第一篇：美國總統奧巴馬就職演說中英文對照

Text of president Barack Obamas inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the presidential Inaugural Committee.Barack Obama takes the Oath of Office as the 44th president of the United States as he is sworn in by US Chief Justice John Roberts with his wife Michelle by his side during the inauguration ceremony in Washington, January 20, 2009.Obama became the first African-American president in US history.[Agencies]

OBAMA: 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 forebears, 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 land, a nagging fear that Americas decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.They are serious and they are many.They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.But know this, America, they 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 shortcuts or settling for less.It has not been the path for the faint-hearted--for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things--some 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 Sahn.我的同胞們，今天我站在這里，看到眼前面臨的重大任務，深感卑微。我感謝你們對我的信任，也知道先輩們為了這個國家所作的犧牲。我要感謝布什總統為國家做出的貢獻，以及感謝他在兩屆政府過渡期間給與的慷慨協作。

迄今為止，已經有44個美國總統宣誓就職。總統的宣誓有時面對的是國家的和平繁榮，但通常面臨的是烏云密布的緊張形勢。在緊張的形勢中，支持美國前進的不僅僅是領導人的能力和遠見，也在于美國人民對國家先驅者理想的信仰，以及對美國立國文件的忠誠。

前輩們如此，我們這一代美國人也要如此。

現在我們都深知，我們身處危機之中。我們的國家在戰斗，對手是影響深遠的暴力和憎恨;國家的經濟也受到嚴重的削弱，原因雖有一些人的貪婪和不負責任，但更為重要的是我們作為一個整體在一些重大問題上決策失誤，同時也未能做好應對新時代的準備。

我們的人民正在失去家園，失去工作，很多且要倒閉。社會的醫療過于昂貴、學校教育讓許多人失望，而且每天都會有新的證據顯示，我們利用能源的方式助長了我們的敵對勢力，同時也威脅著我們的星球。

統計數據的指標傳達著危機的消息。危機難以測量，但更難以測量的是其對美國人國家自信的侵蝕——現在一種認為美國衰落不可避免，我們的下一代必須低調的言論正在吞噬著人們的自信。

今天我要說，我們的確面臨著很多嚴峻的挑戰，而且在短期內不大可能輕易解決。但是我們要相信，我們一定會度過難關。

今天，我們在這里齊聚一堂，因為我們戰勝恐懼選擇了希望，摒棄了沖突和矛盾而選擇了團結。

今天，我們宣布要為無謂的摩擦、不實的承諾和指責畫上句號，我們要打破牽制美國政治發展的若干陳舊教條。

美國仍是一個年輕的國家，借用《圣經》的話說，放棄幼稚的時代已經到來了。重拾堅韌精神的時代已經到來，我們要為歷史作出更好的選擇，我們要秉承歷史賦予的寶貴權利，秉承那種代代相傳的高貴理念：上帝賦予我們每個人以平等和自由，以及每個人盡全力去追求幸福的機會。

在重申我們國家偉大之處的同時，我們深知偉大從來不是上天賜予的，偉大需要努力贏得。(我們的民族一路走來)，這旅途之中從未有過捷徑或者妥協，這旅途也不適合膽怯之人、或者愛安逸勝過愛工作之人、或者單單追求名利之人。這條路是勇于承擔風險者之路，是實干家、創造者之路。這其中有一些人名留青史，但是更多的人卻在默默無聞地工作著。正是這些人帶領我們走過了漫長崎嶇的旅行，帶領我們走向富強和自由。

為了我們，先輩們帶著微薄的細軟，橫渡大洋，尋找新生活;為了我們，先輩們忍辱負重，用血汗澆鑄工廠;為了我們，先輩們在荒蕪的西部大地辛勤耕作，定居他鄉;為了我們，先輩們奔赴(獨立戰爭中的)康科德城和葛底斯堡、(二戰中的)諾曼底、(越戰中的)Khe Sahn，他們征戰、死去。

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第二篇：奧巴馬就職演說中英文對照

就職演講全文，中英文對照

簡介：美國當地時間1月21日，奧巴馬在國會山宣誓就職美國總統，并發表就職演講。在演講中，奧巴馬稱“所有人都生來平等，都擁有相同的生命權、自由權以及追求 幸福的權利”。承諾將保護美國的弱勢群體，為婦女、少數族群和同性戀的權益而戰，保護好兒童。他同時闡述了第二任期的外交主張，表示將加強聯盟、盡力通過 和平方式解決與其他國家的分歧。

Vice President Biden, Mr.Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: 謝謝，非常感謝大家。拜登副總統、首席大法官先生、國會議員們、尊敬的各位嘉賓、親愛的公民們。

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: 每一次我們集會慶祝總統就職都是在見證美國憲法的持久力量。我們都是在肯定美國民主的承諾。我們重申，將這個國家緊密聯系在一起的不是我們的膚色，也不是我們信仰的教條，更不是我們名字的來源。讓我們與眾不同，讓我們成為美國人的是我們對于一種理念的恪守。200多年前，這一理念在一篇宣言中被清晰闡述：

“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.”

“我們認為下述真理是不言而喻的，人人生而平等。造物主賦予他們若干不可剝奪的權利，包括生存、自由和追求幸福的權利。” 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 have never been self-executing;that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth.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，我們繼續著這一未竟的征程，架起這些理念與我們時代現實之間的橋梁。因為歷史告訴我們，即便這些真理是不言而喻的，它們也從來不會自動生效。因為雖 然自由是上帝賦予的禮物，但仍需要世間的子民去捍衛。1776年，美國的愛國先驅們不是只為了推翻國王 的暴政而戰，也不是為贏得少數人的特權，建立暴民的 統治。先驅們留給我們一個共和國，一個民有、民治、民享的政府。他們委托每一代美國人捍衛我們的建國信條。For more than two hundred years, we have.在過去的200多年里，我們做到了。

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.從奴役的血腥枷鎖和刀劍的血光廝殺中我們懂得了，建立在自由與平等原則之上的聯邦不能永遠維持半奴隸和半自由的狀態。我們贏得了新生，誓言共同前進。

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce;schools and colleges to train our workers.我們共同努力，建立起現代的經濟體系。架設鐵路與高速公路，加速了旅行和商業交流。建立學校與大學，培訓我們的工人。

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.我們一起發現，自由市場的繁榮只能建立在保障競爭與公平競爭的原則之上。

Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.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, are constants in our character.我們共同決定讓這個偉大的國家遠離危險，保護她的人民不受生命威脅和不幸的侵擾。一路走來，我們從未放棄對集權的質疑。我們同樣不屈服于這一謊言：一切的 社會弊端都能夠只靠政府來解決。我們對積極向上與奮發進取的贊揚，我們對努力工作與個人責任的堅持，這些都是美國精神的基本要義。

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.我們也理解，時代在變化，我們同樣需要變革。對建國精神的忠誠，需要我們肩負起新的責任，迎接新的挑戰。保護我們的個人自由，最終需要所有人的共同努力。因為美國人不能再獨力迎接當今世界的挑戰，正如美國士兵們不能再像先輩一樣，用步槍和民兵同敵人(法西斯主義與共產主義)作戰。一個人無法培訓所有的數學 與科學老師，我們需要他們為了未來去教育孩子們。一個人無法建設道路、鋪設網絡、建立實驗室來為國內帶來新的工作崗位和商業機會。現在，與以往任何時候相 比，我們都更需要團結合作。作為一個國家，一個民族團結起來。

This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience.A decade of war is now ending.An economic recovery has begun.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.這一代美國人經歷了危機的考驗，經濟危機堅定了我們的決心，證明了我們的恢復力。長達十年的戰爭正在結束，經濟的復蘇已經開始。美國的可能性是無限的，因 為我們擁有當今沒有邊界的世界所需要的所有品質：年輕與活力、多樣性與開放、無窮的冒險精神以及創造的天賦才能。我親愛的同胞們，我們正是為此刻而生，我 們更要在此刻團結一致，抓住當下的機會。

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.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.因為我們，美國人民，清楚如果只有不斷萎縮的少數人群體獲得成功，而大多數人不能成功，我們的國家就無法成功。我們相信，美國的繁榮必須建立在不斷上升的 中產階級的寬闊臂膀之上，我們知道美國的繁榮只有這樣才能實現。只有當每個人都能找到工作中的自立與自豪時才能實現。只有當誠實勞動獲得的薪水足夠讓家庭 擺脫困苦的懸崖時才能實現。我們忠誠于我們的事業，保證讓一個出生于最貧窮環境中的小女孩都能知道，她有同其他所有人一樣的成功機會。因為她是一個美國 人，她是自由的、平等的。她的自由平等不僅由上帝來見證，更由我們親手保護。

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.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, and 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.我們知道，我們已然陳舊的程序不足以滿足時代的需要。我們必須應用新理念和新技術重塑我們的政府，改進我們的稅法，改革我們的學校，讓我們的公民擁有他們 所需要的技能，更加努力地工作，學更多的知識，向更高處發展。這意味著變革，我們的目標是：國家可以獎勵每個美國人的努力和果斷。

這是現在需要的。這將給我們的信條賦予真正的意義。

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.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.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.They do not make us a nation of takers;they free us to take the risks that make this country great.我們，人民，仍然認為，每個公民都應當獲得基本的安全和尊嚴。我們必須做出艱難抉擇，降低醫療成本，縮減赤字規模。但我們拒絕在照顧建設國家的這一代和投 資即將建設國家的下一代間做出選擇。因為我們記得過去的教訓：老年人的夕陽時光在貧困中度過，家有殘障兒童的父母無處求助。我們相信，在這個國家，自由不 只是那些幸運兒的專屬，或者說幸福只屬于少數人。我們知道，不管我們怎樣負責任地生活，我們任何人在任何時候都可能面臨失業、突發疾病或住房被可怕的颶風摧毀的風險。

我們通過醫療保險、聯邦醫療補助計劃、社會保障項目向每個人做出承諾，這些不會讓我們的創造力衰竭，而是會讓我們更強大。這些不會讓我們成為充滿不勞而獲者的國度，這些讓我們敢于承擔風險，讓國家偉大。

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.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.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 is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways;our croplands and snowcapped 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.我們，人民，仍然相信，我們作為美國人的義務不只是對我們自己而言，還包括對子孫后代。我們將應對氣候變化的威脅，認識到不采取措施應對氣候變化就是對我們的孩子和后代的背

叛。一些人可能仍在否定科學界的壓倒性判斷，但沒有人能夠避免熊熊火災、嚴重旱災、更強力風暴帶來的災難性打擊。通向可再生能源利 用的道路是漫長的，有時是困難的。但美國不能抵制這種趨勢，我們必須引領這種趨勢。我們不能把制造新就業機會和新行業的技術讓給其他國家，我們必須明確這 一承諾。這是我們保持經濟活力和國家財富(我們的森林和航道，我們的農田與雪峰)的方法。這將是我們保護我們星球的辦法，上帝把這個星球托付給我們。這將 給我們的建國之父們曾宣布的信條賦予意義。

We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage.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.我們，人民，仍然相信持久的安全與和平，不需要持續的戰爭。我們勇敢的士兵經受了戰火的考驗，他們的技能和勇氣是無可匹敵的。我們的公民依然銘記著那些陣 亡者，他們非常清楚我們為自由付出的代價。明白他們的犧牲將讓我們永遠對那些試圖傷害我們的勢力保持警惕。但我們也是那些贏得和平而不只是戰爭的人們的后 代，他們將仇敵轉變成最可靠的朋友，我們也必須把這些經驗帶到這個時代。

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 na?ve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.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.我們將通過強大的軍力和法制保護我們的人民，捍衛我們的價值觀。我們將展現試圖和平解決與其它國家分歧的勇氣，但這不是因為我們對面臨的危險持幼稚的態 度，而是因為接觸能夠更持久地化解疑慮和恐懼。美國將在全球保持強大的聯盟，我們將更新這些能擴展我們應對海外危機能力的機制。因為作為世界上最強大的國 家，我們在世界和平方面擁有最大的利益。我們將支持從亞洲到非洲、從美洲至中東的民主國家，因為我們的利益和良心驅使我們代表那些想獲得自由的人們采取行 動。我們必須成為貧困者、病患者、被邊緣化的人士、異見受害者的希望來源，不僅僅是出于慈善，也是因為這個時代的和平需要不斷推進我們共同信念中的原則： 寬容和機遇，人類尊嚴與正義。

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.我們，人民，今天昭示的最明白的事實是--我們所有人都是生而平等的，這是依然引領我們的恒星。它引領我們的先輩穿越紐約塞尼卡瀑布城(女權抗議事件)、塞爾馬(黑人權力事件)和石墻騷亂(同性戀與警察發生的暴力事件)，引領著所有的男性和女性，留下姓名和沒留姓名的人。在偉大的征程中，一路上留下足跡的人。曾經聽一位牧師說，我們不能獨自前行。馬丁-路德-金說，我們個人的自由與地球上每個靈魂的自由不可分割。

