03
Obama Re-Election Speech 奧巴馬連任演說

導讀

貝拉克·侯賽因·奧巴馬二世（Barack Hussein Obama II,1961—），美國民主黨政治家。第56屆、第57屆美國總統（連任）。為美國歷史上第一位非裔總統，首位同時擁有黑（盧歐族）白（英德愛混血）血統的總統。2007年2月10日，他以側重完結伊拉克戰爭及實施全民醫療保險制為競選綱領，正式宣布參加2008年美國總統選舉，并于同年11月4日正式當選。2009年10月9日，獲得諾貝爾委員會頒發的諾貝爾和平獎。2012年11月6日（北京時間2012年11月7日），奧巴馬在美國總統選舉中擊敗共和黨候選人羅姆尼，成功連任。本篇演講即奧巴馬連任時發表的演講。

Thank you so much.

非常感謝各位。

Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.

今夜，在當年的殖民地贏得了決定自己命運的權利200多年以后，讓美利堅合眾國更加完美的任務又向前推進了一步。

It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.

這一進程是因為你們而向前推進的，因為你們再次確認了那種使美國勝利克服了戰爭和蕭條的精神，那種使美國擺脫絕望的深淵并走向希望的最高點的精神，以及那種雖然我們每個人都在追求自己的個人夢想、但我們同屬一個美國大家庭、并作為一個國家和民族共同進退的信仰。

Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.

今晚，在選舉的過程中，你們——美國的人民，讓我們記得我們的道路是非常艱辛的，我們的道路是漫長的，我們重新站了起來，我們也從內心知道，美國還沒有迎來最好的時代。

I want to thank every American who participated in this election, whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time. By the way, we have to fix that. Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference.

我想感謝每一個參與選舉的美國人。無論你們是第一次投票，還是（排隊）等了很長的時間才投上一票——順便說一下我會解決這個問題。無論你是自己上門投的票，還是打電話投的票；無論你是投給奧巴馬還是投給羅姆尼，你都是為我們國家帶來轉變的力量。

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You'll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who's working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity. You'll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who's going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift. You'll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who's working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home.

你將從一位年輕的活動現場組織者的聲音里聽到他的決心，他邊在大學里學習邊從事助選工作，他希望確保每個孩子都能擁有同樣的機會。你將從一位志愿者的聲音里聽到她的驕傲，她挨門動員選民是因為她哥哥終因當地一家汽車制造廠增加了一個班次而有了工作。你將從一位軍嫂的聲音里聽到深深的愛國情懷。他們深夜時還在接聽選舉電話，以確保那些曾經為這個國家作戰的人不會返回家園時還要為得到一份工作或棲身之所而苦苦爭斗。

That's why we do this. That's what politics can be. That's why elections matter. It's not small, it's big. It's important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.

正因為如此，我們要進行選舉。這是政治所能夠實現的。正因為如此，選舉很重要。這不是小事，而是大事，是至關重要的事。在一個有三億人口的國家實行民主制度可能嘈雜不堪、一團混亂、情況復雜。我們有自己的觀點。我們每個人都有自己深信的信仰。當我們經歷艱難時期，當我們作為一個國家做出重大決定時，這必然會激發熱情，也必然會引發爭議。

That won't change after tonight, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.

今晚過后，這都不會改變，也不應該改變。我們進行的這些爭論恰恰體現了我們的自由。我們永遠不應忘記，就在我們講話之際，遙遠國度的人們現在正冒著生命危險，僅僅是為了獲得一個能夠對重要問題進行爭論、像我們今天這樣投票的機會。

But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.

不過，盡管我們存在這樣那樣的分歧，我們大多數人都對美國的未來有著某些共同的希望。我們希望我們的孩子成長的國家能夠讓他們上最好的學校、接受最好老師的教導。一個無愧于全球技術、探索和創新領袖的光輝歷史的國家，倘能如此，各種好工作和新企業將隨之而來。

We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this world has ever known. But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.

