第一篇:2012奥巴马总统在美国民主党大会上的讲话
Remarks by the President at the Democratic National Convention
Time Warner Cable Arena Charlotte, North Carolina September 6, 2012 10:24 P.M.EDT MRS.OBAMA: I am so thrilled and so honored and so proud to introduce the love of my life, the father of our two girls, and the President of the United States of America--Barack Obama.(Applause.)THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you.Thank you so much.AUDIENCE: Four more years!Four more years!Four more years!Four more years!Four more years!THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you very much, everybody.Thank you.Michelle, I love you so much.A few nights ago, everybody was reminded just what a lucky man I am.(Applause.)Malia and Sasha, we are so proud of you.And, yes, you do have to go to school in the morning.(Laughter.)And, Joe Biden, thank you for being the very best Vice President I could have ever hoped for, and being a strong and loyal friend.(Applause.)
Madam Chairwoman, delegates, I accept your nomination for President of the United States.(Applause.)Now, the first time I addressed this convention in 2004, I was a younger man, a Senate candidate from Illinois, who spoke about hope--not blind optimism, not wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty;hope in the face of uncertainty;that dogged faith in the future which has pushed this nation forward, even when the odds are great, even when the road is long.Eight years later, that hope has been tested by the cost of war, by one of the worst economic crises in history, and by political gridlock that’s left us wondering whether it’s still even possible to tackle the challenges of our time.I know campaigns can seem small, even silly sometimes.Trivial things become big distractions.Serious issues become sound bites.The truth gets buried under an avalanche of money and advertising.If you’re sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me, so am I.(Laughter and applause.)
But when all is said and done--when you pick up that ballot to vote--you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation.Over the next few years, big decisions will be made in Washington on jobs, the economy, taxes and deficits, energy, education, war and peace--decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and on our children’s lives for decades to come.And on every issue, the choice you face won’t just be between two candidates or two parties.It will be a choice between two different paths for America, a choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future.Ours is a fight to restore the values that built the largest middle class and the strongest economy the world has ever known--(applause)--the values my grandfather defended as a soldier in Patton’s Army, the values that drove my grandmother to work on a bomber assembly line while he was gone.They knew they were part of something larger--a nation that triumphed over fascism and depression;a nation where the most innovative businesses turned out the world’s best products.And everyone shared in that pride and success, from the corner office to the factory floor.My grandparents were given the chance to go to college, buy their own home, and fulfill the basic bargain at the heart of America’s story--the promise that hard work will pay off, that responsibility will be rewarded, that everyone gets a fair shot and everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same rules from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington, D.C.(Applause.)
And I ran for President because I saw that basic bargain slipping away.I began my career helping people in the shadow of a shuttered steel mill at a time when too many good jobs were starting to move overseas.And by 2008, we had seen nearly a decade in which families struggled with costs that kept rising but paychecks that didn’the;folks racking up more and more debt just to make the mortgage or pay tuition, put gas in the car or food on the table.And when the house of cards collapsed in the Great Recession, millions of innocent Americans lost their jobs, their homes, their life savings--a tragedy from which we’re still fighting to recover.Now, our friends down in Tampa at the Republican Convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America.But they didn’t have much to say about how they’d make it right.(Applause.)They want your vote, but they don’t want you to know their plan.And that’s because all they have to offer is the same prescriptions they’ve had for the last 30 years--Have a surplus? Try a tax cut.Deficit too high? Try another.Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations and call us in the morning.(Applause.)
Now, I’ve cut taxes for those who need it--middle-class families, small businesses.But I don’t believe that another round of tax breaks for millionaires will bring good jobs to our shores or pay down our deficit.I don’t believe that firing teachers or kicking students off financial aid will grow the economy, or help us compete with the scientists and engineers coming out of China.(Applause.)After all we’ve been through, I don’t believe that rolling back regulations on Wall Street will help the small businesswoman expand or the laid-off construction worker keep his home.We have been there.We’ve tried that and we’re not going back.We are moving forward, America.(Applause.)
Now, I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy.I never have.You didn’t elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear.You elected me to tell you the truth.(Applause.)And the truth is it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades.It will require common effort and shared responsibility, and the kind of bold, persistent experimentation that Franklin Roosevelt pursued during the only crisis worse than this one.(Applause.)And, by the way, those of us who carry on his party’s legacy should remember that not every problem can be remedied with another government program or dictate from Washington.But know this, America--our problems can be solved.(Applause.)Our challenges can be met.The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place.And I’m asking you to choose that future.(Applause.)
I’m asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country--goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and the deficit--real, achievable plans that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation.That’s what we can do in the next four years--and that is why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years!Four more years!THE PRESIDENT: We can choose a future where we export more products and outsource fewer jobs.After a decade that was defined by what we bought and borrowed, we’re getting back to basics, and doing what America has always done best: We are making things again.(Applause.)I’ve met workers in Detroit and Toledo--(applause)--who feared they’d never build another American car.And today, they can’t build them fast enough, because we reinvented a dying auto industry that’s back on the top of the world.(Applause.)I’ve worked with business leaders who are bringing jobs back to America--not because our workers make less pay, but because we make better products.Because we work harder and smarter than anyone else.(Applause.)I’ve signed trade agreements that are helping our companies sell more goods to millions of new customers--goods that are stamped with three proud words: Made in America.(Applause.)AUDIENCE: U.S.A!U.S.A.!U.S.A.!THE PRESIDENT: And after a decade of decline, this country created over half a million manufacturing jobs in the last two and a half years.And now you have a choice: We can give more tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, or we can start rewarding companies that open new plants and train new workers and create new jobs here, in the United States of America.(Applause.)We can help big factories and small businesses double their exports, and if we choose this path, we can create a million new manufacturing jobs in the next four years.You can make that happen.You can choose that future.You can choose the path where we control more of our own energy.After 30 years of inaction, we raised fuel standards so that by the middle of the next decade, cars and trucks will go twice as far on a gallon of gas.(Applause.)We have doubled our use of renewable energy, and thousands of Americans have jobs today building wind turbines and long-lasting batteries.In the last year alone, we cut oil imports by 1 million barrels a day--more than any administration in recent history.And today, the United States of America is less dependent on foreign oil than at any time in the last two decades.(Applause.)So now you have a choice--between a strategy that reverses this progress, or one that builds on it.We’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration in the last three years, and we’ll open more.But unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country’s energy plan, or endanger our coastlines, or collect another $4 billion in corporate welfare from our taxpayers.We’re offering a better path.(Applause.)We’re offering a better path, where we--a future where we keep investing in wind and solar and clean coal;where farmers and scientists harness new biofuels to power our cars and trucks;where construction workers build homes and factories that waste less energy;where we develop a hundred-year supply of natural gas that’s right beneath our feet.If you choose this path, we can cut our oil imports in half by 2020 and support more than 600,000 new jobs in natural gas alone.(Applause.)And, yes, my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet--because climate change is not a hoax.More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke.They are a threat to our children’s future.And in this election, you can do something about it.(Applause.)You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have.Education was the gateway to opportunity for me.It was the gateway for Michelle.It was the gateway for most of you.And now more than ever, it is the gateway to a middle-class life.For the first time in a generation, nearly every state has answered our call to raise their standards for teaching and learning.Some of the worst schools in the country have made real gains in math and reading.Millions of students are paying less for college today because we finally took on a system that wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on banks and lenders.(Applause.)And now you have a choice--we can gut education, or we can decide that in the United States of America, no child should have her dreams deferred because of a crowded classroom or a crumbling school.(Applause.)No family should have to set aside a college acceptance letter because they don’t have the money.No company should have to look for workers overseas because they couldn’t find any with the right skills here at home.That’s not our future.That is not our future.(Applause.)And government has a role in this.But teachers must inspire;principals must lead;parents must instill a thirst for learning.And, students, you’ve got to do the work.(Applause.)And together, I promise you, we can out-educate and out-compete any nation on Earth.(Applause.)So help me.Help me recruit 100,000 math and science teachers within 10 years and improve early-childhood education.Help give 2 million workers the chance to learn skills at their community college that will lead directly to a job.(Applause.)Help us work with colleges and universities to cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next 10 years.We can meet that goal together.You can choose that future for America.(Applause.)That’s our future.In a world of new threats and new challenges, you can choose leadership that has been tested and proven.Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq.We did.(Applause.)I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11.And we have.(Applause.)We’ve blunted the Taliban’s momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over.(Applause.)A new tower rises above the New York skyline;al Qaeda is on the path to defeat;and Osama bin Laden is dead.(Applause.)AUDIENCE: U.S.A.!U.S.A.!U.S.A.!THE PRESIDENT: Tonight, we pay tribute to the Americans who still serve in harm’s way.We are forever in debt to a generation whose sacrifice has made this country safer and more respected.We will never forget you.And so long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known.