第一篇:奥巴马总统就职典礼前林肯纪念堂演讲
奥巴马总统就职典礼前林肯纪念堂演讲
I want to thank all the speakers and performers for reminding us, through song and through words, just what it is that we love about America.And I want to thank all of you for braving the cold and the crowds and traveling in some cases thousands of miles to join us here today.Welcome to Washington, and welcome to this celebration of American renewal.In the course of our history, only a handful of generations have been asked to confront challenges as serious as the ones we face right now.Our nation is at war.Our economy is in crisis.Millions of Americans are losing their jobs and their homes;they're worried about how they'll afford college for their kids or pay the stack of bills on their kitchen table.And most of all, they are anxious and uncertain about the future--about whether this generation of Americans will be able to pass on what's best about this country to our children and their children.I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy.It will take more than a month or a year, and it will likely take many.Along the way there will be setbacks and false starts and days that test our fundamental resolve as a nation.But despite all of this--despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead--I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure, that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.What gives me hope is what I see when I look out across this mall.For in these monuments are chiseled those unlikely stories that affirm our unyielding faith--a faith that anything is possible in America.Rising before us stands a memorial to a man who led a small band of farmers and shopkeepers in revolution against the army of an Empire, all for the sake of an idea.On the ground below is a tribute to a generation that withstood war and depression--men and women like my grandparents who toiled on bomber assembly lines and marched across Europe to free the world from tyranny's grasp.Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a King, and the glory of a people who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content.And behind me, watching over the union he saved, sits the man who in so many ways made this day possible.And yet, as I stand here today, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between.It is you--Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.It is the same thing that gave me hope from the day we began this campaign for the presidency nearly two years ago;a belief that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together--Democrats, Republicans, independents;Latino, Asian and Native American;black and white, gay and straight, disabled and not--then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.This is what I believed, but you made this belief real.You proved once more that people who love this country can change it.And as I prepare to assume the presidency, yours are the voices I will take with me every day when I walk into that Oval Office--the voices of men and women who have different stories but hold common hopes;who ask only for what was promised us as Americans--that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did.It is this thread that binds us together in common effort;that runs through every memorial on this mall;that connects us to all those who struggled and sacrificed and stood here before.It is how this nation has overcome the greatest differences and the longest odds--because there is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.That is the belief with which we began this campaign, and that is how we will overcome what ails us now.There is no doubt that our road will be long, that our climb will be steep.But never forget that the true character of our nation is revealed not during times of comfort and ease, but by the right we do when the moment is hard.I ask you to help reveal that character once more, and together, we can carry forward as one nation, and one people, the legacy of our forefathers that we celebrate today.Thank you, America.God bless you.
第二篇:奥巴马总统2011感恩节演讲
Thanksgiving Day, 2011 A Proclamation? By the President of the United States of America
2011年感恩节
美利坚合众国总统公告
2011年11月16日