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.Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.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;until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.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.繼續先輩開創的事業是我們這代人的任務。直到我們的妻子、母親和女兒的付出能夠與她們的努力相稱，我們的征途才會結束。我們的征途不會終結，我們要讓同性 戀的兄弟姐妹在法律之下得到與其他人同樣的待遇。如果我們真正是生而平等的，那么我們對彼此的愛也應該是平等的。我們的征途沒有結束，直到沒有公民需要等 待數個小時去行使投票權。我們的征途不會結束，直到我們找到更好的方法迎接努力、有憧憬的移民，他們依舊視美國是一塊充滿機會的土地。直到聰穎年輕的學生 和工程師為我們所用，而不是被逐出美國。我們的征途不會結束，直到我們所有的兒童，從底特律的街道到阿巴拉契亞的山嶺，再到康涅狄格州紐鎮安靜的小巷，直 到他們得到關心和珍視，永遠避免受到傷害。

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 will 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.那是我們這一代的任務--讓生存、自由和追求幸福的言語、權力和價值切實體現在每個美國人的身上。我們的立國文本沒有要求我們將每個人的生活一致化。這并 不意味著，我們會

以完全一樣的方式去定義自由，沿著同樣的道路通向幸福。進步不會終止幾個世紀以來一直糾結的關于政府角色的爭論，但這要求我們現在就采取 行動。

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.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 forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.目前是由我們決策，我們不能拖延。我們不能將絕對主義當作原則，或者以表象代替政治，或將中傷視作理性的辯論。我們必須行動，要意識到我們的工作并不完 美。我們必須行動，意識到今天的勝利是并不完全的。這些將有賴于未來4年、40年或是400年致力于這項事業的人，去推進當年在費城制憲會議大廳傳承給我 們的永恒精神。

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.我的美國同胞，我今天在你們面前宣讀的誓詞，如同在國會山服務的其他人曾宣讀過的誓詞一樣，是對上帝和國家的誓詞，不是對黨派或是派別的，我們必須在任期 內忠實地履行這些承諾。但我今天宣讀的誓詞與士兵報名參軍或者是移民實現夢想時所宣讀的誓詞沒有多少差別。我的誓詞與我們所有的人向我們頭頂飄揚的、讓我 們心懷自豪的國旗所表達的誓言沒有多大差別。

They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.這些是公民的誓詞，代表著我們最偉大的希望。

You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course.你和我，作為公民，都有為這個國家設定道路的權力。

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.你和我，作為公民，有義務塑造我們時代的辯題，不僅是通過我們的選票，而且要為捍衛悠久的價值觀和持久的理想發聲。

Let 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.現在讓我們相互擁抱，懷著莊嚴的職責和無比的快樂，這是我們永恒的與生俱來的權利。有共同的努力和共同的目標，用熱情與奉獻，讓我們回應歷史的召喚，將珍貴的自由之光帶入并不確定的未來。

Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.感謝你們，上帝保佑你們，愿上帝永遠保佑美利堅合眾國。

第三篇：2013年美國總統奧巴馬就職演說中英文對照文稿(全)

Read the inaugural speech and compare it with JFK‘s Speech to find any commonalities and differences in lexis, syntax, rhetoric, emotions and style.You may need to take different historical era of their presidency into consideration.Write a 300-word report and submit next week.2013年美國總統奧巴馬就職演說中英文對照文稿（全）

北京時間1月22日凌晨，貝拉克·侯賽因·奧巴馬宣誓就職第四十四任美利堅合眾國總統并發表就職演說。奧巴馬在演講中追溯美國民主傳統和憲法精神，強調了民眾的力量。演講中涉及了包括就業、醫保、移民和同性戀等多項議題，以下為奧巴馬就職演說全文：

MR.OBAMA: Thank you.Thank you so much.Vice President Biden, Mr.Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

謝謝，非常感謝大家。拜登副總統、首席大法官先生、國會議員們、尊敬的各位嘉賓、親愛的公民們。

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:

當我們每次聚集在一起為總統舉行就職典禮時，我們都是在見證美國憲法的不朽力量。我們是在又一次立下美國民主的承諾。我們再次提醒說，把這個國家凝聚在一起的不是我們的膚色，不是信仰的教條，也不是我們的姓氏源于何處。使我們與眾不同——使我們成為美國人——的，是我們對一個在兩個多世紀以前發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.”

“我們認為這些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，他們都從他們的造物主那里被賦予了某些不可剝奪的權利，包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。”

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 have never been self-executing;that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth.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，我們仍在繼續這個永恒的旅程，讓那些字句體現在我們這個時代的現實中。因為歷史告訴我們，雖然這些真理是不言而喻的，但它們卻不會自動實現；雖然自由是上帝給我們的禮物，但自由只能靠他在世間的子民的奮斗才能獲得。1776年愛國先驅們所進行的斗爭并不是以少數人的特權或烏合之眾的統治來

替代專制君主。他們為我們締造的是一個共和國，一個民有、民治、民享的政府，并將捍衛這個建國理念的任務交給一代又一代的后人。

For more than two hundred years, we have.兩百多年的歷史證明，我們做到了。

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.從皮鞭下和刺刀尖流出的鮮血中，我們發現，建立在自由和平等原則之上的合眾國不能一半是蓄奴的，一半是自由的。我們浴火重生，我們發誓共同努力向前。

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce;schools and colleges to train our workers.我們共同決定，現代經濟需要鐵路和公路，以加快旅行和商業，也需要中小學和大學來培訓我們的工人。

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.我們一起發現，只有確保競爭和公平的法規健全，自由市場才能欣欣向榮。

Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.我們一同決定，一個偉大國家必須關照弱者，并保護我們的人民免受生活中最嚴重的危險和不幸。

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, are constants in our character.在做這一切的時候，我們從來沒有放棄對政府集中權力的懷疑，我們也沒有屈就于那種相信只靠政府就可以解決所有社會弊病的幻想。我們一直保持著自己的秉性，推崇創造力和企業家精神，堅持辛勤工作和個人責任。

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.但是我們也很明白，隨著時代的變化，我們也必須變化；我們出于對基本原則的忠誠，需要對新的挑戰做出新的回應；我們為保護個人自由就最終需要集體作出努力。美國人民如果再單打獨斗去應付當今世界的挑戰，等于讓美國軍隊以長槍和民兵組織去面對法西斯主義或共產主義的武裝。沒有任何一個個人有能力訓練出我們后代的教育需要的所有數學和科學教師，或者建造出能把新的工作和商業機會帶給我們的道路、網絡、實驗室。現在比以往任何時候都需要我們共同努力，作為一個國家人民的整體，來做這些事情。

