第一篇:奥巴马告别演讲
farewell speech
1.Hello Chicago.It's good to be home.你好,芝加哥。回家真好。We're on live TV here.我们正在这儿直播呢。
You can tell that I'm a lame duck, because nobody is following instructions.你们可以感觉到,我现在是只“跛脚鸭”,因为没有人听我的指示了。
2.Four more years!Four more years!再干四年!再干四年!I can't do that.我不能这么做啊。
3.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.米歇尔,在过去25年中,你不仅仅是我的妻子和孩子们的母亲,还是我的挚友。你扮演了一个自己从未寻求过的角色,尽显自己的优雅、坚强、风格和幽默感。你让白宫属于每一个人。因为有你做榜样,新一代年轻人的眼界更开阔。你让我骄傲,你让整个国家骄傲。
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.玛丽亚和萨尔,在最奇怪的环境下,你们成长为了两位出色的年轻女性,聪颖而美丽,更重要的是,善良、有思想、充满激情。多年来你们在聚光灯下生活,学会轻松地承受这些重担。回顾我一生中所做的事情,最让我感到自豪的莫过于成为你们的父亲。
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.我的美国同胞们,米歇尔和我对过去几周内收到的所有美好祝福非常感动。但今晚,该轮到我说声谢谢了。也许我们未曾见面,也许我们意见不合,但与你们的交谈,我的美国人民——在起居室与学校、在农田与工厂、在餐馆与远方前哨——让我保持诚实,让我备受鼓舞并不断前进。每一天,我都从你们身上学到很多,是你们让我成为一个更好的总统,一个更好的人。
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.20岁刚出头的时候,我第一次来到芝加哥,那时我还在摸索自己的身份,还在寻找人生的目标。就在离这儿不远的一个社区,我开始和教会一起工作,钢厂倒闭,社区被阴云笼罩。正是在这些街区上,我见证了信仰的力量和劳动人民在困境与贫穷面前沉默的尊严。正是在这里,我学会了,只有当百姓共同参与进来,去要求去争取,改变才可能发生。
5.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.如果八年前我告诉你们,美国能逆转经济大萧条,能重振汽车业,能创造史上最长的就业增长期„„如果我告诉你们,我们跟古巴人民的关系会开启新的篇章,不用一枪一弹就能关闭伊朗的核武器项目,还能干掉911的头目„„如果我告诉你们,我们会赢得婚姻平等,能为2000万人获得医保——你们可能会说,我们的目标定得有点太高了。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.但那就是我们做到的,我们做到了。你们就是改变,你们回应了人民的希望,因为你们,几乎无论从哪方面来说,美国都比之前更好更强大了。
6.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.还有十天,世界将见证我们民主进程中的一件大事:权力从一届自由选举的总统平稳交棒给下一届自由选举的总统。我曾向当选总统特朗普承诺,我的政府将确保此次换届过程非常平稳,就像当初布什总统把权力交接给我一样。因为,我们每个人首先要保证美国政府未来有能力应对我们现在仍然面临的诸多挑战。
7.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.当一些美国人标榜自己比别人“更纯正”,当我们把整个民主体制看做是不可避免的腐败而将其摒弃,当我们责备选出来的领导人却不反思自己在其中的角色时,我们之间的纽带就被削弱了。
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.如果你厌倦了在互联网上与陌生人争辩,那就试试和现实生活中的人沟通。如果你认为一些问题需要被解决,那就行动起来做些什么。如果你对选举出来的官员不满意,那就做好准备,亲自参加竞选。
8.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.我们在世界范围内的影响力,是像俄罗斯或中国这些对手无法匹敌的——除非我们放弃自己的主张,让自己也变成一个欺负弱邻的大霸主。
9.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.”