?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? November 16, 2011 One of our Nation's oldest and most cherished traditions, Thanksgiving Day brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives.The observance recalls the celebration of an autumn harvest centuries ago, when the Wampanoag tribe joined the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony to share in the fruits of a bountiful season.The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives.We take this time to remember the ways that the First Americans have enriched our Nation's heritage, from their generosity centuries ago to the everyday contributions they make to all facets of American life.As we come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate, let us set aside our daily concerns and give thanks for the providence bestowed upon us.感恩节(Thanksgiving Day)是我国最悠久、最宝贵的传统之一。这个节日带给我们更浓郁的亲情,令我们反思给予我们丰富多彩的生活的万般恩典。这个传统上溯至几百年前万帕诺亚格部落(Wampanoag tribe)和普利茅斯殖民地(Plymouth Colony)清教徒移民分享秋收果实的欢庆时节。当时的盛宴表达了对万帕诺亚格部落向新移民传授当地狩猎和农作知识的慷慨友情的赞赏;今天,我们继续向所有美洲印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民表示感恩。让我们值此时刻重温美国最早期的人们对我国文化传统的贡献——他们不仅在数百年前慷慨相助,而且每一天都在为美国生活的各方各面作贡献。在我们与朋友、家人和邻居聚首欢庆的日子里,让我们抛开日常烦恼,为上帝对我们的眷顾而感恩。
Though our traditions have evolved, the spirit of grace and humility at the heart of Thanksgiving has persisted through every chapter of our story.When President George Washington proclaimed our country's first Thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing God for shepherding our young Republic through its uncertain beginnings.Decades later, President Abraham Lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the worst of civil war, and to restore the Nation “to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”
虽然我们的传统与时俱进,但是作为感恩节核心的恩惠与谦卑精神贯穿于我们历史的各段篇章,始终如一。乔治·华盛顿(George Washington)总统发表了美国第一个感恩日公告,感谢慷慨而全能的上帝护卫我们年轻的共和国度过风雨莫测的初始阶段。几十年后,亚伯拉罕·林肯(Abraham Lincoln)总统祈求神灵保佑深领内战不幸的人们,让国家重享完全的“和平、和谐、安宁与联邦团结”。
In times of adversity and times of plenty, we have lifted our hearts by giving humble thanks for the blessings we have received and for those who bring meaning to our lives.Today, let us offer gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their many sacrifices, and keep in our thoughts the families who save an empty seat at the table for a loved one stationed in harm's way.And as members of our American family make do with less, let us rededicate ourselves to our friends and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand.无论时逢逆境还是一帆风顺,我们通过对恩典和赋予我们生命意义的人们谦卑地表示感恩而得到心灵的升华。今天,让我们向付出各种牺牲的男女军人表示感谢,也让我们心系那些在餐桌边为值守在险境中的亲人留着空位的家庭。面对精简度日的美国大家庭的成员,让我们再次向需要帮助的朋友和国人献出爱心。
As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives.Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come.当我们聚会在社区和家中,围坐在餐桌旁、火炉边时,我们向彼此表示感谢,我们向将仁慈与温馨带到我们生活中的上帝表示感谢。让我们驻足凝思鼓舞我们的生活的点滴恩惠,并立志来年报恩。
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 2011, as a National Day of Thanksgiving.I encourage the people of the United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.为此,我,美利坚合众国总统巴拉克·奥巴马,以美国宪法和法律赋予我的权力,特此宣布2011年11月24日星期四为全国感恩节。我呼吁美国全体人民,不论是在家中、在敬拜场所、在社区中心,还是在任何与亲朋好友及左邻右舍欢聚的地方,共同对我们过去一年所得的一切表示感谢,向那些用他们的生命丰富了我们的生活的人表示感谢;并与他人分享自己所受之恩。
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.我谨于公元2011年11月16日,即美利坚合众国独立第236年,亲笔在此签名为证。
BARACK OBAMA(巴拉克·奥巴马)
第三篇:美国新任总统奥巴马在就职典礼上发表演讲
美国新任总统奥巴马在就职典礼上发表演讲
我的国民:
我今天站在这,为我们眼前的任务感到谦卑,为你们给我的信任感激,为我们先人的牺牲不忘怀。我多谢乔治布什总统对国家的服务,以及他在整个权力过度过程展示的慷慨和合作。
至今44位美国人宣读过总统誓词。这些言词在繁荣潮起、在和平的风平浪静中说过,但很多时候,誓词是在阴霾密布中宣读。美国在这些时刻挺下去,不止是因为在位者的技巧或视野,而是因为我们人民坚信先人的理想,信守我们的立国文献。
过去如是,这一代美国人也如是。
我们正身陷危机,现在大家都很清楚了。国家正在打仗,对抗一个广大的暴力和仇恨网络。我们的经济严重地衰弱,是部份人贪婪和不负责任的结果,也是因为我们集体失败,未能作出艰难的决定,为国家进入新纪元作好准备。很多家没有了,工作被裁了,企业倒闭了。我们的医疗费太贵,我们的学校有负于太多人,每天都有新证据显示,我们用能源的方法,令我们的敌人强大,又威胁我们的星球。
这些都是危机的指针,有数据和统计。较难测量但同样影响深远的,是全国信心受重创,挥之不去的恐惧,担心美国衰落无可避免,担心下一代一定要降低期望。
今日我向你们说,我们面对的挑战千真万确,很严重也很多,不能轻易解决,不能短时间解决,但美国知道:挑战一定会克服。
这一天,我们聚首一堂,是因为我们选择希望,而非恐惧,选择目标一致,而不是冲突和争吵。
这一天,我们来宣布结束埋怨、虚假承诺、指摘和过时的条,它们窒息我们的政治太久了。
我们仍是一个年轻的国家,但正如《圣经》所说,是时候将孩子气放在一旁了。重申我们不灭精神的时候到了,去选取我们历史好的一面,去发扬那珍宝,那一代传一代的高尚理念:上帝承诺人人平等,人人自由,人人值得有机会追求快乐。
当我们再次肯定我国的伟大,我们知道伟大从来不是天生,而是争取得来的。我们的旅程从来没有走快捷方式,从不退而求其次。这不是胆小的人之路,这条路不是给那些喜欢
第四篇:奥巴马竞选总统演讲(最终版)
奥巴马竞选总统演讲
篇一:美国第一夫人米歇尔为奥巴马竞选总统的演讲
Transcript: Michelle Obama's Convention Speech
September 4,2012
Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families...in wounded warriors who tell me they're not just going to walk again, they're going to run, and they're going to run marathons...in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, “...I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.”