This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience.A decade of war is now ending.An economic recovery has begun.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.我們這一代美國人經歷過危機的考驗，這些危機堅定了我們的決心，也證明了我們的耐力。長達10年的戰爭即將結束，經濟復蘇已經開始，美國的潛力是無限的，因為我們擁有這個全球化的世界需要的所有特質：我們年輕有動力，多元而開放，我們有應對危機的無限能力和創新發展的天賦。美國同胞們，我們為這個時刻而生，只要我們共同努力，我們就能牢牢抓住這個機會。

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.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.我們美國人知道，我們的國家不可能在只有越來越少的人富有、越來越多的人捉襟見肘的情況下取得成功，我們相信美國的繁榮有賴于更多的人成為中產階級，我們知道美國的振興取決于每個人都能在工作中找到獨立與自信，也取決于人們誠實的勞動讓家庭脫離貧困。當一個出身貧困的年輕女孩知道，她與任何人都享有同樣的成功機會，身為美國人，她不僅僅是在上帝眼中，而且在每一個人的眼中，她都享有自由與平等，這樣我們才算是遵守了立國的原則。

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.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, and 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.我們明白，目前那些陳舊的政府計劃跟不上時代。我們必須駕馭新的思想和技術以重塑政府，更新稅法，改革學校，并讓公民能夠掌握新技能，以便更加努力工作，學習更多的知識，以達到更高的目標。我們的方法雖然會改變，但目的始終如一：建設一個獎勵每個人的努力和決心的國家。這是當下所需要的。這是我們信念的真正意義所在。

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.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.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.They do not make us a nation of takers;they free us to take the risks that make this country great.我們，美國人，仍然相信，每位公民都應該得到基本的安全和尊嚴。我們必須作出降低我們的醫保費用和赤字規模的艱難抉擇。但是，我們拒絕接受這種看法，亦即美國必須在照顧建設了國家的那代人和投資于開創國家未來的那代人之間作出選擇。我們記得過去的教訓：老人的暮年在貧困中度過，殘疾孩子的父母走投無路。我們不相信，在這個國家里自由只屬于幸運者，幸福只屬于少數人。我們知道，無論我們平日如何負責，我們當中任何人，在任何時候，都有可能面臨失業、突然生病或者房子被風暴卷走的情況。我們通過聯邦醫療保險、醫療補助計劃以及社會安全保障為彼此作出的承諾，不僅不會挫傷我們的積極性，反而使我們更加強壯。它們不會使我們成為一群不勞而獲的人，反而使我們敢于去冒險，這才使國家強大。

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.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.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 is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways;our croplands and snowcapped 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.我們，美國人，依然相信我們作為美國人的承諾不僅是對自己的，也是對所有子孫后代的。我們會對氣候變化的威脅做出回應，因為我們了解如果不這樣做，將會違背對子孫后代的承諾。有些人可能依然不承認科學的判斷，但所有人都無法不去正視瘋狂的野火、殘酷的干旱、更大風暴的襲擊。通往可持續發展能源的道路會是漫長的，而且有時會很艱難。但美國不能抗拒這個轉變，而是必須領導這個轉變。我們不能將可以增加就業、誕生新型產業的這些技術拱手讓給其它國家，我們必須擁有這些技術。這是維護我們經濟的活力與國家財富的途徑，這些財富包括我們的森林、江河、農田、雪山。這是保護我們的地球的途徑，那是上帝交給我們去守護的。這也是我們為先驅們宣示的信念增加新的含義的途徑。

We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage.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.我們，美國人，依然相信不必通過無休止的戰爭就能獲得永久的安全與和平。我們的軍人久經戰火考驗，技能和勇氣都舉世無雙。我們的人民永遠銘記先烈們的犧牲，珍惜自由的來之不易。不忘先烈們的犧牲將讓我們永遠對敵人保持警惕。但是我們同樣牢記那些不僅能夠贏得戰爭、還能贏得和平、化頑敵為摯友的人們。這些經驗教訓，我們今天必須發揚光大。

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 na?ve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.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.我們將通過加強武裝力量和法制來保衛我們的人民和價值體系。我們將通過試圖與其它國家和平地解決爭端來顯示我們的勇氣——這不是出于對我們面臨的危險的無知，而是相信協商能夠更長久地解除懷疑與恐懼。美國將繼續在世界每個角落都保持積極的聯盟，我們也將繼續維護那些令我們能夠在國外應付危機的機制，因為沒有哪個國家會比世界上最強大的國家更需要一個和平的世界。我們將支持從亞洲到非洲、從拉美到中東的民主發展，因為利益和良知促使我們去支持那些希望自由的人們。我們也必須是貧困、疾病、歧視、偏見的受害者們的后援——這不僅僅是出于慈善為懷，也因為我們時代的和平需要不斷地推動我們共同信念所基于的原則，包括寬容、機遇、人類尊嚴與公正。

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.我們，美國人，今天宣布，最不言自明的真理——人人生而平等——仍然是指引我們的北斗星，就像當年這條真理在色內加瀑布[1]、塞爾瑪[2]、石墻[3]這些地方指引著人們，它指引著在這個宏大的草坪上留下了足跡的所有知名和不知名的人們。他們來到這里聆聽宣講，說我們不能獨自行進；他們來聆聽一位王者[4]說，我們的個人自由與地球上每個人的自由是緊密地聯系在一起的。

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.Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.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;until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.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.如今到了我們這一代人去接過先驅們開創的使命的時候了。在我們的妻子、母親、女兒，在得到與她們的付出相符的待遇之前，我們的使命還沒有完成；在我們同性戀的兄弟和姐妹像其他人一樣在法律上被視真正平等之前，我們的使命還沒有完成-因為如果我們之間真正平等，那么可以肯定，我們所承諾的彼此相愛也必須是平等的。在所有公民行使投票權不必被迫等待幾個小時之前，我們的使命還沒有完成。在我們找到一個更好的方式來歡迎那些仍然可以把美國看作一個充滿機遇的土地，樂于奮斗，充滿希望的移民之前，在那些聰明的年輕學生和工程師被納入到我們的勞動大軍之中而不是被驅逐出境之前，我們的使命還沒有完成。在從底特律的街頭到阿巴拉契亞山間到紐頓安靜的小巷中，我們所有的孩子們都知道他們在被關心和愛護，安全有保障之前，我們的使命還沒有完成。