为了继续前行,我们必须在招工、购房、教育和刑事司法系统内坚持用法律抵抗歧视。这是我们的宪法和最高理念所要求的。但光有法律还不够。人心要改变才行。如果要让民主在日益多元的国家行之有效,我们每一个人就应该谨记美国小说中最著名的人物之一,阿蒂克斯·芬奇说过的一句忠告:“你永远无法真正了解一个人,除非你爬进他的身体,披上他的肤色,以他的身份行走于这个世界。”
10.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:
我请求你们坚守那些被写入建国文献中的信仰;那些奴隶和废奴主义者低声吟诵的思想;那些移民、西部拓荒者和为正义游行的人所歌颂的精神;那些将胜利旗帜插在异国战场和月球表面的人所践行的信条;这个信条存在于每个尚未书写下自己故事的美国人的内心: Yes We Can.是的,我们可以。Yes We Did.是的,我们做到了。Yes We Can.是的,我们能做到。
第二篇:奥巴马告别演讲
奥巴马告别演讲
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.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。
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.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。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.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。
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.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。
第三篇:奥巴马告别演讲中英对照原文
中英对照原文: Hello Skybrook!It's good to be home!Thank you, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you so much, thank you.Thank you.Thank you.It's good to be home.Thank you.你好,芝加哥!回家的感觉真好!谢谢,谢谢大家!(省略N个谢谢)We're on live TV here, I've got to move.我们正在电视直播呢,我要开始演讲了。(现场观众非常热情,掌声不停啊。。)You can tell that I'm a lame duck, because nobody is following instructions.你们叫我“跛脚鸭”总统好了,都没有人听从我的指示。(掌声依然停不下来。。)Everybody have a seat.大家都坐下吧。(求你们了。。)
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.我的美国同胞们,最近几周,米歇尔和我收到了无数令人感动的祝福,今晚轮到我来表达谢意了。不管我们曾经意见相合还是相左,各位美国同胞,我同你们的每一次对话,不管是在会客厅还是在学校,在农场还是工厂车间,在餐桌上还是在遥远的边哨,这些交流都让我保持真诚,充满斗志,勇往直前。每一天,我都从你们身上学到东西。是你们让我成为一个更好的总统,一个更好的人。
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.我第一次来到芝加哥的时候,还是一个20岁出头的小伙子,试图寻找自我定位,寻找生活的目标。我最初就是在这附近的街区,在一个被关闭的钢厂旁,和教会团体一起工作。我就是在这里的街道上见证了信仰的力量,见证了这些靠双手吃饭的人面对生活的挣扎和失利时展现出的那种安静的尊严。(观众:连任!连任!连任!)我不能这样。(观众:连任!连任!连任!)就是在这里,我了解到只有普通民众都参与进来,热情投入,变革才会发生,只有我们的力量联合起来,社会才会进步。
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.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。
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.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。
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.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。
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.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,以及共同奋斗、实现更伟大共同利益的责任。
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.240年以来,我们国家对公民使命的召唤使得每一代人都有每一代人的工作和目标。正是这一召唤引领着爱国者推翻暴政、选择共和,引领着西进运动,引领着勇敢的奴隶们建造通向自由的地下铁路。它也吸引着大批移民和难民越过大洋、越过格兰德河(位于美墨之间)来到这片土地,鼓动女性走向投票站,给工人们以团结的动力。这是为什么美国大兵在奥马哈海滩(译者注:奥马哈海滩为二战诺曼底战役中盟军主要登陆点之一的代号)、硫磺岛战役(译者注:硫磺岛战役为二战太平洋战争中最激烈的战斗之一)、伊拉克和阿富汗中挥洒鲜血,为什么从塞尔玛(译者注:1965年马丁·路德·金在塞尔玛领导争取黑人权益的抗议游行)到格林尼治石墙(译者注:1969年美国同性恋者在格林尼治石墙酒吧进行暴力示威,争取权利)的男男女女也都准备好了,要献出他们的生命。
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.这就是为什么我们说美国是独一无二的。我们的国家并不是一开始就是完美无瑕,而是我们有能力做出改变,让追随美国梦的人拥有更好的生活。
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.是的,我们取得的进步并不对每个人来说都是公平的,民主的事业总是艰难的、充满争议的,有时甚至是血腥的。每向前迈两步,给人的感觉却是我们退后了一步。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,去拥抱所有人,而不仅仅是其中一部分人。