Every day, the people I meet inspire me...every day, they make me proud...every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege...but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we'd begun.While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country...and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President...like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? PBS NewsHour/YouTube
First lady Michelle Obama addresses the DNC after being introduced by military mom Elaine Brye, from PBS NewsHour.How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known?
Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys...Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house...and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...I deeply loved the man I had built that life with...and I didn't want that to change if he became President.I loved Barack just the way he was.You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that
was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door...he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family – that's when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable –
their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.And when he returned home after a long day's work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him...watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work...he and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.He was so proud to be sending his kids to college...and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life – being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank...and she moved quickly up the ranks...but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.And for years, men no more qualified than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus...arriving at work before anyone else...giving her best without complaint or regret.And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”
Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules...and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean...and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are.You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer...the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.That's why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again – jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine...our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick...and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care...that's what my husband stands for.When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could've attended college without financial aid.And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political – they're personal.Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it...and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.He's the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down,fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work...because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.He's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, “You won't believe what these folks are going through, Michelle...it's not right.We've got to keep working to fix this.We've got so much more to do.”
I see how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago...even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard – especially when it's hard.I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as “us” and “them” – he doesn't care whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above...he knows that we all love our country...and he's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will.”
So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love...because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.篇二:奥巴马:总统竞选连任胜选演讲
巴拉克·奥巴马:第二次总统选举胜选演说
发表于二零一二年十一月七日
张少军译、校
Barack Obama
Presidential Election Victory Speech
delivered 7 November 2012
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]
(真实性鉴定;以下文本直接转录自音频资料)
Thank you.Thank you so much.Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.谢谢你们,非常感谢你们。
今晚,在一个前殖民地赢得了决定自身命运权利两百多年后的今晚,完美我们联邦的任务正在推向前进。
It moves forward because of you.It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression;the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope--the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together, as one nation, and as one people.它的推进是因为你们。它的推进是因为你们重申了赢得战争击败衰退的精神,重申了将这个国家从绝望的低谷提升至希望的巅峰的精神,重申了这样的信念——当我们每个人追求我们各自的梦想时,我们都从属于一个美国大家庭;作为一个国家一个民族,我们共进退同祸福。Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.今晚,在这次选举中,你们——美国人民提醒我们:尽管道路艰难征途漫长,我们已振作精神杀出重围;我们深知,对美利坚合众国而言,最好的时刻尚未到来。
I want to thank every American who participated in this election.Whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time--by the way, we have to fix that.Whether you
pounded the pavement or picked up the phone--whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard, and you made a difference.我要感谢每一位参与这次选举的美国人。无论你在第一时间投票,或是在队伍中等待了很久——顺便说一句,我们必须改进投票程序;无论你是在人行道上蹒跚前移,还是拿起电话投票;无论你举的牌子上,写的是奥巴马还是罗姆尼,你的声音都会被听到,你也一样举足轻重。
I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future.From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.我刚刚与罗姆尼州长通过话,我祝贺他和保罗·瑞安在这场艰苦的选战中的出色表现。也许我们有过激烈的较量,但那只因为我们都深深地爱着这个国家,我们都如此强烈地关注着它的未来。从乔治到埃莉诺(罗姆尼的父母,曾分别任州长与参议员——译者注)到他们的儿子米特,罗姆尼家族选择了投身公共服务来回报美国,这是今晚值得我们尊敬和赞美的一份遗产。在今后的日子里,我也期待与罗姆尼州长坐下来,讨论在哪些方面我们能够共同合作,把这个国家推向前进。
I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America’s happy warrior--the best Vice President anybody could ever hope for--Joe Biden.我想感谢我过去四年里的朋友和伙伴,美国的快乐斗士——超出任何人想象的最好的副总统——乔·拜登。
And I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago.Let me say this publicly--Michelle, I have never loved you more.I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation’s First Lady.Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes, you're growing up to become two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom.And I’m so proud of you guys.But I will say that for now, one dog is probably enough.如果没有20年前同意嫁给我的那位女人,我将不会是今天站在这里这个男人。让我告诉所有人吧:米歇尔,我从未像今天这样爱你;我也从未像今天这样为你骄傲——看到你作为我
们国家的第一夫人,赢得了其他美国人的爱。萨沙和玛丽亚,在我们的眼皮底下,你们正成长为坚强、聪明、漂亮的年轻女人,像你们的妈妈那样。我是如此为你们这两个小家伙骄傲,但是现在我要说,一条狗大概就足够了。(在奥巴马的第一次胜选演说中,他当众宣布送给两个女儿一条狗作为胜选礼物——译者注)
To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics--the best.The best
