奥巴马当选演讲 中英文

第一篇：奥巴马当选演讲 中英文

《奥巴马当选后演讲全文》（中文版）

芝加哥的公民们，大家好！

如果现在仍然有人怀疑在美国是不是真的任何事情都可能发生，怀疑我们开国之父们的梦想是否还留存在这片土地上，怀疑美国民主的力量，今夜，就是你的答案。

在这个国家的学校和教堂中人们曾焦急地等待着答案，一些人甚至从未像今天一样——等待了3～4个小时，但是他们知道这一时刻非同一般，他们的声音也同样非同一般。

在美国的土地上，无论是年轻人还是老人；穷人还是富人；无论是共和党人还是民主党人；无论是黑人、白人、西班牙裔、亚裔、美国原住民、同性恋、异性恋、残疾人还是非残疾人都发出同一种信息，我并非孤身一人。

我们是，而且永远都是美利坚合众国！

这一天我们等得太久了，但是今晚，因为我们在这场竞选中、在这个地点、在此时此刻所做的一切，改变已经降临美国。

在今天晚上，我很荣幸地接到了麦凯恩参议员打来的电话。麦凯恩参议员在这场竞选中进行了长久、艰难的努力。而且，为这个他热爱的国家，他奋斗了更久、付出了更多的努力。他为美国做出了超乎我们大多数人想象的牺牲，因为这个无畏无私的领导人所付出的努力，我们才有了更好的生活。我对他表示祝贺，也对佩林州长所取得的成果表示祝贺。同时，我也期待着能在接下来的几个月内，和他们共同努力履行对这个国家的诺言。

我想感谢我在这个旅程中的搭档，一个全心全意参加竞选的男人，一个为同他一起在斯克蓝顿(宾夕法尼亚东北部城市)街道长大、一起坐火车到特拉华州的人们发言的男人，美国未来的副总统，乔〃拜登。

在过去的16年里如果没有朋友们的支持和鼓励，那么我今晚将不会站在这里……我的家庭的支持、关爱，美国的下一位第一夫人米歇尔〃奥巴马，还有萨沙和玛丽雅，我对你们的爱甚至超出你们的想象，你们将得到新的爸爸，和你们一起到新的白宫。

我却再也不能陪伴我的外祖母了，但我知道她一直在守望着我们。我也十分想念我的家人和亲戚，我知道自己亏欠他们太多，太多。我要感谢马娅，阿尔玛，以及我所有的兄弟姐妹，感谢你们对我无私的支持，对此我深表感激。还有，感谢我的竞选经理大卫〃普劳夫。还有那些在竞选活动中的无名英雄们，他们表现的很棒，是他们给美国带来了一场最完美的大选，我想，这在美国历史上是绝无仅有的。还有我的首席战略师大卫〃阿克塞尔罗德。他是我的伙伴，在我竞选的每个阶段都给我极大的帮助，为我打造了美国大选史上最棒的竞选团队。是你让这一切发生了，我将永远对你为这一切做出的牺牲心存感激。但是最重要的，我将 永远无法忘记这场胜利真正的主人，这属于你们，这属于你们。

我曾经是最不可能赢得白宫的候选人。在刚开始的时候，我们没有多少钱，也没有多少支持者，我们的竞选不是从华盛顿的大厅开始的，而是开始于艾奥瓦州得梅因的后院、康科德的客厅、查尔斯顿的前厅。是辛勤劳作的男人、女人捐给了我们他们微薄的积蓄，5块钱、10块钱、20块钱。我们从年轻人那里得到了力量，他们拒绝服从同龄人冷漠的神话。为了工作，他们离开了自己的家乡，并与亲人分别，可是他们拿很少的报酬，甚至连睡觉的时间也少的可怜。

那些并不年轻的志愿者却拥有一颗火热的心，为了大选他们在寒风中敲开善良的陌生人家的门，这就是为什么两个世纪以来，我们人类，我们的政府没有从地球上消亡的原因。

我想说，这同样也是你们的胜利！我知道，你们不仅仅是为了赢得一个大选，也不仅仅是为了我。你们这样做，是因为知道我们面前任务的艰难。即使我们今晚在这里欢庆，我们仍然知道明天将会带来我们平生最大的挑战——两场战争，一个处于危险边缘的星球、一个世纪来最严重的金融危机。

在孩子们熟睡后依然醒着的父亲母亲在担心，他们怎样才能还清医生的账单，攒够足够的钱供孩子的大学教育。

新的能源要去开发，新的工作岗位要去创造，新的学校要去建造，新的威胁要去面对，新的盟友关系要去修复。

前面的路会很长。我们的攀岩会很陡峭。我们甚至不会在一年、一个任期内达到这个目标。但是，美国，我从未比今夜更加相信，我们会达到这个目标。

我承诺，作为一个人，我们会达到这个目标。

以后我们还会面对挫折和谎言，我成为总统以后，也许有人无法认同我的每一项政策和方针。并且我们也知道政府并非能解决一切问题。但是我会忠诚地和你们并肩奋斗，共同面对挑战。我依然会倾听你们的声音，尤其是我们之间存在分歧的时候。最重要的是，我会真诚地邀请你参与国家的重建，就像美国建国221年以来的历史那样——靠我们的双手把国家建设地更为强大。

我们从21个月以前的冬天开始了奋斗的征程，但是我们的努力不会在这个秋天的夜晚结束。这次胜利并不会改变我们的探索之路，这对于我们来说是一个难得的机遇，我们决不能后退。我们不会退缩，因为我们拥有旺盛的精力和无畏牺牲的精神。

让我们重振爱国主义精神，承担起自己的责任，我们将努力奋斗，互帮互助。

让我们牢记金融危机给美国带来的伤痛，我们再也不会让华尔街繁荣的同时，让别的街受罪。

在这个国家里，我们与祖国的命运紧密相连。让我们自觉抵制党派争端和过于污秽的政治斗争。

让我们牢记在这条街道上高举共和党旗帜入主白宫的那个人(林肯)，是他宣扬了独立和自主的精神，完成了国家的统一。

这些价值观应该得到继承和发扬，今晚民主党取得了胜利，我们必须保持谦虚的心态，并下定决心完成后面的征程。就像很久以前，林肯对一个比现在分裂得更严重的民族所说的那样，我们不是敌人，是朋友。

虽然热情已经被冲淡，我们的友爱纽带没有破裂。

同时，对于我没有赢得支持的民众，我或许没有得到你们的投票，但是我听到了你们的声音。我需要你们的帮助。我也会是你们的总统。

对于那些在另外一个海岸，从国会到王宫、到在被世界遗忘的角落摆弄收音机、关注美国今夜的人们，我们的故事并非只有一个，但是目标是共同的，美国领导力的新的黎明已经到来。

美国应该变化，我们的社会应该更完美。我们已经取得的成果给了我们明天取得更大成果的希望。

这次大选有很多首创和许多故事，这些故事将代代相传。但今天晚上我脑子里能想起来的就是一个女人，她刚刚在亚特兰大城投了票。她跟成千上万在这次大选中排队发出自己声音的人一样，唯有一点例外：安〃尼克松〃库珀已经106岁高龄了。她出生在奴隶制刚刚废除后的那一代，那时路上没有汽车，天上没有飞机。像她那样的人仍不能投票，这因为两个方面的原因：一是她是女性；二是因为她的肤色。

可今晚，我想她看透了一个世纪的美国——头疼与希望；挣扎与发展。有人告诉我们，美国不行了，可美国人的自信却回答：不，我们行！她曾经生活在女性发不出声音、希望破灭的时代，可她却活着看到女性们站起来，发出自己的声音，并且投下自己的票。是的，我们行！

当饥饿来到，衰退发生时，她看到了这个国家是如何以新政，新工作，和全新的共同目标来战胜恐惧的。

当炸弹落到我们的港口，独裁者威胁世界的时候，她亲眼见证了一代人的崛起和民主得以挽救。是的，我们行！她去蒙哥马利搭乘公共汽车，她去伯明翰面对水龙头，她去塞尔玛占桥……她听来自亚特兰大的牧师告诉大家：“我们能打破种族障碍”，没错，我们行！

今年，在这次大选中，她投下了自己的一票。因为在美国生活了106个年头，经 历了最好的时光与最难的岁月，所以她知道美国一定能改变。是的，我们行！

美国已经经历了太多，我们看够了太多，但我们还得做更多的事。今晚，让我们问自己：如果我们的孩子们要活着看到新世纪，如果我们的女儿们能像安〃尼克松这样活到106岁，我们应该有哪些进步？我们应该回答这个问题，这是我们的时代。

现在是我们一起开始工作，为我们的孩子打开机遇之门，恢复我们的繁荣，促进和平，重回美国梦，恢复基本信任，以及其它许多事的时候了。我们应该团结如一人。我们应该坚定地回应那些说我们不行的人，我们将以无穷的力量来回应他们，然后说：是的，我们行！

感谢大家，上帝保佑你们，上帝保佑美利坚！《奥巴马当选后演讲全文》（英文版）

Hello, Chicago.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.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.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.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.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.A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen.McCain.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.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.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.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.Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine.And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.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.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.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.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.But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to.It belongs to you.It belongs to you.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.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.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.This is your victory.And I know you didn't do this just to win an election.And I know you didn't do it for me.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.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.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.There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.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.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.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.What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.This victory alone is not the change we seek.It is only the chance for us to make that change.And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.Those are values that we all share.And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends.Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices.I need your help.And I will be your president, too.And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.To those--to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security: We support you.And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.That's the true genius of America: that America can change.Our union can be perfected.What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta.She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.She was born just a generation past slavery;a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky;when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons--because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America--the heartache and the hope;the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved.Yes we can.She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.Yes we can.America, we have come so far.We have seen so much.But there is so much more to do.So tonight, let us ask ourselves--if our children should live to see the next century;if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one;that while we breathe, we hope.And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.Thank you.God bless you.And may God bless the United States of America.9