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.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太高了。
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.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,无论从哪个角度看,现在的美国比我上任时变得更好、更强。
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.十天之内,世界将会见证我们民主的一个标志:(观众:不——)自由选举选出的总统之间,权力交接应当是和平的。我已向即将就职总统的特朗普先生承诺,我的团队将会尽己所能保证平稳交接,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。
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.我们拥有这些,我们拥有一切应对挑战的武器。毕竟,我们仍然是这个世界上最富有、最强大、最受尊敬的国家。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。
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.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。
That's what I want to focus on tonight--the state of our democracy.这就是今晚我想说的重点——我们的民主体制。
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.要知道,民主并不强求一致。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,但我们却是一个整体,我们共兴亡。
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.历史上,我们国家的团结曾多次受到威胁。在本世纪初,我们的国家就面临了这样的挑战: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,也是对我们民主体制的考验。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,创造新的就业机会,并保护我们的家园。换言之,怎样应对挑战将决定我们的未来。
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.首先,我们的民主政体发挥作用的前提是我们承认每个人都在经济发展中享有机会。值得高兴的是今天的美国经济正在增长。薪资水平、房产价值和退休金都在增长。贫困率正在降低。股价实现历史新高,而富裕阶层的交税比例也日趋合理。失业率实现了十年最低。参保比例达到了从未有过的高水平。
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.医疗成本的增长速度实现了半个世纪以来的最低水平。如我之前所说,如果有哪个方案可以实现医疗体系的更大提升,实现以更低成本覆盖更多人群,那么我一定会公开支持这一方案,我当时所说是认真的。
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.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。
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.但是针对这种长期形成的问题,没有快速解决方案。我同意我们应该在推行自由贸易的同时重视贸易公平。但是其他国家的影响不会是下一次经济危机爆发的原因,持续的自动化发展才会带来这样的后果。自动化将使许多优质岗位上的中产阶级工人被取代。
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.因此,我们必须达成一份新的社会契约以保证所有孩子能够接受他们所需的教育,以给予工人联合在一起的力量从而争取更高薪资,以完善社会保障从而使其更加适应我们现在的生活状况,以推进税收改革,从而使那些在我们经济体中攫取最多的公司和个人承担起对国家的义务,因为他们正是仰赖国家才得以取得成功。我们可以就如何才能更好地实现这些目标展开讨论。但是我们不能因这些目标本身而感到自满。因为如果我们不能为所有人创造机会的话,不满和分裂会阻碍我们的进步,并且这种阻力会逐年增强。
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.我们的民主政体还面临第二道威胁,这一威胁几乎和我们的国家一样古老。我当选总统之后,出现了后种族时代的说法。这样的图景是美好的,但从未实现。种族问题依然是造成我们社会分裂的一股强力。现在,不管有些人持怎样的说法,我的阅历告诉我种族间的关系比10年、20年或30年前都要融洽。你可以从数据中看到这一点,不同政治背景的年轻美国人所持的态度也可以证实这一点。
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.但是我们现在所实现的仍不够,我们还应付出更多努力。如果把每个经济问题都视为努力工作的白人中产阶级和不付出劳动的少数群体之间的斗争,那么各个阶层工人的努力都只是徒劳,富裕阶层却得以进一步坚守他们的既得利益。如果我们单凭移民群体的孩子和我们相貌不同便不愿意投资在他们身上,那么我们将同时损害我们自己孩子的前途。因为那些棕色皮肤的孩子将逐渐成为美国劳动力中越来越重要的一部分。经济并不一定是一场零和博弈,这一点已经被证实了。去年,不同种族、年龄和性别群体的收入都实现了增长。
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.所以如果我们想要严肃地对待种族问题,我们就应该支持反歧视的相关法律。这些法律包括雇佣、住房、教育和司法体系方面的反歧视。这是我们宪法的要求,也是我们最高理想的要求。