我們希望我們的孩子能夠生活在一個沒有債務之累、沒有不公之苦、沒有全球變暖帶來的破壞之虞的美國。我們希望留給后代一個安全、受到全球尊重和贊賞的國家，一個由全球有史以來最強大的軍事力量和最好的部隊保衛的國家，一個滿懷信心走過戰爭、在人人享有自由和尊嚴的承諾之上構建和平的國家。

We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America，open to the dreams of an immigrant's daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag. To the young boy on the south side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner. To the furniture worker's child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president-that's the future we hope for. That's the vision we share. That's where we need to go-forward. That's where we need to go.

我們堅信一個慷慨的美國、一個富有同情心的美國、一個寬容的美國。美國向一位移民的女兒的夢想打開了大門，讓她有機會在我們的學校學習、對著我們的國旗宣誓；美國向芝加哥南部地區的一個小男孩打開了大門，讓他有機會看到一個最近街角以外的遠大人生；美國向北卡羅來納州的一位家具工人的孩子打開了大門，讓他有機會實現自己當醫生或科學家、工程師或企業家、外交官甚至是總統的夢想，這是我們希望的未來。這是我們共同的愿景。這是我們奔赴的方向，向前的方向。這是我們需要實現的目標。

Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin.

現在，我們對如何實現這一目標存在分歧，有時分歧還很嚴重。正如兩個多世紀以來一樣，進展的取得將是斷斷續續，并非總是一條直線，并非總是一帆風順。承認我們擁有共同的希望和夢想，僅憑這一點不會結束所有的僵局，或解決我們所有的問題，或代替推動這個國家向前所需的達成共識和做出艱難讓步的辛苦努力。不過，這一共同的紐帶是我們必須開始的地方。

Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead.

我們的經濟正在好轉。長達10年的戰爭即將結束。一場漫長的競選現已落幕。無論我是否贏得了你們的選票，我一直在傾聽你們的故事，向你們學習，是你們使我成為一位更好的總統。聽過你們的故事和困難經歷，我在重返白宮時對今后需要做的工作和未來將懷著比以往更堅定的決心和更大的熱情。

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America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.

國民們，我相信我們有能力在已經取得的進步的基礎上再進一步，繼續為了給中產階級創造新的工作、新的機遇、新的保障而戰斗。我相信我們有能力信守開國者們許下的諾言，信守這樣一種理念，那就是不管你是誰，不管你來自哪里，不管你長相如何，不管你愛著哪個地方，你所需要做的就是努力工作。不管你的膚色是黑是白，不管你是拉美裔、亞裔還是美國原住民，不管你年輕還是年老，富有還是貧窮，身體健全或是殘障，同性戀還是異性戀，只要你愿意努力，就能夠在美國大有作為。

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

我相信我們有能力共同握住這樣的未來，因為美國人民并不像政界那么嚴重分歧。美國人民不像某些飽學之士所認為的那樣憤世嫉俗。美國的抱負并不是每一個美國人的抱負的簡單加總，美國也不是紅州和藍州的簡單聯合。我們是美利堅合眾國，我們將永遠是美利堅合眾國。

And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

有你們的幫助，有上帝的仁慈，我們將繼續攜手前行，讓全世界知道我們生活在全球最偉大的國度的原因到底是什么。

Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States.

謝謝你，國民們。上帝保佑你們。上帝保佑美國。

Cloze 選詞填空

What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold 1 the most diverse nation on earth. The belief that our destiny is 2; that this country only works 3 we accept certain obligations to one 4 and to future generations. The freedom which so many Americans have 5 for and died for come 6 responsibilities as well as 7. And among those are love and charity and duty and 8. That's what makes America great.

Key

1. together 2. shared 3. when 4. another

5. fought 6. with 7. rights 8. patriotism

Translation Practices 翻譯練習

America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.

參考譯文

國民們，我相信我們有能力在已經取得的進步的基礎上再進一步，繼續為了給中產階級創造新的工作、新的機遇、新的保障而戰斗。我相信我們有能力信守開國者們許下的諾言，信守這樣一種理念，那就是不管你是誰，不管你來自哪里，不管你長相如何，不管你愛著哪個地方，你所需要做的就是努力工作。不管你的膚色是黑是白，不管你是拉美裔、亞裔還是美國原住民，不管你年輕還是年老，富有還是貧窮，身體健全或是殘障，同性戀還是異性戀，只要你愿意努力，就能夠在美國大有作為。

Emulation 美文自己寫得出——學生仿寫

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