2013年奧巴馬就職演講稿(3)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
回想先輩們?cè)诘挚狗ㄎ魉怪髁x之時(shí),他們不僅依靠手中的導(dǎo)彈或坦克,他們還依靠穩(wěn)固的聯(lián)盟和堅(jiān)定的信仰。他們深知單憑自己的力量我們無(wú)法保護(hù)自己,他們也深知我們強(qiáng)大并不足以使我們有權(quán)利為所欲為。他們明白,正是因?yàn)槭褂弥?jǐn)慎,我們的實(shí)力才不斷增強(qiáng);正是因?yàn)槲覀兊氖聵I(yè)是公正的、我們?yōu)槭澜鐦淞⒘税駱?,因?yàn)槲覀兊闹t卑和節(jié)制,我們才安全。
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even 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 apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, 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.
我們繼承了這些遺產(chǎn)。在這些原則的再次領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下,我們有能力應(yīng)對(duì)新的威脅,我們需要付出更多的努力、進(jìn)行國(guó)家間更廣泛的合作以及增進(jìn)國(guó)家間的理解。首先,我們將以負(fù)責(zé)任的態(tài)度,將伊拉克交還給伊拉克人民,同時(shí)鞏固阿富汗來(lái)之不易的和平。對(duì)于老朋友和老對(duì)手,我們將繼續(xù)努力,不遺余力,削弱核威脅,遏制全球變暖的幽靈。我們不會(huì)為我們的生活方式感到報(bào)歉,我們會(huì)不動(dòng)搖地捍衛(wèi)我們的生活方式。對(duì)于那些企圖通過恐怖主義或屠殺無(wú)辜平民達(dá)成目標(biāo)的人,我們要對(duì)他們說(shuō):我們的信仰更加堅(jiān)定,不可動(dòng)搖,你們不可能拖垮我們,我們定將戰(zhàn)勝你們。
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
因?yàn)槲覀冎溃覀兊亩嘣z產(chǎn)是一個(gè)優(yōu)勢(shì),而非劣勢(shì)。我們國(guó)家里有_也有穆斯林,有猶太教徒也有印度教徒,同時(shí)也有非宗教信徒。我們民族的成長(zhǎng)受到許多語(yǔ)言和文化的影響,我們吸取了這個(gè)星球上任何一個(gè)角落的有益成分。正是因?yàn)槲覀兠褡逶H嘗過內(nèi)戰(zhàn)和種族隔離的苦酒,并且在經(jīng)歷了這些黑色的篇章之后變得更加強(qiáng)大更加團(tuán)結(jié),因此我們不由自主,只能相信一切仇恨終有一天都會(huì)成為過去,種族的劃分不久就會(huì)消失,而且隨著世界變得越來(lái)越小,我們相信終有一天人類共有的人性品德將會(huì)自動(dòng)顯現(xiàn)。在迎接新的和平時(shí)代到來(lái)的過程中,美國(guó)需要發(fā)揮自己的作用。
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutualrespect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the west - know 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.
對(duì)于穆斯林世界,我們將基于共同的利益和信仰,尋找更好的合作之路。對(duì)于那些在世界各個(gè)地方挑起沖突或一味批評(píng)西方不良影響的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者:你的人民評(píng)判你的依據(jù)是你建立了什么,而不是破壞了什么。對(duì)于那些依靠腐敗和欺騙并壓制異議而追求權(quán)利的人們:你們站在了人類歷史的對(duì)立面。如果你們能張開緊握的拳頭,我們也將伸出友誼之手。
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.
對(duì)于那些貧窮的人們,我們保證和你們一起建設(shè)繁茂的農(nóng)場(chǎng)和干凈的水源,滋養(yǎng)那些饑寒交迫的身體和心靈。對(duì)于那些與我們一樣相對(duì)富裕的國(guó)家,我們不能再對(duì)外界的苦難漠不關(guān)心,更不能繼續(xù)大肆索取世界的資源。世界必須改變,我們都必須改變。
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 honour 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 moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
當(dāng)我們審視前方的道路時(shí),我們會(huì)感激那些跨越千山萬(wàn)水來(lái)到這里的人們。今天,他們有話對(duì)我們說(shuō),也是安息在阿林頓國(guó)家公墓里的先烈們時(shí)刻提醒我們的。我們尊敬他們不僅因?yàn)槭撬麄兒葱l(wèi)了我們的自由,更因?yàn)樗麄冋欠瞰I(xiàn)精神的化身;他們致力于尋找遠(yuǎn)高于自身的生命真諦。而此時(shí),在這個(gè)特殊的時(shí)代,我們更需讓這種精神長(zhǎng)存。
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.