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 will 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.這是我們這一代人的使命真正成為每一個美國人的現實。忠實我們國家的創始文件，并不需要我們生活的每一個范疇都看法一致，也并不意味著我們以完全相同的方式定義自由，或者遵循同樣的路徑追求幸福。進步并不強迫我們放棄幾個世紀以來關于所有政府作用的辯論-但需要我們在我們的時代采取行動。

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.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 forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.我們現在就要做出抉擇，我們不能承受拖延的后果。我們不能誤以為毫無妥協余地是在堅持原則，或者以做秀取代政治，或者以相互指責取代理性的辯論。我們必須行動，盡管知道我們的工作不會十全十美。我們必須行動，盡管知道今天的勝利只是部分的成功，它將更多地取決于今后四年、四十年乃至四百年后站在這里的人們，繼續發揚從費城獨立廳傳到我們手中的超越時代的精神。

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.我的美國同胞們，我今天在你們面前宣誓，就和過去在這座國會山上宣誓過的人一樣，是對上帝和國家而不是對一個政黨或者派別的誓詞。我們必須在任職期間忠實履行我們的誓言。我的誓詞，和每次軍人接受任務、移民實現夢想時的誓詞，并無太大不同；和我們面對在空中飄揚，讓我們心中充滿自豪的國旗所做的宣誓，也無太大差異。

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.這些是美國公民的心聲，代表了我們最大的希望。

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.你們和我，作為美國公民，有確定國家未來前程的權力。你們和我，作為美國公民，有塑造我們時代話語的責任，不僅通過我們投下的選票，也通過為了維護我們最永久的價值觀及理想而發出的大聲疾呼。

Let 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.讓我們每個人用莊嚴的責任和無與倫比的歡悅，來擁抱我們與生俱來的永恒權利。憑借共同的努力，憑借熱情和執著，讓我們響應歷史的召喚，承載一個珍愛自由之光的未知未來。

Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.感謝你們，上帝保佑你們，愿上帝永遠佑護美利堅合眾國。

[1] 1848年，美國爭取婦女投票權的人士在紐約州的色內加瀑布地區召開大會。這次大會被認為是現代女權運動的開創性事件。

[2] 1965年3月，在美國民權運動的高潮中，非洲裔美國人組織了從阿拉巴馬的塞爾瑪出發的大游行。游行者與警察發生對峙。

[3] 1969年6月，紐約市警察檢查在一個名叫“石墻”的小酒吧，與里面的同性戀者發生暴力沖突，被同性戀權利運動認為是一個標志性的事件。

[4] 這里使用的是雙關語。“King”在英文中為“王”之意，但也是馬丁·路德·金的姓。

第四篇：第44任美國總統奧巴馬就職演說

第44任美國總統奧巴馬就職演說(全文)

親愛的同胞們：

我今天站在這里，因面前的任務感到謙卑，因你們的信任而感激，同時緬懷我們的前人所做出的犧牲。感謝布什總統為美國做出的貢獻，以及他在總統任期交疊過程中的慷慨合作。

至此，共有四十四位美國人曾進行過總統宣誓。這一誓言曾在國家和平、欣欣向榮時做出過。然而這一誓詞更曾在烏云籠罩和風暴襲來之時被宣讀。美國人民之所以能夠走過那些艱難的時刻，不僅僅是因為領袖的能力或遠見；更是因為我們，我們人民，保持著對先人理想的忠誠，對我們國家創始文件的追隨。

對于我們這一代美國人來說，也是這樣，也必須這樣。

國家正面臨危機，這一點大家已經沒有疑問。美國處在戰爭之中，面對一個有巨大影響力、充滿暴力和仇恨的網絡。我們的經濟嚴重衰退。這來源于部分人的貪婪和不負責任，更由于作為一個整體，我們未能做出面對一個新時代的艱難決策。人民失去房屋、工作機會減少、商業活動遭到破壞。醫療保障過于昂貴，學校教育系統出現太多失敗。而我們對能源的使用，日益讓對手強大，與此同時又威脅著我們的星球。

這些，是從數據和統計中可以看到的危機信號。還有難以度量但同樣深遠的問題，那就是整個國家信心的缺失。那縈繞在我們頭上的恐懼，認為美國的衰敗不可避免，認為我們的下一代人不可能再有太高的期望。

今天我要對你們說，我們面臨的挑戰是真切的、嚴重的，而且有很多重。解決他們不可能很輕松，也不可能在短時間內發生。但美國人民，請記住這一點：這些挑戰會被解決。

今天，我們聚集在一起，因為我們選擇了希望而不是恐懼；我們選擇了為共同的目標團結在一起，而不是沖突與爭執。

今天，我們共同終結那些虛假的承諾、陳腐的教條、以及指摘與怨言。這些已經困擾了我們的政治體系太長時間。

我們的國家仍舊年輕，但借用圣經中的話，該是拋開那些孩子氣的時候了。現在，需要重新拿出我們的堅韌精神，選擇自己的歷史。我們要延續代代相傳的寶貴禮物，延續神圣的理想，那就是上帝賜予我們的承諾－－人人平等，人人自由，人人都有機會去追求最大程度的幸福。

在重溫我們國家偉大的同時，我們必須明白，偉大不是憑空而來的，而是贏得的。在我們的歷程中，從來沒有走捷徑或是退而求其次。這一歷程不是為懦弱者準備的，不是為那些享樂高于工作、只知追求名利的人準備的。相反，是那些甘于承擔風險的人，實干家，創造者－－有些眾人皆知，而更多的在辛勤工作中默默無聞－－是他們帶著我們穿越漫長、崎嶇的道路走向繁榮與自由。

為了我們，他們把僅有的財物裝進行囊，漂洋過海追求新的生活。

為了我們，他們開拓西部，在條件惡劣的工廠中流血流汗；他們忍受鞭笞，開墾貧瘠的土地。

為了我們，他們戰斗和犧牲在協和鎮（Concord）、葛底斯堡（Gettysburg）、諾曼底和科薩恩(KheSahn)。

一次又一次，這些男男女女，他們奮斗和犧牲；他們將雙手磨破為了給我們帶來更好的生活。在他們眼中，美國超越了我們每個人雄心的總和，超越了個人、財富和派系的差別。

今天，我們仍在這樣的歷程上。我們仍舊是地球上最繁榮、最強大的國家。美國工人們的效率并不比危機開始之前低。我們的頭腦具有同樣的創造力。我們的產品與服務和上周、上月、或者去年一樣有需求。我們的能力從未被削弱。但墨守陳規、維護狹隘的利益、面對艱難的決策畏首畏尾的日子將一去不復返了。從今天開始，我們必須重新找回我們自己，撣去身上的塵土，開始重塑美國的重任。

