Many Muslim-American organizations are worried that congressional hearings under way in Washington could stereotype their community as a source of Islamic radicalism in the United States. One of those organizations, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, is holding what it calls a "Muslim Action Day" in the mid-western state of Illinois to demonstrate that such stereotyping is wrong and that Muslim citizens are as American as anyone else. Our correspondent attended the gathering in the Illinois state capital, Springfield.
许多美国穆斯林组织担心，在华盛顿举行的国会听证可能会让人们产生刻板印象，以为穆斯林社区是美国伊斯兰激进主义的源头。其中一个叫作大芝加哥地区伊斯兰组织理事会的团体在中西部伊利诺伊州举行了一次“穆斯林行动日”活动，以显示制造这种刻板印象是错误的，并且显示穆斯林公民跟任何其他人一样都是美国人。
More than 1,200 Muslim Americans from across Illinois came to Springfield to send a message to state lawmakers.
来自伊利诺伊州各地的1200多名美国穆斯林来到斯普林菲尔德，向州议员发出一个信息。
"We are a core of this community, we are not the other," said Ahlam Jbara. "We are American."
“我们是这个大家庭的核心部分，我们不是旁人。我们是美国人。”
Ahlam Jbara helped organize the 3rd annual Muslim Action Day.
阿拉姆.吉巴拉协助组织了第三届穆斯林行动日活动。
"We care about the same issues as everybody else," she said. "We are people like everybody else. We are engaged, and we care about the political system, and our voices are going to be heard."
他说：“我们同样在乎每个人都在乎的那些问题。我们跟所有其他人一样。我们参与并且关心这个政治制度。我们的声音将会被听到。”
That message reached state lawmakers like Will Burns, a representative from Chicago, who now occupies a legislative seat once held by President Barack Obama.
这个信息传到了维尔.伯恩斯和其他议员那里，伯恩斯填补了奥巴马总统当年持有的席位。
"They help to preempt some of the stereotypes of the Muslim community, and show that the overwhelming majority of the Muslims in the United States and in the state are law abiding, tax-paying good citizens, who want the same things that everyone else wants - good schools, health care, good roads and good government," said Burns.
他说：“他们帮助消除人们对穆斯林社区的一些刻板印象，并且显示美国和本州绝大多数穆斯林是守法、纳税的好公民，他们也和其他人一样，希望有好学校、医疗条件、好道路和好政府。”
The timing of the Springfield event coincides with hearings in Washington focusing on what some consider to be the radicalization of some members of the Muslim-American community. The hearing is being led by New York Congressman Peter King, who has said American Muslims were not doing enough to help law enforcement conduct terrorism investigations. A study by Duke University and the University of North Carolina indicates that Muslim-Americans have been the biggest source of tips leading to arrests in U.S. terrorism cases.
斯普林菲尔德举行这次活动的同时，国会正在举行听证会，重点讨论一些人认为美国穆斯林社区某些成员激进化的问题。听证会由纽约州众议员彼得.金恩主持。他曾指出美国的穆斯林在帮助执法部门调查恐怖主义方面做得不够。但杜克大学和北卡罗来纳大学的一项研究显示，美国穆斯林是导致美国恐怖案件逮捕行动的最大线索来源。
The director of the Chicago office of the Council on American Islamic Relations, Ahmed Rehab, condemns the Washington hearings, and especially Congressman King.
美国伊斯兰关系理事会芝加哥办事处主任阿赫默德.莱哈布谴责了华盛顿的听证会，并特别谴责金恩众议员。
"Rogue politicians like Peter King, and I’m sorry to call him that, but that’s how I feel about him, will tell you that the American Muslim community is radicalizing, and they aren’t doing enough to counter the radicalized element in their midst," said Rehab. "Well, actually, we are, and what we see here in Springfield here today is precisely how we do that."
莱哈布说：“无赖政客彼得.金恩之流，我很遗憾这样称呼他，但这就是我对他的感受。他们会告诉你们，美国穆斯林社区正在激进化，他们没有做足够的事情来反对他们当中的激进分子。实际上，我们在做，我们今天在斯普林菲尔德做的正是这件事。”
The hour-long rally in the rotunda of the state capitol gave a platform to members of the Muslim American community, who also spoke out about the hearings.
在州议会圆形大厅举行的一小时集会给了美国穆斯林社区的成员们一个平台，他们还谈到国会举行的听证。
Dr. Zaher Sahloul of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago says, although the issue of radicalization is at the forefront of this year’s Muslim Action Day, Illinois Muslim Americans are actively engaged in communities and government throughout the year.
大芝加哥地区伊斯兰组织理事会的扎赫尔. 萨洛尔博士指出，尽管激进化问题是今年的穆斯林行动日活动中一个重要问题，但是伊利诺伊州的穆斯林一年到头都在积极参与社区和政府工作。
"Although this issue is important to us, it’s a very minor issue," said Sahloul. "We don’t see really that much radicalization within the community. What we are seeing here in Illinois is a community getting engaged, typically. We have people participating in the political process. We run every year a register-to-vote campaign in the council. People are energized to be part of the system, not outside the system."
萨洛尔说：“虽然这件事对我们是重要的，但它仍是个非常次要的问题。 我们在社区内看不到多少激进活动。我们在伊利诺伊看到的具有代表性的是一个参与的社区。我们参与政治进程。我们在理事会每年都搞选民登记活动。我们激励人们成为体制的一部分，而不是游离在体制之外。”
CAIR Chicago’s Ahmed Rehab says, despite widespread efforts to be engaged, he is concerned the focus on Muslim Americans will only intensify as the 2012 presidential election cycle gets under way.
美国伊斯兰关系理事会芝加哥分部的阿赫默德.莱哈布说，尽管积极推动广泛参与，但他担心，2012年大选活动开始之后，美国穆斯林更加成为瞩目焦点。
"The whole issue of Muslim community, radicalization, Islamaphobia, etcetera, it is being politicized more and more," he said. "And as we approach the next presidential elections, I fear it may explode just like it did with the last presidential election cycle. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this is happening. It’s not good for our nation. It’s not an intelligent way to discuss the issues. It’s insulting."
他说：“穆斯林社区、激进化问题、伊斯兰恐怖症等所有这些问题越来越政治化。在下一次大选邻近之际，我担心它可能会像上一轮总统选举活动那样爆炸。我认为，这是绝对荒谬的。这对我们国家不好。这不是讨论这些问题的明智方法。这令人感到侮辱。”
Organizers of Muslim Action Day hope the annual event will spark an interest in state government among the many youth who attend, and encourage them to be involved in politics.
穆斯林行动日活动的组织者们希望这个一年一度的活动在许多青年与会者中间引起对州政府的兴趣，并且鼓励他们参与政治。 |