环球英语 — 224：Ivory Coast

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Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Liz Waid.

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And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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In the year 2007, the leaders of Ivory Coast burned hundreds of guns. President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro hoped to show the world that the country’s five–year Civil War was over. Recently, the president and prime minister signed a peace deal. This has given hope to many people.

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This symbol will not end the war. But the people of Ivory Coast hope that it is a first step towards reuniting the country.

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Ivory Coast was not always divided. For almost forty [40] years, Ivory Coast was one of the most peaceful nations in Africa. Muslims and Christians lived near each other without trouble. People of all sorts respected one another.

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Along with this peace, Ivory Coast also became wealthy. For many years, they grew more cocoa than any other country in the world. Soon, they became one of the wealthiest nations in Africa!

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But the peace slowly began to disappear. Different groups of people began to argue with each other. Some supported the government. Others did not.

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One group believed that the President did not give equal treatment to people from northern Ivory Coast. They decided to rebel.

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In 2002, this rebel group took control of the north half of Ivory Coast. They began fighting against the government. Many people died in the fights.

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Over the following years, the rebels and the government tried to agree peacefully many times. But each time, the violence began again. Soon, Ivory Coast was split in half. A Civil War began between the rebels in the north and the government in the south.

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As the fighting continued, people on both sides attempted to bring peace. Many protested against the war. But nothing seemed to help.

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People from different ethnic groups began to fight. People born in Ivory Coast did not trust “etrangers,” or foreigners. They treated the foreigners badly. Soon, it became difficult for people to find work unless they were born inside Ivory Coast.

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Because of the war, many families were divided. People became separated from their homes and villages. Oliver Coulibaly, an English teacher from northern Ivory Coast, was one of these people.

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“The war has been very bad for me. I lost my job because of it. And being separated from my village is horrible. It is like a part of me has been cut off; a part of my freedom has been denied.”

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Experts estimate that more than one million people were separated from their homes by the war. Many people believe that this will have lasting, negative effects on the country.

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Another teacher has already seen the bad effects.

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“The war has really lowered educational standards. Ivory Coast will suffer from this for years to come.”

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Still, for five years, many people have hoped for peace. And there have been some signs of change.

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For example, in 2006, the country stopped fighting for a short time. The Ivory Coast football team, with players from both the north and the south, played in the World Cup.

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Football is very popular in Ivory Coast. So while the team played at the World Cup, both sides stopped fighting.

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Many players on the team hoped that this would bring a lasting peace. They wanted to use their sport to stop the Civil War.

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Before the World Cup began, the football team captain led the team in a prayer for their country. He began:

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“Ivorians, we ask for your forgiveness. Let us come together and put this war behind us.”

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The players also felt a responsibility to prove that peace is possible.

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“We want to show that there is more to the Ivory Coast than fighting.”

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But one protester did not believe that the peace would last.

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“We stopped so we can watch Ivory Coast at the World Cup. When it is over, we will be on the streets again.”

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Sadly, this protestor was right. Soon after the World Cup ended, the fighting began again. Neither side would get rid of their weapons. They could not agree with one another.

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Then, late in 2006, another popular Ivorian asked the country to work for peace. Singer Onel Mala wrote a song, Pardonnez. He sings,

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No paying back to anyone evil for evil

Let us forgive one another and shame the devil

As much as it depends on you

Holding your temper is worth the trouble.

Aiming at peace is worth the trouble,

We must pass on that lesson to our children

We want to revise our actions

We want to avoid destruction, but just how?

I tell you we must return to the peace

Forgive without a second thought.

I say let us all reconcile

And avoid the shedding of blood

I tell you we must turn over the page

Forgive without a second thought

I say let us all reconcile

And avoid that shedding of blood

There are talks about darkness

They say the light is all gone

Yet it is only the flame of the torch

That is shaking, the fire is not lost

It is the fire of love burning inside me

We just have to keep it alive

Voice 1

Jesus Christ gave a similar message. In the Bible, in the book of Matthew, Jesus says:

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“You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who hurt you.”

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Christians believe that we must show love to all people, even those who we consider our enemies. It is easy to hate people who treat us badly. It is easy to hate someone who is very different from us. But Jesus tells us to love all people, even those who hurt us.

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This is what Onel Mala wants for Ivory Coast. He hopes that both the north and the south can forgive each other. He hopes they will show love to their enemies. Burning weapons is a good first step. But the people of Ivory Coast must finally forgive each other before they will find true peace.