2006年VOA标准英语-Prince Charles Calls for Understanding Bet

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
21 March 2006

Britain's Prince Charles has called for greater understanding between the Muslim world and the West. 

 
Prince Charles speaking at Al-Azhar University in Cairo
  
The heir to the British throne came to Egypt with a message of cultural understanding.

In a speech at Al-Azhar University, the oldest Islamic university in the world, Prince Charles criticized the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that ran in a Danish newspaper, and also condemned¹ the violent response to them.

"The recent ghastly strife² and anger over the Danish cartoons shows the danger that comes of our failure to listen and to respect what is precious and sacred to others," he said. "In my view, the true mark of a civilized³ society is the respect it pays to minorities and to strangers."

Prince Charles is highly regarded by many Islamic scholars in Egypt, partly because of a speech he gave at Oxford⁴ University 12 years ago. In 1993, he called attention to growing mistrust and lack of understanding between Islam and the West. On his visit to Al-Azhar, the university awarded him an honorary doctoral degree - a mark of respect that has rarely been given to a non-Muslim, and a decision that was criticized by some of the university's scholars.

A visibly moved Prince Charles accepted the diploma after delivering a carefully worded speech with strong messages for both the Islamic world and the West. He urged not just a mutual⁵ understanding across religious and cultural divides, but also called for moderation and solid religious scholarship, to combat the rise of extremism in all faiths.

"We must foster, encourage and act upon that which embodies⁶ the divine attributes of mercy and compassion," he said. "That calls for calmness and the exercise of restraint. And, if I may say so, it requires all those who are in positions of authority in our different faiths to preach clearly and consistently to others the eternal value of these divine attributes."

Citing religious conflicts that have caused misery⁷ and pain around the world, the prince urged Muslims, Christians⁸ and Jews to stop fighting one another and unite to face what he called "the immense environmental crisis threatening our entire planet."

"I believe with all my heart that responsible men and women must work to restore mutual respect between faiths, and that we should do all we can to overcome the distrust that poisons so many people's lives," noted⁹ Prince Charles.

His call for mutual understanding was well-received by the roughly 1,000 Muslim scholars and students who filled the lecture hall. Professor Ibrahim Lotfy El-Sayed traveled from Al-Azhar's outpost in Port Said, more than 200 kilometers away.

"Today, God willing, with Prince Charles' speech and his meeting with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, it will show to the world that there is understanding between civilizations - Islamic, Western or otherwise," he said. "There can be understanding and friendship, and attacks against Islam or other religions are best responded to with dialogue like today's."

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be in Egypt until Friday. The prince will inaugurate the new British university in Cairo, and also lay wreaths at the graves of British and Commonwealth¹⁰ soldiers from World War II, who are buried on the Mediterranean¹¹ coast at El-Alamein.

They will also travel to Saudi Arabia and India.

1 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

2 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

3 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

4 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

5 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

6 embodies   

v.表现( embody的第三人称单数 )；象征；包括；包含

参考例句：

• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This document embodies the concern of the government for the deformity. 这个文件体现了政府对残疾人的关怀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

8 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。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

11 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。