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.” 但是仅仅依靠法律是不够的。我们必须转变观念,当然这种转变不会在一朝一夕间实现。社会观念的转变一般通过几代人的努力才能完成。但是我们的民主制度将继续在这个多元的国家中发挥作用。而我们每一个人都应该从一部美国小说中的主角身上吸取教训,这一角色是阿提克斯·芬奇(译者注:阿提克斯·芬奇为作家哈珀·李的小说《杀死一只知更鸟》中塑造的正直律师的典范形象),他曾说“除非你站在另一个人的角度考虑问题,除非你爬进他的身体并来回走动,否则你是不会真正了解这个人的。”
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.对于黑人和其他少数群体来说,应该将我们为正义而进行的奋斗同其他群体正面临的挑战联系在一起。这些群体不仅包括难民、移民、城市里的贫穷家庭和跨性别美国人,还包括中年白人,因为他们也许看起来具有优势,但他们同时也正面临经济、文化和技术方面的变革。我们应该关注他们,倾听他们的想法。
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.对于美国白人来说,这意味着我们要明白奴隶制的影响和吉姆·克劳法(译者注:吉姆·克劳法为1876年至1965年间美国南部及边境各州对有色人种实行的种族隔离制度的法律)并不是在60年代凭空消失的,我们要明白少数群体发出不满时,他们不是为了反对种族主义或倡导政治正确。当他们发起和平示威时,他们不是在要求特殊对待,他们只是在要求国父们承诺的平等对待。
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.对于本土美国人来说,这意味着我们要认识到自己今天对于移民的种种偏见,如针对爱尔兰人、意大利人和波兰人的偏见,将摧毁美国最本质的精神。正如我们所见,美国并没有因为这些移民而走向衰落;这些移民忠于美国倡导的宗旨,他们的到来使美国变得更强。
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.因此无论我们持什么立场,我们都应该更加努力。我们都应该以这样的认知为出发点:每一个公民都同我们一样热爱着这个国家,同我们一样努力工作、一样重视家庭;他们的孩子也像我们的孩子一样,充满好奇、前途无量并且值得爱护。
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.要做到这一点并非易事。对于我们中的太多人来说,躲进我们自己的圈子是更安全,这些圈子包括我们的邻里、大学校园、教堂或是社交网络,在安全地带我们周围尽是和我们相像、有相同政治立场和从不挑战我们观点的人。赤裸裸的党争、经济和地域方面不断攀升的自满情绪、迎合不同人群造成的媒体间的分裂,这些都使区别对待的做法看起来是自然的,甚至是不可避免的。于是我们在自己的安全地带越来越感到安心,于是我们开始只接受迎合我们的观点,无论这些观点是对是错,而不是接受那些基于现有证据的说法。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.这一趋势构成了对我们民主体制的第三道威胁。但是政治就是一场有关理念的战斗。我们的民主体制设计便是基于此。在针对医疗方面的争论中,我们为不同目标划分了优先次序并制定了实现它们的不同方案。但是如果没有对底线的坚守和接受新信息的意愿,如果我们不承认我们对手的观点也许是公正的,不承认科学和理性的重要性,那么我们便不能实现真正的沟通,不能相互妥协并建立共同立场。
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.不正是这些因素使人们对政治感到失望的吗?如果政客没有对削减企业税感到不满的话,那我们提议增加对学龄前儿童的支出时,他们凭什么感到愤怒呢?在抨击其他政党腐败的同时,我们怎么能宽宥党内腐败呢?这些行为不只是不诚实,更是对事实的区别对待,是自我毁灭的行径。因为,就像我母亲曾经告诉我的,现实总能让你自食其果。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.让我们接受气候变化带来的挑战吧。仅仅八年,我们对国外石油的需求量就削减了一半,可再生能源的产量也翻了一倍。我们领导世界各国达成协议,承诺拯救我们生活的星球。但是如果不坚决地采取行动,我们的孩子将没有时间再讨论气候变化问题是否存在,他们将忙于应对气候变化带来的各种影响——更多的环境问题,更多对经济的阻碍和一拨又一拨寻求美好生活环境的气候移民。
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.现在,我们可以并且应该讨论解决环境问题的最佳方案。单纯地否认问题的存在是对后人的不负责,是对我们开国元勋的创新与解决实际问题精神的背离,而这一精神是我们国家精神的实质。
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.这一精神起源于启蒙时代。正是这一精神使我们国家成为世界经济的引擎。小鹰镇和卡纳维拉尔角起飞的航天飞机承载的也正是这一精神。在这一精神的指导下,我们治愈了疾病、将智能手机放进了每个人的口袋。
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.这一精神是一种信念,是对理性、进取心的信念,对权利应始终高于权力的信念,这一信念引导我们在经济萧条时期拒绝了法西斯和专制的诱惑,引导我们在二战后同其他民主政体一起建立了战后秩序。我们建立的战后秩序不仅基于军事力量和国家的团结,更是基于我们坚守的原则——法制、人权、宗教自由、言论自由、集会自由和媒体自由。
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.这一秩序现在正经受挑战。首先,挑战来自号称伊斯兰代言人的狂热暴力分子;如今外国资本中的独裁者将自由市场、开放的民主政体和公民社会视为威胁他们权力的眼中钉,他们开始挑战民主秩序。这两方面远比汽车爆炸和导弹对民主政体带来的威胁要深远。他们带来的威胁源于对变化的恐惧,对不同外表、言行和信仰的恐惧;法治是保证当权者承担责任的手段,他们却蔑视法治,他们对异见和思想自由从来不尊重。他们认为刀枪、炸弹和宣传机器即是正义。
