第一篇:奥巴马演讲
.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Pchool basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during otter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high shis career.But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed.” These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country? Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.
第二篇: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。
第三篇: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!
第四篇:奥巴马演讲
英语俱乐部指导老师刘志永2013年3月21日带读晨读材料 地点:新图书馆台阶前
美国总统奥巴马2013年就职演说(第一部分)
Vice President Biden, Mr.Chief justice,Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
Each time we gather to inaugurate a president;
we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.We affirm the promise of our democracy.We recall that what binds the nation
副总统拜登、首席法官、美国国会议员、尊敬的客人和美国同胞们: 每次聚在一起举行总统就职仪式时,我们总能见证到宪法经久不衰的力量。
我们肯定民主的承诺。
我们回忆起,团结这个国家的力量不是皮肤的together is not the color of our skin, or the 颜色、tenets of our faith, or the origins of our names.所信奉的教条或名字的起源。
What makes us exceptional, what makes
让我们与众不同、成为美国人的us American, is our allegiance to an idea,是源自对一个理念的效忠,articulated in a declaration made more than
它早在2个多世纪前就在一份宣言中有过明确
two centuries ago.表述:
We hold these truths to be self-evident,“我们认为这一真理是不言自明的:
that all men are created equal, that they are
人人生而平等,并由造物主赋予了某些不可剥
endowed by their Creator with certain
夺的权利,unalienable rights, that among these are life,其中包括生命、自由和追求幸福的权利。”
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.Today we continue a never-ending journey
今天,为了缩小这些文字意义与当今现实间的差to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.For history tells us that while these truths
距,我们将继续这场没有尽头的旅程。
因为历史告诉我们,虽然这些真理也许不言自明,may be self-evident, they have never been 但它们从不会自动生效;self-executing;
that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secure by His people here on earth.The patriots of 1776 did not fight to of a few or the rule of a mob.They gave to us a Republic, a government generation to keep safe our founding creed.For more than two hundred years, we have.欢迎全校英语爱好者参加晨读活动!一起来,更精彩!
虽然自由是来自上帝的礼物,但它必须由地球上的子民们去争取。
1776年的爱国者们不是为了用少数人的特权或乌
replace the tyranny of a king with the privilege 合之众的法则取代国王的暴政而战斗。
他们给予我们的是一个共和国,一个民有、民治、念。
两百多年来,我们一直如此。
of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each 民享的政府,并委托每一代人去捍卫我们的建国理
第五篇:奥巴马演讲
奥巴马2013连任就职演说稿
John Roberts: Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.(美国最高法院首席大法官)John Roberts:请举起你的右手,随我一起宣誓。I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.So help me God.我,巴拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马,谨庄严宣誓:我将忠实执行合众国总统职务,竭尽全力,维持、保护和捍卫合众国宪法。愿神佑我。
John Roberts: Congratulations!Mr.President, well done!John Roberts: 恭喜,总统先生,做得非常好!(MUSIC)THE PRESIDENT: Vice President Biden, Mr.Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
拜登副总统,最高法院首席大法官先生,美国国会议员们,尊敬的客人们,同胞们: Each time we gather to inaugurate a President we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.We affirm the promise of our democracy.We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.What makes us exceptional--what makes us American--is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago: 当我们每次聚集在一起为总统举行就职典礼时,我们都是在见证美国宪法的不朽力量。我们是在又一次立下美国民主的承诺。我们再次提醒说,把这个国家凝聚在一起的不是我们的肤色,不是信仰的教条,也不是我们的姓氏源于何处。使我们与众不同——使我们成为美国人——的,是我们对一个在两个多世纪以前发表的宣言中所表述的理念:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal;that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” “我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的:人人生而平等,他们都从他们的造物主那里被赋予了某些不可剥夺的权利,包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。”