第二篇：奥巴马当选演讲

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.如果还有人仍在怀疑美国是否是一个一切皆有可能的国度的话，如果还有人仍在疑虑我们美国的缔造者的梦想是否还存在于我们这个时代的话，如果还有人仍在质疑

我们民主的力量的话，今晚你就可以得到答案。

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.它的答案告诉延伸线，围绕学校和教堂的人数这个民族从未见过的，等待三个小时，四个小时的人们，许多第一次在他们的生活，因为他们认为，这次一定是不同的，他们的声音可能是不同的。

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.不管你是年轻人还是老年人，是富人还是穷人，是民主党人还是共和党人，是黑人还是白人，也不管你是拉丁美洲人或亚洲人还是本土美国人，更无论你是否为同性变者、是否是残疾人，这是美国人共同的答案。美国人向全世界传递一个声音，那就是我们的选举从不分红州或蓝州。We are, and always will be, the United States of America.我们属于，而且永远只属于美利坚合众国。

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.它的答案，导致这些谁一直在说这么长时间这么多的是玩世不恭和恐惧和怀疑是我们能够实现把他们手中的弧的历史和弯曲再次向希望一个更美好的一天。

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，但在今晚的这一决定性时刻，由于我们在这次选举中的努力，美国终于迎来了变革。A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen.McCain.今天傍晚稍早的时候，我接到麦凯恩参议员一个特别亲切的电话。

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，他坚持不懈，努力了很长时间，而且他还会为他所热爱的国家继续更加努力。他已经为美国奉献了太多，以到于我们许多人都无法想象。我们必须要更好地服务于我们的祖国，以补偿这位勇敢而无私的领导人。

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.我祝贺他以及佩林此前取得的所有成绩，而且我希望能够与他们合作，重申数月前我们对国家所做的承诺。

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.我要感谢在这个征途上我的合作伙伴，一名男子从谁竞选他的心，并以对男性和女性，他成长起来的街道上骑着顿和同在火车上家美国特拉华州，副总统当选美国，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.在过去16年间，如果没有我最好朋友的坚定支持，没有我家庭成员的强力支撑，没有我妻子，也就美国未来的第一夫人米歇尔-奥巴马无私的爱，今晚我不可能站在这里。Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine.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，你们肯定也沉浸在即将入住白宫的喜悦之中。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.然而，我的外祖母已永远离开了我们，但我知道她也正和所有支持我的家人一样在看着我。我今晚非常想念他们，而且知道我欠他们的太多。

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，我的妹妹阿尔玛，我的所有其他的兄弟姐妹们，感谢你们给了我这么多的一切支持，我感谢他们。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.和我的竞选顾问大卫-Plouffe，此次竞选的无名英雄，我认为，是他打造了美利坚合众国历史上最好的-最好的政治运动。To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.我的首席策略师大卫——阿克塞尔罗德，在一个合作伙伴与我的每一步。

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.最好的竞选团队以往任何时候都聚集在历史上的政治你这一点，我永远感谢您什么牺牲得到工作要做。

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，我永远不会忘记这场胜利的所有者，胜利属于你们，胜利属于你们。

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.我从来没有对可能的候选人，这个办公室。我们没有开始多少钱或许多签注。我们的运动是不能孵化的大厅华盛顿。它开始在后院得梅因和客厅的和谐与前面门廊的查尔斯顿。这是由工作男性和女性谁挖成小储蓄，他们不得不放弃5美元和10美元和20美元的事业。

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.它成长的力量的年轻人谁拒绝他们神话一代人的冷漠谁离开他们的家园和他们的家属就业提供一点工资和少睡觉。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.它提请强度从不那么谁年轻人冒着严寒和酷暑敲门，门完美的陌生人，并从数以百万计的美国人谁自愿组织和证明，两个多世纪后，人民的政府由人民，为人民还没有灭亡的地球。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.我知道你们没有这样做只是为了赢得大选。我知道你们因为多而没有这样做。

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.你这样做，是因为你明白艰巨性的任务摆在面前。即使在我们庆祝的今晚，我们知道，明天的挑战将是最大的我们的有生之年-两场战争，地球处于危险，最严重的金融危机的一个世纪。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.即使我们今晚站在这里，我们知道有勇敢的美国人起床在沙漠伊拉克和阿富汗山区冒着生命危险为我们。

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.有父亲和母亲谁将躺在清醒后的孩子入睡和不知道他们会作抵押或支付其医生的法案或储存足够的孩子的大学教育。

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.有新能源可以利用，新的工作岗位要建立，新的学校建设，和威胁去处理，联盟要修理。

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.未来的路还很长，而且我们正在艰难地攀登在陡峭的山坡之上。我们未必能够在一年或是在一个总统任期之内达到目标，但美国肯定可以。我们肯定可以达到目标，此前我从未有今天晚上的如此信心。

I promise you, we as a people will get there.我向你们承诺，我们肯定可以。

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.当然，这一过程肯定还会出现挫折，甚至是不成功的开始。我作为总统所做出的决策，肯定也会有许多人并不赞同。我们知道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.但我也会向你们诚恳地交待我们所面临的挑战。我会认真听从你们的建议，尤其是意见不一致的时候。总之，我邀请你们加入到国家再建的工作之中。221年来，我们的国家就是这样一砖一瓦，一点一滴地建造起来的。

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.我们开始于21个月前深冬，不会结束在今年的这个秋天的夜晚结束。This victory alone is not the change we seek.It is only the chance for us to make that change.And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.这仅仅是胜利而不是我们所寻求的变化。这是唯一的机会，我们做出的改变。并能不会发生，如果我们回到这样的。

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.没有你，没有一种新的服务精神，新的牺牲精神，它不能发生。So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.因此，让我们拿出一个新的爱国主义精神，责任感，在我们每个人都决心在球场和努力，并期待后，不仅自己，而且对方。

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.让我们记住，如果此次金融危机告诉我们什么，那就是我们不可能拥有一个蓬勃发展的华尔街，当主街受到影响时。

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.在这个国家，我们的兴衰，作为一个民族，作为一个人。让我们抵制诱惑，回到属于同一党派和鸡毛蒜皮的小事和不成熟有毒害我们的政治这么久。

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.让我们铭记，是这个州的人第一次将共和党的旗帜扛进了白宫，(共和党)是一个将价值观建立在自信、个人自由以及国家团结基础上的政党。

Those are values that we all share.And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.我们所有人都信奉这一价值。民主党今晚获得了巨大的胜利，但我们未来将用谦卑和决心来弥补竞选过程中产生的裂痕。As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends.Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.正如林肯所说，我们不是敌人，而是朋友。我们决不能成为敌人，尽管目前的情绪有些紧张，但决不能容许它使我们之间的亲密情感纽带破裂。And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices.I need your help.And I will be your president, too.对于那些支持我的美国人，以及那些没有将选票投给我的人，我倾听到了你们的声音，我需要得到你们的帮助，而我也同样是你们的总统。

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.和所有观看今晚从超出了我们的海岸，来自议会和宫殿，那些谁是围着收音机中被遗忘的角落的世界，我们的故事是独特的，但我们的命运是共同的，新的曙光美国领导在手。To those--to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security: We support you.And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.那些-那些谁将世界撕裂了：我们将打败你。这些谁寻求和平与安全的：我们支持你。对于所有那些疑惑美国的灯塔是否还会继续明亮燃烧的人，今夜我们将再次证明，我们国家的力量并不是来源来我们的胳膊的臂力，也不是来源于我们的财富，而是源自于我们理念的持久力量。这些理念包括：民主、自由、机会以及坚贞不屈的希望。

That's the true genius of America: that America can change.Our union can be perfected.What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.这是真正的天才合众国：美国会发生变化。我们的工会可以完善。我们已经取得了让我们希望我们能够而且必须实现的明天。This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta.She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.这次选举有许多优势，许多故事，会被告知几代人。但是，这在我脑海今晚的约一个女人谁投她的选票在亚特兰大。她就像数以百万计的其他人谁站在线，使他们的声音在这次选举中除一件事：尼克松安库珀是106岁。She was born just a generation past slavery;a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky;when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons--because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.她出生的一代刚刚过去的奴役;当时有没有汽车在道路上或飞机在天空中;当有人能像她一样不参加表决的原因有两个-因为她是一名女子，由于她的颜色皮肤。

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America--the heartache and the hope;the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.今晚，我想所有的，她在整个看到她在美国的世纪-在心痛和希望;的斗争和取得的;的时候，我们被告知，我们不能，和人民谁压上与美国的信条：是我们能够做到。

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.当时妇女的声音被压制和他们的希望被驳回，她活着看到他们站起来，说出并达成的选票。是我们能够做到。

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.当有绝望中的尘埃和抑郁一碗全国的土地，她看到一个民族征服恐惧本身的新政，新的就业机会，一个新的共同使命感。是我们能够做到。

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved.Yes we can.当炸弹落在我们的港口和暴政威胁世界，她在那里目睹了一代产生的伟大和民主是保存。是我们能够做到。

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.她在那里的巴士蒙哥马利，软管在英国伯明翰，桥梁塞尔玛和传教士从亚特兰大谁告诉人民，“我们克服。”是我们能够做到。A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.一名男子降落在月球上，墙上下来在柏林，世界是连接我们自己的科学和想象力。

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.今年，在这次选举中，她谈到她的手指到屏幕上，她和演员投票，因为106年后，在美国，通过最好的时候和最黑暗的时间，她知道怎样可以改变美国。Yes we can.是我们能够做到。

America, we have come so far.We have seen so much.But there is so much more to do.So tonight, let us ask ourselves--if our children should live to see the next century;if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?美国，我们来到迄今。我们已经看到这么多。但有这么多事情要做。因此，今夜，让我们反问一下我们自己，如果我们的孩子能够活到下个世纪；如果我的女儿能够幸运地活得像安-尼克森-库珀那样长，他们将会看到什么样的变化？我们那时将会取得什么样的进步？

