奧巴馬于2009年7月4日在白宮的演講

背景介紹

美國(guó)總統(tǒng)奧巴馬在7月4日，即美國(guó)“獨(dú)立日”發(fā)表電視演講時(shí)說(shuō)，美國(guó)目前正面臨嚴(yán)峻挑戰(zhàn)，國(guó)民需要重樹(shù)“美國(guó)精神”。

奧巴馬說(shuō)，美國(guó)目前正面臨前所未有的挑戰(zhàn)——伊拉克和阿富汗這兩場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)、經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)、醫(yī)保開(kāi)銷不斷上升、學(xué)校數(shù)量缺乏以及對(duì)外國(guó)石油的依賴。而應(yīng)對(duì)這些挑戰(zhàn)需要每個(gè)美國(guó)人付出努力。

奧巴馬說(shuō)，美國(guó)人應(yīng)該發(fā)揮先輩們的“頑強(qiáng)”精神，“創(chuàng)造”未來(lái)而非“懼怕”未來(lái)。正是不屈不撓的美國(guó)精神使得我們成為了美國(guó)人。它引領(lǐng)了先輩們進(jìn)行了西進(jìn)運(yùn)動(dòng);它引領(lǐng)了我的祖輩一代人堅(jiān)強(qiáng)地面對(duì)大蕭條，并戰(zhàn)勝了暴政;它引領(lǐng)了一代代美國(guó)工人建立起舉世無(wú)匹的工業(yè)化經(jīng)濟(jì)體系。這種精神總是引領(lǐng)著我們美國(guó)人民不畏艱難，勇于面對(duì)所有的考驗(yàn)與挑戰(zhàn)，讓我們知道我們每個(gè)人都在書(shū)寫(xiě)美國(guó)的未來(lái)。那就是我們應(yīng)該再次展現(xiàn)的美國(guó)精神。

奧巴馬于2009年7月4日在白宮的演講

Today, we are called upon to remember not only the day our country was born, but also the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible. We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known—a government of, by, and for the people.

That unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail. It is what led my grandparents’ generation to persevere in the face of a depression and triumph in the face of tyranny. It is what led generations of American workers to build an industrial economy unrivaled around the world. It is what has always led us, as a people, not to wilt or cower at a difficult moment, but to face down any trial and rise to any challenge, understanding that each of us has a hand in writing America's destiny.

On this day, we also remember that during our most defining moments, it was brave and selfless men and women in uniform who defended and served our country with honor—waging war so that we might know peace; braving hardship so that we might know opportunity; and at times, paying the ultimate price so that we might know freedom. This service—the service of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen—makes our annual celebration of this day possible. This service proves that our founding ideals remain just as powerful and alive in our third century as a nation as they did on the first July 4. This service guarantees that the United States of America shall forever remain the last, best hope on Earth.

All of us must call on this spirit of service and sacrifice to meet the challenges of our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. Our economy—and our nation itself—are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs, inadequate schools, and a dependence on foreign oil.

Meeting these extraordinary challenges will require an extraordinary effort on the part of every American. It will require us to remember that we did not get to where we are as a nation by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.

We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. On this July 4, we need to summon once more the spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today. That is how this generation of Americans will make its mark on history. That is how we will make the most of this extraordinary moment. And that is how we will write the next chapter in the great American story.

I wish you all the best for a happy Fourth of July.

今天，我們受到這個(gè)日子的感召，不僅紀(jì)念我國(guó)誕生的那一天，而且需要繼承建國(guó)初期美國(guó)公民不屈不撓的精神，是他們使這一天成為值得紀(jì)念的日子。我們應(yīng)該記住，當(dāng)年的這一切多么來(lái)之不易。我們進(jìn)行創(chuàng)建美國(guó)的試驗(yàn)，結(jié)果獲得了成功。為數(shù)不多的愛(ài)國(guó)者宣布獨(dú)立，脫離了帝國(guó)強(qiáng)權(quán)的統(tǒng)治。他們還在新世界建立了舊世界不可思議的事物──一個(gè)民有、民治、民享的政府。

正是這種頑強(qiáng)的精神構(gòu)筑了美國(guó)人的特征。正是這種精神指引一代又一代先驅(qū)者開(kāi)拓西進(jìn)之路。正是這種精神指引我們的祖祖輩輩，以堅(jiān)韌不拔的毅力渡過(guò)了大蕭條，戰(zhàn)勝了專制暴政。正是這種精神指引世世代代的美國(guó)勞動(dòng)者建成全世界無(wú)可比擬的工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)。正是這種精神始終指引全體美國(guó)人民在時(shí)局艱難的時(shí)刻永不氣餒，永不退縮，敢于經(jīng)受任何考驗(yàn)，迎接任何挑戰(zhàn)，因?yàn)槲覀冎烂绹?guó)的命運(yùn)需要我們每一個(gè)人為之努力。

