VOA标准英语2012--Libya's Minority Berbers Renew Equality Demands
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(八月)
Libya's Minority Berbers Renew Equality Demands
The Berber village of Yefren is remote, dry and dusty. It was also one of the cradles of last year's Libyan uprising, claiming one of the first anti-regime demonstrations 1, and several of the revolution's martyrs 2.
One symbol of the Berber people's aspirations 3 is their radio station, which was shuttered by the security forces of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Now, it is open again, with technicians in training for its first broadcasts in the Berber language, or what local people prefer to call the Amazigh language.
One of the founders 4 of the Libyan Amazigh Youth Assembly, Said Henshir, says Berbers, like all Libyans, live in freedom now. But he says they also have some demands for the newly elected government.
"We want the full rights of language and culture granted in the previously 5 marginalized Amazigh areas without any restrictions 6 whatsoever," said Henshir. "We want to be treated as 100 percent Libyans, not as a minority, and not as if we were faking being Libyan."
The Berbers are an ancient people who live across North Africa. Through the centuries, many of them have maintained their own language and identity, while also becoming part of the largely-Arab cultures of their home countries.
Said Henshir says the Berbers don't want any special status in Libya, only the recognition that their bonds with other Libyans were sealed during the revolution.
"We are connected with the ties of blood and the blood that has been spilled," Henshir added. "When Libyans were martyred during the Feb 17th Revolution Berber and non-Berber blood was mixed together."
In the cave under a friend's traditional Berber house, Henshir shares tea and homemade bread. His host, Bilgassem Ali Maadi, introduces himself in the Berber, or Amazigh, language.
Maadi opens his family home to tourists interested in the local culture, something he says Gadhafi's police didn't like.
"This house was open but, sort of, not officially, as there was always some kind of harassment 7 from security units," Maadi recalled. "Visiting tourists would be followed by officers or summoned for questioning, and their visits to this house and other Berber heritage sites were restricted."
Today, the Berber flag and the Berber symbol depicting 8 a free man are displayed alongside the Libyan flag in the village, with local residents openly and equally proud of both their cultural heritage and their national identity.
- Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
- The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。
- the early Christian martyrs 早期基督教殉道者
- They paid their respects to the revolutionary martyrs. 他们向革命烈士致哀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
- 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。
- He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
- The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句
- The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
- Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
- The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。