This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.这是我们来回答问题的机会，这是我们的时刻。

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one;that while we breathe, we hope.And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.这是我们的时代，要使我们的人民重新工作并将机会留给我们的子孙；重新恢复繁荣并促进和平；回归我们的美国梦想并重申一个基本事实--在众人之中，我们也是其中一个；当我们呼吸，当我们充满希望的时候，我们遭遇冷嘲热讽和质疑，那些人认为我们无法做到。我们将用一句话来做出回应：不，我们可以！

Thank you.God bless you.And may God bless the United States of America.谢谢您。上帝保佑你。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。

mp3下载地址：http://download.guardian.co.uk/audio/kip/standalone/world/1225874746775/2943/gdn.new.081105.ad.Obama-victory-speech.mp3

Hello, Chicago.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.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.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.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.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.A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen.McCain.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.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.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.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.Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine.And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.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.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.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.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.But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to.It belongs to you.It belongs to you.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.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.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.This is your victory.And I know you didn't do this just to win an election.And I know you didn't do it for me.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.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.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.There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.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.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.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.What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.This victory alone is not the change we seek.It is only the chance for us to make that change.And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.Those are values that we all share.And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends.Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices.I need your help.And I will be your president, too.And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.To those--to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security: We support you.And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.That's the true genius of America: that America can change.Our union can be perfected.What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta.She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.She was born just a generation past slavery;a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky;when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons--because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America--the heartache and the hope;the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved.Yes we can.She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.Yes we can.America, we have come so far.We have seen so much.But there is so much more to do.So tonight, let us ask ourselves--if our children should live to see the next century;if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one;that while we breathe, we hope.And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.Thank you.God bless you.And may God bless the United States of America.中文翻译：http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5c70e2670100b6wi.html

下面就是巴拉克-奥巴马所做的2008年总统候选人就职演讲全文：

美国是一个任何事情都有可能发生的国家，对于这一点如果还有任何人心存怀疑，对民主的力量还表示疑虑的话，今晚就是对这一问题的最好回答。

这个答案早已经印在了到处悬挂在学校和教堂的竞选条幅上，人们随处可见；这些人们已经等待了三四个小时，对于他们当中的大多数，这是有生以来第一次经历这样的过程，因为他们坚信这一时刻注定与众不同，而这种不同便有可能源自他们所发出的声音。

这个答案出自这些人之口，无论是青年还是老年，穷人还是富人，民主党还是共和党，黑人还是白人，拉丁裔、亚裔还是美国本土人，同性恋者还是异性恋者，残疾人还是非残疾人——他们向世界发出了这样的信息——我们从来不分红色之州和蓝色之州，我们永远都是美利坚合众国。

这个答案告诉了那些一直以来充满焦虑、恐惧和怀疑的人们，我们可以将双手放在历史的转折点上，将它再次带向充满希望的美好明天。

这一刻我们已经等待了太久，但是今晚，由于我们在这一决定性的时刻所作出的选择，美国便迎来了它崭新的一刻。

我刚刚接到了来自麦凯恩议员的电话。他在这场漫长而艰难的选举中一直努力着，而他为他所热爱的国家所付出的努力甚至更加艰辛而久远。可能我们当中的很多人甚至都无法想象，麦凯恩议员从何时便开始为我们的国家奉献自己，而我们却早已享受到了这位勇敢无私的领导者为国家所做出的贡献。对于他和佩林所付出的努力，我表示衷心的感谢，同时我也期待着，能够和他们一同努力，共同实现我们这几个月来所做出的承诺。

我要感谢我的竞选伙伴，新当选的美国副总统乔·拜登，这一路走来，他始终遵循着自己内心深处的那个声音，他始终代表着那些和他一起在斯克兰顿街边长大，一起坐着火车回到故乡特拉华州的人们的声音。

如果没有过去这16年来挚友的支持，没有稳定的家庭和对生活的爱，没有我们国家的下一位第一夫人，米歇尔·奥巴马，今晚我将不可能站在这里。萨莎和玛丽亚，我爱你们，你们已经得到了一只新的小狗，它将和我们一起入住白宫。还有我的祖母，虽然她已经不能和我们一起分享这一刻，但是我知道，她正和我的家人一起，注视着我，陪我经历着这一刻。我不会忘记，是他们养育我成人，今晚我是如此的想念他们，我知道，我所亏欠他们的，是永远无法报答的恩情。

对我的竞选负责人大卫·普罗菲，我的首席战略家大卫·亚克瑟罗德以及有史以来最优秀的竞选团队，我想对你们说的是——是你们成就了今天的一切，我将永远感激你们所付出的这一切。

但是，最重要的是，我将永远不会忘记，这个胜利是真正属于你们的！

我一直都不是最有希望的那个候选人，一开始的时候我们便没有那么多的资金或支持。我们的竞选之路并不是从华盛顿的高楼礼堂中开始的，它从德梅因的后院、协和酒店的客厅以及查尔斯顿的门廊中迈出了第一步。

它由那些需要从自己有限的存款中拿出5美元、10美元和20美元的工人们建立起来；那些摒弃了他们那一代人冷漠神话的年轻人，那些远离家乡亲人在外打拼却只能赚得微薄工资的人们，那些抵抗着刺骨的寒冷和灼人的炎热敲响了陌生人家大门的人们，是你们给了它成长的力量；数以百万计的美国人民自愿组织起来，他们想要去证明两个多世纪之后，一个由人民组成的政府，一个属于人民的政府，一个为了人民的政府是不会从地球上消亡的，这就是属于你们的胜利！

我知道，你们这样做并不只是想赢得一场选举，我也知道，你们这样做并不是为我一个人。你们这样做，是因为你们了解前方的任务是如何的艰巨。甚至就在我们庆祝的同时，我们也清楚地明白，明天将要面临的挑战是多么巨大——两大战争，一个处于危险中的星球，本世纪最严重的经济危机。就在我们站在这里的同时，我们清楚地知道，还有许多勇敢的美国人正在伊拉克的沙漠和阿富汗的群山中醒来，为了我们而冒着生命的危险。还有许许多多的父母们，只有在自己的孩子入睡后才能躺下，他们为房子的贷款和医院的账单还有孩子们的学费而发愁。放心，我们会注入新的能量，创造新的就业机会，建设新的学校，面对威胁与挑战，修复我们的联盟。

前方的道路还很漫长。我们所面临的山峰是险峻的。或许一年甚至很长一段时间我们都无法攀上峰顶，但是美国——我从来没有像今晚这样坚信，我们最终一定会到达。我向你保证——我们的民族最终会到达山顶的。

也许会有挫折坎坷，作为总统我所做出的决定和政策必定会遭到一些人的反对，而我们也知道政府不能够解决所有问题。但是我将会诚实地告诉你们我们所面对的挑战。我会耐心倾听你们的心声，尤其是在遇到分歧的时候。而最重要的是，我将会让你们加入到重建我们国家的队伍当中来，沿着美国这221年来一直所走的那条道路——一块块砖瓦，一双双手，一点点堆砌出我们的家园。

21个月之前的那个冬天所开始的，不会在这个秋天的夜晚结束。这个胜利本身并不是我们所要找寻的改变——这只是一个改变的机会。如果我们回到老路上，那么一切都不会得到改变。没有你们，这一切也不会得到改变。

那么，就让我们重新召唤起爱国主义、公仆之心以及国家责任的精神来，每个人都参与其中，一起努力，不单只是关心自身，而是互相照顾。让我们记住这场经济危机所教会我们的一点，如果主街道遭受了打击，那么华尔街也不可能幸免——在这个国家，我们作为一个民族，一个整体，同存亡共荣辱。

让我们摒弃掉那些长久以来一直危害我们的政治生活的那些幼稚琐碎的党派之争。让我们记住，是这个国家的人第一次将共和党的横幅挂在了白宫之上，而共和党的建立便是基于对自力更生、独立自由和国家统一价值的肯定。这一价值是我们所共享的，即便民主党今晚赢得了大选，我们也会怀着谦虚的心态，去消除这一分歧和隔膜。在面临着比今天更严重的国家分裂时，林肯说过，“我们不是敌人，而是朋友。。我们友情的纽带，或会因情绪激动而绷紧，但决不可折断。”而对于那些我还没有赢得支持的选民们——也许我还没有赢得你们的选票，但是我听到了你们声音，我需要你们的帮助，而我也同样是你们的总统。

对于那些远在大洋彼岸的，在国会和皇宫中，在我们这个世界被遗忘的角落中围在收音机旁关注着大选之夜的人们——我们的故事是不同的，但是我们的命运却是紧紧连在一起的，美国领袖新的一天的黎明即将到来。对于那些会将世界四分五裂的人们，我们将打败你们，对于那些渴求和平和安全的人们，我们将支持你们。而对于所有那些想知道，自由女神像手中的火炬是否还会依旧闪耀光芒的人们，今晚我们再次证明了，我们民族的真正实力并不只是来自于武力和财富，而是来自于我们理想的力量:民主，自由，机遇以及永不屈服的希望。

美国真正的天赋在于，它懂得改变。我们的联盟会不断完善自己。而我们已经取得的成就给了我们希望，让我们坚信我们能够并且即将取得成功。

这次选举拥有许多故事和数不清的第一次，它们将被世世代代流传。但是今晚在我脑海中一直浮现的，是亚特兰大一位女性选民。她就像成千上万的其他选民一样，排在队伍中喊出自己的心声，唯一不同的是——安·尼克松·库伯已经106岁了。