環顧四周，有無數工作等著我們。經濟狀況期待著我們大膽和快速的行動。我們會付諸行動－－不僅僅是創造就業機會，同時還要為未來的增長打下新的基礎。我們將建設公路、橋梁和電網，以及將我們緊密聯系起來、提供商業信息的數字高速公路。我們會重新樹立科學應有的地位，并利用技術手段提高醫療保障的質量，同時降低其費用。我們將利用太陽、風與土壤，來驅動我們的汽車和工廠。我們將改革我們的學校和大學，以滿足新時代的需要。這些都有可能實現，更會去實現。

現在，有人還在懷疑我們的信心──他們認為我們的國家無法承擔這樣的重大計劃。他們太健忘了，他們忘記了這個國家曾經取得的成就，他們忘記了當擁有了理想、共同的目標和必要的勇氣，這些自由的人民曾經取得的輝煌成就。

這些憤世嫉俗的人無法理解這個國家所發生的轉變──那些陳腐的政治已經纏繞了我們太久太長。我們現在面臨的問題不是政府太大還是太小，而是政府所扮演的角色──應該幫助家庭獲得體面的收入，購買他們的所需，有尊嚴地退休。當這些答案都是肯定的時，我們才能繼續前進。如果答案是否定的，一切都將不復存在。我們這些管理公共財產的人應該負起責任──把錢花在刀刃上、改掉惡習、光明正大地行事──因為只有這樣我們才能重塑人民和政府之間的信任。

市場力量的好壞不是我們的問題。市場在創造財富和推進自由進程方面是無可代替的，但是這場危機也提醒了我們沒有審慎的監管，市場的力量將如野馬一樣脫韁──一個僅有財富的國家不可能持續繁榮。我們在經濟上所取得的成功不僅體現在我們的經濟總量上，也體現在我們的繁榮程度上，體現在我們為每個渴望成功的心靈所提供的機會上─這并非出自惻隱之心，而是我們實現共同利益的必經之路。

我們拒絕在安全和理想之間妥協。我們的建國先輩們，面對我們無法想象的兇險，卻依然用幾代人的鮮血維護了神圣的法律和人權。那些理想依然在照亮著這個世界，我們不會因

一時的困難而放棄這些理想。我要對那些正在看著我們的國家和人民說，無論你身處繁華的都市還是像養育了我父親那樣的小村莊：對于那些追求和平與尊嚴的男人、女人和孩子，美國將永遠是你們的朋友，我們將繼續和你們一起前進。

我們是這種傳統的捍衛者。我們繼續追尋這些信念的指引，我們將直面這些挑戰并更加努力─更多的溝通與合作。我們會負責地將伊拉克還給當地的人民，并在阿富汗保衛來之不易的和平。我們將與老朋友和原來的敵人一道，共同消除核威脅，解決全球變暖的根源。我們不會為自己的做法道歉，更不會動搖捍衛和平的決心，對于那些崇尚恐怖、濫殺無辜的人，我們的精神是強大而不可戰勝的。你拖不垮我們，我們將會打敗你。

我們多種族混居是一種優勢。我們是一個由基督徒、穆斯林、猶太教徒、印度教徒和無神論者共同組成的國家。我們吸收了各種文化的精髓，從世界的每個角落學習。因為我們經歷過內戰和種族隔離的痛苦洗禮，并在黑暗中更加堅強和團結，我們無法保證，但是我們相信憎恨終將消弭，分隔終將散去。隨著世界越來越緊密地聯系在一起，我們共同的人性將顯露出來，美國必須承擔引領新時代和平的重任。

對于穆斯林世界，我們將基于共同的利益和信仰，尋找更好的合作之路。對于那些在世界各個地方挑起沖突或一味批評西方不良影響的領導者：你的人民評判你的依據是你建立了什么，而不是破壞了什么。對于那些依靠腐敗和欺騙并壓制異議而追求權利的人們：你們站在了人類歷史的對立面。如果你們能張開緊握的拳頭，我們也將伸出友誼之手。

對于那些貧窮的人們，我們保證和你們一起建設繁茂的農場和干凈的水源，滋養那些饑寒交迫的身體和心靈。對于那些與我們一樣相對富裕的國家，我們不能再對外界的苦難漠不關心，更不能繼續大肆索取世界的資源。世界必須改變，我們都必須改變。

當我們審視前方的道路時，我們會感激那些跨越千山萬水來到這里的人們。今天，他們有話對我們說，也是安息在阿林頓國家公墓里的先烈們時刻提醒我們的。我們尊敬他們不僅因為是他們捍衛了我們的自由，更因為他們正是奉獻精神的化身；他們致力于尋找遠高于自身的生命真諦。而此時，在這個特殊的時代，我們更需讓這種精神長存。

因為歸根結底，政府所能做的，也是必須做到的，是體現每個美國人的信念和決心，這也是這個國家賴以生存的精神力量。這種力量是洪災泛濫時，陌生人之間的溫暖善舉；是經濟困難時期，人們自損利益保全朋友工作的無私忘我。這是消防員們毅然沖入濃煙火海的勇氣，也是父母培養孩子的無私之心，這些都決定了我們的命運。

或許，我們今日遇到挑戰前所未有，所有的情況完全陌生。但是，我們賴以走向成功的價值觀從未改變——誠實、勤勉、勇敢、公正、寬容、好學、忠貞和愛國。我們的歷史亦由這些真理推進，亙古不變。如今，我們面對的是一個全新的責任時代——人人都需重視，對我們自己，我們的國家乃至整個世界，都有一份責任。我們會欣然接受這份責任，人生也正因此而充實。

這是公民的價值和承諾。

這是我們信心的源泉——上帝賜予我們知識以應對無常的命運。

這是我們所崇尚的自由與信念的真諦——這就是為什么今天，不同膚色，不同信仰的男女老少在此匯聚一堂；這就是為什么六十年前，一位父親走入餐廳甚至無人理睬，而今天他的兒子可以站在這里，在你們面前許下最莊嚴的誓言。