(Applause.)When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you’ve served us--because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their heads, or the care that they need when they come home.(Applause.)Around the world, we’ve strengthened old alliances and forged new coalitions to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.We’ve reasserted our power across the Pacific and stood up to China on behalf of our workers.From Burma to Libya to South Sudan, we have advanced the rights and dignity of all human beings--men and women;Christians and Muslims and Jews.(Applause.)But for all the progress that we’ve made, challenges remain.Terrorist plots must be disrupted.Europe’s crisis must be contained.Our commitment to Israel’s security must not waver, and neither must our pursuit of peace.(Applause.)The Iranian government must face a world that stays united against its nuclear ambitions.The historic change sweeping across the Arab world must be defined not by the iron fist of a dictator or the hate of extremists, but by the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people who are reaching for the same rights that we celebrate here today.(Applause.)So now we have a choice.My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy--(laughter and applause)--but from all that we’ve seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly.After all, you don’t call Russia our number-one enemy--not al Qaeda--Russia--unless you’re still stuck in a Cold War mind warp.(Applause.)You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can’t visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally.(Applause.)My opponent said that it was “tragic” to end the war in Iraq.And he won’t tell us how he’ll end the war in Afghanistan.Well, I have--and I will.(Applause.)And while my opponent would spend more money on military hardware that our Joint Chiefs don’t even want, I will use the money we’re no longer spending on war to pay down our debt and put more people back to work rebuilding roads and bridges and schools and runways.Because after two wars that have cost us thousands of live and over a trillion dollars, it’s time to do some nation-building right here at home.(Applause.)You can choose a future where we reduce our deficit without sticking it to the middle class.Independent experts say that my plan would cut our deficit by $4 trillion.And last summer I worked with Republicans in Congress to cut a billion [trillion] dollars in spending--because those of us who believe government can be a force for good should work harder than anyone to reform it so that it’s leaner and more efficient and more responsive to the American people.(Applause.)I want to reform the tax code so that it’s simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000--the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was President;the same rate when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest surplus in history and a whole lot of millionaires to boot.(Applause.)Now, I’m still eager to reach an agreement based on the principles of my bipartisan debt commission.No party has a monopoly on wisdom.No democracy works without compromise.I want to get this done, and we can get it done.But when Governor Romney and his friends in Congress tell us we can somehow lower our deficits by spending trillions more on new tax breaks for the wealthy, well, what did Bill Clinton call it--you do the arithmetic.(Applause.)You do the math.(Applause.)I refuse to go along with that and as long as I’m President, I never will.(Applause.)I refuse to ask middle-class families to give up their deductions for owning a home or raising their kids just to pay for another millionaire’s tax cut.(Applause.)I refuse to ask students to pay more for college, or kick children out of Head Start programs, or eliminate health insurance for millions of Americans who are poor and elderly or disabled--all so those with the most can pay less.I’m not going along with that.(Applause.)And I will never--I will never--turn Medicare into a voucher.(Applause.)No American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies.They should retire with the care and the dignity that they have earned.Yes, we will reform and strengthen Medicare for the long haul, but we’ll do it by reducing the cost of health care--not by asking seniors to pay thousands of dollars more.(Applause.)And we will keep the promise of Social Security by taking the responsible steps to strengthen it, not by turning it over to Wall Street.(Applause.)This is the choice we now face.This is what the election comes down to.Over and over, we’ve been told by our opponents that bigger tax cuts and fewer regulations are the only way--that since government can’t do everything, it should do almost nothing.If you can’t afford health insurance, hope that you don’t get sick.If a company releases toxic pollution into the air your children breathe, well, that’s the price of progress.If you can’t afford to start a business or go to college, take my opponent’s advice and borrow money from your parents.(Laughter and applause.)You know what, that’s not who we are.That’s not what this country’s about.As Americans, we believe we are endowed by our Creator with certain, inalienable rights--rights that no man or government can take away.We insist on personal responsibility and we celebrate individual initiative.We’re not entitled to success--we have to earn it.We honor the strivers, the dreamers, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs who have always been the driving force behind our free enterprise system, the greatest engine of growth and prosperity that the world’s ever known.But we also believe in something called citizenship.(Applause.)Citizenship: a word at the very heart of our founding;a word at the very essence of our democracy;the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.We believe that when a CEO pays his autoworkers enough to buy the cars that they build, the whole company does better.(Applause.)We believe that when a family can no longer be tricked into signing a mortgage they can’t afford, that family is protected, but so is the value of other people’s homes and so is the entire economy.(Applause.)We believe the little girl who’s offered an escape from poverty by a great teacher or a grant for college could become the next Steve Jobs or the scientist who cures cancer or the President of the United States, and it is in our power to give her that chance.(Applause.)We know that churches and charities can often make more of a difference than a poverty program alone.We don’t want handouts for people who refuse to help themselves and we certainly don’t want bailouts for banks that break the rules.(Applause.)We don’t think that government can solve all of our problems, but we don’t think that government is the source of all of our problems--any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we’re told to blame for our troubles.(Applause.)Because, America, we understand that this democracy is ours.We, the people, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights;that our destinies are bound together;that a freedom which asks only “what’s in it for me,” a freedom without commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism is unworthy of our founding ideals and those who died in their defense.(Applause.)As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us;it’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating, but necessary work of self-government.That’s what we believe.(Applause.)So, you see, the election four years ago wasn’t about me.It was about you.(Applause.)My fellow citizens, you were the change.(Applause.)You’re the reason there’s a little girl with a heart disorder in Phoenix who will get the surgery she needs because an insurance company can’t limit her coverage.You did that.(Applause.)You’re the reason a young man in Colorado who never thought he’d be able to afford his dream of earning a medical degree is about to get that chance.You made that possible.(Applause.)You’re the reason a young immigrant who grew up here and went to school here and pledged allegiance to our flag will no longer be deported from the only country she’s ever called home
--(applause)--why selfless soldiers won’t be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love;why thousands of families have finally been able to say to the loved ones who served us so bravely: “Welcome home.“ ”Welcome home.” You did that.You did that.You did that.(Applause.)If you turn away now--if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible, well, change will not happen.If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void--the lobbyists and special interests;the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote;Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should be making for themselves.(Applause.)Only you can make sure that doesn’t happen.Only you have the power to move us forward.(Applause.)I recognize that times have changed since I first spoke to this convention.The times have changed, and so have I.I’m no longer just a candidate.I’m the President.(Applause.)And that means I know what it means to send young Americans into battle, for I have held in my arms the mothers and fathers of those who didn’t return.I’ve shared the pain of families who’ve lost their homes, and the frustration of workers who’ve lost their jobs.If the critics are right that I’ve made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.(Laughter.)And while I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together, I’m far more mindful of my own failings, knowing exactly what Lincoln meant when he said, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.”(Applause.)But as I stand here tonight, I have never been more hopeful about America.Not because I think I have all the answers.Not because I’m naïve about the magnitude of our challenges.I’m hopeful because of you.The young woman I met at a science fair who won national recognition for her biology research while living with her family at a homeless shelter--she gives me hope.(Applause.)The autoworker who won the lottery after his plant almost closed, but kept coming to work every day, and bought flags for his whole town, and one of the cars that he built to surprise his wife--he gives me hope.(Applause.)The family business in Warroad, Minnesota, that didn’t lay off a single one of their 4,000 employees when the recession hit, even when their competitors shut down dozens of plants, even when it meant the owner gave up some perks and some pay because they understood that their biggest asset was the community and the workers who had helped build that business--they give me hope.(Applause.)I think about the young sailor I met at Walter Reed hospital, still recovering from a grenade attack that would cause him to have his leg amputated above the knee.Six months ago, we would watch him walk into a White House dinner honoring those who served in Iraq, tall and 20 pounds heavier, dashing in his uniform, with a big grin on his face, sturdy on his new leg.And I remember how a few months after that I would watch him on a bicycle, racing with his fellow wounded warriors on a sparkling spring day, inspiring other heroes who had just begun the hard path he had traveled--he gives me hope.He gives me hope.(Applause.)I don’t know what party these men and women belong to.I don’t know if they’ll vote for me.But I know that their spirit defines us.They remind me, in the words of Scripture, that ours is a “future filled with hope.” And if you share that faith with me--if you share that hope with me--I ask you tonight for your vote.(Applause.)If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election.If you reject the notion that our government is forever beholden to the highest bidder, you need to stand up in this election.(Applause.)If you believe that new plants and factories can dot our landscape, that new energy can power our future, that new schools can provide ladders of opportunity to this nation of dreamers;if you believe in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules--then I need you to vote this November.(Applause.)America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now.Yes, our path is harder, but it leads to a better place.Yes, our road is longer, but we travel it together.We don’t turn back.We leave no one behind.We pull each other up.We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that Providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on Earth.Thank you.God bless you.(Applause.)And God bless these United States.(Applause.)