她出生的时候正是奴隶制度解除之后；那时候还没有汽车和飞机；像她一样的人那个时候是没有选举权的，因为她是女人，还因为她皮肤的颜色。

但是今晚，我思考着她所经历的这一个世纪的美国——心痛和希望；斗争与进步；我们被告知我们不能做什么的时代，以及美国人的信条:是的，我们可以！

在那个女性不能发出声音的时代，在那个女性的希望被剥夺的时代，她看着她们站了起来，大声说出自己的想法，投出了自己的选票。是的，我们可以！

当绝望和大萧条袭来的时候，她看到了一个民族通过新政、新的工作和新的共同目的感战胜了恐惧。是的，我们可以！

当炸弹在珍珠港爆炸，当暴政威胁这个世界的时候，她见证了一代人的强大，见证了民主得到了捍卫。是的，我们可以！

她见证了蒙哥马利汽车暴动，见证了塞尔玛大桥事件，遇到了那位来自亚特兰大的牧师，他告诉人们“我们终将会克服一切。”是的，我们可以！

人类登上了月球，柏林墙倒塌了，世界由于我们自身的科学和想象力被连接到了一起。而在这一年，在这次选举中，她的手指触摸到了屏幕，她投出了自己的一票，因为在美国经历了106年的变迁，经历了最好的与最坏的时代后，她了解美国是如何变化的。是的，我们可以！

美国，我们已经走了这么远，我们已经看到了这么多，但是仍然有许多事情等待着我们去做。那么今晚，让我们扪心自问——如果我们的孩子看到了下一个世纪；如果我的女儿也能够和安·尼克松·库伯一样幸运地活到了106岁，那么他们将会看到怎样的变化？我们又将会取得什么样的进步？

对于我们来说，这正是一个对这一疑问给出回答的机会。这是我们的时刻，这是我们的时代——让我们的人民重新回去工作，为我们的孩子打开机会的大门；积累财富，促进和平；重拾美国梦，重申基本的真象——相对于大多数而言，我们是独一无二的；当我们呼吸时，我们希望，在我们面对讥笑、怀疑以及别人对我们说我们不能的时候，我们将会用凝聚了人类精神的永恒信条作出回应:

是的，我们可以！

谢谢你们，愿上帝保佑你们，愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。

第三篇：奥巴马当选演讲

奥巴马当选演讲(全文)2008年11月05日18:11

中国日报网环球在线消息：

美国是否暗藏一切皆有可能的巨大潜力？美国是否已经实现开国者锻造的美国梦？民主信仰是否具有强大力量？如果还有人对此报以怀疑，那么今晚这里发生的一切就是答案。学校旁、教堂边，无数人都在排队投票，这一情景我们已经多年未见；3个小时、4个小时，他们为此而等候良久，这是很多同胞有生以来的第一次。因为他们相信，这一次，将不同以往；这一次，因为他们的呼声而有所不同。

无论老少贫富，无论共和党抑或民主党，不管是黑皮肤、白种人、拉丁后裔、亚裔子孙还是本土美国人；无论性向如何，不管健康抑或残疾，所有的美国人民都向全世界传递出这样一条信息：我们从来都不是红蓝阵营的政治堆砌，我们是，而且永远是，美利坚合众国。

长期以来，很多人缺乏信心，对自己所能取得的成就畏首畏尾、疑心重重。如今，我们走在历史的长河里，挺起胸膛，勾勒出美好明天的光辉画卷。

此情此景，等待尤长。然而，就在今晚，在这个大选的日子，在这个具有历史性意义的时刻，由于你们的付出，美国终于迎来了变革。

刚刚，我接到了麦凯恩参议员礼貌得体的祝贺电话。为了此次竞选，他奋战良久、竭尽所能；为了他所深爱的美国，他曾作出了更长久、更努力的奉献。麦凯恩参议员为美国所作出的牺牲是大部分人难以想象的，他这种英勇无私的奉献改善了我们的生活。对于麦凯恩参议员和佩林州长所取得的成就，我对他们致以祝贺。在接下来的几个月里，以重振美国为目标，我期待着与他们的合作。

在此，我想感谢一路陪伴我的竞选搭档，他就是我们即将上任的副总统，乔-拜登。为了让美国广大的工人阶层发出自己的声音，他毫无私心地全身心投入竞选，因为他和那些宾夕法尼亚州斯克兰顿城街头的人们一样，出生平凡，一切白手起家。

如果没有米歇尔-奥巴马，这一准美国第一夫人的坚定支持，今晚，我就不会站在这儿了。我们相伴走过了16个春秋，她是我们整个家庭的顶梁柱，我一生的挚爱。还有，萨沙和玛利亚，我爱你们，你们姊妹俩终于可以带着你们的新宠物狗入主白宫了。我知道，就像我的其他已故亲属一样，外祖母一定也在某处注视着我，虽然她已经不在人世。是他们造就了今天的我。今晚我很想念他们，我对他们的亏欠无以计量。

我想对我的竞选经理大卫-普劳夫、首席战略师大卫-阿克塞尔罗德以及我们这个史上最佳的竞选团队说，是你们让这一切成为了现实，对于你们为此所做的牺牲和付出我永远感怀在心。

然而，有一点是最重要的，那就是我永远都不会忘记，真正拥有这个胜利的是你们，你们所有人！对于入主白宫，我从来都不是最热候选人。竞选伊始，我们的资金并不充裕，获得的支持也不多。我们的竞选班子并非始于华府，而是一路从艾奥瓦州的得梅因酒店后院、辗转北卡罗莱纳州的康克酒店客房，后来会首在西弗吉尼亚州查尔斯顿酒店的主厅„„

我们的胜利来自于广大工薪阶级，正是他们从仅有的微薄存款里掏出5美元、10美元

或者20美元来支持我们的竞选。我们的力量来自于摘下冷漠面罩的年轻一代，来自于夜以继日奋力工作以维持生计的下层百姓，来自于冒着严寒酷暑、户户敲门宣传的团队中流砥柱，更来自于成千上万的大选志愿者。他们用出色的奉献精神和组织能力证明了一个民有、民治、民享的政府在两百年后仍然保持着生命力。这就是你们的胜利！

我明白，你们所做的这些，并不仅仅是为了赢得这次竞选，也不单单只是为了我本人。你们之所以这么做，是因为你们懂得前方任务的艰巨。即使我们今晚沉浸于庆祝的喜悦之中，我们也深知明天将会面临的将是我们这辈子最为艰巨的挑战：两场战争、濒临危险的地球和百年一遇的金融危机；即使今晚我们安然站在此处，我们也深知那些深陷伊拉克沙漠和阿富汗山区的英勇美国战士，是为了我们而冒着生命危险。还有那些孩子早已熟睡、自己却辗转反侧的人父人母，他们夜不能寐，想着如何还清房贷、如何支付医药费以及给孩子存下大学经费。我们要掌握新能源，创造就业岗位，建造新校舍，正视存在的威胁，并修复与盟友的关系。

前方的道路很漫长，我们将步履维艰。我们也许无法在一年内，甚至是（我的）一个任期内，达成我们的目标。但是，今晚，我比任何时候都对此更有信心。我承诺，我们所有人将作为一个整体顺利的到达目的地。

我们将不可避免地遭遇许多挫折，也许开头并不会一帆风顺。我们需要弄明白一点，那就是政府无法解决所有的问题，也许有很多人不会同意我上台执政后制定的政策。不过，我将坦诚地接受各方的批评，直面我们的挑战。我将倾听你们的意见，尤其是不同的政见。总之，我邀请各位一同投入到国家的建设中来，用我们勤劳的双手堆砌建设这个国家所需的砖瓦。正是这一方式，使美国在221年的建国道路上不断前行。

我在21个月前的深冬开始为竞选做出的努力并不会在今晚画上句号。我们所追求的并不是这场选举的胜利，这仅仅是为我们提供了一个做出变革的机会。如果回到过去的老路，我们将无法做出任何改变。当然，如果没有你们，一切都无法发生。

所以，让我们一同唤醒自己的爱国心，唤醒为国效力的责任感，我们将一道披星戴月，披荆斩棘向前行进，我们需要照顾的不再只有我们自己，而是每一个人。这次的金融危机让我们认识到一个事实，如果大众受苦受难，华尔街就不可能繁华似锦。我们必须携手与共、共同经历这个国家的荣辱兴衰。

长期以来，两党隔阂以及不成熟的狭隘主义造成了我们现在的失败政策，所以让我们一同抵制住这种倾向，避免回到那条老路。请记住，这个国家有一个民主党人将手扛民主和共和两党旗帜迈向白宫。充满自信，崇尚个人自由，维护国家团结将是我们共同追求的价值观。尽管民主党在今晚取得了压倒性的胜利，但是我们将继续带着谦卑前行，愈合这个国家因分裂受到的创伤。社会的分裂曾经阻碍我们国家前行的脚步。正如林肯总统在1861年的反国家分裂的演说中说到，“我们不是敌人，而是朋友。我们决不能成为敌人。尽管目前的情绪有些紧张，但决不能容许它使我们之间的亲密情感纽带破裂。”我要告诉那些没有将选票投给我的朋友，也许我没有赢得你们的选票，但我将聆听你们的声音，我需要你们的帮助，因为我同样将成为你们的总统。

我要告诉那些在美国大陆以外关注今晚选举的人们，也许你们在一个被世界遗忘的角落

通过收音机了解今晚的选举，尽管我们的国情不一样，但是我们的命运是紧紧联系在一起的。一个全新的美国领导层即将呼之欲出。我要告诉那些试图破坏这个世界的人们，我们将打败你们！我要告诉那些追求和平和安全的人们，我们将全力支持你们！我要告诉那些对美国的未来持怀疑态度的人们，今晚，我们再次证明了一个事实，那就是这个国家拥有强大的力量，这并不是因为我们拥有众多的武器和财富。民主、自由、机遇、坚定不屈的希望才是这个国家保持强大的持久力量！