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.由于军人们的勇气和情报人员、执法力量和外交官们给予他们的支持,在过去的八年,没有任何一个国外恐怖组织得以在我们的领土策划或实施恐怖袭击。尽管在波士顿(译者注:2013年4月15日,波士顿马拉松比赛发生爆炸案造成3人死亡,嫌犯曾表示捍卫伊斯兰教的决心)、奥兰多(译者注:2016年6月12日,响应伊斯兰圣战号召的嫌犯在奥兰多同性恋酒吧发起枪击,造成50人死亡)、圣贝纳迪诺郡(译者注:2015年12月2日,加州圣贝纳迪诺郡发生枪击案,造成14人死亡,行凶者曾宣誓效忠伊斯兰国首领)和胡德堡(译者注:2009年11月5日,美国陆军胡德堡基地发生圣战分子大规模枪击案,造成13人死亡)发生的悲剧使我们意识到极端主义有多危险,但我们的执法部门也自此变得更加高效、警惕。我们清除了成千上万的恐怖主义者,其中包括本拉登。我们领导的反伊斯兰国全球联盟除掉了他们的首领,他们侵占的土地我们夺取了大约一半。伊斯兰国终将被击毁,从没有哪个对美国造成威胁的人是安全的。对于保卫或曾经保卫我们的国家的人,我想对你们说,担任你们的总司令是我一生的光荣。我们每个人都应该向你们表示最真挚的谢意。
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.但是维护我们的生活方式仅靠军事力量是不够的。如果我们屈服于恐惧,民主就会变质。因此作为美国公民的我们应该保持对外来侵犯的警觉,应该捍卫那些决定我们是谁的价值观。
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.这就是为什么在过去的八年中,我致力于将坚决打击恐怖主义的行动合法化。这就是为什么我们终结酷刑、致力于关闭关塔那摩监狱并变革与监管相关的法律以保护公民隐私和自由。这就是为什么我坚决反对针对穆斯林美国人的歧视,他们同我们一样热爱这个国家。
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.这就是为什么我们不能从全球化中撤身,我们应该发扬民主、人权以及对女性和LGBT群体权利的关注,即使我们现在所做的工作并不完善,即使当面临现实问题时,我们总无暇顾及这些价值观。对极端主义、排斥异己、宗派主义和沙文主义的反抗是反对专制、反对国家主义的一部分。
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.如果在全球范围内对自由和法制的尊重减弱,那么国家间和一国内爆发战争的可能性便会增加,我们自己的自由也就会因此受到威胁。
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.所以,我们应该保持警觉,而不是充满恐惧。企图滥杀无辜的伊斯兰国永远不能战胜我们,除非我们背离了我们的宪法和基本原则;俄罗斯和中国这样的对手也不可能与我们匹敌,除非我们抛弃了立场、变成另一个欺凌周边小国的大国。
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.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。
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.但是我们要牢记,所有这些目标的实现都不会是自然而然的。所有这些都取决于我们每个人的参与,取决于无论政治风向如何变动,我们都能够承担公民责任。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.宪法是我们无可比拟的、天赋的优势。但这只是我们优势的一部分,因为宪法本身是无力的。是我们、是民众给予了它力量。是我们赋予了它意义。是我们通过参与、我们所做的选择和我们结成的联盟做到这一点的。我们是否坚守自由、是否尊重并贯彻法治决定了宪法的力量。这些都取决于我们。美国并不是一个脆弱的国家,但是我们通向自由的旅程并不是安稳无忧的。
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.乔治华盛顿在他的告别演讲中提到自治是我们安全、繁荣和自由的支柱。但是由于各种各样的原因,取得自治的道路将是艰难的,会有很多阻碍威胁我们对真理的信念。因此我们应该以嫉妒般的敏感保卫我们的信念,任何分离我们国家、割裂将我们维系的神圣纽带的企图都应该被扼杀在襁褓之中。
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.如果我们允许政治对话变得激烈,以致具备高贵品质的人放弃参与服务民众的工作;如果我们允许政治对话变得粗暴而充满敌意,以致我们的对手被误导而变得不怀好意,那么我们之间的连结就会被削弱。如果我们认为一部分人比其他人更具备自称美国人的资格,如果我们默认整个系统的腐败是不可避免的,如果我们不详加考量便决定自己的选票,那么我们之间的纽带也会被削弱。
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.我们每个人都有责任去敏感警惕地捍卫民主;每个人都应该热情洋溢地投身于发展我们伟大的国家这一使命。因为我们的外表也许不同,但我们都被授予了同一头衔:公民。
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.民主需要的就是正是这一点。它需要你的参与。你的参与不应仅限于选举,不应仅限于影响你切身利益的事情,你的参与应该贯穿你的一生。
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.如果已经厌烦了同互联网上的陌生人争论,那便和现实中的人交流吧;如果遇到了麻烦,那便系好鞋带去行动吧;如果对自己选出的政客失望,那便抓起纸板、写上你的名字然后亲自参加竞选吧。参与进来、投入进去然后坚持到底。
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.有时你会成功,有时你将面临失败。假定他人总心怀善意是有风险的,有时你会感到失望。但是对于那些幸运的、得以参与其中一部分工作并见证这些工作得以完成的人来说,他们从中吸取了力量,备受鼓舞。更重要的是,他们对美国、对美国人的信念从中得到了肯定。
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.我自己对美国及美国人的信念的确也加强了。这八年,我看到那么多年轻毕业生和新晋军官洋溢着希望的脸庞。我和心碎的、失落的家庭一同悲伤,我也曾在查尔斯顿教堂中蒙恩。(译者注:2015年6月17日,在美国南卡罗莱纳州查尔斯顿的一起重大枪击案。一名白人在当地的一座黑人教堂开枪,造成九人死亡,包括一名议员)我看到我们的科学家帮助一个瘫痪男人重获触感,让受伤的战士恢复行走能力。我看到地震后我们的医生和志愿者们开展重建工作、遏止流行疾病的蔓延。我看到很小的孩子用行动和宽容给予我们警醒——我们身负帮助难民的责任,我们应该为实现和平而努力,最重要的是,我们得爱护彼此。
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.过去的几年,我一直相信普通美国人可以带来改变,这种信念从各个方面使我受益,这在此前是难以预料的。我希望你的信念也能使你受益匪浅。今天现场和电视机前的一部分人,在2004、2008、2012年的时候也和我在一起,也许你们到现在也无法相信我们真的做到了。我想告诉你们,不敢相信的不只有你们。