在這一天到來(lái)的時(shí)候，我們還不應(yīng)該忘記，在我國(guó)最緊要的關(guān)頭，勇敢無(wú)私的男女軍人不辱使命，保衛(wèi)我們的國(guó)家，忠心為國(guó)效力──為實(shí)現(xiàn)和平奔赴戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)，為贏得機(jī)會(huì)不辭勞苦，有時(shí)還為捍衛(wèi)自由付出極為高昂的代價(jià)。正因?yàn)樗麄優(yōu)閲?guó)效力──陸軍、海軍、空軍、海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)和海岸警衛(wèi)隊(duì)士兵做出的奉獻(xiàn)，我們才有可能每年慶祝這個(gè)節(jié)日。這種為國(guó)效力的精神說(shuō)明，在進(jìn)入建國(guó)后第三個(gè)百年之際，我國(guó)的建國(guó)理想仍然長(zhǎng)盛不衰，生氣勃勃，永遠(yuǎn)保持第一個(gè)7月4日的活力。這種為國(guó)效力的精神保證美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)永遠(yuǎn)是地球上最后、最大的希望。

為了迎接我們這個(gè)時(shí)代的挑戰(zhàn)，我們大家都必須發(fā)揚(yáng)這種為國(guó)效力和獻(xiàn)身的精神。我們正在參與兩場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，同時(shí)我們也在抗擊嚴(yán)重的衰退。我們長(zhǎng)期拖延了曠日持久的問(wèn)題：持續(xù)上升的醫(yī)療成本、學(xué)校設(shè)施的欠缺和對(duì)外國(guó)石油的依賴，這導(dǎo)致問(wèn)題日益惡化，我國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)以及國(guó)家本身正面臨著危難。

迎接這些巨大的挑戰(zhàn)要求每一位美國(guó)人付出巨大的努力。我們應(yīng)該牢記，我們作為一個(gè)國(guó)家取得這樣的成就是因?yàn)槲覀冊(cè)谧兏锏臅r(shí)期沒(méi)有固步自封，我們?nèi)〉眠@樣的成就是因?yàn)槲覀儧](méi)有避難就易。正是因?yàn)槿绱耍瓉?lái)的十三個(gè)殖民地才能共建美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)。

我國(guó)人民敢于面對(duì)未來(lái)，我國(guó)人民敢于創(chuàng)造未來(lái)。在今年7月4日到來(lái)之際，我們必須再次振奮233年前獨(dú)立廳凝聚的精神。唯有如此，這一代美國(guó)人才能在歷史上留下自己的印記。唯有如此，我們才能最有效地把握當(dāng)前的重要關(guān)頭。唯有如此，我們才能為偉大的美國(guó)歷史書(shū)寫(xiě)新的篇章。

我謹(jǐn)祝愿大家7月4日節(jié)日愉快。

精彩語(yǔ)錄

We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known—a government of, by, and for the people.

我們應(yīng)該記住，當(dāng)年的這一切多么來(lái)之不易。我們進(jìn)行創(chuàng)建美國(guó)的試驗(yàn)，結(jié)果獲得了成功。為數(shù)不多的愛(ài)國(guó)者宣布獨(dú)立，脫離了帝國(guó)強(qiáng)權(quán)的統(tǒng)治。他們還在新世界建立了舊世界不可思議的事物──一個(gè)民有、民治、民享的政府。

All of us must call on this spirit of service and sacrifice to meet the challenges of our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. Our economy—and our nation itself—are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs, inadequate schools, and a dependence on foreign oil.

為了迎接我們這個(gè)時(shí)代的挑戰(zhàn)，我們大家都必須發(fā)揚(yáng)這種為國(guó)效力和獻(xiàn)身的精神。我們正在參與兩場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，同時(shí)我們也在抗擊嚴(yán)重的衰退。我們長(zhǎng)期拖延了曠日持久的問(wèn)題：持續(xù)上升的醫(yī)療成本、學(xué)校設(shè)施的欠缺和對(duì)外國(guó)石油的依賴，這導(dǎo)致問(wèn)題日益惡化，我國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)以及國(guó)家本身正面臨著危難。

We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. On this July 4, we need to summon once more the spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today.

我國(guó)人民敢于面對(duì)未來(lái)，我國(guó)人民敢于創(chuàng)造未來(lái)。在今年7月4日到來(lái)之際，我們必須再次振奮233年前獨(dú)立廳凝聚的精神。