美国强大的真谛在于它能够做出改变，我们的国家可以变得更加完美。我们过去所达到的成就让我们看到了前进的希望。

本届选举创造了多项历史之最，有许多故事将代代相传。但此时此刻，我脑海中想起的是一名来自亚特兰大的选民，这位名叫安妮-尼克松-库珀的女性和千千万万的选民一样，静静地站在投票队伍之中，投出自己的选票，表达自己的声音。不过，与众不同的是，她已经106岁高龄了。在她出生的年代，公路上没有汽车，天空中没有飞机。像她一样的人仅仅因为肤色和性别就被挡在参与投票的大门之外。

今晚，我由此联想到了她一个世纪以来，在美国见证的一切：困苦与希望，奋斗与进步，那是一个让人无能为力的年代，但人们必须不断告诉自己美国的伟大信条：“是的，我们可以！”曾经，女性无法表达自己的意见，她们的希望成为幻影。如今，她终于见证了这一幕，和她一样有着悲惨遭遇的人们成功地投出了自己的选票。是的，我们可以！

当整个美国大陆都笼罩在经济大萧条的绝望之中时，她见证了一个国家战胜自身恐惧，重新崛起，罗斯福总统推行的“新政”不仅给美国带来了新的就业机会，更给美国人民带来了共同的价值观。是的，我们可以！

当日本的原子弹投向我们的港口，当世界被暴政所威胁，她见证了一个崛起的民族，民主重获新生。是的，我们可以！

她目睹了发生在蒙哥马利巴士上、伯明翰的高压水龙头下、塞尔玛大桥上的种族歧视„„而后，来自亚特兰大民权先驱告诉人们，“我们可以战胜这一切”。是的，我们可以！

而后，人类登月，柏林墙倒塌，世界重新集结在科学和想象力的号角下。现在，在这场选举中，她终于用自己的指尖触碰到投票屏幕，郑重地投下选票。饱经106年的沧桑变化，穿越岁月的风云变迁，她知道美国能做出怎样的改变。是的，我们可以！

美国，我们风雨兼程，一路走来。我们经历了太多，但前方仍有许多梦想等待着我们去实现。今晚，让我们大声地问自己，我们的孩子是否还能看到下一个世纪；我可爱的女儿是否能和安妮-尼克松-库珀一样幸运，享受漫长的人生。他们将看到怎样的变革？我们将取得怎样的进步？

这是我们给出答案的机会。这是属于我们的时刻。这是我们的时代：让人们有事可做；为我们的孩子打开机遇之门；推动世界和平与繁荣；再次锻造美国梦，重申这一不可动摇的事实——虽然我们每个人不尽相同，但我们是一个整体，只要我们呼吸尚存，希望就永不磨灭。我们将用那历经时间考验的不朽信条掷地有声地直面质疑：“是的，我们可以！”

谢谢！上帝保佑你们，保佑美利坚合众国！

第四篇：奥巴马开学演讲(中英文)

美国总统奥巴马9月8日开学演讲

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Wakefield High School

Arlington, Virginia Hello, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, everybody.嗨，大家好！谢谢！谢谢大家！

All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat.How is everybody going today? How about Tim Spicer? 好的，大家请就座。你们今天过得怎么样？蒂姆.斯派塞好吗？

I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade.And I am just so glad that all could join us today.And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host.Give yourselves a big round of applause.我现在与弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿郡维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。我还有感谢维克菲尔德高中出色的组织安排，请为你们热烈鼓掌。

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school.And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.我知道，对你们中的许多人来说，今天是开学的第一天。对于刚进入幼儿园或升上初中高中的学生，今天是你们来到新学校的第一天。因此，假如你们搞到有些紧张，那也是正常的。I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now--with just one more year to go.And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满，还有一年就毕业了。不论在哪个年级，许多人打心底里希望现在还是暑假。今天早上还能多睡一小会。

I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived overseas.I lived in Indonesia for a few years.And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education.我可以理解这份心情。小时候，我们家生活中海外。我在印度尼西亚住了几年。我母亲没有钱送我上其他美国孩子上的学校。但她认为必须让我接受美式教育。

So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.因此，他决定从周一到周五自己给我补课。不过她还要上夜班。所以只能在清晨四点半给我上课。

Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early.And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.” 你们可以想象，我不太情愿那么早起床。有很多次，我趴在餐桌上就睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候，我妈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？”

So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.所有我能理解你们有些人还在适应开学后的生活。但几天我站在这里，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一个人的教育，以及这个新学年对你们所有人的期望。

Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education.And I've talked about responsibility a lot.我做过许多关于教育的讲话。也常常用到“责任”这个词。

I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.我谈到过教师有责任激励你们，督促你们学习。

I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.我谈到过家长有责任确保你们走正道、完成家庭作业，不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。

I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.我也多次谈到过政府有责任制定高标准协助老师和校长的工作，改变在有些学校学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.但哪怕这一切都达到最好，哪怕我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长和全世界最好的学校，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，除非你认真听老师讲课，除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们的话放在心上。除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力。否则这一切都会失去意识。而这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。

I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每一个都有自己的长处，你们每个人都时有用之才。你们对自己应尽的责任时发现自己的才能所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会

Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.或许你能写出优美的文字，甚至有一天能将那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上，但假如不再英语课上经常练习写作，你不会发现自己有这样的才能。

Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.或许你能成为一名创新家或发明家。甚至可能设计出新一代iPhone，或研制出新型药物与疫苗。但假如不再自然科学课堂上做上几次试验，你不会发现自己有这样的才能。或许你能成为一名市长或参议员，或最高法院的大法官，但假如你不去加入或参加几次辩论赛，你不会发现自己有这样的才能。

And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.不论你的生活的志向是什么，我敢肯定你都需要相应的教育。

You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你想当护士、建筑师、律师或军人吗？你必须接受良好的教育才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后碰上个好工作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。美国的未来取决于你们。今天你们在学校中的学习内容，将决定我们整个国家在未来迎接重大挑战时的表现。

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.你们需要在数理科学课程上学习知识和技能，去治疗癌症、艾滋病那样的疾病。开发新的能源技术保护我们的环境。You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.你们需要历史社会科课程上活动观察的能力与判断力来抗击贫困和解决无家可归的问题打击犯罪和消除歧视，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培养创造力和智慧去创办公司，制造就业机会和推动经济增长。We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.我们需要你们每一个人都发挥天赋、技能和才智，帮助老一辈人解决我们面临的最棘手问题。如果你们不这样做，入股你们辍学，你们不仅放弃了自己，也放弃了自己的国家。

Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.我当然明白读好书不是件容易的事，我知道你们中的许多人在生活中面临着各种问题。很难把精力集中在专心读书上。I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.我明白这一点，我有亲身感受。我父亲在我两岁时就离开了家庭，是我母亲一个人将我拉扯大，母亲不得不工作并时 常为支付生活费而苦苦挣扎。但有时仍无法位我们提供其他孩子享有的东西。

There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.有时我渴望生活中能有一位父亲。有时我也会感到孤独无助，感觉到与周围的环境格格不入。

So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.我并非总是想我应该做到的那样专心学习，我做过许多自己觉得丢脸的事情，也惹出许多不该惹的麻烦。我的生活岌岌可危，随时可能急转直下。

But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.但我很幸运，在许多事情上都得到了重来的机会。我有幸能上大学，上法学院，追求自己的理想。我的妻子，我们的第一夫人马歇尔.奥巴马，也有着类似的人生故事。她的父母亲都没有读过大学，也没有什么财产，但他们都非常勤奋，她也是如此。因此她得以进入一些美国最好的学校。

Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.你们中有些人可能没有那些有利条件。或许你们的生活中没有能为你提供帮助的长辈。或许你们家长中有人失业，经济非常拮据。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。

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.但归根结底，你的生活状况，你的长相、出身、经济条件、家庭气氛，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、逃课或辍学的借口。这些不是你不好好读书的借口。

Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.你们目前的状况并不是决定这你们的未来，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，你的未来你自己掌握。

That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.这就是像你们这样的年轻人每天都在做的事情，全美各地都是如此。

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.假如德克萨斯州罗马市的贾斯敏.佩雷兹，她刚进学校时根本不会说英语。她父母都没有上过大学。然而，她非常勤奋，成绩优异，获得了布朗大学的奖学金。如今正攻读公共卫生专业的研究生。不久将成为贾斯敏.佩雷斯博士。I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.我还想起了加州洛斯拉图斯市的安多妮.舒尔兹。他从三岁起就开始与脑癌病魔作斗争。他熬过了一次次治疗与手术。其中一项手术曾影响他的记忆。因此他得比常人多花几百小时来完成学业。但他不曾落下自己的功课。这个秋天，他要开始在大学读书了。

And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.我还想起了家乡伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的一名孤儿，香奈儿.史蒂夫。她曾寄养于多个不同的家庭，从小在治安差的地区长大。但她通过努力在一家地方医疗中心找到了工作，发起了一个让青少年远离犯罪团伙的项目。她即将以优异成绩从中学毕业去大学深造。

And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.贾斯敏、安多妮和香奈儿与你们并没有什么不同。和你们一样，他们也在生活中遇到各种问题。在某些情况下，他们 的处境比起你们许多人更差。但他们拒绝放弃，他们决定要为自己的人生、自己的教育负起责任，给自己定下奋斗的目标。我希望你们中每一个人都能做得到这些。

That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.因此，我今天号召你们每一个人，为自己的教育设定目标。并尽自己的最大努力来实现这些目标。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，或是在你的社区提供志愿服务。

Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn.或许你决定挺身而出，保护那些因身份或长相而受人戏弄或欺负的孩子，原因是你和我一样认为，每个孩子都应该享有适合读书和学习的安全环境。

Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.或许你决定该学着更好地照顾自己，来位将来的学习准备。除此之外，顺便提一下，我希望大家要勤洗手，感到身体不舒服的时候要多在家了休息。免得大家在秋冬感冒高发季节得流感。