ever.Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning.But all of you are family.No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together, and you will have the lifelong appreciation of a grateful President.Thank you for believing all the way, through every hill, through every valley.You lifted me up the whole way.And I will always be grateful for everything that you've done and all the incredible work that you put in.对政治史上最好的竞选团队与志愿者们——最好,永远的最好。你们有些人是这次选举聚集的新人,有些则从最初的时刻就站在我的身边;然而你们全都亲如家人。不管你们从事何种职业,将从这里走向何方,你们都将拥有一个心怀感激的总统的铭记终身的赏识。越过每一道山峰,穿过每一个低谷,感谢你们始终不逾的信任。对你们所做的每一件事,你们奉献的所有难以置信的工作,我将永怀感激之情。
I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly.And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos, or the domain of special interests.But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies, and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else.我明白,政治选战有时可能显得琐屑甚至愚蠢。它给那些愤世嫉俗者提供了大量的炮弹,他们告诉我们,除了给那些自负的家伙竞争的机会和给那些特殊利益者较量的场所,政治毫无价值。然而,如果你有机会和那些在我们的大会上聚集或挤在高中体育馆的队伍中的人们谈谈,或目睹人们在竞选办公室工作到很晚,你可能会发现一些别的东西。
You’ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who’s worked his way through college, and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity.You’ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who’s going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift.You’ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who’s working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for
this country ever has to fight for a job, or a roof over their head when they come home.That’s why we do this.That’s what politics can be.That’s why elections matter.It's not small;it's big.It's important.你会在一个年轻的选区组织者的话语中听出决心,他通过上大学闯出了自己的人生之路,他要确保每个孩子都有同样的机会。你会在一个志愿者的话语中听出骄傲,他挨家挨户动员人们去投票因为当本地的汽车工厂增加工作班次他的兄弟最终被录用。你会在一个军人配偶的话语中听出深深的爱国精神,她为助选拨打电话直到深夜,以确保没有任何为这个国家而战的人,退伍回家后又得为工作而战,为栖身之所而战。
Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated.We have our own opinions.Each of us has deeply held beliefs.And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.That won’t change after tonight--and it shouldn’t.These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.在一个有着三亿人口的国家里,民,主,政,治可能显得喧嚣、混乱、复杂。我们有自己的观点,我们每个人都有自己深挚的信仰。每当我们面对艰难时世,每当我们国家要作出重大的决定,它都必然会激起热情,引发争论。这些将不会在今晚之后改变,也不应被改变。我们拥有的这些争论是我们自由的一个标志。我们决不能忘记,就在我们说话的此刻,那些遥,远,国度,的人们,正冒,着,生,命的危险,仅仅为争得一个讨论重要问题的机会,一个像我们今天一样投,票,的机会。
But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future.We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers--a country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt;that isn’t weakened by inequality;that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.不管我们有怎样的分歧,多数人对美国的未来还是享有某些共同的期待。我们希望我们的孩子们生长在一个这样国家:在那里,他们能上最好的学校有最好的老师;在那里,他们实践先辈的遗训,成为科技、发明、创新的世界领导者,拥有随之而来的最好的工作机会与新兴 的产业。我们希望我们的孩子生活在这样一个美国:它不再背负债务,不再为不平等所削弱,不再为这个正在变暖的星球的破坏性力量所威胁
We want to pass on a country that’s safe and respected and admired around the world;a nation that is defended by the strongest military on Earth and the best troops this world has ever known--but also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.我们希望交给后人这样一个美国,它安全并享有遍及全球的尊重与羡慕;这样一个美国,它由地球上最强大的军事力量,这个世界所知道的最好的军队所捍卫;它同时又是这样一个国家,它自信地超越这个时代的战争,去塑造一个奠基于给每一个人以自由与尊严的承诺之上的和平。
We believe in a generous America;in a compassionate America;in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant’s daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag.To the young boy on the South Side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner.To the furniture worker’s child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an