第二篇:奥巴马总统在联合国大会上的讲话
奥巴马总统在联合国大会上的讲话
驱动不容忍和暴力或许一开始是针对西方,但它会逐渐变得无法控制。对极端主义的同样驱动引发逊尼派教徒(Sunni)和什叶派教徒(Shia)、部落与宗族间的交战。它所带来的不是富强繁荣,而是动荡混乱。在不到两年时间里,我们看到大体和平的示威行动给穆斯林占主体的国家带来的变化超过了十年暴力的效果。极端主义者明白这一点。由于他们拿不出任何方式改善人民生活,暴力是他们维持自身存在价值的唯一手段。他们没有建树,只有破坏。。
第三篇:美国民主党总统候选人奥巴马2008年11月5日赢得美国大选
美国民主党总统候选人奥巴马2008年11月5日赢得美国大选,将成为美国历史上第一位黑人总统。当晚在芝加哥出席庆祝晚会上以“美国的变革”为主题发表获胜演说,称“美国的变革时代已到来”。
Hello, Chicago.您好,芝加哥。
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.如果仍有人怀疑美国是否是一个能创造奇迹的国度的话,如果还有人仍在疑虑我们美国的缔造者的梦想是否还在我们这个时代存续的话,如果还有人仍在质疑我们民主的力量的话,那么,今晚就给你答案。It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.排起的长队就是答案:云集于学校和教堂周围的人们盛况空前,他们等待了三四个小时,其中许多人还是生平首次经历选举。因为他们坚信:这次结果必定不同,这就是他们的心声。It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight,disabled and not disabled.Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.We are, and always will be, the United States of America.无论老幼、穷富;民主党还是共和党;黑人、白人;拉美裔、亚裔、原居民;————、非————;残疾人、健全人。这是全体美国人民共同的抉择。美国向全世界传递一个声音:美国不是乌合之众,也没红州或蓝州之分。我们是,而且永远是,一个整体的美国。
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.这也是对一直以来那些讽刺、担忧和质疑者作出的回答:我们会把握历史的舵轮、使之驶向充满希望的美好未来。It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.虽然等待了很长时间,但在今晚,通过选举,改变美国历史的决定性时刻终于到来了。
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen.McCain.今天傍晚之前,我接到了麦凯恩参议员极具风度的致电。
Sen.McCain fought long and hard in this campaign.And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves.He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine.We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.在竞选过程中,麦凯恩作了长期不懈的努力,而且他还会为他所挚爱的国家更加长期不懈地去奋斗。他已经为美国作出了我们多数人都无法想象的牺牲。我们必须要把工作做好,以报答这位英明而无私的领导人。I congratulate him;I congratulate Gov.Palin for all that they've achieved.And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.我对他以及佩林州长所做的一切努力深表敬意,我也期待着与他们一起在未来的岁月中为祖国复兴大计而共同努力。
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.我要感谢我的竞选伙伴。为竞选倾尽心血、为出生地斯克兰顿街区和坐火车即到的特拉华州家乡的拥戴者代言的他,就是当选美国副总统的乔.拜登。
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.如果没有她——我16年来的至友、我家庭的基石、我生命中的至爱、也就是美国未来的第一夫人米歇尔.奥巴马——如没有她的坚定支持,今晚我不可能站在这里。
Sasha and Malia I love you both both so much,And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.马莉娅和萨莎,我也非常爱你们,你们已赢得了带着新买的小狗与我们一同入主白宫的权利。
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am.I miss them tonight.I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.还有我已去世的外祖母——我知道她也正在看着我,她和我的家人一起见证了我的成长。我今晚非常想念他们,我知道亏欠了他们太多。To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me.I am grateful to them.我的妹妹玛雅、阿尔玛,所有其他的兄弟姐妹们,感谢你们给予我倾力支持,我感念他们。And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best--the best political campaign, I think, in the
history of the United States of America.还有我的竞选顾问大卫.普鲁夫,此次竞选的无名英雄。我认为,是他打造了美国历史上最好最棒的竞选班子。
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've
sacrificed to get it done.我的首席策略师大卫.阿克塞尔罗德伴我走过了每一步,他使政史上最佳竞选团队始终团集在你的政见上,我对您为此所作的贡献铭感于心。
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to.It belongs to you.It belongs to you.但最重要的是,我决不会忘记这场胜利该属于谁,胜利属于你们,胜利属于人民!
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office.We didn't start with much money or many endorsements.Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington.It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.我始终都不是最有希望的总统竞选人。一开始我们缺少资金及筹码,我们的竞选活动难登华盛顿的大雅之堂,只能始于得梅因、康科德、查尔斯顿的简室陋巷之中;资金是由支持者们从微薄的积蓄中抽出5美元、10美元、20美元(一点一滴)捐助来的;It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.而竞选活动的声势壮大则是源自那些年轻人,他们拒绝接受认为他们这代人冷漠的荒诞说法;他们离开家、离开亲人,从事报酬微薄、不眠不休的工作;It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.同时也源自那些已不年轻的人们,他们冒着严寒酷暑,敲开陌生人的家门进行竞选宣传;更源自数百万的美国民众,他们自发地组织起来当志愿者。这证明历经两百多年之后一个民有、民治、民享的政府,仍未从地球上消亡。
This is your victory.这是你们的胜利。
And I know you didn't do this just to win an election.And I know you didn't do it for me.我知道你们这么做并不只是为了赢得大选,更不是为了我个人。
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead.For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime--two wars, a planet in peril, the worst
financial crisis in a century.你们这么做是因为你们明白摆在面前的任务有多艰巨。因为即便是我们欢庆胜利的今晚,我们也知道,今后将面临我们一生中最为艰巨的挑战——两场战争。一是地球的环保危机,再就是百年不遇的最严重的金融危机
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.及时今晚我们站在这儿,我们也知道在伊拉克沙漠和阿富汗山区还有勇敢的美国士兵正在警惕地为我们甘冒生命危险
There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.有多少父母在孩子熟睡后仍难以入眠,他们在为如何偿还按揭月供、付医药费或攒钱供孩子上大学而发愁。
There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.我们亟待开发新能源;创造新的就业机会;我们需要修建新学校;还要应对众多威胁、恢复与许多国家的关系。
The road ahead will be long.Our climb will be steep.We may not get there in one year or even in one term.But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.I promise you, we as a people will get there.路漫漫其修远兮,吾将逆难而求索。我们未必能够一蹴而就。但是,美国啊!是你今晚给了我从未有过的自信,我会不辱使命。d我向你们承诺:只要团结如一人,目标一定会达到。
There will be setbacks and false starts.There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president.And we know the government can't solve every problem.执政伊始,挫折和错误在所难免。我作为总统所做出的决策,也会有许多人并不赞同。我们知道这届政府并不能解决所有问题。
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years--block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.但我一定会向你们坦陈所面临的挑战;会认真听从你们的建议,尤其是意见不一致的时候。总之,我诚邀你们参与民族复兴的大业。美国221年来唯一的方式,就是一砖一瓦、胼手胝足地去建设。
^^^^^^^^^…………………………………………………………
Thank you.God bless you.And may God bless the United States of America.感谢你们!愿上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保佑美国!
