VOA标准英语2015--American Muslims Fight Negative Stereotype of Islam

American Muslims Fight Negative Stereotype¹ of Islam

CHINO, CALIFORNIA—

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws to a close later this week, one community east of Los Angeles is trying to reach out to non-Muslims and show them what international news is not saying about their faith.

The month of Ramadan is a time when Muslims fast and focus on God.  And in the town of Chino, at the Baitul Hameed Mosque², it is also a time when Muslims and some non-Muslims find themselves in a similar plight³, said Chino Police Chief Karen Comstock.

“We, as law enforcement professionals, share in your same plight because every day on the news, you are watching, you are watching the secular⁴ media tell you a story about law enforcement and policing that I am telling you is wrong.  There are men and women in this profession, which I love so much, that are performing with a high degree of professionalism and accuracy and protecting the community that you live in,” said Comstock.

Similar to media coverage⁵ of over policing in the United States, many Muslims, including Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Los Angeles East Chapter President Ahsan Mahmood Khan, say news of Islamic extremists in the Middle East and around the world does not reflect who they are.

“You hear a lot in the news about ISIL or ISIS and what is going on in the Middle East.  It is just terrible, and we hear this in the news every day.  And it is very similar to what happened post-9/11, with what was going on with al-Qaida where you had this juxtaposition⁶. You had those who claim to be Muslim doing the most heinous⁷ acts and proclaiming the name of Allah and in the name of the holy prophet and doing such horrible things, and then you have a community like ours,” said Khan.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, unlike most Muslims, believes its Messiah arrived in the 19th century.  A few years ago, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community started a campaign in the U.S. called “Muslims for Loyalty⁸.”  Khan said its message is a devout⁹ Muslim can also be a loyal American. 

“[It] ss a way for us to reach out to the communities around the world and show that as Muslims we are also loyal to our nation,” said Khan.

The imam of the Baitul Hameed Mosque, Mohammed Zafarullah, said Islam is a religion of peace, but that extremists tarnish¹⁰ his faith.

“Those people who are doing these kind of things, they say they are Muslim but according to our religion, they are not a real Muslim because that is ... they have their own agenda, which they are using in the name of the religion,” he said.

Some Muslims here say they are concerned some of the younger generation in other parts of the world may be affected¹¹ by extremism.

“The only way to counter this negative image that may be conveyed to the young people is for our own youth to engage in setting the record straight,” said Khan.

1 stereotype   

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

参考例句：

• He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
• There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

2 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。

3 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

4 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

5 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

6 juxtaposition   

n.毗邻，并置，并列

参考例句：

• The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling.这两句话连在一起使人听了震惊。
• It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.这是并列对比色的结果。

7 heinous   

adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的

参考例句：

• They admitted to the most heinous crimes.他们承认了极其恶劣的罪行。
• I do not want to meet that heinous person.我不想见那个十恶不赦的人。

8 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

9 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

10 tarnish   

n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污

参考例句：

• The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.这一事件可能有损首相的名誉。
• Stainless steel products won't tarnish.不锈钢产品不会失去光泽。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。