engineer or entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a President.That’s the future we hope for.That’s the vision we share.That’s where we need to go.Forward.That's where we need to go.我们信仰一个慷慨的美国,一个富于同情心的美国,一个海纳百川的美国。它对一个移民的女儿展开怀抱,她在我们的学校念书对我们国旗宣誓;它对芝加哥南部的男孩展开怀抱,他眼中的生活超越了他身边的街角;它对北卡罗来纳州的木匠的孩子展开怀抱,他想成为医生或科学家,成为工程师或企业家,成为外交官甚至成为总统。那就是我们希望的未来,那就是我们共同的愿景,那就是我们希望的乐土。“逝将去汝,适彼乐土。乐土乐土,爰得我所。”
Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there.As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts.It's not always a straight line.It's not always a
smooth path.By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock, or solve all our problems, or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus, and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward.But that common bond is where we must begin.眼下,对如何达成目标,我们意见分歧,有时这种分歧还十分严重。正如两个多世纪以来,发展总是潮起潮落一样,它不会是一条直线,不总是一马平川。就其本身而言,意识到我们
篇三:奥巴马演讲稿
贝拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马二世(Barack Hussein Obama II),1961年8月4日生于美国夏威夷州火奴鲁鲁(檀香山),父亲是一位祖籍肯尼亚的黑人穆斯林,母亲是堪萨斯州的美国人。父亲贝拉克·奥巴马是一名在夏威夷念书的肯尼亚留学生。母亲安·邓纳姆是一个白人,原本来自堪萨斯州。
1983年毕业于哥伦比亚大学,1985年到芝加哥工作。1991年毕业于哈佛大学的法学院,是第一个担任哈佛法学评论主编的非洲裔美国人。
1992年和米歇尔·拉沃恩·奥巴马结婚。1996年,奥巴马从芝加哥当选为伊利诺伊州州参议员并在之后的3年中连任;2000年,在竞选美国众议院议员席位失败后,奥巴马将主要精力投入到伊利诺伊州的参议工作中。
2007年2月10日,奥巴马在伊利诺伊州斯普林菲尔德市正式宣布参加2008年美国总统大选,并提出了重点在“完结伊拉克战争以及实施全民医疗保险制度”的竞选纲领。2008年6月3日,奥巴马被定为民主党总统候选人;同年8月23日,在民主党全国代表大会上奥巴马被正式提名,从而成为了美国历史上首个非洲裔总统大选候选人。
2008年1月1日,奥巴马开通了自己的微博网,通过网络渠道对竞选进行宣传,后来被人们称为Web2.0总统,可见奥巴马对网络的重视。2008年11月5日,奥巴马击败共和党候选人约翰·麦凯恩,正式当选为美国第四十四任总统(届数:第56届,任数:第44任,位数:第43位,政党:民主党)。于2009年1月20日,在美国首都华盛顿特区参加就职典礼,发表就职演说,并参加了游行。任期4年。根据美国法律,他还可以在2012年,再次竞选总统。
2009年10月9日,据英国广播公司报道,诺贝尔奖评审会称,美国总统奥巴马因“为增强国际外交及各国人民间的合作做出非同寻常的努力”而被授予2009诺贝尔和平奖。民调显示,2009年奥巴马的支持率最高达到59%,而后开始滑落,2011年一月份到达48%的水平,而由于经济手段改革与医疗体制改革,奥巴马的支持率持续走低,到三月份末降到最低的38%,但后又因击毙拉登上升,近期又由于前述原因轻微下降,他的平均支持率平均在4、5成之间,属于中等水平。
2011年11月,福布斯2011权力人物榜:奥巴马排名第一。尽管在处理高失业率和经济衰退问题上的不足导致奥巴马在国内支持率下降,但他在世界舞台上的表现完全不同。随着“基地”组织领导人本·拉登和利比亚前领导总统竞选人卡扎菲相继被击毙,奥巴马的影响力迅速上升。
2012年10月17日,经过90分钟的舌战,美国总统大选结束了第二场总统辩论。首战支持率大跌的奥巴马,此次成功逆转,根据CNN实时投票结果,奥巴马的支持率飙升到46%。
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北京时间2012年11月7日,当地时间6日晚,美国总统奥巴马获得275张选票,连任总统已成定局。他在推特上发文感谢选民。
第五篇:美国第44任总统奥巴马就职典礼中英文对照
美国第44任总统奥巴马就职典礼中英文对照
Barack Obama's Inaugural Address My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.So it has been.So it must be with this generation of Americans.That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood.Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.Homes have been lost;jobs shed;businesses shuttered.Our health care is too costly;our schools fail too many;and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our landthey will be met.On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;to choose our better history;to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.It must be earned.Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less.It has not been the path for the faint-heartedsome celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West;endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg;Normandy and Khe Sanh.Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions;greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.This is the journey we continue today.We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth.Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began.Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year.Our capacity remains undiminished.But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisionsnot only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost.We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.All this we can do.And all this we will do.Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitionsthat the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it worksto spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of dayand that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity;on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing hearteven greater cooperation and understanding between nations.We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindusknow that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history;but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow;to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders;nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.For the world has changed, and we must change with it.As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains.They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service;a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.And yet, at this momentit is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.Our challenges may be new.The instruments with which we meet them may be new.But those values upon which our success dependsthese things are old.These things are true.They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.What is demanded then is a return to these truths.What is required of us now is a new era of responsibilitythe knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed-why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled.In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river.The capital was abandoned.The enemy was advancing.The snow was stained with blood.At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].America.In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter;and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.美国东部时间1月20日中午12时左右,美国第44任总统贝拉克·奥巴马发表就职演说,全文如下:
我的同胞们:
今天我站在这里,看到眼前面临的重大任务,深感卑微。我感谢你们对我的信任,也知道先辈们为了这个国家所作的牺牲。我要感谢布什总统为国家做出的贡献,以及感谢他在两届政府过渡期间给与的慷慨协作。
迄今为止,已经有44个美国总统宣誓就职。总统的宣誓有时面对的是国家的和平繁荣,但通常面临的是乌云密布的紧张形势。在紧张的形势中,支持美国前进的不仅仅是领导人的能力和远见,也在于美国人民对国家先驱者理想的信仰,以及对美国立国文件的忠诚。
前辈们如此,我们这一代美国人也要如此。
现在我们都深知,我们身处危机之中。我们的国家在战斗,对手是影响深远的暴力和憎恨;国家的经济也受到严重的削弱,原因虽有一些人的贪婪和不负责任,但更为重要的是我们作为一个整体在一些重大问题上决策失误,同时也未能做好应对新时代的准备。
我们的人民正在失去家园,失去工作,很多且要倒闭。社会的医疗过于昂贵、学校教育让许多人失望,而且每天都会有新的证据显示,我们利用能源的方式助长了我们的敌对势力,同时也威胁着我们的星球。
统计数据的指标传达着危机的消息。危机难以测量,但更难以测量的是其对美国人国家自信的侵蚀——现在一种认为美国衰落不可避免,我们的下一代必须低调的言论正在吞噬着人们的自信。
今天我要说,我们的确面临着很多严峻的挑战,而且在短期内不大可能轻易解决。但是我们要相信,我们一定会度过难关。
今天,我们在这里齐聚一堂,因为我们战胜恐惧选择了希望,摒弃了冲突和矛盾而选择了团结。
今天,我们宣布要为无谓的摩擦、不实的承诺和指责画上句号,我们要打破牵制美国政治发展的若干陈旧教条。
美国仍是一个年轻的国家,借用《圣经》的话说,放弃幼稚的时代已经到来了。重拾坚韧精神的时代已经到来,我们要为历史作出更好的选择,我们要秉承历史赋予的宝贵权利,秉承那种代代相传的高贵理念:上帝赋予我们每个人以平等和自由,以及每个人尽全力去追求幸福的机会。