因?yàn)闊o(wú)論美國(guó)政府能做多少,必須做多少,美國(guó)國(guó)家的立國(guó)之本最終還是美國(guó)人的決心和信念。于防洪堤壩決堤之時(shí)收留陌生受難者的善意,于在經(jīng)濟(jì)不景氣的時(shí)候?qū)幵笢p少自己工時(shí)也不肯看著朋友失業(yè)的無(wú)私,正是他們支撐我們走過黑暗的時(shí)刻。消防隊(duì)員沖入滿是濃煙的樓梯搶救生命的勇氣,父母養(yǎng)育孩子的堅(jiān)持,正是這些決定了我們的命運(yùn)。
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these 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 ofresponsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
我們面臨的挑戰(zhàn)也許是新的,我們應(yīng)對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)的措施也許也是新的,但那些長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)指導(dǎo)我們成功的價(jià)值觀--勤奮、誠(chéng)實(shí)、勇氣、公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)、包容以及對(duì)世界保持好奇心,還有對(duì)國(guó)家的忠誠(chéng)和愛國(guó)主義--卻是歷久彌新,這些價(jià)值觀是可靠的。他們是創(chuàng)造美國(guó)歷史的無(wú)聲力量。我們現(xiàn)在需要的就是回歸這些古老的價(jià)值觀。我們需要一個(gè)新的負(fù)責(zé)任的時(shí)代,一個(gè)覺醒的時(shí)代,每個(gè)國(guó)人都應(yīng)意識(shí)到即我們對(duì)自己、對(duì)國(guó)家和世界負(fù)有責(zé)任,我們不應(yīng)該不情愿地接受這些責(zé)任,而應(yīng)該快樂地承擔(dān)起這些責(zé)任。我們應(yīng)該堅(jiān)定這一認(rèn)識(shí),即沒有什么比全身心投入一項(xiàng)艱巨的工作更能鍛煉我們的性格,更能獲得精神上的滿足。
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
這是公民應(yīng)盡的義務(wù),應(yīng)做出的承諾。
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
我們自信源于對(duì)上帝的信仰,上帝號(hào)召我們要掌握自己的命運(yùn)。
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.
這就是我們自由和信仰的意義,這也是為何不同種族、不同信仰、不同性別和年齡的人可以同聚一堂在此歡慶的原因,也是我今天能站在這里莊嚴(yán)宣誓的原因,而在50多年前我的父親甚至都不能成為地方餐館的服務(wù)生。
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:
所以,讓我們銘記自己的身份,鐫刻自己的足跡。在美國(guó)誕生的時(shí)代,那最寒冷的歲月里,一群勇敢的愛國(guó)人士圍著篝火在冰封的河邊取暖。首都被占領(lǐng),敵人在挺進(jìn),冬天的雪被鮮血染成了紅色。在美國(guó)大革命最受質(zhì)疑的時(shí)刻,我們的國(guó)父?jìng)冞@樣說(shuō):
"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]."
“我們要讓未來(lái)的世界知道……在深冬的嚴(yán)寒里,唯有希望和勇氣才能讓我們存活……面對(duì)共同的危險(xiǎn)時(shí),我們的城市和國(guó)家要勇敢地上前去面對(duì)?!?/p>
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 icycurrents, 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.
今天的美國(guó)也在嚴(yán)峻的寒冬中面對(duì)共同的挑戰(zhàn),讓我們記住國(guó)父?jìng)儾恍嗟恼Z(yǔ)言。帶著希望和勇氣,讓我們?cè)僖淮斡赂业孛鎸?duì)寒流,迎接可能會(huì)發(fā)生的風(fēng)暴。我們要讓我們的子孫后代記住,在面臨挑戰(zhàn)的時(shí)候,我們沒有屈服,我們沒有逃避也沒有猶豫,我們腳踏實(shí)地、心懷信仰,秉承了寶貴的自由權(quán)利并將其安全地交到了下一代的手中。