Today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they've never been self-executing;that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth.(Applause.)The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob.They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.今天,我们仍在继续这个永恒的旅程,让那些字句体现在我们这个时代的现实中。因为历史告诉我们,虽然这些真理是不言而喻的,但它们却不会自动实现;虽然自由是上帝给我们的礼物,但自由只能靠他在世间的子民的奋斗才能获得。1776年爱国先驱们所进行的斗争并不是以少数人的特权或乌合之众的统治来替代专制君主。他们为我们缔造的是一个共和国,一个民有、民治、民享的政府,并将捍卫这个建国理念的任务交给一代又一代的后人。And for more than two hundred years, we have.两百多年的历史证明,我们做到了。
Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free.We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.从皮鞭下和刺刀尖流出的鲜血中,我们发现,建立在自由和平等原则之上的合众国不能一半是蓄奴的,一半是自由的。我们浴火重生,我们发誓共同努力向前。
Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce, schools and colleges to train our workers.我们共同决定,现代经济需要铁路和公路,以加快旅行和商业,也需要中小学和大学来培训我们的工人。
Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.我们一起发现,只有确保竞争和公平的法规健全,自由市场才能欣欣向荣。
Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune.我们一同决定,一个伟大国家必须关照弱者,并保护我们的人民免受生活中最严重的危险和不幸。
Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone.Our celebration of initiative and enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, these are constants in our character.在做这一切的时候,我们从来没有放弃对政府集中权力的怀疑,我们也没有屈就于那种相信只靠政府就可以解决所有社会弊病的幻想。我们一直保持着自己的秉性,推崇创造力和企业家精神,坚持辛勤工作和个人责任。
But we have always understood that when times change, so must we;that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges;that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias.No single person can train all the math and science teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores.Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation and one people.(Applause.)
但是我们也很明白,随着时代的变化,我们也必须变化;我们出于对基本原则的忠诚,需要对新的挑战做出新的回应;我们为保护个人自由就最终需要集体作出努力。美国人民如果再单打独斗去应付当今世界的挑战,等于让美国军队以长枪和民兵组织去面对法西斯主义或共产主义的武装。没有任何一个个人有能力训练出我们后代的教育需要的所有数学和科学教师,或者建造出能把新的工作和商业机会带给我们的道路、网络、实验室。现在比以往任何时候都需要我们共同努力,作为一个国家人民的整体,来做这些事情。
This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience.A decade of war is now ending.(Applause.)An economic recovery has begun.(Applause.)America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive;diversity and openness;an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention.My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it--so long as we seize it together.(Applause.)
我们这一代美国人经历过危机的考验,这些危机坚定了我们的决心,也证明了我们的耐力。长达10年的战争即将结束,经济复苏已经开始,美国的潜力是无限的,因为我们拥有这个全球化的世界需要的所有特质:我们年轻有动力,多元而开放,我们有应对危机的无限能力和创新发展的天赋。美国同胞们,我们为这个时刻而生,只要我们共同努力,我们就能牢牢抓住这个机会。
For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.(Applause.)We believe that America's prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work;when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship.We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American;she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.(Applause.)
我们美国人知道,我们的国家不可能在只有越来越少的人富有、越来越多的人捉襟见肘的情况下取得成功,我们相信美国的繁荣有赖于更多的人成为中产阶级,我们知道美国的振兴取决于每个人都能在工作中找到独立与自信,也取决于人们诚实的劳动让家庭脱离贫困。当一个出身贫困的年轻女孩知道,她与任何人都享有同样的成功机会,身为美国人,她不仅仅是在上帝眼中,而且在每一个人的眼中,她都享有自由与平等,这样我们才算是遵守了立国的原则。
We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.So we must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, reach higher.But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American.That is what this moment requires.That is what will give real meaning to our creed.我们明白,目前那些陈旧的政府计划跟不上时代。我们必须驾驭新的思想和技术以重塑政府,更新税法,改革学校,并让公民能够掌握新技能,以便更加努力工作,学习更多的知识,以达到更高的目标。我们的方法虽然会改变,但目的始终如一:建设一个奖励每个人的努力和决心的国家。这是当下所需要的。这是我们信念的真正意义所在。