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.感谢米歇尔!米歇尔·拉范恩·罗宾森,这个来自南部的女孩。在过去的25年里,你不仅是我的妻子,我孩子们的母亲,同时也是我最好的朋友。你担任的角色自己从未设想过,却把它演绎得优雅、勇敢而幽默,颇具自己的风格。你将白宫变成一个欢迎所有人来的地方。新一代人把自己的目标定得更高,因为他们有你作为模范。你让我感到骄傲。你让整个国家为你骄傲。
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.感谢玛利亚和萨莎,在一种和普通青少年成长环境不同的氛围中,你们成长为两位让人惊艳的少女,智慧而美丽。但更重要的是,你们善良、体贴、充满热情。你们对这些年来外界的关注应付自如。我这一生中最骄傲的事情,就是能做你们的父亲。
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.副总统乔·拜登,从斯克兰顿的一个爱打架的孩子成长为特拉华州最爱的儿子。你是我最早提名的内阁成员,也是最好的。并不仅仅因为你是成功的副总统,更因为在我们共事的过程中,你成了我的兄弟。我们爱你和吉尔有如家人,你的友谊是我们生命中最为珍视的快乐之一。
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.我极为出色的白宫职员们:这八年,你们其中一些人和我共事成长,我从你们身上获得了很多能量,也尝试把每天从你们身上获得的辐射给其他人:爱心、个性和理想主义。我见证你们成长、结婚、生子,并开启属于你们自己的事业。哪怕时事变得艰难,使人受挫,你们也从未被华盛顿的这些破事击倒过。我们一起在这里促成了很多好事,但让我感到更为骄傲的是,从这里起步的你们将会取得更大成就。
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.所有支持我的人:每一个搬到自己不熟悉的小镇的组织者,还有那些热情招呼他们进门的家庭,每一个上门游说的志愿者,每一个第一次投票的年轻人,每一位在充满变数的时事中艰难生活的美国人……你们是最好的支持者和组织者,我永远感激你们。是的,你们的确改变了世界,你们做到了。
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.这是为什么今天我比刚任职时,更为乐观地看待我们国家的未来。因为我知道我们所做的工作不仅帮助了很多人,更激励了很多人,尤其是年轻人。要相信你们可以促成改变,要为比自身更重要的事情而努力奋斗。
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.我想说,这一代年轻人不自私、有创意、爱国。我在美国处处可以见到你们。你们相信美国可以更公平、更公正、更包容;你们了解不断的变化正是美国的特质,我们应该面对而不应该惧怕;你们也愿意去承受推进民主的重任。你们将最终超越我们所有人,我相信国家的未来在你们手中将会更加光明。
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.我的同胞们,能够为你们服务是我的荣幸。我会一直为你们服务。事实上,在我以后的人生中,我会以一位普通公民的身份一直和你们在一起。而现在,无论你年轻与否,作为你们的总统我还有一个请求,八年前你们刚把我选上来时我提出过同样的请求。
I am asking you to believe.Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.我请求你们继续保持信念。不是相信我可以带来改变,而是相信你们自己的力量。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: 我请求你们依然坚信在建国时我们写下的信念,那个奴隶和废奴主义者低语过的信念,那个被移民和追求正义的人们吟诵过的信念;我们胜利的星条旗,从国外的战场一路飘扬到月球表面,更加强化了这一信念;它也将会是每一个还未开始书写自己故事的美国人的精神内核。Yes We Can.是的,我们能行。Yes We Did.是的,我们做到了。Yes We Can.是的,我们能行!
Thank you.God bless you.And may God continue to bless the United States of America.谢谢!愿上帝保佑你们,愿上帝保佑美利坚!
第四篇:奥巴马演讲
May 25, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC—In his weekly address Saturday, Obama noted that members of the U.S.military often risk their lives without seeking the limelight or any special reward.As Americans observe Memorial Day weekend, U.S.President Barack Obama is calling on his fellow citizens to remember the men and women who have given their lives in service to the country, and to remember the military families who make sacrifices of their own.奥巴马在例行的周六演说中指出,美军官兵经常将生命危险置之度外而并不寻求关注和特别奖赏。他说,星期一就是阵亡将士纪念日,这一天应该用来感谢烈士的奉献。美国总统奥巴马呼吁美国民众牢记为国捐躯的英烈们,记住烈士家属做出的牺牲。
第五篇:奥巴马演讲
奥巴马演讲《我们为什么要上学》全文
发布者:weleve 日期:2013年09月05日 01:39 来源: weleve.com 【字号 :大 中 小】 你要记住,哪怕你表现不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你觉得身边的人都已经放弃了你——永远不要自己放弃自己。因为当你放弃自己的时候,你也放弃了自己的国家。
【时间地点】弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市,2009年9月8日
嗨,大家好!你们今天过得怎么样?
