|
|
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.
今天，我们受到这个日子的感召，不仅纪念我国诞生的那一天，而且需要继承建国初期美国公民不屈不饶的精神，是他们使这一天成为值得纪念的日子。我们应该记住，当年的这一切多么来之不易。我们进行创建美国的试验，结果获得了成功;为数不多的爱国者宣布独立，脱离了帝国强权的统治;他们还在新世界建立了旧世界不可思议的事物──民有、民治、民享的政府。
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.
正是这种顽强的精神构筑了美国人的特征。正是这种精神指引一代又一代先驱者开拓西进之路。正是这种精神指引我们的祖祖辈辈，以坚韧不拔的毅力渡过了大萧条，战胜了专制暴政。正是这种精神指引世世代代的美国劳动者建成全世界无可比拟的工业经济。正是这种精神始终指引全体美国人民在时局艰难的时刻永不气馁，永不退缩，敢于经受任何考验，迎接任何挑战，因为我们知道美国的命运有待于我们每一个人为之努力。
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.
在这一天到来的时候，我们还不应该忘记，在我国最紧要的关头，勇敢无私的男女军人不辱使命，保卫我们的国家，忠心为国效力──为实现和平奔赴战场;为赢得机会不辞劳苦;有时还为捍卫自由付出极为高昂的代价。正因为他们为国效力──陆军、海军、空军、海军陆战队和海岸警卫队士兵做出的奉献，我们才有可能每年庆祝这个节日。这种为国效力的精神说明，在进入建国后第三个百年之际，我国的建国理想仍然长盛不衰，生气勃勃，永远保持第一个7
月4日的活力。这种为国效力的精神保证美利坚合众国永远是地球上最后、最大的希望。
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.
为了迎接我们这个时代的挑战，我们大家都必须发扬这种为国效力和献身的精神。我们正在参与两场战争。同时我们也在抗击严重的衰退。我们长期拖延了旷日持久的问题：持续上升的医疗成本、学校设施的欠缺和对外国石油的依赖，导致问题日益恶化，我国经济以及国家本身正面临着危难。 |
|
发表于 2016-7-11 09:33:02