在重申我们国家伟大之处的同时,我们深知伟大从来不是上天赐予的,伟大需要努力赢得。(我们的民族一路走来),这旅途之中从未有过捷径或者妥协,这旅途也不适合胆怯之人、或者爱安逸胜过爱工作之人、或者单单追求名利之人。这条路是勇于承担风险者之路,是实干家、创造者之路。这其中有一些人名留青史,但是更多的人却在默默无闻地工作着。正是这些人带领我们走过了漫长崎岖的旅行,带领我们走向富强和自由。
为了我们,先辈们带着微薄的细软,横渡大洋,寻找新生活;为了我们,先辈们忍辱负重,用血汗浇铸工厂;为了我们,先辈们在荒芜的西部大地辛勤耕作,定居他乡;为了我们,先辈们奔赴(独立战争中的)康科德城和葛底斯堡、(二战中的)诺曼底、(越战中的)Khe Sahn,他们征战、死去。
一次又一次,我们的先辈们战斗着、牺牲着、操劳着,只为了我们可以生活得更好。在他们看来,美国的强盛与伟大超越了个人雄心,也超越了个人的出身、贫富和派别差异。
今天我们继续先辈们的旅途。美国依然是地球上最富裕、最强大的国家。同危机初露端倪之时相比,美国人民的生产力依然旺盛;与上周、上个月或者去年相比,我们的头脑依然富于创造力,我们的商品和服务依然很有市场,我们的实力不曾削弱。但是,可以肯定的是,轻歌曼舞的时代、保护狭隘利益的时代以及对艰难决定犹豫不决的时代已经过去了。从今天开始,我们必须跌倒后爬起来,拍拍身上的泥土,重新开始工作,重塑美国。
我目之所及,都有工作有待完成。国家的经济情况要求我们采取大胆且快速的行动,我们的确是要行动,不仅是要创造就业,更要为(下一轮经济)增长打下新的基础。我们将造桥铺路,为企业铺设电网和数字线路,将我们联系在一起。我们将回归科学,运用科技的奇迹提高医疗质量,降低医疗费用。我们将利用风能、太阳能和土壤驱动车辆,为工厂提供能源。我们将改革中小学以及大专院校,以适应新时代的要求。这一切,我们都能做到,而且我们都将会做到。
现在,有一些人开始质疑我们的野心是不是太大了,他们认为我们的体制承载不了太多的宏伟计划。他们是健忘了。他们已经忘了这个国家已经取得的成就;他们已经忘了当创造力与共同目标以及必要的勇气结合起来时,自由的美国人民所能发挥的能量。
这些怀疑论者的错误在于,他们没有意识到政治现实已经发生了变化,长期以来耗掉我们太多精力的陈腐政治论争已经不再适用。今天,我们的问题不在于政府的大小,而在于政府能否起作用,政府能否帮助家庭找到薪水合适的工作、给他们可以负担得起的医疗保障并让他们体面地退休。哪个方案能给与肯定的答案,我们就推进哪个方案。哪个方案的答案是否定的,我们就选择终止。而掌管纳税人税金的人应当承担起责任,合理支出,摒弃陋习,磊落做事,这有这样才能在政府和人民之间重建至关重要的相互信任。
我们面临的问题也不是市场好坏的问题。市场创造财富、拓展自由的能力无可匹敌,但是这场危机提醒我们,如果没有监管,市场很可能就会失去控制,而且偏袒富人国家的繁荣无法持久。国家经济的成败不仅仅取决于国内生产总值的大小,而且取决于繁荣的覆盖面,取决于我们是否有能力让所有有意愿的人都有机会走向富裕。我们这样做不是慈善,而是因为这是确保实现共同利益的途径。
就共同防御而言,我们认为国家安全与国家理想的只能选其一的排他选择是错的。面对我们几乎无法想像的危险,我们的先辈们起草了确保法治和个人权利的宪章。一代代人民的鲜血夯实了这一宪章。宪章中的理想依然照亮着世界,我们不能以经验之谈放弃这些理想。因此我想对正在观看这一仪式的其他国家的人民和政府说,不论他们现在各国伟大的首府还是在如同我父亲出生地一般的小村落,我想让他们知道:对于每个追求和平和自尊的国家和个人而言,美国都是朋友,我们愿意再次领导大家踏上追寻之旅。
回想先辈们在抵抗法西斯主义之时,他们不仅依靠手中的导弹或坦克,他们还依靠稳固的联盟和坚定的信仰。他们深知单凭自己的力量我们无法保护自己,他们也深知我们强大并不足以使我们有权利为所欲为。他们明白,正是因为使用谨慎,我们的实力才不断增强;正是因为我们的事业是公正的、我们为世界树立了榜样,因为我们的谦卑和节制,我们才安全。
我们继承了这些遗产。在这些原则的再次领导下,我们有能力应对新的威胁,我们需要付出更多的努力、进行国家间更广泛的合作以及增进国家间的理解。首先,我们将以负责任的态度,将伊拉克交还给伊拉克人民,同时巩固阿富汗来之不易的和平。对于老朋友和老对手,我们将继续努力,不遗余力,削弱核威胁,遏制全球变暖的幽灵。我们不会为我们的生活方式感到报歉,我们会不动摇地捍卫我们的生活方式。对于那些企图通过恐怖主义或屠杀无辜平民达成目标的人,我们要对他们说:我们的信仰更加坚定,不可动摇,你们不可能拖垮我们,我们定将战胜你们。
因为我们知道,我们的多元化遗产是一个优势,而非劣势。我们国家里有基督徒也有穆斯林,有犹太教徒也有印度教徒,同时也有非宗教信徒。我们民族的成长受到许多语言和文化的影响,我们吸取了这个星球上任何一个角落的有益成分。正是因为我们民族曾亲尝过内战和种族隔离的苦酒,并且在经历了这些黑色的篇章之后变得更加强大更加团结,因此我们不由自主,只能相信一切仇恨终有一天都会成为过去,种族的划分不久就会消失,而且随着世界变得越来越小,我们相信终有一天人类共有的人性品德将会自动显现。在迎接新的和平时代到来的过程中,美国需要发挥自己的作用。
思索前方的路,我们无时无刻不在铭记那些远征沙漠和偏远山区的英勇美国战士,对他们充满了感激之情,他们和那些安息在阿灵顿国家公墓之下的战争英雄们一样,给与我们启示。
我们尊敬他们,不仅因为他们是自由的守护者,还因为他们代表的是为国家服务的精神,他们自愿追寻比自身的价值更伟大的意义(美国国家之伟大)。此时此刻,在这个要塑造一代人的时刻,我们需要的正是这样一种精神。
因为无论美国政府能做多少,必须做多少,美国国家的立国之本最终还是美国人的决心和信念。于防洪堤坝决堤之时收留陌生受难者的善意,于在经济不景气的时候宁愿减少自己工时也不肯看着朋友失业的无私,正是他们支撑我们走过黑暗的时刻。消防队员冲入满是浓烟的楼梯抢救生命的勇气,父母养育孩子的坚持,正是这些决定了我们的命运。
我们面临的挑战也许是新的,我们应对挑战的措施也许也是新的,但那些长期以来指导我们成功的价值观——勤奋、诚实、勇气、公平竞争、包容以及对世界保持好奇心,还有对国家的忠诚和爱国主义——却是历久弥新,这些价值观是可靠的。他们是创造美国历史的无声力量。我们现在需要的就是回归这些古老的价值观。我们需要一个新的负责任的时代,一个觉醒的时代,每个国人都应意识到即我们对自己、对国家和世界负有责任,我们不应该不情愿地接受这些责任,而应该快乐地承担起这些责任。我们应该坚定这一认识,即没有什么比全身心投入一项艰巨的工作更能锻炼我们的性格,更能获得精神上的满足。
这是公民应尽的义务,应做出的承诺。
我们自信源于对上帝的信仰,上帝号召我们要掌握自己的命运。
这就是我们自由和信仰的意义,这也是为何不同种族、不同信仰、不同性别和年龄的人可以同聚一堂在此欢庆的原因,也是我今天能站在这里庄严宣誓的原因,而在50多年前我的父亲甚至都不能成为地方餐馆的服务生。
所以,让我们铭记自己的身份,镌刻自己的足迹。在美国诞生的时代,那最寒冷的岁月里,一群勇敢的爱国人士围着篝火在冰封的河边取暖。首都被占领,敌人在挺进,冬天的雪被鲜血染成了红色。在美国大革命最受质疑的时刻,我们的国父们这样说:
“我们要让未来的世界知道„„在深冬的严寒里,唯有希望和勇气才能让我们存活„„面对共同的危险时,我们的城市和国家要勇敢地上前去面对。”
今天的美国也在严峻的寒冬中面对共同的挑战,让我们记住国父们不朽的语言。带着希望和勇气,让我们再一次勇敢地面对寒流,迎接可能会发生的风暴。我们要让我们的子孙后代记住,在面临挑战的时候,我们没有屈服,我们没有逃避也没有犹豫,我们脚踏实地、心怀信仰,秉承了宝贵的自由权利并将其安全地交到了下一代的手中。