我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起,全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里,我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。
我知道,对你们中的许多人来说,今天是开学的第一天,你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中,对你们来说,这是在新学校的第一天,因此,假如你们感到有些紧张,那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过,我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级,许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。
我可以理解这份心情。小时候,我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年,而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书,因此她决定自己给我上课——时间是每周一到周五的凌晨4点半。显然,我不怎么喜欢那么早就爬起来,很多时候,我就这么在厨房的桌子前睡着了。
每当我埋怨的时候,我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说:“小鬼,你以为教你我就很轻松?” 所以,我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应,但今天我站在这里,是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育,以及在新的学年里,你们应当做些什么。我做过许多关于教育的讲话,也常常用到“责任”这个词。
我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们,督促你们学习。我谈到过家长们有责任看管你们认真学习、完成作业,不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准严要求、协助老师和校长们的工作,改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。但哪怕这一切都达到最好,哪怕我们有最尽职的教师、最好的家长、和最优秀的学校,假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话,那么这一切努力都会白费。——除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否则这一切都会失去意义。
而这就是我今天讲话的主题:对于自己的教育,你们中每一个人的责任。首先,我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。
你们中的每一个人都会有自己擅长的东西,每一个人都是有用之材,而发现自己的才能是什么,就是你们要对自己担起的责任。
教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作,你不会发现自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一个发明家、创造家——甚至设计出像今天的iPhone一样流行的产品,或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课程上做上几次实验,你不会知道自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一名议员或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么学生会或参加几次辩论赛,你也不会发现自己的才能。而且,我可以向你保证,不管你将来想要做什么,你都需要相应的教育。——你想当名医生、当名教师或当名警官?你想成为护士、成为建筑设计师、律师或军人?无论你选择哪一种职业,良好的教育都必不可少,这世上不存在不把书念完就能拿到好工作的美梦,任何工作,都需要你的汗水、训练与学习。不仅仅对于你们个人的未来有重要意义,你们的教育如何也会对这个国家、乃至世界的未来产生重要影响。
今天你们在学校中学习的内容,将会决定我们整个国家在未来迎接重大挑战时的表现。你们需要在数理科学课程上学习的知识和技能,去治疗癌症、艾滋那样的疾病,和解决我们面临的能源问题与环境问题;你们需要在历史社科课程上培养出的观察力与判断力,来减轻和消除无家可归与贫困、犯罪问题和各种歧视,让这个国家变得更加公平和自由;你们需要在各类课程中逐渐累积和发展出来的创新意识和思维,去创业和建立新的公司与企业,来制造就业机会和推动经济的增长。
我们需要你们中的每一个人都培养和发展自己的天赋、技能和才智,来解决我们所面对的最困难的问题。假如你不这么做——假如你放弃学习——那么你不仅是放弃了自己,也是放弃了你的国家。当然,我明白,读好书并不总是件容易的事。我知道你们中的许多人在生活中面临着各种各样的问题,很难把精力集中在专心读书之上。我知道你们的感受。我父亲在我两岁时就离开了家庭,是母亲一人将我们拉扯大,有时她付不起帐单,有时我们得不到其他孩子们都有的东西,有时我会想,假如父亲在该多好,有时我会感到孤独无助,与周围的环境格格不入。
因此我并不总是能专心学习,我做过许多自己觉得丢脸的事情,也惹出过许多不该惹的麻烦,我的生活岌岌可危,随时可能急转直下。但我很幸运。我在许多事上都得到了重来的机会,我得到了去大学读法学院、实现自己梦想的机会。我的妻子——现在得叫她第一夫人米歇尔·奥巴马了——也有着相似的人生故事,她的父母都没读过大学,也没有什么财产,但他们和她都辛勤工作,好让她有机会去这个国家最优秀的学校读书。你们中有些人可能没有这些有利条件,或许你的生活中没有能为你提供帮助和支持的长辈,或许你的某个家长没有工作、经济拮据,或许你住的社区不那么安全,或许你认识一些会对你产生不良影响的朋友,等等。