第四篇:奥巴马总统在开学日的讲话
奥巴马总统在开学日的讲话2009 简介:弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市,2009年9月8日是美国中小学统一开学的日子,奥巴马借此机会向全国的中小学生做了一次讲话,以下是白宫网站上预先发布的演讲稿全文的翻译。
嗨,大家好!你们今天过得怎么样?我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起,全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里,我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。
我知道,对你们中的许多人来说,今天是开学的第一天,你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中,对你们来说,这是在新学校的第一天,因此,假如你们感到有些紧张,那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过,我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级,许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。
我可以理解这份心情。小时候,我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年,而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书,因此她决定自己给我上课——时间是每周一到周五的凌晨4点半。
显然,我不怎么喜欢那么早就爬起来,很多时候,我就这么在厨房的桌子前睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候,我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说:“小鬼,你以为教你我就很轻松?”
所以,我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应,但今天我站在这里,是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育,以及在新的学年里,你们应当做些什么。
我做过许多关于教育的讲话,也常常用到“责任”这个词。我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们,督促你们学习。我谈到过家长们有责任看管你们认真学习、完成作业,不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准严要求、协助老师和校长们的工作,改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。
但哪怕这一切都达到最好,哪怕我们有最尽职的教师、最好的家长、和最优秀的学校,假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话,那么这一切努力都会白费。——除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否则这一切都会失去意义。
而这就是我今天讲话的主题:对于自己的教育,你们中每一个人的责任。首先,我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。
你们中的每一个人都会有自己擅长的东西,每一个人都是有用之材,而发现自己的才能是什么,就是你们要对自己担起的责任。教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。
或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作,你不会发现自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一个发明家、创造家——甚至设计出像今天的iPhone一样流行的产品,或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课程上做上几次实验,你不会知道自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一名议员或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么学生会或参加几次辩论赛,你也不会发现自己的才能。
而且,我可以向你保证,不管你将来想要做什么,你都需要相应的教育。——你想当名医生、当名教师或当名警官?你想成为护士、成为建筑设计师、律师或军人?无论你选择哪一种职业,良好的教育都必不可少,这世上不存在不把书念完就能拿到好工作的美梦,任何工作,都需要你的汗水、训练与学习。
不仅仅对于你们个人的未来有重要意义,你们的教育如何也会对这个国家、乃至世界的未来产生重要影响。今天你们在学校中学习的内容,将会决定我们整个国家在未来迎接重大挑战时的表现。
你们需要在数理科学课程上学习的知识和技能,去治疗癌症、艾滋那样的疾病,和解决我们面临的能源问题与环境问题;你们需要在历史社科课程上培养出的观察力与判断力,来减轻和消除无家可归与贫困、犯罪问题和各种歧视,让这个国家变得更加公平和自由;你们需要在各类课程中逐渐累积和发展出来的创新意识和思维,去创业和建立新的公司与企业,来制造就业机会和推动经济的增长。
我们需要你们中的每一个人都培养和发展自己的天赋、技能和才智,来解决我们所面对的最困难的问题。假如你不这么做——假如你放弃学习——那么你不仅是放弃了自己,也是放弃了你的国家。
当然,我明白,读好书并不总是件容易的事。我知道你们中的许多人在生活中面临着各种各样的问题,很难把精力集中在专心读书之上。
我知道你们的感受。我父亲在我两岁时就离开了家庭,是母亲一人将我们拉扯大,有时她付不起帐单,有时我们得不到其他孩子们都有的东西,有时我会想,假如父亲在该多好,有时我会感到孤独无助,与周围的环境格格不入。
因此我并不总是能专心学习,我做过许多自己觉得丢脸的事情,也惹出过许多不该惹的麻烦,我的生活岌岌可危,随时可能急转直下。
但我很幸运。我在许多事上都得到了重来的机会,我得到了去大学读法学院、实现自己梦想的机会。我的妻子——现在得叫她第一夫人米歇尔·奥巴马了——也有着相似的人生故事,她的父母都没读过大学,也没有什么财产,但他们和她都辛勤工作,好让她有机会去这个国家最优秀的学校读书。
你们中有些人可能没有这些有利条件,或许你的生活中没有能为你提供帮助和支持的长辈,或许你的某个家长没有工作、经济拮据,或许你住的社区不那么安全,或许你认识一些会对你产生不良影响的朋友,等等。
但归根结底,你的生活状况——你的长相、出身、经济条件、家庭氛围——都不是疏忽学业和态度恶劣的借口,这些不是你去跟老师顶嘴、逃课、或是辍学的借口,这些不是你不好好读书的借口。
你的未来,并不取决于你现在的生活有多好或多坏。没有人为你编排好你的命运,在美国,你的命运由你自己书写,你的未来由你自己掌握。
而在这片土地上的每个地方,千千万万和你一样的年轻人正是这样在书写着自己的命运。
例如德克萨斯州罗马市的贾斯敏·佩雷兹(Jazmin Perez)。刚进学校时,她根本不会说英语,她住的地方几乎没人上过大学,她的父母也没有受过高等教育,但她努力学习,取得了优异的成绩,靠奖学金进入了布朗大学,如今正在攻读公共卫生专业的博士学位。
我还想起了加利福尼亚州洛斯拉图斯市的安多尼·舒尔兹(Andoni Schultz),他从三岁起就开始与脑癌病魔做斗争,他熬过了一次次治疗与手术——其中一次影响了他的记忆,因此他得花出比常人多几百个小时的时间来完成学业,但他从不曾落下自己的功课。这个秋天,他要开始在大学读书了。
又比如在我的家乡,伊利诺斯州芝加哥市,身为孤儿的香特尔·史蒂夫(Shantell Steve)换过多次收养家庭,从小在治安很差的地区长大,但她努力争取到了在当地保健站工作的机会、发起了一个让青少年远离犯罪团伙的项目,很快,她也将以优异的成绩从中学毕业,去大学深造。
贾斯敏、安多尼和香特尔与你们并没有什么不同。和你们一样,他们也在生活中遭遇各种各样的困难与问题,但他们拒绝放弃,他们选择为自己的教育担起责任、给自己定下奋斗的目标。我希望你们中的每一个人,都能做得到这些。
因此,在今天,我号召你们每一个人都为自己的教育定下一个目标——并在之后,尽自己的一切努力去实现它。你的目标可以很简单,像是完成作业、认真听讲或每天阅读——或许你打算参加一些课外活动,或在社区做些志愿工作;或许你决定为那些因为长相或出身等等原因而受嘲弄或欺负的孩子做主、维护他们的权益,因为你和我一样,认为每个孩子都应该能有一个安全的学习环境;或许你认为该学着更好的照顾自己,来为将来的学习做准备„„当然,除此之外,我希望你们都多多洗手、感到身体不舒服的时候要多在家休息,免得大家在秋冬感冒高发季节都得流感。