所以讓我們記住這一天，記住自己，記住為此的付出。在我們的國家誕生之初，先輩們在最寒冷的日子里，圍聚在結冰的河邊靠微弱的篝火取暖。離鄉背井，后有敵軍，鮮血染紅了白雪。就在革命的道路如此模糊，意志也開始躊躇之時，我們的國父有這樣幾句話：

“告訴未來的世界……當一切陷入寒冬，萬物俱滅，只有希望和勇氣可以長存……這座城市和這個國家，在共同的危機下團結起來，共同面對前方的艱難。”

美國，面對我們共同的危機，在這艱難的寒冬，讓我們牢記那些永恒的字句。懷著希望和美德，讓我們再一次勇敢地面對冰冷的現實，迎接任何可能的風浪。讓我們的子孫傳唱，當我們面對挑戰時，我們沒有怯懦、沒有退縮，更沒有踟躕不前。我們在上帝的關愛下眺望遠方，我們在自由的道路上繼續前進，我們的精神將永遠閃耀著光芒。

上帝祝福美國！

第五篇：美國總統奧巴馬開學演講中英文對照

美國總統奧巴馬9月8日開學演講

英文全文

For Immediate Release September 8, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Wakefield High School

Arlington, Virginia

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, everybody.All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat.How is everybody doing today?(Applause.)How about Tim Spicer?(Applause.)I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade.And I am just so glad that all could join us today.And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host.Give yourselves a big round of applause.(Applause.)

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school.And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now--(applause)--with just one more year to go.And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived overseas.I lived in Indonesia for a few years.And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early.And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”(Laughter.)

So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education.And I've talked about responsibility a lot.I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.That's okay.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 Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his 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.(Applause.)

END

12:22 P.M.EDT

《我們為什么要上學》

奧巴馬

弗吉尼亞州，阿林頓市，2009年9月8日

嗨，大家好！你們今天過得怎么樣？我現在和弗吉尼亞州阿林頓郡韋克菲爾德高中的學 生們在一起，全國各地也有從幼兒園到高三的眾多學生們通過電視關注這里，我很高興你們 能共同分享這一時刻。

我知道對于你們中的許多人而言，今天是新學期的開始，尤其是初入園、初入校的新 生，更是你們在新環境中的第一天，難免會有些小小緊張。還可以想象有些即將面臨畢業的 高年級生，現在的感覺一定不錯。當然不管你是幾年級，有些同學可能還希望現在繼續處在 暑假中，可以睡懶覺。

能理解這種想法。當我還是個孩子的時候，在印度尼西亞住了幾年。我的母親沒錢送我去當地都是美國孩子上的學校，但她認為讓我緊跟美國教育是很重要的，于是由她自己教我。從星期一到星期五，但是因為她必須工作，能教我的時間也就只能是在凌晨4點半。

你們可以想象，早起不是件樂意的事。很多時候，在餐桌邊，我就睡著了。但是每當我抱怨 時，母親就只是給我一本書，然后說：“伙計，我也沒空去野餐。”

有些人仍在調整心態以適應新的學習生活，之所以我今天在這里，是有些非常重要的話想要 告訴你們，有關教育和對新學期的期望。

迄今為止，我作過很多有關教育的演講，也多次提到了社會責任性。我提到過教師的責任是鼓勵學生和促進他們學習。

父母的責任是確保你做你該做的事，完成你的作業，而不是把所有空閑時間都用來看電視或玩xbox。

政府的責任是建立好標準，支持教師和校長的工作，扶持那些較弱的學校，讓失學的孩子得到他們應有的。

但是退一萬步講，除非你們完成了你們的責任，除非你們關注那些學校，除非你們注意到那 些老師，除非你們聽從父母，祖輩或是那些通過努力獲得成功的長輩，否則即使我們擁有世 界上最杰出的師資，最有支持力的家長，最好的學校，一切都不會有所不同。這就是我今天的講話核心，你們每個人對教育的責任。

我想從你們每個人對自己的責任講起。每個人都有擅長的事情，每個人都能貢獻些什么。所以你有責任發現自己的長處是什么，而學習就提供了這樣一個發揮的機會。

也許你會是一個作家——能寫書和在報紙上發表文章——但是如果你不完成英語課上布置 給你的英語論文，你又怎么發現自己的才能？也許你會是一個發明家——可以設計出下一代 iphone或是新藥甚至是疫苗——但是如果你不完成自然課上的作業，你又怎能知道自己的潛 能？也許你會成為市長，參議員或者最高法院大法官——但是如果你不參加學生會或辯論隊，你又怎么了解自己的長處？

不管你將走上怎樣的道路，我敢保證你都需要接受教育。你想成為醫生，教師或是警察？護 士，建筑師，律師還是軍人？這任何一個職業都需要受過良好教育的才能夠勝任，你不可能 中途退學然后找到一份好工作，你必須得到相關培訓和相關教育。

學習并不僅僅對你的生活和將來是重要的，它對整個國家的未來也是至關重要的，因為美國 的未來就在你們身上。你們今天在學校所學關系到我們國家將來是否會遇到極大的挑戰。

你們需要利用在自然課和數學課上學到的知識和解決問題的能力去攻克癌癥和艾滋病；需要在歷史課和社會學上學到的洞察力和決斷力去對抗貧窮、饑寒、犯罪和歧視，使國家更公平和自由；需要在所有課程里學到的創造力去開辦公司解決就業問題和發展經濟。

我們需要你們當中的每一個人都去發展自己的天分，技能和智慧，這樣你們才能幫我們這群 老家伙們解決大難題。如果你們不那樣做，如果你退學了，那你就不僅僅是你個人的事，還 牽涉到你的國家。

我知道，要學得好，并不容易，很多人現在還有一些困難以致無法全身心地投入到學習上去。

我明白那樣的處境。我父親在我兩歲的時候就離開了我們，母親一人撫養我，還得拼命工作 付賬單，因此不能總是給我其他孩子有的東西。那也是我最想有個父親的日子，那段時間里，我感到孤獨和離群。因此，我無法集中注意力學習，我做了一些不太好的事情，而且陷入了一些不必要的麻煩。那時的生活很容易就會變得更糟。

但是，我很幸運，得到了修正的機會。進入了大學的法學院，并一步一步實現我的夢想。我 的妻子，第一夫人米歇爾.奧巴馬，她也有類似的經歷。她的父母都沒上過大學，而且也不 富有。但是他們工作努力，而她勤奮學習，因此她能進入這個國家最好的大學。

也許有些人并沒有這樣的條件。也許你的生活中并沒有給予你所需支持的長輩，也許因為家 人失業了而沒有足夠的錢來生活，也許你住在一個不能給你安全感的地方，或是你有一些朋 友，唆使你去做些不該做的事情。