But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.但无论你决定做什么，我都希望你能坚持到底。我希望你脚踏实地去做。

I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.我知道有时候你会从电视上得到这样的印象，不需要付出多大的努力就能腰缠万贯、功成名就。只要会唱rap、会打篮球或参加真人秀节目，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。

The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.事实上，取得成功不是轻而易举的事情。你不可能对要读的每一门课程都兴趣盎然。你不可能和每名带课教师都相处 顺利。不是所有的家庭作业都与你眼前的生活完全相关。并不是每一件事，你都能在头一次尝试时获得成功。That's okay.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.但那没关系，世界上最成功的人士中有一些时遭遇失败最多的。

J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed.” J.K.罗琳，《哈利.波特》的作者，她的《哈利.波特》第一部出版前被退稿12次。迈克尔.乔丹上高中时被校队刷了下来。在他的职业生涯里，输了几百场比赛。投失过几千次射篮，但他曾说过：“我一生不停地失败、失败再失败，这就是我成功的原因。”

These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.他们的成功，源于他们明白不能让失败左右自己。而是要从中吸取经验，从失败中，你能明白下一次可以做出怎样的改变。假如你惹了什么麻烦，那并不说明你就是那个捣蛋鬼。而意味着你需要更加努力去把它做对。假如你考了个低分，那不表示你比别人笨，而只表示你需要更多的时间学习。

No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.没有一个人天生擅长做什么事情，只有努力才能培训处技能。第一次接触新的体育项目时，你不可能时一位主力队员。第一次唱一首歌曲时，你不可能唱准每一个音。

You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.一切都是熟能生巧的。对于学业也是一样，你或许要反复运算才能正确解释出一道数学题。你或许需要反复读一段文字才能理解它的意思。你或许得把论文修改上好几次才能符合提交的标准。

Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.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，它是力量的标志，因为它表明你有勇气承认自己的不足。这样做会让你学到新的东西。

So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.请确定一位你信任的成年人，例如家长、祖父或老师、教练或辅导员。请他们帮助你遵循既定计划实现你的目标。And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.即使当你苦苦挣扎，即使当你灰心丧气，你觉得身边的人都已近放弃了你，你永远不要放弃自己。因为当你放弃自己的时候，你也放弃了自己的国家。

The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.书写美国历史的不是在困难时刻退缩的人，而是坚持不懈、加倍努力的人。他们对国家的爱促使他们全力以赴。It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.书写美国老师的是250年前和你们一样的学生，他们之后用一场革命最终造就了这个国家。年轻人，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。他们为民权而奋斗并把宇航员送上了月球。就在20年前，有一群和你们一样的学生们。他们后来创立了Google、Twitter和Facebook，改变了我们之间交流沟通的方式。

So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country? 因此，今天我要问问你们大家。你们会做出什么样的贡献，你们将解决什么样的难题。你们能发现什么样是事物。20年、50年或是100年后，假如那是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。Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.你们的家长、你们的老师和我，正在竭尽全力确保你们都能得到应有的教育。以便回答上述问题，我正在努力为你们提供更安全的教室、更多是书籍、更先进的设施与计算机。

But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.但你们也要担负起自己的责任。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，不要让你们的家人或你们的国家失望。而最重要的时，不要辜负你们自己，你们要成为我们的骄傲。

Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.非常感谢你们大家，愿天主保佑你们，愿天主保佑美国。谢谢你们。

第五篇：奥巴马卸任演讲(中英文全文)

以下是奥巴马的告别演说全文：

你好，芝加哥！回家的感觉真好！谢谢，谢谢大家！（省略N个谢谢）

在过去几个星期里，我和Michelle收到了各种美好的祝愿，我们非常感动，感谢大家对我的支持。今晚我仍然要向你们表达我的感谢，是你们，身处各地，各个场所的每一位美国人让我保持真诚，是你们给了我灵感，并一直激励着我前进。我每天都在向你们学习，是你们让我成为一个更好的总统，成为一个更优秀的人。

我第一次来到芝加哥还是20岁出头的时候，当时我还处在找寻自我的阶段，还在为自己的生活寻找方向。就在离这不远的一个社区，我开始参与教会团体工作。在这些街区，我看到了信仰的力量，看到了劳动人民面对困境和失意时那种安静的尊严。就是在这里，我了解到只有普通民众都参与进来，变革才会发生，只有我们的力量联合起来，社会才会进步。

现在八年时间过去了，我仍然坚信这一点。我相信，这不只是我自己的一个信念，也是我们整个美国思想的核心所在——对自治进行大胆地尝试。

我们的信念一直是，生来平等，造物者赋予我们一些不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生命、自由以及对幸福的追求。这些权利，虽然人人都有，但并不能自动实现。我们，每一个公民，必须通过民主的工具，来创建一个更加完美的国家。

这是造物者赐予我们的礼物，我们拥有用汗水、辛劳和想象力去追逐我们的个人梦想和自由，同时也承担有团结一致，实现更高目标的义务。我们的国家并不是一开始就是完美的，但是我们已经展示出了改变的能力，并为每一位追随者提供更好的生活。

是的，我们的进步并不均衡，民主工作也一直很艰难，同时存在一定的争议，并且有时是血腥的。每向前迈两步，给人的感觉往往是还要往后退一步。但是美国在漫长的发展过程中，我们一直锐意进取，不断拓宽我们的信条，去拥抱所有，而不仅仅是其中一部分。

如果八年前，我告诉你们，美国将扭转大衰退，重振汽车行业，并创造出历史以来最多的就业机会；如果当时我告诉你们，我们将与古巴人民开启一个新的篇章，停止伊朗核武器计划并揪出9/11事件的幕后主使；如果当时我告诉你们，我们将实现婚姻平等，为另外2000万的同胞赢得健康保险的权利；如果当时我告诉你们这些，你们可能会说我的目标定得有点高。但是现在这就是我们所做到的，这就是你们所做到的。是你们促成了这些变化，你们让希望成真，也正是因为你们，现在的美国比我上任时变得更好、更强。

十天之内，世界将会见证我们民主的一个标志：通过自由选举，将总统的权利和平地移交给下一位总统。我向当选总统特朗普承诺，我会为他提供最平稳的过渡，就像布什总统之前为我做的一样。因为我们所有人都需要确保政府可以帮助我们应对目前面临的诸多挑战。

我们需要去应对这些挑战，因为我们仍然是地球上最富有、最强大也最受尊重的国家，我们的青年和发展动力，我们的多样性和开放程度，我们应对风险和进行革新的能力，都在向我们表明未来应该是属于我们的。

但是，只有我们保持民主这些潜力才会发挥出来。只有当我们的政治反映出人民的正直，只有我们所有人，不论党派关系或特殊利益，都有助于推动我们实现共同目的的渴望时，这些潜力才会发挥出来。

民主不需要同一性，我们的领袖会争吵，会妥协，但他们知道民主需要一种基本的团结意识，虽然我们存在各种差异，但我们仍要团结一致，共同进退。

历史上总会有一些时刻会威胁到这种团结，本世纪便是这样的时刻：世界不断变小，不平等持续扩大，人口变化以及恐怖主义蔓延，这些因素不只是对我们国家安全和经济繁荣的考验，也是对我们民主的考验。我们如何来应对这些挑战，将决定我们是否有能力教育好我们的孩子，创造优质的工作，并保护我们的家园。换言之，它将决定我们的未来。

在过去五十年以来，现在的医疗保健成本正在以最慢的速度上升。如果任何人能够制定一个明显优于目前医疗保健系统的改进计划，并尽可能覆盖更多的人，那我一定会公开表示支持。

我当选后，出现了一种说法是美国进入后种族时代（种族歧视已经不存在），这只是一个愿景，并不是现实。因为种族问题在我们的社会中仍然是一种强有力的分裂力量。虽然这一问题得到了某种程度的改善，但我们每一个人都需要做出更多的努力。毕竟，如果每一个经济问题都被看作是勤劳的白人中产阶级和不受欢迎的少数民族之间的矛盾，那所有种族的工人只能是争夺蝇头小利，而富人坐收渔翁之利。

这一切都不容易。对于我们中的太多人来说，退回到我们自己的温床里最安全，无论是我们的社区或大学校园或礼拜场所或我们的社交媒体中，和那些与我们相似，有着同样的政治背景，从不质疑我们的假设的人相处最舒适。赤裸裸的党派之争、日益增加的经济和区域分层、媒体的分裂都成为政党宣传的工具——所有这一切使得这种区分似乎变得自然，甚至是不可避免的。我们变得躲在自己的泡沫里，只接受符合我们意见的信息，而不是基于现有证据形成自己的观点。

这不是总是使政治如此沮丧的那部分吗？当我们建议将财务经费投入到孩子们的学龄前教育时，选举官员对赤字感到如此愤怒，但是当为公司削减税收时，为什么不感到愤怒？其它党派做出道德沦丧的事情时，我们紧紧抓住不放，但为什么当我们自己的党派做出相同的事情时，我们却选择原谅？这不仅是不诚实，而是对事实进行选择；这会自取其咎，因为我的妈妈曾经告诉我，―事实总有一天会暴露在你面前。‖

在短短8年时间里，我们减少了对外国石油的依赖，使我们的可再生能源增加了一倍，并带领世界达成了一项拯救地球的协议。如果不果断行动，我们的孩子将不会再有时间来辩论气候变化的存在；因为，他们将忙于应对其影响：环境灾难、经济破坏和寻求庇护的气候难民潮。

假装问题不存在不仅背叛了后代，它暴露了这个国家的本质精神。

由于我们的官员、执法人员和外交官的非凡勇气，无论男性还是女性，在过去八年中，没有外国恐怖组织成功实施对我们的家园的袭击，虽然波士顿和奥兰多提醒我们激进组织的危险性，单我们的执法机构比以往更加具有有效性和警惕性。我们已经制服了数万名恐怖分子——包括乌萨马·本·拉登。