不管你决定做什么,我都希望你能坚持到底,希望你能真的下定决心。我知道有些时候,电视上播放的节目会让你产生这样那样的错觉,似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰缠万贯、功成名就——你会认为只要会唱rap、会打篮球或参加个什么真人秀节目就能坐享其成,但现实是,你几乎没有可能走上其中任何一条道路。
因为,成功是件难事。你不可能对要读的每门课程都兴趣盎然,你不可能和每名带课教师都相处顺利,你也不可能每次都遇上看起来和现实生活有关的作业。而且,并不是每件事,你都能在头一次尝试时获得成功。
但那没有关系。因为在这个世界上,最最成功的人们往往也经历过最多的失败。J.K.罗琳的第一本《哈利·波特》被出版商拒绝了十二次才最终出版;迈克尔·乔丹上高中时被学校的篮球队刷了下来,在他的职业生涯里,他输了几百场比赛、投失过几千次射篮,知道他是怎么说的吗?“我一生不停地失败、失败再失败,这就是我现在成功的原因。”
他们的成功,源于他们明白人不能让失败左右自己——而是要从中吸取经验。从失败中,你可以明白下一次自己可以做出怎样的改变;假如你惹了什么麻烦,那并不说明你就是个捣蛋贵,而是在提醒你,在将来要对自己有更严格的要求;假如你考了个低分,那并不说明你就比别人笨,而是在告诉你,自己得在学习上花更多的时间。
没有哪一个人一生出来就擅长做什么事情的,只有努力才能培养出技能。任何人都不是在第一次接触一项体育运动时就成为校队的代表,任何人都不是在第一次唱一首歌时就找准每一个音,一切都需要熟能生巧。对于学业也是一样,你或许要反复运算才能解出一道数学题的正确答案,你或许需要读一段文字好几遍才能理解它的意思,你或许得把论文改上好几次才能符合提交的标准。这都是很正常的。
不要害怕提问。不要不敢向他人求助。——我每天都在这么做。求助并不是软弱的表现,恰恰相反,它说明你有勇气承认自己的不足、并愿意去学习新的知识。所以,有不懂时,就向大人们求助吧——找个你信得过的对象,例如父母、长辈、老师、教练或辅导员——让他们帮助你向目标前进。
你要记住,哪怕你表现不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你觉得身边的人都已经放弃了你——永远不要自己放弃自己。因为当你放弃自己的时候,你也放弃了自己的国家。
美国不是一个人们遭遇困难就轻易放弃的国度,在这个国家,人们坚持到底、人们加倍努力,为了他们所热爱的国度,每一个人都尽着自己最大的努力,不会给自己留任何余地。
250年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后奋起努力、用一场革命最终造就了这个国家;75年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后战胜了大萧条、赢得了二战;就在20年前,和你们一样的学生们,他们后来创立了Google、Twitter和Facebook,改变了我们人与人之间沟通的方式。
因此,今天我想要问你们,你们会做出什么样的贡献?你们将解决什么样的难题?你们能发现什么样的事物?
二十、五十或百年之后,假如那时的美国总统也来做一次开学演讲的话,他会怎样描述你们对这个国家所做的一切?
你们的家长、你们的老师和我,每一个人都在尽最大的努力,确保你们都能得到应有的教育来回答这些问题。例如我正在努力为你们提供更安全的教室、更多的书籍、更先进的设施与计算机。但你们也要担起自己的责任。因此我要求你们在今年能够认真起来,我要求你们尽心地去做自己着手的每一件事,我要求你们每一个人都有所成就。请不要让我们失望——不要让你的家人、你的国家和你自己失望。你们要成为我们骄傲,我知道,你们一定可以做到。
谢谢大家,上帝保佑你们,上帝保佑美国。
奥巴马总统在开学日的讲话2010 背景知识
这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称,奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地,也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议,一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”,今年的总统开学演讲,白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”,而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。
谢谢!你们好!(掌声。)谢谢。谢谢。你好,费城!(掌声。)你好,马斯特曼。见到你们真是太好了。Kelly的介绍真是太棒了。让我们对Kelly报以热烈的掌声。在后台的时候我说,我上高中的时候我就做不这么好,我可能会弄的一团糟。所以让我们为你和你做的一切自豪吧。站在这里我很激动。
我想介绍几个人。首先,来到这儿的有,杰出的宾夕法尼亚州州长,Ed Rendell。(掌声。)费城市长,Michael Nutter。国会议员Fattah和Allyson Schwartz(掌声)。你们的校长Marge Neff(掌声)。学校管理人Arlene Ackerman是这个学校的,并且为学校做了很大的贡献。(掌声)。还有教育部秘书长Arne Duncan。(掌声)
还有我。(掌声),我感到非常的激动。我耳闻了你们做的那些伟大的事,这里面有在校的学生,老师和工作人员。
今天欢迎你们,欢迎每一个美国学生回校上课,当然你们在学校已经呆了一段时间了。我想不出除了在Masterman外,还有哪个地方更适合做这件事。(掌声)因为你们是费城最好的学校之一。你们在教育方面是领头军。就在上周,由于你们的卓越贡献,被授为国家蓝丝带勋章。这是对每个人的见证,对学生,家长,老师还有学校领导人。我希望全美的社会团体都能欣然接受这个杰出代表的例子。
几周前,我和Michelle为Sasha和Malia上学的事做准备。她们两个对这非常的期待。我敢打赌她们和你们一样,有着相同的感觉。你们为夏天的逝去而神伤,但是你们更应该期待新的一年。如你们可以结交新的朋友,加深同老朋友的感情,加入学校俱乐部,参加各种团队的选拔赛。成长为一个更优秀的学生和个人,不仅仅让你的家人自豪,同样让你们自己也很有成就感。
我知道,你们中有些人在新学年会有些紧张。或许你刚从小学升到初中,从初中升到高中,会担心,新的学年将会是什么样的呢。也许你进入一所新的学校,不知道是否会喜欢这个学校,想着怎么来融入这个学校。或许你到了高三年级,对整个的大学入学程序感到不安,比如申请那里的学校,能不能支付上大学的费用等等。
除此之外,我知道你们还有来自困难时期的压力。你们知道新闻内容,知道你们一些家庭中发发生的事情。你们读过有关阿富汗战争的信息,听说过我们经历过的经济不景气。有时你们还看到了双亲脸上挂着的忧虑,或从他们的声音中感受到了这些。
所以,因为我们国家面临困难时期,你们许多人的行为看上去比实际年龄要大。姐姐哥哥在海外工作,你们会表现得坚强,或许妈妈去值第二班,你们就要照顾年幼的弟弟妹妹。或许你们有些人年长一点的,父亲失了业,你们还要做兼职。
有太多事情要做了,很多是你们不应该做的。这让你们迷茫,不知道自己的未来会是什么样,在学校能不能取得好成绩,是不是应该把目光降低些,把理想放低些。
但是,我来到马斯特曼,告诉你们一句话。我想这句话你们的校长、院长、父母以及老师都曾告诉过你们,那就是,没有人,只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中,生活由自己缔造。只要志向远大,并努力为之奋斗,没有什么是不能得到的。只要你专注于学业,没有什么事不能实现的。我确信。
最后这一点,在学校努力奋斗是必要的。因为教育从未像现在这样重要。我确信,几个月后会有一段时间,你们会完善熬夜写作业,为考试临时抱佛脚,或者在一个雨天的早晨把自己从被窝里拖出来,想,哦天,怎么不是下雪天?!(笑)
但是让我告诉你,你所做的一切都是值得的。你们现在要做的事情无比重要。没有什么比你的受教育程度以及你在学校的所做之事更能决定你的成功。
能否能抓住机遇,越来越取决于你们在学校的努力。你们在学校的表现越好,生活中就能走得越远。当今,其他国家正与我们竞争,而且比以往任何时候都激烈。在中国北京或者印度邦加罗尔的学生比以前更加努力,而且比以前表现更好。你们在学校的成功并不只决定了自己一人的成功,还决定了美国在21世界是否能够成功。
所以,你们要承担起这样的责任和义务。同时国家也向你们承担责任和义务,那就是为你们提供最好的教育,为此我们要努力,共同奋斗。
所有政府工作人员,从州长到市长,到院长,到总统,所有人都要履行职责为我们的学生做好准备,帮助他们在教室、在大学、在事业上取得成功。这就需要我们有一个杰出的校长,像校长Neff,和优秀的老师,正如你们的马斯特曼的老师们。老师们要履行好对学生所应担负起的责任。我也希望家长负起责任。
