布什于2004年感恩節(jié)的演講

布什于2004年感恩節(jié)的演講 英文版

Good morning. As Americans gather to celebrate this week, we show our gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our friends and families who fill our lives with purpose and love. We’re grateful for our beautiful country, and for the prosperity we enjoy. We’re grateful for the chance to live, work and worship in freedom. And in this Thanksgiving week, we offer thanks and praise to the provider of all these gifts, Almighty God. We also recognize our duty to share our blessings with the least among us. Throughout the holiday season, schools, churches, synagogues and other generous organizations gather food and clothing for their neighbors in need. Many young people give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters or food pantries. On Thanksgiving, and on every day of the year, America is a more hopeful nation because of the volunteers who serve the weak and the vulnerable.

The Thanksgiving tradition of compassion and humility dates back to the earliest days of our society. And through the years, our deepest gratitude has often been inspired by the most difficult times. Almost four centuries ago, the pilgrims set aside time to thank God after suffering through a bitter winter. George Washington held Thanksgiving during a trying stay at Valley Forge. And President Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a civil war.

The past year has brought many challenges to our nation, and Americans have met every one with energy, optimism and faith. After lifting our economy from a recession, manufacturers and entrepreneurs are creating jobs again. Volunteers from across the country came together to help hurricane victims rebuild. And when the children of Beslan, Russia suffered a brutal terrorist attack, the world saw America’s generous heart in an outpouring of compassion and relief.

The greatest challenges of our time have come to the men and women who protect our nation. We’re fortunate to have dedicated firefighters and police officers to keep our streets safe. We’re grateful for the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks to the men and women of our military who are serving with courage and skill, and making our entire nation proud.

Like generations before them, today’s armed forces have liberated captive peoples and shown compassion for the suffering and delivered hope to the oppressed. In the past year, they have fought the terrorists abroad so that we do not have to face those enemies here at home. They’ve captured a brutal dictator, aided last month’s historic election in Afghanistan, and help set Iraq on the path to democracy.

Our progress in the war on terror has made our country safer, yet it has also brought new burdens to our military families. Many servicemen and women have endured long deployments and painful separations from home. Families have faced the challenge of raising children while praying for a loved one’s safe return. America is grateful to all our military families, and the families mourning a terrible loss this Thanksgiving can know that America will honor their sacrifices forever.

As Commander-in-Chief, I’ve been honored to thank our troops at bases around the world, and I’ve been inspired by the efforts of private citizens to express their own gratitude. This month, I met Shauna Fleming, a 15-year-old from California who coordinated the mailing of a million thank you letters to military personnel. In October, I met Ken Porwoll, a World War II veteran who has devoted years of his retirement to volunteering at a VA medical center in Minneapolis. And we’ve seen the generosity of so many organizations, like Give2theTroops, a group started in a basement by a mother and son that has sent thousands of care packages to troops in the field.

Thanksgiving reminds us that America’s true strength is the compassion and decency of our people. I thank all those who volunteer this season, and Laura and I wish every American a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.

Thank you for listening.

布什于2004年感恩節(jié)的演講 中文版

早上好。這周美國人民聚集在一起，感謝生活帶給我們的諸多祝福，感謝帶給我們希望和愛的家人和朋友，感謝我們美麗的祖國，感謝我們享有的繁榮和成功。我們也感謝這些自由生活、自由工作和自由信仰的機會。在這感恩節(jié)到來之際，我們要感謝和頌揚賜予我們這一切的全能的上帝。我們也得承認(rèn)我們有分享我們的幸福的責(zé)任。整個節(jié)日期間，學(xué)校、教堂、猶太教會堂和其他慷慨的機構(gòu)收集食物和衣服來幫助附近有需要的朋友。許多年輕人將一部分假期時間用于在收容所或食品儲藏室中當(dāng)志愿者。在感恩節(jié)期間，乃至在這一年的每一天，美國因這些服務(wù)弱勢群體的志愿者，將越發(fā)成為一個充滿希望的國度。

充滿同情和謙遜的感恩節(jié)傳統(tǒng)可以追溯到很久以前的歷史。這些年來，我們最真切的感恩往往出自我們最困難的時候。大約四百年前，先輩們在度過一個嚴(yán)酷的冬天之后舉行了豐收慶典，感謝上帝的恩賜。喬治·華盛頓總統(tǒng)在艱難度日的福吉谷宣布了第一個舉國歡慶的感恩節(jié)。林肯總統(tǒng)在內(nèi)戰(zhàn)期間恢復(fù)了這個傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日。

在過去一年里，美國面對了許許多多的挑戰(zhàn)，美國人民在應(yīng)對每一次挑戰(zhàn)時都充滿活力、樂觀和信心。經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退減緩之后，制造商和企業(yè)家再次創(chuàng)造就業(yè)的機會。來自全國各地的志愿者聯(lián)合起來幫助遭受颶風(fēng)的災(zāi)民重建家園。當(dāng)比蘭事件發(fā)生，俄羅斯遭受殘酷的恐怖襲擊時，世界從美國人民流露的同情和給予的救濟(jì)中看到了我們的慷慨。

那些保護(hù)祖國安全的人們面臨了最大的挑戰(zhàn)。在今年的感恩節(jié)，我們向恪盡職守維護(hù)國土安全的消防隊員和警務(wù)人員表示感謝。我們向不辭辛勞、堅守崗位的國土安全人員和情報人員表示感謝。我們向為保護(hù)我們的國家和促進(jìn)自由事業(yè)正在世界各地服務(wù)的美國武裝部隊人員表示感謝。這些英勇無畏的軍人讓我們整個國家感到自豪。

和前幾代軍人一樣，今天的軍隊解放了被俘虜?shù)娜嗣瘢樵馐芸嚯y的人們，并將希望帶給備受壓迫的人。在過去的一年中，他們紛紛轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)國外的恐怖分子，讓我們不必在祖國的土地上面對敵人。他們已經(jīng)抓獲了一名恐怖組織的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者，于上月幫助阿富汗舉行了一次具有歷史性的選舉，并在建立民主的道路上幫助了伊拉克一把。

反恐戰(zhàn)爭的進(jìn)展使我們的國家更加安全，但它也給我們的軍人家庭帶來更重的負(fù)擔(dān)。許多軍人都要忍受長時間的軍事部署和與家人分離的痛苦。軍人家屬一方面要撫養(yǎng)孩子，另一方面又要祈禱親人的平安返鄉(xiāng)。美國感謝我們所有的軍人家屬，為每一個失去親人的家庭默哀，美國人民將永遠(yuǎn)尊敬他們的犧牲。

作為總指揮，我很榮幸地在此感謝我們駐扎在世界各地基地的軍隊，我深有所感，所有的普通公民都通過自己的努力來表達(dá)各自的感激之情。這個月我會見了紹納·弗萊明，一個來自加州的15歲的少年，他組織寫了一百萬封感謝信給我們的軍事人員。十月，我會見了肯·鮑沃爾，一個二戰(zhàn)老兵，退休后一直在維吉尼亞州明尼阿波利斯的醫(yī)療中心當(dāng)志愿者。我們還可以看到許多愛心機構(gòu)，比如已經(jīng)看到了這么多的組織，如Give2theTroops，一個在地下室開始，由一個母親和一個兒子將數(shù)以千計的護(hù)具送到前線而形成的組織。

感恩節(jié)提醒我們，美國真正的力量是來自我們的同情和尊重。我感謝所有志愿者在這個季節(jié)的所有努力，勞拉和我祝愿每一個美國人都能度過一個平安快樂的感恩節(jié)周末。

感謝你們的傾聽。