我们领导的全球联盟已经牵制了伊拉克和黎凡特伊斯兰国领导人，占领了大约一半的领土。伊黎伊斯兰国将被摧毁，任何威胁美国的人都将被制服。

这就是为什么，在过去八年中，我一直致力于在一个更坚定的法律基础上努力打击恐怖主义，这就是为什么我们能够结束折磨，关闭关塔那摩湾（以作为美军的拘留营而著名），并改革我们的监管法律，以保护隐私和公民自由。

这就是为什么我反对歧视穆斯林美国人，这就是为什么我们不能退出大规模的全球斗争——我们要扩大民主、人权、妇女权利和LGBT权利，无论我们的努力有多么不完美。因为，这是捍卫美国的一部分。为了反对极端主义以及宗派主义和沙文主义，这是与反威权主义和民族主义侵略的斗争。

这也是我想要表达的最后一点：当我们把民主视为理所当然时，我们的民主就会受到威胁。我们所有人，不论党派，都应该致力于重建我们的民主体制的任务。当投票率是发达民主国家中最低之一时，我们应该使投票更容易，而不是更难。当我们的组织信任度降低时，我们应该减少金钱在政治中的腐蚀性影响，并坚持透明度和道德的公共服务原则。当国会功能失调时，我们应该吸引我们的地区鼓励政客迎合大众需求，而不是僵化的极端。

所有这一切都取决于我们的参与；我们每个人都有公民的责任，无论权力以何种方式摆动。

我们的宪法是一个了不起的，美丽的礼物。但它真的只是一块羊皮纸。它自己没有力量。而是我们，人民，赋予它的权力——我们的参与，和我们做出的选择。我们是否支持我们的自由，是否尊重和执行法治。美国并不脆弱，但是，我们漫长的自由之旅的成果并不确定。

如果你厌倦了在网络上与陌生人争论，尝试在现实生活中与他们进行谈话吧。如果有什么需要改变，那就系好你的鞋带，组织一些事情。如果你对你当选的官员感到失望，可以拿一张剪贴板，拿一些签名，自己去办公室，出面，深入追究，坚持不懈。

有时你会赢，有时你会输。假设别人都具有善良的美德可能是一种风险，而且会有一段时间，这个过程会让你失望。但是，对于我们这些有幸成为这项工作的一份子的人来说，仔细想想，我可以告诉你，它可以使每个人得到激励和启发。在这个过程中，你对美国和美国人的信心将得到证实，而我的信仰已经得到证实。

感谢Michelle，在过去的25年中，你不仅是我的妻子和我的孩子的母亲，也一直是我最好的朋友。你所要承担的这个角色并不是你自己要求的，但你却用优雅、坚韧、独特的风格和幽默感成功地完成了角色转变。你使白宫成为属于每个人的地方。而新一代的年轻人视野会更高，因为他们有你作为榜样。

感谢玛丽亚和萨莎，你们成为了两个了不起的年轻女性，聪明和美丽，但更重要的是，善良和周到，充满激情。你们在聚光灯下承受了多年的负担。在我一生中所做的所有事情中，我最为自豪的是成为你们的父亲。

副总统拜登，是我做出的首个提名，也是最棒的提名。不仅仅是因为你是一个伟大的副总统，也是因为我收获到了你这样一个兄弟。你就像我的家人一样，与你的友谊也是我生活中的一大快乐所在。

对于我那些杰出的工作人员，八年的时间，甚至对其中一些人来说，时间还要更久，我被你们的精力所感染，回想你们每一天的表现，你们的性格、心灵和理想。八年的时间，其中有些人由单身，到结婚生子，开始自己人生路上的新旅程。虽然世事艰难，但你们一直没有被打倒，你们让我自豪。

对于你们所有的人，每位搬到陌生城市的组织者，每一名敲门宣传的志愿者，每一名第一次投票的年轻人，每个为这种变化努力的美国人，你们是最棒的支持者和组织者，我将永远感激在心，因为是你们改变了世界，是你们的功劳。

这也是为什么，我虽然离开仍保持乐观的原因所在，因为我们的工作不仅仅是帮助到很多人，更是激发了很多美国人，尤其是年轻人，相信你们可以有一番作为。

这一代美国人无私、富有创造性，并饱含爱国精神，你们相信公平、公正和包容，你们知道不断保持变化是美国的标志，所以不要害怕，拥抱这些变化，你们会愿意承担这项艰巨的民主工作。你们很快就会超越我们这些人，我相信，未来在你们手中。

我的同胞们，为你们服务是我的荣幸。我不会停止为你们服务，以后我将作为一个公民，与你们站在一起。最后，就像八年前一样，我希望你们能够坚持我们最开始的信念，那些来自奴隶和废奴主义者争取平等的信念，那些移民和自耕农人群的奋斗不息的精神，以及那些对于民主自由权利的争取，这些也是每一位美国人的信念，未来的篇章等待着你们去谱写。

我希望你们能够坚持我们最开始的信念，那些来自奴隶和废奴主义者的想法，那些移民和自耕农人群的精神，以及那些正义的追随者的信仰，这一信念是每个美国人的核心信念，未来的篇章等待着你们去谱写。

是的，我们能行。（Yes We Can.）是的，我们做到了。（Yes We Did.）是的，我们能行！（Yes We Can.）愿上帝保佑你们，愿上帝保佑美国！

英文原文

It‘s good to be home.My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes we‘ve received over the past few weeks.But tonight it‘s my turn to say thanks.Whether we‘ve seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the American people – in living rooms and schools;at farms and on factory floors;at diners and on distant outposts – are what have kept me honest, kept me inspired, and kept me going.Every day, I learned from you.You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.I first came to Chicago when I was in my early twenties, still trying to figure out who I was;still searching for a purpose to my life.It was in neighborhoods not far from here where I began working with church groups in the shadows of closed steel mills.It was on these streets where I witnessed the power of faith, and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss.This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged, and come together to demand it.After eight years as your President, I still believe that.And it‘s not just my belief.It‘s the beating heart of our American idea – our bold experiment in self-government.It‘s the conviction that we are all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.It‘s the insistence that these rights, while self-evident, have never been self-executing;that We, the People, through the instrument of our democracy, can form a more perfect union.This is the great gift our Founders gave us.The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat, toil, and imagination – and the imperative to strive together as well, to achieve a greater good.For 240 years, our nation‘s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation.It‘s what led patriots to choose republic over tyranny, pioneers to trek west, slaves to brave that makeshift railroad to freedom.It‘s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and the Rio Grande, pushed women to reach for the ballot, powered workers to organize.It‘s why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima;Iraq and Afghanistan – and why men and women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs as well.So that‘s what we mean when we say America is exceptional.Not that our nation has been flawless from the start, but that we have shown the capacity to change, and make life better for those who follow.Yes, our progress has been uneven.The work of democracy has always been hard, contentious and sometimes bloody.For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back.But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all, and not just some.If I had told you eight years ago that America would reverse a great recession, reboot our auto industry, and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history…if I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shut down Iran‘s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, and take out the mastermind of 9/11…if I had told you that we would win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens – you might have said our sights were set a little too high.But that‘s what we did.That‘s what you did.You were the change.You answered people‘s hopes, and because of you, by almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started.In ten days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power from one freely-elected president to the next.I committed to President-Elect Trump that my administration would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as President Bush did for me.Because it‘s up to all of us to make sure our government can help us meet the many challenges we still face.We have what we need to do so.After all, we remain the wealthiest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth.Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention mean that the future should be ours.But that potential will be realized only if our democracy works.Only if our politics reflects the decency of the our people.Only if all of us, regardless of our party affiliation or particular interest, help restore the sense of common purpose that we so badly need right now.That‘s what I want to focus on tonight – the state of our democracy.Understand, democracy does not require uniformity.Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same.But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity – the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together;that we rise or fall as one.There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity.The beginning of this century has been one of those times.A shrinking world, growing inequality;demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven‘t just tested our security and prosperity, but our democracy as well.And how we meet these challenges to our democracy will determine our ability to educate our kids, and create good jobs, and protect our homeland.In other words, it will determine our future.Our democracy won‘t work without a sense that everyone has economic opportunity.Today, the economy is growing again;wages, incomes, home values, and retirement accounts are rising again;poverty is falling again.The wealthy are paying a fairer share of taxes even as the stock market shatters records.The unemployment rate is near a ten-year low.The uninsured rate has never, ever been lower.Health care costs are rising at the slowest rate in fifty years.And if anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we‘ve made to our health care system – that covers as many people at less cost – I will publicly support it.That, after all, is why we serve – to make people‘s lives better, not worse.But for all the real progress we‘ve made, we know it‘s not enough.Our economy doesn‘t work as well or grow as fast when a few prosper at the expense of a growing middle class.But stark inequality is also corrosive to our democratic principles.While the top one percent has amassed a bigger share of wealth and income, too many families, in inner cities and rural counties, have been left behind – the laid-off factory worker;the waitress and health care worker who struggle to pay the bills – convinced that the game is fixed against them, that their government only serves the interests of the powerful – a recipe for more cynicism and polarization in our politics.There are no quick fixes to this long-term trend.I agree that our trade should be fair and not just free.But the next wave of economic dislocation won‘t come from overseas.It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes many good, middle-class jobs obsolete.And so we must forge a new social compact – to guarantee all our kids the education they need;to give workers the power to unionize for better wages;to update the social safety net to reflect the way we live now and make more reforms to the tax code so corporations and individuals who reap the most from the new economy don‘t avoid their obligations to the country that‘s made their success possible.We can argue about how to best achieve these goals.But we can‘t be complacent about the goals themselves.For if we don‘t create opportunity for all people, the disaffection and division that has stalled our progress will only sharpen in years to come.There‘s a second threat to our democracy – one as old as our nation itself.After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America.Such a vision, however well-intended, was never realistic.For race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.I‘ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago – you can see it not just in statistics, but in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum.But we‘re not where we need to be.All of us have more work to do.After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves.If we decline to invest in the children of immigrants, just because they don‘t look like us, we diminish the prospects of our own children – because those brown kids will represent a larger share of America‘s workforce.And our economy doesn‘t have to be a zero-sum game.Last year, incomes rose for all races, all age groups, for men and for women.Going forward, we must uphold laws against discrimination – in hiring, in housing, in education and the criminal justice system.That‘s what our Constitution and highest ideals require.But laws alone won‘t be enough.Hearts must change.If our democracy is to work in this increasingly diverse nation, each one of us must try to heed the advice of one of the great characters in American fiction, Atticus Finch, who said ―You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.‖