但歸根結底，你生活的環境，你的樣子，你從哪里來，你有多少錢，你的家庭怎么樣，這些 都不能成為你不做功課和不好好上學的借口。與老師吵架，逃課，退學都是沒有借口可言的。

不去嘗試也是說不過去的。

你現在的處境并不能決定你將來也是這樣。沒人能決定你的命運，因為在美國，你要自己譜 寫自己的命運，你的將來由你自己創造。

你的未來，并不取決于你現在的生活有多好或多壞。沒有人為你編排好你的命運，在美國，你的命運由你自己書寫，你的未來由你自己掌握。而在這片土地上的每個地方，千千萬萬和你一樣的年輕人正是這樣在書寫著自己的命運。例如德克薩斯州羅馬市的賈斯敏·佩雷茲（Jazmin Perez）。剛進學校時，她根本不會說英語，她住的地方幾乎沒人上過大學，她的父母也沒有受過高等教育，但她努力學習，取得了優異的成績，靠獎學金進入了布朗大學，如今正在攻讀公共衛生專業的博士學位。我還想起了加利福尼亞州洛斯拉圖斯市的安多尼·舒爾茲（Andoni Schultz），他從三歲起就開始與腦癌病魔做斗爭，他熬過了一次次治療與手術——其中一次影響了他的記憶，因此他得花出比常人多幾百個小時的時間來完成學業，但他從不曾落下自己的功課。這個秋天，他要開始在大學讀書了。又比如在我的家鄉，伊利諾斯州芝加哥市，身為孤兒的香特爾·史蒂夫（Shantell Steve）換過多次收養家庭，從小在治安很差的地區長大，但她努力爭取到了在當地保健站工作的機會、發起了一個讓青少年遠離犯罪團伙的項目，很快，她也將以優異的成績從中學畢業，去大學深造。賈斯敏、安多尼和香特爾與你們并沒有什么不同。和你們一樣，他們也在生活中遭遇各種各樣的困難與問題，但他們拒絕放棄，他們選擇為自己的教育擔起責任、給自己定下奮斗的目標。我希望你們中的每一個人，都能做得到這些。因此，在今天，我號召你們每一個人都為自己的教育定下一個目標——并在之后，盡自己的一切努力去實現它。

這就是我今天為什么要號召大家確定一個學習目標的原因，去做每一件讓你更接近目標的事 情。你的目標可以很簡單，比如做完所有的功課，專心聽講，或者每天多花些時間來看書。也許你決定參加課外活動，或是參加社區的志愿者。也許你想保護那些因為外表或身份而遭 到他人譏笑和欺負的小孩子，因為你和我一樣相信，所有的孩子都有權利得到一個安全的學習環境。也許你想更好地照顧自己，這樣才能為學習做更充分的準備。

當然，除此之外，我希望你們都多多洗手、感到身體不舒服的時候要多在家休息，免得大家在秋冬感冒高發季節都得流感。不管你決定做什么，我都希望你能堅持到底，希望你能真的下定決心。

我知道有些時候你們會從電視里得到這樣的信息，即使不努力也可以變得有錢和成功，比如成為歌手，籃球明星或是電視名人。但更大的可能性是，這幾種，你一樣也成不了。

事實是，成功是非常艱難的事。你不可能喜歡所有的課程，你不可能和所有的老師合拍，不是所有的作業看起來都和你現在的生活息息相關，而且你不可能，也不必要在第一次嘗試時，就獲得成功。

這些都沒什么。一些最成功的人同時也是失敗次數最多的人。

J.K.Rowling, 哈利波特的作者，她的第一本哈利波特在正式出版之前就被拒了12次。而邁克爾喬丹被從高中籃球隊踢了出去，因此他錯過了他職業生涯中的上百場比賽和幾千個投籃。但他曾經說過：“我的成功源自于我一次又一次的失敗。”

這些人之所以成功，是因為他們明白，你不能被失敗打倒，你必須從失敗中學習，如何在下 一次做出改變。

因此如果你陷入困境，那并不意味著你是倒霉蛋，那只說明你要加倍努力來走向成功。如果你成績不好，那并不代表你很笨，只說明你需要花更多的時間在學習上。

沒有人生來就是天才，只有熟能生巧。你不會在接觸一項新運動時就進校隊，你也不會在第 一次唱歌時一點不走音，因此你需要練習。這個道理同樣適用于學習。你也許要做好幾遍才 能答對一道數學題，你也許要讀好幾遍才能讀懂一篇文章，你一定要打好幾遍草稿才能完成 一篇可以上交的論文。

不要害怕問問題，不要害怕在你需要的時候請求幫助，像我每天都在請求他人幫忙。求助于人不是弱者的象征，恰恰相反是強者的特質，因為這說明你有勇氣承認你在某方面的無知，而這能幫助你學到新知識。所以找一個你信任的人，父母，祖父母，老師，教練或是咨詢師，讓他們幫助你達到你的目標。

當你掙扎，當你怯懦，甚至當你覺得大家都放棄你的時候，你千萬不要放棄你自己，因為當你放棄你自己的時候，你也就放棄了你的國家。

美國夢跟那些遇到困難就放棄的人無關，只記載著那些勇往直前，努力奮斗，為了國家拼盡全力做每件事的人們。

在250年前和你們坐在同樣地方的學生，引領了革命并建立了這個國家；在75 年前和你們坐在同樣地方的學生，克服了經濟蕭條并贏得了世界大戰，還登上了月球； 在20年前和你們坐在同樣地方的學生，成立了google，twitter和facebook，改變了我們的交流方式。

因此，今天我想問問你們所有人，將來你們會有怎樣的貢獻？你們會解決什么樣的問題？你們會有什么新發現？20，50或100年后，從你們當中走出的總統會怎樣評述你們對這國 家所做的一切？

現在，你們的老師，你們的家庭，還有我都在竭盡所能去為了確保你們能夠受到所需的教育 而去面對這些問題，解決這些問題。政府努力為你們提供學習所需的教室，書本，設備和電 腦，但是你們也要完成你們的學業。因此我希望所有的人能在這一年認真起來，花最大的努 力做好自己的事，每個人都有進步。不要讓我們失望，不要讓你的家庭失望，不要讓國家失 望。更重要的，是不要讓自己失望，讓我們都為你感到驕傲。你們要成為我們驕傲，我知道，你們一定可以做到。謝謝大家，上帝保佑你們，上帝保佑美國。