We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity.We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit.But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.(Applause.)For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn.我们,美国人,仍然相信,每位公民都应该得到基本的安全和尊严。我们必须作出降低我们的医保费用和赤字规模的艰难抉择。但是,我们拒绝接受这种看法,亦即美国必须在照顾建设了国家的那代人和投资于开创国家未来的那代人之间作出选择。我们记得过去的教训:老人的暮年在贫困中度过,残疾孩子的父母走投无路。
We do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few.We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us at any time may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm.The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us.(Applause.)They do not make us a nation of takers;they free us to take the risks that make this country great.(Applause.)我们不相信,在这个国家里自由只属于幸运者,幸福只属于少数人。我们知道,无论我们平日如何负责,我们当中任何人,在任何时候,都有可能面临失业、突然生病或者房子被风暴卷走的情况。我们通过联邦医疗保险、医疗补助计划以及社会安全保障为彼此作出的承诺,不仅不会挫伤我们的积极性,反而使我们更加强壮。它们不会使我们成为一群不劳而获的人,反而使我们敢于去冒险,这才使国家强大。
We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.(Applause.)Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.我们,美国人,依然相信我们作为美国人的承诺不仅是对自己的,也是对所有子孙后代的。我们会对气候变化的威胁做出回应,因为我们了解如果不这样做,将会违背对子孙后代的承诺。有些人可能依然不承认科学的判断,但所有人都无法不去正视疯狂的野火、残酷的干旱、更大风暴的袭击。
The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult.But America cannot resist this transition, we must lead it.We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries, we must claim its promise.That's how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure--our forests and waterways, our crop lands and snow-capped peaks.That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God.That's what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.通往可持续发展能源的道路会是漫长的,而且有时会很艰难。但美国不能抗拒这个转变,而是必须领导这个转变。我们不能将可以增加就业、诞生新型产业的这些技术拱手让给其它国家,我们必须拥有这些技术。这是维护我们经济的活力与国家财富的途径,这些财富包括我们的森林、江河、农田、雪山。这是保护我们的地球的途径,那是上帝交给我们去守护的。这也是我们为先驱们宣示的信念增加新的含义的途径。
We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.(Applause.)Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage.(Applause.)Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty.The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm.But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war;who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends--and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.我们,美国人,依然相信不必通过无休止的战争就能获得永久的安全与和平。我们的军人久经战火考验,技能和勇气都举世无双。我们的人民永远铭记先烈们的牺牲,珍惜自由的来之不易。不忘先烈们的牺牲将让我们永远对敌人保持警惕。但是我们同样牢记那些不仅能够赢得战争、还能赢得和平、化顽敌为挚友的人们。这些经验教训,我们今天必须发扬光大。We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law.We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully –-not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.(Applause.)我们将通过加强武装力量和法制来保卫我们的人民和价值体系。我们将通过试图与其它国家和平地解决争端来显示我们的勇气——这不是出于对我们面临的危险的无知,而是相信协商能够更长久地解除怀疑与恐惧。
America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe.And we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation.We will support democracy from Asia to Africa, from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom.And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice –-not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity, human dignity and justice.美国将继续在世界每个角落都保持积极的联盟,我们也将继续维护那些令我们能够在国外应付危机的机制,因为没有哪个国家会比世界上最强大的国家更需要一个和平的世界。我们将支持从亚洲到非洲、从拉美到中东的民主发展,因为利益和良知促使我们去支持那些希望自由的人们。我们也必须是贫困、疾病、歧视、偏见的受害者们的后援——这不仅仅是出于慈善为怀,也因为我们时代的和平需要不断地推动我们共同信念所基于的原则,包括宽容、机遇、人类尊严与公正。
We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths –-that all of us are created equal –-is the star that guides us still;just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall;just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone;to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.(Applause.)