但归根结底,你的生活状况——你的长相、出身、经济条件、家庭氛围——都不是疏忽学业和态度恶劣的借口,这些不是你去跟老师顶嘴、逃课、或是辍学的借口,这些不是你不好好读书的借口。你的未来,并不取决于你现在的生活有多好或多坏。没有人为你编排好你的命运,在美国,你的命运由你自己书写,你的未来由你自己掌握。而在这片土地上的每个地方,千千万万和你一样的年轻人正是这样在书写着自己的命运。
例如德克萨斯州罗马市的贾斯敏·佩雷兹(Jazmin Perez)。刚进学校时,她根本不会说英语,她住的地方几乎没人上过大学,她的父母也没有受过高等教育,但她努力学习,取得了优异的成绩,靠奖学金进入了布朗大学,如今正在攻读公共卫生专业的博士学位。我还想起了加利福尼亚州洛斯拉图斯市的安多尼·舒尔兹(Andoni Schultz),他从三岁起就开始与脑癌病魔做斗争,他熬过了一次次治疗与手术——其中一次影响了他的记忆,因此他得花出比常人多几百个小时的时间来完成学业,但他从不曾落下自己的功课。
这个秋天,他要开始在大学读书了。又比如在我的家乡,伊利诺斯州芝加哥市,身为孤儿的香特尔·史蒂夫(Shantell Steve)换过多次收养家庭,从小在治安很差的地区长大,但她努力争取到了在当地保健站工作的机会、发起了一个让青少年远离犯罪团伙的项目,很快,她也将以优异的成绩从中学毕业,去大学深造。贾斯敏、安多尼和香特尔与你们并没有什么不同。和你们一样,他们也在生活中遭遇各种各样的困难与问题,但他们拒绝放弃,他们选择为自己的教育担起责任、给自己定下奋斗的目标。我希望你们中的每一个人,都能做得到这些。因此,在今天,我号召你们每一个人都为自己的教育定下一个目标——并在之后,尽自己的一切努力去实现它。你的目标可以很简单,像是完成作业、认真听讲或每天阅读——或许你打算参加一些课外活动,或在社区做些志愿工作;或许你决定为那些因为长相或出身等等原因而受嘲弄或欺负的孩子做主、维护他们的权益,因为你和我一样,认为每个孩子都应该能有一个安全的学习环境;或许你认为该学着更好的照顾自己,来为将来的学习做准备……
当然,除此之外,我希望你们都多多洗手、感到身体不舒服的时候要多在家休息,免得大家在秋冬感冒高发季节都得流感。不管你决定做什么,我都希望你能坚持到底,希望你能真的下定决心。我知道有些时候,电视上播放的节目会让你产生这样那样的错觉,似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰缠万贯、功成名就——你会认为只要会唱rap、会打篮球或参加个什么真人秀节目就能坐享其成,但现实是,你几乎没有可能走上其中任何一条道路。
因为,成功是件难事。你不可能对要读的每门课程都兴趣盎然,你不可能和每名带课教师都相处顺利,你也不可能每次都遇上看起来和现实生活有关的作业。而且,并不是每件事,你都能在头一次尝试时获得成功。但那没有关系。因为在这个世界上,最最成功的人们往往也经历过最多的失败。
J.K.罗琳的第一本《哈利·波特》被出版商拒绝了十二次才最终出版;迈克尔·乔丹上高中时被学校的篮球队刷了下来,在他的职业生涯里,他输了几百场比赛、投失过几千次射篮,知道他是怎么说的吗?“我一生不停地失败、失败再失败,这就是我现在成功的原因。” 他们的成功,源于他们明白人不能让失败左右自己——而是要从中吸取经验。从失败中,你可以明白下一次自己可以做出怎样的改变;假如你惹了什么麻烦,那并不说明你就是个捣蛋贵,而是在提醒你,在将来要对自己有更严格的要求;假如你考了个低分,那并不说明你就比别人笨,而是在告诉你,自己得在学习上花更多的时间。没有哪一个人一生出来就擅长做什么事情的,只有努力才能培养出技能。
任何人都不是在第一次接触一项体育运动时就成为校队的代表,任何人都不是在第一次唱一首歌时就找准每一个音,一切都需要熟能生巧。对于学业也是一样,你或许要反复运算才能解出一道数学题的正确答案,你或许需要读一段文字好几遍才能理解它的意思,你或许得把论文改上好几次才能符合提交的标准。这都是很正常的。不要害怕提问。不要不敢向他人求助。——我每天都在这么做。求助并不是软弱的表现,恰恰相反,它说明你有勇气承认自己的不足、并愿意去学习新的知识。所以,有不懂时,就向大人们求助吧——找个你信得过的对象,例如父母、长辈、老师、教练或辅导员——让他们帮助你向目标前进。
你要记住,哪怕你表现不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你觉得身边的人都已经放弃了你——永远不要自己放弃自己。因为当你放弃自己的时候,你也放弃了自己的国家。美国不是一个人们遭遇困难就轻易放弃的国度,在这个国家,人们坚持到底、人们加倍努力,为了他们所热爱的国度,每一个人都尽着自己最大的努力,不会给自己留任何余地。
250年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后奋起努力、用一场革命最终造就了这个国家;75年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后战胜了大萧条、赢得了二战;就在20年前,和你们一样的学生们,他们后来创立了Google、Twitter和Facebook,改变了我们人与人之间沟通的方式。因此,今天我想要问你们,你们会做出什么样的贡献?你们将解决什么样的难题?你们能发现什么样的事物?
二十、五十或百年之后,假如那时的美国总统也来做一次开学演讲的话,他会怎样描述你们对这个国家所做的一切?你们的家长、你们的老师和我,每一个人都在尽最大的努力,确保你们都能得到应有的教育来回答这些问题。
例如我正在努力为你们提供更安全的教室、更多的书籍、更先进的设施与计算机。但你们也要担起自己的责任。因此我要求你们在今年能够认真起来,我要求你们尽心地去做自己着手的每一件事,我要求你们每一个人都有所成就。
请不要让我们失望——不要让你的家人、你的国家和你自己失望。你们要成为我们骄傲,我知道,你们一定可以做到。
谢谢大家!