was movement! Someone was standing¹⁵ up! Elias could not believe it. It was Abu Mouhib. This man was full of hate! His family was divided! And he had treated Elias badly. Abu Mouhib said;
Voice 5
‘I apologise. I am the worst one of all. I have hated my own brothers. I have hated them so much that I wanted to kill them. More than any of you, I need forgiveness.’
‘Can you forgive me abuna?’
Voice 2
Elias called Abu Mouhib to him. They met each other with the kiss of peace,
Voice 4
‘Of course I forgive you. Now go and meet your brothers.’
Voice 2
There, in the middle of the church, Abu Mouhib and his brothers held each other. They asked for forgiveness. What followed, many would describe as a miracle. Other people followed Abu Mouhib’s lead. Families who had not spoken in years cried together. Enemies invited each other to their homes. Only the church official stood far off - saying nothing. The service went on for an extra hour. This time, the songs were filled with emotion - crying and laughter. The people walked out of the church together, through the streets. They went to other people’s houses asking for forgiveness. Elias remembers,
Voice 4
’Then I knew that inner peace could be passed from man to man and woman to woman.’
Voice 2
The road to peace had begun. Today, forty years on, the town of Ibillin is the centre of a great peace building work. It has ‘The Mar¹ Elias Educational Institutes.’ There are schools, a college and a university! Thousands of young people unite to study! This includes Muslims, Jews, Christians and Druze. Around them may be pain and conflict. The history of their land may be one of pain and conflict! But they are working to make their future one of peace. And they know that this journey begins, with themselves.
Voice 1
Years ago, behind closed doors, in a small church, the hearts of people had changed. It is easy for us to miss the importance of events like this. But it holds a message for people everywhere - in any situation, any conflict, any divided community. It includes people of all race, religion, and ethnic groups. The event in Ibillin showed that real change can happen, if you start with your own environment. Peace can spread! The people in Ibillin began by dealing¹⁶ with their own issues - gaining peace in their own hearts. Then, they could turn to their families, their enemies - their community!
 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

3 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

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 refugee   

n.难民，流亡者

参考例句：

• The refugee was condemned to a life of wandering.这个难民注定要过流浪的生活。
• The refugee is suffering for want of food and medical supplies.难民苦于缺少食物和医药用品。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 Mars   

n.火星，战争

参考例句：

• As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
• He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。

8 priest   

n.神父，牧师，司铎，司祭，领导者，神甫；vt.使成为神职人员

参考例句：

• He confessed to a priest that he had sinned.他向神父忏悔他犯了罪。
• The priest visited all the old people in the parish.牧师探望了教区里的所有老人。

9 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

10 orthodox   

adj.正统的，传统的，惯常的

参考例句：

• They are orthodox Jews.他们是正统的犹太教徒。
• His ideas are very orthodox.他的思想非常合乎规范。

11 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

12 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

13 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

14 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。

15 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

16 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。