我们,美国人,今天宣布,最不言自明的真理——人人生而平等——仍然是指引我们的北斗星,就像当年这条真理在色内加瀑布、塞尔玛、石墙这些地方指引着人们,它指引着在这个宏大的草坪上留下了足迹的所有知名和不知名的人们。他们来到这里聆听宣讲,说我们不能独自行进;他们来聆听一位王者说,我们的个人自由与地球上每个人的自由是紧密地联系在一起的。UNSV英语学习频道编注:
1、色内加瀑布:1848年,美国争取妇女投票权的人士在纽约州的色内加瀑布地区召开大会。这次大会被认为是现代女权运动的开创性事件。
2、塞尔玛:1965年3月,在美国民权运动的高潮中,非洲裔美国人组织了从阿拉巴马的塞尔玛出发的大游行。游行者与警察发生对峙。
3、石墙:1969年6月,纽约市警察检查在一个名叫―石墙‖的小酒吧,与里面的同性恋者发生暴力冲突,被同性恋权利运动认为是一个标志性的事件。
4、王者:这里使用的是双关语。―King‖在英文中为―王‖之意,但也是马丁·路德·金的姓。
It is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began.For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.(Applause.)Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law –-(applause)--for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.(Applause.)Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.(Applause.)Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity--(applause)--until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.(Applause.)Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.如今到了我们这一代人去接过先驱们开创的使命的时候了。在我们的妻子、母亲、女儿,在得到与她们的付出相符的待遇之前,我们的使命还没有完成;在我们同性恋的兄弟和姐妹像其他人一样在法律上被视真正平等之前,我们的使命还没有完成-因为如果我们之间真正平等,那么可以肯定,我们所承诺的彼此相爱也必须是平等的。在所有公民行使投票权不必被迫等待几个小时之前,我们的使命还没有完成。在我们找到一个更好的方式来欢迎那些仍然可以把美国看作一个充满机遇的土地,乐于奋斗,充满希望的移民之前,在那些聪明的年轻学生和工程师被纳入到我们的劳动大军之中而不是被驱逐出境之前,我们的使命还没有完成。在从底特律的街头到阿巴拉契亚山间到纽顿安静的小巷中,我们所有的孩子们都知道他们在被关心和爱护,安全有保障之前,我们的使命还没有完成。
That is our generation's task--to make these words, these rights, these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every American.Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life.It does not mean we all define liberty in exactly the same way or follow the same precise path to happiness.Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time, but it does require us to act in our time.(Applause.)
这是我们这一代人的使命真正成为每一个美国人的现实。忠实我们国家的创始文件,并不需要我们生活的每一个范畴都看法一致,也并不意味着我们以完全相同的方式定义自由,或者遵循同样的路径追求幸福。进步并不强迫我们放弃几个世纪以来关于所有政府作用的辩论-但需要我们在我们的时代采取行动。
For now decisions are upon us and we cannot afford delay.We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.(Applause.)We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.We must act, knowing that today's victories will be only partial and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years and 40 years and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.我们现在就要做出抉择,我们不能承受拖延的后果。我们不能误以为毫无妥协余地是在坚持原则,或者以做秀取代政治,或者以相互指责取代理性的辩论。我们必须行动,尽管知道我们的工作不会十全十美。我们必须行动,尽管知道今天的胜利只是部分的成功,它将更多地取决于今后四年、四十年乃至四百年后站在这里的人们,继续发扬从费城独立厅传到我们手中的超越时代的精神。
My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction.And we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service.But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty or an immigrant realizes her dream.My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.我的美国同胞们,我今天在你们面前宣誓,就和过去在这座国会山上宣誓过的人一样,是对上帝和国家而不是对一个政党或者派别的誓词。我们必须在任职期间忠实履行我们的誓言。我的誓词,和每次军人接受任务、移民实现梦想时的誓词,并无太大不同;和我们面对在空中飘扬,让我们心中充满自豪的国旗所做的宣誓,也无太大差异。
They are the words of citizens and they represent our greatest hope.You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country's course.You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time--not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.(Applause.)
这些是美国公民的心声,代表了我们最大的希望。你们和我,作为美国公民,有确定国家未来前程的权力。你们和我,作为美国公民,有塑造我们时代话语的责任,不仅通过我们投下的选票,也通过为了维护我们最永久的价值观及理想而发出的大声疾呼。
Let us, each of us, now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright.With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.让我们每个人用庄严的责任和无与伦比的欢悦,来拥抱我们与生俱来的永恒权利。凭借共同的努力,凭借热情和执着,让我们响应历史的召唤,承载一个珍爱自由之光的未知未来。Thank you.God bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.(Applause.)
感谢你们,上帝保佑你们,愿上帝永远佑护美利坚合众国。
注:奥巴马演讲稿英文版来自美国白宫,中文翻译稿来自VOA。