佳句欣赏
Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.没有人,只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中,生活由自己缔造。
奥巴马名句节选
“中国和印度的学生比以前更加努力地学习。你们将来要与他们竞争,你们在学校的成功不仅仅决定了你们的未来,也决定了21世纪美国的未来。”
“没有什么是你们无法实现的,只要你们胸怀大志,只要你们愿意努力,只要你们专注于学习。”
“你们能够获得的机会是由你们受教育的程度决定的,换句话说,你受教育程度越高,你在生活里也会走得更远。”
“你们的未来掌握在你们的手中,除了你们自己,没人能书写你们的命运”。
第五篇:奥巴马总统在第67届联合国大会上的讲话 (全文)
白宫
新闻秘书办公室
2012年9月25日
总统在联合国大会(the United Nations General Assembly)发表讲话
联合国总部
纽约州,纽约市(New York City, NY)
美国东部夏令时间上午10:22
总统:主席先生、秘书长先生、代表们、女士们先生们:今天我首先为诸位讲述一位美国人的经历,他的名字是克里斯•史蒂文斯(Chris Stevens)。
克里斯出生在加利福尼亚州格拉斯山谷镇(Grass Valley, California),父母是律师和音乐家。克里斯年轻时参加了和平队(Peace Corps),在摩洛哥教英语。他对北非和中东人民的感情和敬意油然而生。他立志终身坚持自己的这份承诺。他作为一名外交官,足迹遍及埃及、叙利亚、沙特阿拉伯、利比亚等国。人们都知道,他常常在他工作的城市深入大街小巷,尝尝当地的食品,尽可能多地与居民见面,用阿拉伯语交谈和倾听,脸上带着灿烂的笑容。
在利比亚革命初期,克里斯搭乘一艘货轮前往班加西(Benghazi)工作。他作为美国的代表,帮助利比亚人民解决暴力冲突,为伤病员提供护理,同时酝酿了未来全体利比亚人的权利都应该得到尊重的目标。革命结束后,他支持新诞生的民主政体,此时利比亚人举行了选举,努力建设新的制度,在摆脱数十年专制统治后开始奋勇向前。
克里斯热爱自己的工作。他为自己服务的国家感到骄傲。他在所见到的人们身上看见了尊严。两个星期前,他前往班加西考察有关新建文化中心和一所医院现代化改造的计划。正在这个时候,美国使团驻地遭到袭击。克里斯曾为保全这所城市尽了力,结果和其他3 位同事在这里被害,时年52岁。
我向诸位讲述这段经历,是因为克里斯•史蒂文斯体现了美国的最佳风貌。他与其他外交服务系统(Foreign Service)的官员一样,跨越大洋和文化架桥铺路,全身心投入联合国体现的国际合作。他十分检点自己的行为,同时坚持一系列原则━坚信人人都应该自行决定自己的命运,过上享有自由、尊严、公正和机会的生活。
在班加西对平民的袭击就是对美国的袭击。我们感谢利比亚政府和利比亚人民给予的协助。毋庸置疑,我们将毫不留情地追查凶手,将他们绳之以法。我还感谢最近该地区其他国家─包括埃及、突尼斯和也门--的领导人采取行动保障我国外交设施的安全并呼吁人们保持冷静。全球各地的宗教机构也同样如此。
然而,应该知道,过去两个星期发生的袭击不仅仅针对美国,而且也攻击了创建联合国的根本理想━人们可以和平解决分歧;外交可以取代战争;在全世界相互依赖的情况下,努力为我们的公民带来更多的机会和安全与我们所有的人都息息相关。
我们如果认真坚持这些理想,就没有必要在使馆门口配备更多的警卫,也没有必要发布表示哀悼的声明,或者等待愤怒的情绪逐渐平息。我们如果认真坚持这些理想,就必须坦率地分析这场危机更深层的原因─因为我们面临着抉择,一边是助长我们分裂的势力,另一边是我们共同拥有的希望。
今天,我们必须重申,我们的未来必将由像克里斯•史蒂文斯这样的人民决定─不应该被杀害他的凶手左右。今天,我们必须宣布,这种暴力和不宽容的行为在我们联合国决无立足之地。
不到两年前,突尼斯一位小贩为抗议本国祸国殃民的腐败燃火自焚,引发了阿拉伯之春(Arab Spring)运动。从此全世界转型之风方兴未艾。美国也一贯支持变革的力量。
突尼斯的示威活动推翻了专制统治者,使我们受到鼓舞,因为我们本身也相信走上街头的男女老幼的愿望。
我们坚持埃及发生的变革,因为我们对民主的支持最终使我们与人民同心同德。
我们支持也门的领导层过渡,因为腐朽的现状不再符合人民的利益。
我们与一个广泛的联盟一起,根据联合国安理会(United Nations Security Council)的授权对利比亚进行了干预,因为我们有能力制止对无辜百姓的屠杀,因为我们相信人民的愿望有战胜暴君的力量。
我们今天在这里举行会议之际,我们再一次宣布,巴沙尔•阿萨德(Bashar al-Assad)政权必须下台,从而使叙利亚人民结束苦难,开始迎来新的曙光。
我们采取这些立场是因为我们相信,自由和自决并不专属于某一种文化。这些并不专属于美国的价值观或西方的价值观─而是普遍的价值观。即使向民主的过渡仍将面临巨大的挑战,我坚信归根结底“民有、民治、民享的政府”(government of the people, by the people, and for the people)更有可能创造稳定、繁荣和个人机会,为我们这个世界的和平奠定基础。
为此,让我们记住,这是一个取得进步的时期。突尼斯、埃及和利比亚几十年来第一次为推选新领导人举行可信的、经过竞选程序的公平选举。这种民主精神并不只限于阿拉伯世界。过去这一年,我们看到马拉维和塞内加尔出现权力的和平转移,索马里有了一位新总统。在缅甸,总统释放了政治犯,开放了封闭的社会,一位勇敢的持不同政见者被选入议会,人民正期待未来进行的改革。在全球各地,人民正在发出自己的声音,坚决要求维护固有的尊严和决定自己未来的权利。
然而,最近几周的动荡局势再次提醒我们,通往民主之路并不止于选举投票。纳尔逊•曼德拉(Nelson Mandela)曾说:“赢得自由并非仅仅要打破自身的枷锁,还要以尊重及增进其他人自由的方式生活。”(掌声)真正的民主不允许公民因个人信仰而被投入监狱;真正的民主确保公司企业无需行贿就能开门营业。民主以公民不怀恐惧地发表言论和集会的自由为支撑,以确保所有人权利的法治和正当程序为支撑。
换言之,真正的民主──真正的自由──要靠艰苦努力。当权者必须抵抗住镇压异见的诱惑。在经济困难的时期,有些国家一定会受到──可能会受到召集人民对抗国内及国外的臆想敌手的诱惑,而不去集中精力从事艰巨的改革工作。
此外,总会有一些人拒绝人类进步──抓住权力不放的独裁者,一味维系现状的腐败势力,以及煽动仇恨、制造隔阂的极端主义分子。从北爱尔兰到南亚、从非洲到美洲、从巴尔干半岛到环太平洋地区,我们目睹了向一种新的政治秩序过渡时可能出现的动荡局面。
有时,冲突起于不同种族或部族之间的分界线;但它们往往还起于调和传统及信仰与现代世界的多样性及相互依赖性时的重重困难。在每个国家中,都有一些人认为不同的宗教信仰构成威胁;在每种文化中,都有一些追求自身自由的人必须扪心自问愿意在多大程度上容忍他人的自由。
这就是我们在最近两周看到的事态发展,一段粗制滥造、令人厌恶的视频在整个穆斯林世界引发强烈愤怒的情况。现在我已明确表示,美国政府与这段视频没有任何关系,而且我坚信所有尊重我们的共同人性的人都必须驳斥其意图。
这不仅是对穆斯林的玷污,也是对美国的玷污──因为正如会场外面的这座城市所展现的,我们是一个热情接纳不同种族和不同信仰的人的国家。我们是全美各地虔诚礼拜的穆斯林的家园。我们不仅尊重宗教自由──我们还制定了保护个人不因外表或信仰而受到伤害的法律。我们理解为什么人们因这段视频而受到冒犯,因为这些人中包括我们的数百万同胞。
我知道有些人会问我们为什么不干脆禁止这样的视频。这个答案铭刻在我国的法律之中:我国宪法保护行使言论自由的权利。
在美国这里,冒犯别人的出版物数不胜数。大多数美国人和我一样是基督教徒,但我们不禁止亵渎我们最神圣的信仰的言论。作为我国的总统和我军的统帅,我接受人们每天都对我语出不敬的事实──(笑声)──而且我还会始终维护他们这样做的权利。(掌声)
美国人民在全世界为保障全体人民表述观点的权利而奋斗乃至献身,哪怕是在我们完全不赞同有关观点的时候。我们这样做并不是因为我们支持仇恨言论,而是因为我们的建国先贤明白,倘若没有这样的保障,每个人表述自己的观点及奉行自己的信仰的能力都可能受到威胁。我们这样做的原因是,在一个多样化的社会中,限制言论的做法可能很快就会变成压制异议者及镇压少数派的手段。
我们这样做的原因是,鉴于信仰在我们生活中的威力以及宗教分歧可能煽起的强烈情绪,遏制仇恨言论的最有力的武器不是镇压,而是各抒己见──发出团结人心反对偏执和亵渎行为的提倡理解和相互尊重的价值观的主张容忍的声音。
但我知道,在这个机制中并非所有会员国都认同这种对于保护言论自由的理解。我们承认这一点。但在2012年,在一个任何持有手机的人只要动一动手指就能将冒犯性言论传遍世界各地的时代,那种认为我们能够控制信息流动的观点已经过时了。而现在的问题是,我们应如何予以回应?
