VOA标准英语2010年-Gibran Awards Honor Tolerance, Humanit

Hurricane Katrina rescuer is among those recognized

Mohamed ElShinnawi | Washington, DC 20 May 2010
 Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (left) was honored for his efforts to promote better relations between the US and the Arab world.

For the past 12 years, Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran's love for equality and better understanding between East and West have inspired an awards program at the Arab American Institute in Washington. 

Lebanese-American poet and philosopher Khalil Gibran said, "I love you my brother, whoever you are, whether you worship in your church, kneel in your temple or pray in your mosque¹."

Promoting understanding

"The Prophet," Gibran's famous book, reflects his commitment to understanding among racial, ethnic², and religious communities. The Gibran Awards celebrate those whose lives mirror Gibran's vision of humanity.

 "We honor those who speak about the values that we want to project in our own lives," said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. "In honoring them, we are honoring what we feel is the spirit of humanity."

Honorees

This year, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley received the Gibran Award for individual achievement.

He was cited for his effort to promote a better relationship between the US and the Arab world and, on the local level, with Chicago's Arab American community. He began an Arabic language program in Chicago city schools.

"Language is very important to teach another younger generation of young men and women coming from elementary and high schools for job opportunities and understanding how small the world is and also the contributions the Arab world has given to civilization," said Daley.

This year's recipients³ also included, Abdul Rahman Zeitoun, a New Orleans resident who became the subject of a book by American author Dave Eggers.

New Orleans resident Abdul Rahman Zeitoun was recognized for helping⁴ others after Hurricane Katrina.

During Hurricane Katrina, Zeitoun spent five heroic days and nights in his canoe distributing supplies to besieged⁵ residents and rescuing those he could. He was arrested as a suspected terrorist and held for 20 days.

"Prophet Mohamed, peace be upon him, ordered us to help our neighbors," said Zeitoun. "One of his famous stories: you can't go to sleep with a full stomach with your neighbor hungry. It is every Muslim's duty to offer any help he can."

Judge Rosemary Barkett received this year's Award for Public Service for her commitment, as an Arab American, to justice and equality. She has been on Florida's state court of appeals since 1994.

"I know that my story is not unique," said Barkett. "I look out at this audience and I see that it is repeated a thousand times over, and in that repetition I believe that we have strengthen the fabric⁶ of our America"

Florida's state court of appeals Judge Rosemary Barkett received this year's Award for Public Service.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), an independent agency of the U.S. government which has touched the lives of America's needy⁷ received the award for institutional excellence⁸.

"Through service, differences between people can be overcome and you can actually bridge between communities," said Frank Trinity, CNCS General Council who accepted the award.

To highlight the need to understand diverse cultures, Arab-American comedian⁹ Ahmed Ahmed offered his personal experience with stereotypes¹⁰ about Arabs.

"Every time I come back from the Middle East, my American friends would say, 'What were you doing in the M.E.?' and I would say, 'We were doing a comedy show,'" said Ahmed. "They would say, 'Really? For the troops?' No, for Arabs. 'In English?' Yeah, and they always say, 'And they got it?'"

A fitting tribute to Gibran who wrote, "In the sweetness of friendship, let there be laughter and joy."

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

6 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

7 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

8 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

9 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

10 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》