必克VOA新闻：纽约计划在世贸遗址附近兴建穆斯林中心

来源：必克英语 2014-05-14

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[00:00.10]The new World Trade Center is nearing completion, 13 years after the September 11 attacks.

[00:06.69]There is also a plan to build a Muslim Center with a museum and mosque three blocks from Ground Zero.

[00:13.03]Even though it's a scaled back version of a previous one, it too is controversial.

[00:18.71]The proposal includes a three-story building with a small mosque, a community center and a museum devoted to Islam.

[00:25.93]Imam Talib Abdul Rashid - president of the Islamic Leadership Council - says the project should reflect the full story of Islam.

[00:35.24]“...Islam itself as one of the three Abrahamic traditions, and, then, two --

[00:43.17]and I kind of lean toward the second --

[00:47.12]is a discussion and an accurate depiction of Muslims in America, generally, and New York City in particular,” he said.

[00:58.50]In 2010, there were loud protests at the site against the previous plan.

[01:05.93]It called for a 15-story Muslim mosque and community center.

[01:09.93]The demonstrators, including relatives of those killed in the September 11 attacks,

[01:14.92]argued it was insensitive to build an Islamic complex so close to Ground Zero.

[01:20.28]The original plan, called Park 51, was dropped.

[01:26.81]But the new one is drawing opposition too although its details have yet to be released.

[01:32.08]“Honesty, what we need is candor about Jihad and the Jihadic doctrine," said Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative.

[01:42.01]"Is this museum going to explore the total 1,400 years of Jihadi wars,

[01:46.93] land appropriations, cultural annihilations and enslavements?

[01:50.19]I think not.

[01:51.41]It think it’s going to whitewash, and I think it’s inappropriate at Ground Zero.

[01:55.18]We have to see the plans.”

[01:56.76]This visiting group of college students and professors from Canada had an exclusive briefing by one of the developers at the site.

[02:03.65]Alexandra Bain, a professor of religious studies, believes a living history of Islam is important to the community and the world.

[02:12.01]“Muslims have been in America since the slaves came over," she said.

[02:16.33]"And they were among the first Americans, and they continue to be an important part of the American culture.

[02:22.37]The developers have not fully disclosed the plans, nor where all the funding is coming from.

[02:28.20]But they insist these buildings will soon come down and be replaced with an exciting structure dedicated to exploring the faith of Islam and its arts and culture.

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