For blacks and other minorities, it means tying our own struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face – the refugee, the immigrant, the rural poor, the transgender American, and also the middle-aged white man who from the outside may seem like he‘s got all the advantages, but who‘s seen his world upended by economic, cultural, and technological change.For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn‘t suddenly vanish in the ‗60s;that when minority groups voice discontent, they‘re not just engaging in reverse racism or practicing political correctness;that when they wage peaceful protest, they‘re not demanding special treatment, but the equal treatment our Founders promised.For native-born Americans, it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes about immigrants today were said, almost word for word, about the Irish, Italians, and Poles.America wasn‘t weakened by the presence of these newcomers;they embraced this nation‘s creed, and it was strengthened.So regardless of the station we occupy;we have to try harder;to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do;that they value hard work and family like we do;that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own.None of this is easy.For too many of us, it‘s become safer to retreat into our own bubbles, whether in our neighborhoods or college campuses or places of worship or our social media feeds, surrounded by people who look like us and share the same political outlook and never challenge our assumptions.The rise of naked partisanship, increasing economic and regional stratification, the splintering of our media into a channel for every taste – all this makes this great sorting seem natural, even inevitable.And increasingly, we become so secure in our bubbles that we accept only information, whether true or not, that fits our opinions, instead of basing our opinions on the evidence that‘s out there.This trend represents a third threat to our democracy.Politics is a battle of ideas;in the course of a healthy debate, we‘ll prioritize different goals, and the different means of reaching them.But without some common baseline of facts;without a willingness to admit new information, and concede that your opponent is making a fair point, and that science and reason matter, we‘ll keep talking past each other, making common ground and compromise impossible.Isn‘t that part of what makes politics so dispiriting? How can elected officials rage about deficits when we propose to spend money on preschool for kids, but not when we‘re cutting taxes for corporations? How do we excuse ethical lapses in our own party, but pounce when the other party does the same thing? It‘s not just dishonest, this selective sorting of the facts;it‘s self-defeating.Because as my mother used to tell me, reality has a way of catching up with you.Take the challenge of climate change.In just eight years, we‘ve halved our dependence on foreign oil, doubled our renewable energy, and led the world to an agreement that has the promise to save this planet.But without bolder action, our children won‘t have time to debate the existence of climate change;they‘ll be busy dealing with its effects: environmental disasters, economic disruptions, and waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary.Now, we can and should argue about the best approach to the problem.But to simply deny the problem not only betrays future generations;it betrays the essential spirit of innovation and practical problem-solving that guided our Founders.It‘s that spirit, born of the Enlightenment, that made us an economic powerhouse – the spirit that took flight at Kitty Hawk and Cape Canaveral;the spirit that that cures disease and put a computer in every pocket.It‘s that spirit – a faith in reason, and enterprise, and the primacy of right over might, that allowed us to resist the lure of fascism and tyranny during the Great Depression, and build a post-World War II order with other democracies, an order based not just on military power or national affiliations but on principles – the rule of law, human rights, freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and an independent press.That order is now being challenged – first by violent fanatics who claim to speak for Islam;more recently by autocrats in foreign capitals who see free markets, open democracies, and civil society itself as a threat to their power.The peril each poses to our democracy is more far-reaching than a car bomb or a missile.It represents the fear of change;the fear of people who look or speak or pray differently;a contempt for the rule of law that holds leaders accountable;an intolerance of dissent and free thought;a belief that the sword or the gun or the bomb or propaganda machine is the ultimate arbiter of what‘s true and what‘s right.Because of the extraordinary courage of our men and women in uniform, and the intelligence officers, law enforcement, and diplomats who support them, no foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland these past eight years;and although Boston and Orlando remind us of how dangerous radicalization can be, our law enforcement agencies are more effective and vigilant than ever.We‘ve taken out tens of thousands of terrorists – including Osama bin Laden.The global coalition we‘re leading against ISIL has taken out their leaders, and taken away about half their territory.ISIL will be destroyed, and no one who threatens America will ever be safe.To all who serve, it has been the honor of my lifetime to be your Commander-in-Chief.But protecting our way of life requires more than our military.Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear.So just as we, as citizens, must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are.That‘s why, for the past eight years, I‘ve worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firm legal footing.That‘s why we‘ve ended torture, worked to close Gitmo, and reform our laws governing surveillance to protect privacy and civil liberties.That‘s why I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans.That‘s why we cannot withdraw from global fights – to expand democracy, and human rights, women‘s rights, and LGBT rights – no matter how imperfect our efforts, no matter how expedient ignoring such values may seem.For the fight against extremism and intolerance and sectarianism are of a piece with the fight against authoritarianism and nationalist aggression.If the scope of freedom and respect for the rule of law shrinks around the world, the likelihood of war within and between nations increases, and our own freedoms will eventually be threatened.So let‘s be vigilant, but not afraid.ISIL will try to kill innocent people.But they cannot defeat America unless we betray our Constitution and our principles in the fight.Rivals like Russia or China cannot match our influence around the world – unless we give up what we stand for, and turn ourselves into just another big country that bullies smaller neighbors.Which brings me to my final point – our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted.All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions.When voting rates are some of the lowest among advanced democracies, we should make it easier, not harder, to vote.When trust in our institutions is low, we should reduce the corrosive influence of money in our politics, and insist on the principles of transparency and ethics in public service.When Congress is dysfunctional, we should draw our districts to encourage politicians to cater to common sense and not rigid extremes.And all of this depends on our participation;on each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings.Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift.But it‘s really just a piece of parchment.It has no power on its own.We, the people, give it power – with our participation, and the choices we make.Whether or not we stand up for our freedoms.Whether or not we respect and enforce the rule of law.America is no fragile thing.But the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured.In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, prosperity, and liberty, but ―from different causes and from different quarters much pains will be taken…to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth;‖ that we should preserve it with ―jealous anxiety;‖ that we should reject ―the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties‖ that make us one.We weaken those ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so corrosive that people of good character are turned off from public service;so coarse with rancor that Americans with whom we disagree are not just misguided, but somehow malevolent.We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others;when we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt, and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them.It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy;to embrace the joyous task we‘ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.Ultimately, that‘s what our democracy demands.It needs you.Not just when there‘s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.If you‘re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life.If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing.If you‘re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.Show up.Dive in.Persevere.Sometimes you‘ll win.Sometimes you‘ll lose.Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk, and there will be times when the process disappoints you.But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire.And more often than not, your faith in America – and in Americans – will be confirmed.Mine sure has been.Over the course of these eight years, I‘ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers.I‘ve mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace in Charleston church.I‘ve seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and our wounded warriors walk again.I‘ve seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks.I‘ve seen the youngest of children remind us of our obligations to care for refugees, to work in peace, and above all to look out for each other.That faith I placed all those years ago, not far from here, in the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change – that faith has been rewarded in ways I couldn‘t possibly have imagined.I hope yours has, too.Some of you here tonight or watching at home were there with us in 2004, in 2008, in 2012 – and maybe you still can‘t believe we pulled this whole thing off.You‘re not the only ones.Michelle – for the past twenty-five years, you‘ve been not only my wife and mother of my children, but my best friend.You took on a role you didn‘t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor.You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody.And a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model.You‘ve made me proud.You‘ve made the country proud.Malia and Sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women, smart and beautiful, but more importantly, kind and thoughtful and full of passion.You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily.Of all that I‘ve done in my life, I‘m most proud to be your dad.To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware‘s favorite son: you were the first choice I made as a nominee, and the best.Not just because you have been a great Vice President, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother.We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our life.To my remarkable staff: For eight years – and for some of you, a whole lot more – I‘ve drawn from your energy, and tried to reflect back what you displayed every day: heart, and character, and idealism.I‘ve watched you grow up, get married, have kids, and start incredible new journeys of your own.Even when times got tough and frustrating, you never let Washington get the better of you.The only thing that makes me prouder than all the good we‘ve done is the thought of all the remarkable things you‘ll achieve from here.And to all of you out there – every organizer who moved to an unfamiliar town and kind family who welcomed them in, every volunteer who knocked on doors, every young person who cast a ballot for the first time, every American who lived and breathed the hard work of change – you are the best supporters and organizers anyone could hope for, and I will forever be grateful.Because yes, you changed the world.That‘s why I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than I was when we started.Because I know our work has not only helped so many Americans;it has inspired so many Americans – especially so many young people out there – to believe you can make a difference;to hitch your wagon to something bigger than yourselves.This generation coming up – unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic – I‘ve seen you in every corner of the country.You believe in a fair, just, inclusive America;you know that constant change has been America‘s hallmark, something not to fear but to embrace, and you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward.You‘ll soon outnumber any of us, and I believe as a result that the future is in good hands.My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you.I won‘t stop;in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain.For now, whether you‘re young or young at heart, I do have one final ask of you as your President – the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago.I am asking you to believe.Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents;that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists;that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice;that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon;a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes We Can.Yes We Did.Yes We Can.Thank you.God bless you.And may God continue to bless the United States of America.