我们在这个问题上必须看法一致:任何言论都不能为滥用暴力开脱。(掌声)任何言词都不能成为杀害无辜的借口。任何一段视频都不能成为袭击一座大使馆的理由。任何诽谤之词都不能成为一些人或在黎巴嫩的餐馆中放火或在突尼斯砸毁学校或在巴基斯坦造成伤亡和损失的托词。
在这个拥有现代技术的现代世界中,我们若采用那些手段回应仇恨言论,就会使散布仇恨言论的人能够借机在全世界制造混乱。我们若那样回应,就会让我们中间的败类得逞。
广义而言,这两周发生的事件也提醒我们所有人必须要坦诚地对待西方世界与正在向民主迈进的阿拉伯世界之间的紧张关系。
请让我说明:正如我们不能解决世界上的每一个问题,美国没有也不会试图左右外国的民主过渡的结果。我们不期望其他国家事事都与我们观点一致,我们也不认为两周来的暴力活动或某些人的仇恨言论代表着绝大多数穆斯林的观点,正如制作这段视频的人的观点并不代表美国人民一样。但我坚持认为,每一个国家的每一位领导人都有义务高声地强烈谴责暴力和极端主义。(掌声)
现在必须孤立那些即使没有直接采用暴力手段却仍将对美国、西方或以色列的仇恨作为政治煽动的核心手段的人。因为这样的手段只会为诉诸暴力的人提供掩饰,有时还会提供借口。
那种类型的政治让东方与西方对立;南边与北边对立;穆斯林、基督徒、印度教徒、犹太人对立,它不会实现自由的希望。它给年轻人带来的是希望的假象。焚烧美国国旗丝毫无助于让孩子受教育。捣毁餐馆不会给人温饱。袭击大使馆不会创造任何就业岗位。那种政治只能让我们更难实现必须通过共同努力才能达到的目标:让我们的孩子受教育,为他们创造就业机会;保护人权,扩大民主的承诺。
要知道,美国决不会退出国际社会。我们要将伤害我们的公民和朋友的凶手绳之以法。我们将与盟友肩并肩。我们有意与其他国家结为伙伴,深化我们在贸易投资、科学技术、能源发展方面的关系──所有这些努力都能够刺激有益于我们全体人民的经济增长,并稳定民主变革成果。但是,这些努力需要有互利互尊的精神才能进行。没有任何政府或公司,也没有任何学校或非政府组织能够在人民安全受威胁的国家中踏实地展开工作。要使合作关系产生效果,我们的公民必须有安全保障,我们的努力必须受到欢迎。
建立在愤怒上的政治──基于让世界变得你我势不两立的政治──不仅阻碍国际合作,而且最终也会伤害到容忍这种政治的人。抵制这种势力符合我们所有人的利益。
让我们不要忘记,极端主义给穆斯林带来最深重的苦难。在我们的文职人员在班加西(Benghazi)遇害的同一天,一位几天后即将举行婚礼的土耳其警官在伊斯坦布尔(Istanbul)遭到杀害;十几位也门人在萨那(Sana’a)的汽车炸弹爆炸中丧生;好几名阿富汗儿童的父母痛悼几天前在喀布尔(Kabul)一起自杀炸弹爆炸中失去的孩子。
驱动不容忍和暴力或许一开始是针对西方,但它会逐渐变得无法控制。对极端主义的同样驱动引发逊尼派教徒(Sunni)和什叶派教徒(Shia)、部落与宗族间的交战。它所带来的不是富强繁荣,而是动荡混乱。在不到两年时间里,我们看到大体和平的示威行动给穆斯林占主体的国家带来的变化超过了十年暴力的效果。极端主义者明白这一点。由于他们拿不出任何方式改善人民生活,暴力是他们维持自身存在价值的唯一手段。他们没有建树,只有破坏。
现在是抛弃鼓吹暴力和分裂式政治的时候了。在许许多多问题上,我们都面临是走向希望的未来、还是禁锢在过去的选择。我们没有作错误选择的余地。我们必须把握这一时刻。美国随时准备同所有愿意相信更好未来的人共同努力。
未来决不能属于在埃及攻击科普特基督教徒(Coptic Christians)的人──它必须由曾在解放广场(Tahrir Square)齐声高呼“穆斯林,基督徒,我们是一体“的人来掌握。未来决不能属于凌辱妇女的人──它必须由那些上学读书的女孩子,由那些支持在世界上让我们的女儿能同我们的儿子一样追求理想的人来缔造(掌声)
未来决不能属于盗窃国家资源的少数腐败之徒──它必须让学生和实业家、工人和为全体人民扩大繁荣的工商业主当家作主。美国站在这些男女公民一边;他们的愿景就是我们支持的愿景。
未来决不能属于诽谤伊斯兰先知的人。但要具有信服力,谴责这一诽谤行径的人也必须谴责我们从画面中看到的亵渎耶稣基督像、捣毁教堂、或否认纳粹大屠杀的行径。(掌声)
让我们谴责煽动攻击苏菲派穆斯林(Sufi Muslims)和什叶派穆斯林朝圣者的行径。现在是重温甘地(Gandhi)话语的时刻:“不容忍本身即是一种暴力,是妨碍真正民主精神壮大的障碍。”(掌声)我们齐心协力必须为之奋斗的世界将使我们因彼此间有所不同而更充满活力,而不是被其定格。美国体现着这一理想,我们支持这一理想。
对以色列人和巴勒斯坦人来说,未来决不能属于拒绝和平前景的人。让我们抛开那些靠冲突得势的人,那些拒绝以色列生存权利的人。道路是艰难的,但目标明确──一个安全的、以色列犹太国家与一个独立的、繁荣的巴勒斯坦。(掌声)美国理解,这样的和平必须是通过各方达成公正的协议取得,因此,对于所有准备踏上这一征途的人,美国将伴你们同行。
在叙利亚,未来决不能属于屠杀自己人民的独裁者。如果今天世界有一个原因要呼吁抗议,和平抗议,那就是因为有一个政权在折磨儿童,在向住宅公寓发射火箭。我们必须保持努力,确保不让以公民争取自身权利开始的行动沦为教派暴力循环。
我们必须齐心协力,站在坚信另一种前景的叙利亚人一边,即一个团结的,包容的叙利亚,它的儿童不必惧怕政府,所有叙利亚人──逊尼派和阿拉维派(Alawites),库尔德人(Kurds)和基督徒──都对如何管理国家享有发言权。这是美国所支持的。这是我们将为之努力的结果──要让迫害者受到制裁,承担后果,让为全民利益而奋斗的人得到援助和支持。我们相信,向往这一前景的利比亚人具有领导力量,也具有合法性。
在伊朗,我们看到暴力与不负责任的意识形态之路正在通向何方。伊朗人民有着非凡悠久的历史,许多伊朗人希望与邻人一道过和平富足的生活。但是,伊朗政府在限制自己人民权利的同时,支持大马士革(Damascus)的独裁者,支持海外的恐怖主义组织。它一而再,再而三地坐失机会,不表明其核项目属于和平用途,并且未能满足联合国对它的要求。
