英国新闻听力 对ISIS发动空袭是否正确（在线收听）

Today's debate about the rights or wrongs of air strikes against ISIS, will be focused on what constitutes a just and proportionate response to ISIS atrocities in Paris and elsewhere.

今天关于对ISIS发动空袭正确还是错误的辩论侧重于如何对ISIS在巴黎和其他地方的暴行做出公平而合理的回应。

While much has been said and written about criteria that need to be met for a just war, less has been said about imperatives for just and lasting peace.

关于公平的战争的标准已有许多讨论和文件，然而却从未探讨过持久的和平所必需的要素。

Syria, like much of the Middle East, is a cauldron of competing rivalries, not only those of Sunni and Shia Muslims but also smaller groups: Alowites, Kurds, Christians and others.

叙利亚像中东其他地方一样，也是诸多敌对势力之间动荡不安的形势，不仅仅是逊尼派和什叶派穆斯林之间的争斗，还有其他较小的团体：Alowites，库尔德，基督徒以及其他。

While we would all like to see functioning democracies in the region, this is easier said than done.

尽管我们都希望该地区的民主制度能够正常运作，然而说起来容易做起来难。

The history of the Middle East, and many other parts of the world shows that majority rule does not always equate to just rule.

中东以及世界其他地方的历史表明，大多数统治并不代表公平的统治。

Majorities insensitive to the rights of minorities, can all too easily morph into tyrannies. What is important is, not so much the process of acquiring power, as the way power is exercised.

多数派不顾及少数派的权利，很容易演变为暴政。重要的是，夺取权力的过程不像行使权力的过程那么容易。

I was reminded about this at an event celebrating the birth anniversary of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who lived in the 19th century.

庆祝19世纪的王公兰吉特·辛格诞辰时我想到了这一点。

He ruled over a vast area of northern India, including present day Pakistan.

他统治着印度北部的广大区域，包括现在的巴基斯坦在内。

Although the Maharaja gained power through military might, he reached out to all communities winning both love and loyalty.

尽管辛格通过军事势力夺取了权力，然而他征服了所有社区，赢得了爱戴和忠诚。

Totally illiterate, he spent hours as a child in the gurdwara, listening to Sikh teachings on respect for all communities.

他完全没有受过教育，孩提时代，他每天都在谒师所逗留几个小时，聆听锡克教徒传授尊重所有群体的教义。

He was deeply influenced by the Sikh belief that that token respect for other ways of life is not enough,

他受到锡克教徒的深刻影响，假装尊重其他人的生活方式是不够的，

and that for true respect, we should be prepared to put our own rights and freedom on the line, in support of those of others.

要做到真正的尊重，我们必须做好准备把自己的权力和自由放在一边，支持其他人的自由和权力。

The Maharaja kept this teachings close to his heart. There were more Hindu and Muslim Ministers in his government than Sikhs.

王公兰吉特·辛格将这种教义铭记于心。在他的政府中，印度教和穆斯林部长人数超过锡克教徒。

He also gave generously for the upkeep and development of places of worship of all communities,

他还慷慨拨款维修和建设所有团体的圣所，

bringing peace, stability and prosperity into a region that had been subject to factional rivalry, not unlike that seen in the Middle East today.

为原本宗派暴力横行的地区带来了和平，稳定和繁荣，而不像今天的中东的景象。

Yes, this is history from the 19th century, but it contains fundamental truths that we would be wise to learn from.

是的，这是19世纪的历史，然而也是我们应该从中学习的基本事实。

Reaching out to others in this way is not easy, but is possible, and to my mind, essential for true and lasting peace.

以这种方式与他人接洽并不容易，但是是可能的，在我心中，这也是真正和持久的和平所必需的。

We should give our full support to any group working in this direction.

我们应该按照这个方向全力支持任何社区的发展。