因此,我要明确表示:美国希望通过外交途径解决这个问题,我们认为依然存在采取这种解决方式的时间和空间。然而,时间不是无限的。我们尊重各国以和平方式使用核能的权利,联合国的宗旨之一就是确保我们把这种能量用于和平目的。毫无疑问:一个拥有核武器的伊朗不是一个能够制约的挑战。它将威胁到以色列的生存、海湾国家的安全和全球经济的稳定。它可能在该地区触发核军备竞赛,破坏不扩散核武器条约的成果。出于这个原因,一个多国联合阵线要求伊朗政府承担责任。出于同样的原因,美国将采取必要行动防止伊朗取得核武器。
痛苦的经历告诉我们,不尊重国际法和人权,就不可能走上安全与繁荣的道路。这就是为什么这个机构建立于战争的废墟之上。这就是为什么在冷战中自由战胜了暴政。这也是过去二十年的教训。
历史表明,只有那些作出正确选择的人才会得到和平与进步。世界各地的国家都曾走过这条艰难的道路。欧洲曾经是20世纪最血腥的战场,如今团结一致,享有自由与和平。从巴西到南非,从土耳其到韩国,从印度到印尼,不同种族、宗教、传统的国家帮助亿万民众摆脱贫困,同时尊重公民的权利,履行作为国家应尽的责任。
正是由于我在这一生中所见证的进步,特别是在担任总统近四年后所见证的进步,我对我们所生活的这个世界才充满希望。伊拉克的战争已经结束。美国军队已经返回家园。我们在阿富汗开始了过渡,我们和我们的盟友将在2014年如期结束战争。“基地”组织被削弱,乌萨马•本•拉登已经不复存在。各国共同努力,确保核材料的安全,美国和俄罗斯正在削减军备。我们看到人们作出了困难的抉择──从内比都到开罗到阿比让──公民被赋予更大的力量。
面临经济挑战,世界各国齐心协力,增进繁荣。通过20国集团,我们与新兴国家合作,帮助世界经济持续复苏。美国实施了刺激增长、打破依赖的发展议程,与非洲领导人携手努力,帮助他们满足自己国家的食品供应。新的伙伴关系旨在打击腐败,促进政府开放透明。[我们]通过“平等未来伙伴关系”(Equal Futures Partnership)作出了新承诺,确保女性能够充分参与政治活动,利用机会。今天晚些时候,我将介绍我们在打击罪恶的人口贩运活动中所做的努力。
所有这一切都使我看到希望。但是,给我带来最大希望的不是我们的行动,不是领导人的行动──而是我所见到的那些普通人。美国军人为了万里以外的陌生人甘冒失去肢体乃至生命的风险;雅加达或汉城的学生充满热忱地用他们的知识增进人类福祉;布拉格广场上或加纳议会中一张张为追求民主理想而呼吁的面庞;里约热内卢贫民窟中和孟买学校里闪烁着希望之光的青少年的眼睛。这些不同种族、不同信仰的男人、女人和孩子们使我想起,相对于电视镜头中的每一群暴民,世界上都有保持类似希望和理想的亿万民众。他们告诉我们:人性息息相通。
在我们的世界中,人们太过于关注我们的分歧。这就是我们在新闻中看到的内容。这就是我们在政治辩论中一再重复的内容。但是,如果我们剥离其表象,世界各地的人都渴望能有决定自己命运的自由、工作带来的尊严、信仰带来的安慰、政府服务于人民──而不是与此相反──时所产生的公正。
美利坚合众国将永远支持这些理想,不仅为我们自己,也为了世界各地的人民。这正是我们的建国理念。这正是我们的历史使命。这也是克里斯•史蒂文斯终生为之努力的目标。
我可以向各位承诺:在杀人凶手被绳之以法后的长期岁月里,克里斯•史蒂文斯的奉献将继续体现于他所改变的那些生命之中──包括成千上万走上班加西街头抗议暴力的民众,包括那些把他们的“脸谱”换成克里斯的照片的利比亚人,还将体现于这样一些言简意赅的标语牌中:“克里斯•史蒂文斯是所有利比亚人的朋友。”
他们应当让我们感受到希望。他们应当使我们记住,只要我们坚持不懈地努力,正义终将得到伸张,历史站在我们一边,自由的潮流势不可挡,永远不会逆转。
多谢各位。(掌声)
美国东部夏令时上午10:16
..............................................................................................奥巴马在联大发表演讲回应穆斯林世界反美浪潮 2012年09月26日 07:13:13 来源:中国新闻网
据联合国网站消息,美国总统奥巴马美国东部时间9月25日出席第67届联合国大会一般性辩论,发表了他在11月6日美国大选开始之前最为重要的一次外交政策演讲,就叙利亚危机、伊朗核问题、中东和平进程、阿拉伯世界反美和反西方浪潮等议题全面阐述了美国政府的立场。
奥巴马当天发表了长达30分钟的主旨演讲。他首先回顾了早些时候在利比亚第二大城市班加西发生的暴力围攻美国领事馆事件中遇袭身亡的美国驻利比亚大使克里斯托弗·史蒂文斯的生平,并向这位52岁的资深外交官表示致敬。
奥巴马指出,过去两周来发生在埃及、突尼斯、也门等阿拉伯国家的反美暴力活动不仅仅只是针对美国的攻击,更是对奠定了联合国成立之基础的一切理念的冲击,这提醒世人:实现真正的民主与自由之路艰难而坎坷。
奥巴马说,一段粗俗且令人厌恶的视频过去两周来让整个穆斯林世界群情激愤。这部影片与美国政府没有任何关系,而且它所传达的讯息必须遭到尊重我们共同人性的所有人的唾弃。它不仅仅只是对穆斯林的侮辱,对美国也是同样如此。
奥巴马说,美国是一个宽容接纳不同种族和宗教的人的国家,也是穆斯林的家园。“很多人质疑为什么不禁止这段视频,答案是:美国宪法保护言论自由权。”
奥巴马强调,愤怒不应成为袭击驻外使馆、杀害无辜民众的借口;过去两周发生的反美浪潮凸现出西方与阿拉伯世界有效化解紧张关系的必要性。他就此呼吁国际社会领导人一致严厉谴责暴力和极端主义,并继续致力于保护人权和改善民主等关键工作。
同时,奥巴马指出,美国决不会因此退出世界舞台,将坚决维护“民主价值”,把那些伤害美国公民及其朋友的犯罪分子依法严惩,并在互利共赢的基础上与其盟友和伙伴继续深入合作。
在当天的发言中,奥巴马还特别就叙利亚危机以及伊朗核问题阐释了美国的主张。他表示,“叙利亚的未来不应该属于一个屠杀本国人民的独裁者”;他敦促该国领导人阿萨德下台,以便“让叙利亚人民的痛苦终止,让新的黎明来临。”
奥巴马同时表示,“拥有核武器的伊朗将成为一个无法遏制的国际挑战”。他就此向伊朗发出警告,称通过外交手段解决伊朗核问题的时间正在流逝,美国将采取一切必要手段阻止伊朗获得核武器。(中新网9月26日电)