barack obama’s victory speech:
change has come to america
if there is anyone out there who still
doubts that america is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders
if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the
power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
it’s the answer told by lines
that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never
seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time
in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that
their voices could be that difference.
it’s the answer spoken by young
and old, rich and poor, democrat and republican, black, white, hispanic, asian,
native american, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. americans who sent a
message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals
or a collection of red states and blue states.
we are, and always will be, the united
states of america.
it’s the answer that led those
who’ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and
doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and
bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
it’s been a long time coming, but
tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining
moment change has come to america.
我们等待了很久。但今夜,因为我们今天的努力、因为这次选举,在这决定性的时刻,美国终于迎来了转变。
a little bit earlier this evening, i
received an extraordinarily gracious call from sen. mccain.
sen. mccain fought long and hard in this
campaign. and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country that
he loves. he has endured sacrifices for america that most of us cannot begin to
imagine. we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless
leader.
i congratulate him; i congratulate gov. palin
for all that they’ve achieved. and i look forward to working with
them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
i want to thank my partner in this journey,
a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up
with on the streets of scranton and rode with on the train home to delaware, the
vice president-elect of the united states, joe biden.
and i would not be standing here tonight
without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock
of our family, the love of my life, the nation’s next first lady
michelle obama.
sasha and malia i love you both more than
you can imagine. and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with
us to the new white house.
and while she’s no longer with
us, i know my grandmother’s watching, along with the family that made
me who i am. i miss them tonight. i know that my debt to them is beyond
measure.
to my sister maya, my sister alma, all my
other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that
you’ve given me. i am grateful to them.
to those who would tear this world down –
we will defeat you. to those who seek peace and security – we support you. and
to all those who have wondered if america’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that
the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the
scale of our wealth, but from the
enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
for that is the true genius of america –
that america can change. our union can be perfected. and what we have already
achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
this election had many firsts and many
stories that will be told for generations. but one that’s on my mind tonight is about a
woman who cast her ballot in atlanta. she’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their
voice heard in this election except for one thing – ann nixon cooper is 106
years old.
she was born just a generation past
slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when
someone like her
couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the
colour of her skin.
and tonight, i think about all that she’s seen throughout her
century in america – the heartache and the
hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that american creed: yes we can.
at a time when women’s voices were silenced and their
hopes
dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the
ballot. yes we can.
when there was despair in the dust bowl and
depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a new deal, new jobs and a new sense of common
purpose. yes we can.
when the bombs fell on our harbour and
tyranny threatened the
world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a
democracy was saved. yes we can.
she was there for the buses in montgomery, the hoses in
birmingham, a bridge in selma, and a preacher from atlanta who told a people that “we shall
overcome.” yes we can.
a man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in berlin, a world was connected by our own
science and imagination. and this
year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in america,through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how america can change.
yes we can.
america, we have come so far. we have seen so much. but there is so much
more to do. so tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next
century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as ann nixon cooper, what change will they see? what
progress will we have made?
this is our chance to answer that call.
this is our moment. this is our time – to put our people back to work and open
doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause
of peace; to reclaim the american dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth –
that out of many, we are one;
that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will
respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
yes we can. thank you, god bless you, and may god bless the united
states of america.
第五篇:奥巴马获胜演讲稿
my fellow citizens:
我的同胞们:
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 forbearers, and true
to our founding documents.
迄今为止,已经有44个美国总统宣誓就职。总统的宣誓有时面对的是国家的和平繁荣,但通常面临的是乌云密布的紧张形势。在紧张的形势中,支持美国前进的不仅仅是领导人的能力和远见,也在于美国人民对国家先驱者理想的信仰,以及对美国立国文件的忠诚。so it has been. so it must be with this generation of americans.
前辈们如此,我们这一代美国人也要如此。
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 healthcare 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 profo(敬请期待91考试网更好文章:WWw.91exam.org)und is a sapping of confidence across our land - a
nagging fear that america’s 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.
今天我要说,我们的确面临着很多严峻的挑战,而且在短期内不大可能轻易解决。但是我们要相信,我们一定会度过难关。on this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity
of purpose over conflict and discord.
今天,我们在这里齐聚一堂,因为我们战胜恐惧选择了希望,摒弃了冲突和矛盾而选择了团结。
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.
今天,我们宣布要为无谓的摩擦、不实的承诺和指责画上句号,我们要打破牵制美国政治发展的若干陈旧教条。
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 short-cuts 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 labour, who have carried
us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.在重申我们国家伟大之处的同时,我们深知伟大从来不是上天赐予的,伟大需要努力赢得。(我们的民族一路走来),这旅途之中从未有过捷径或者妥协,这旅途也不适合胆怯之人、或者爱安逸胜过爱工作之人、或者单单追求名利之人。这条路是勇于承担风险者之路,是实干家、创造者之路。这其中有一些人名留青史,但是更多的人却在默默无闻地工作着。正是这些人带领我们走过了漫长崎岖的旅行,带领我们走向富强和自由。
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.
time and again these men and women
struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might
live a better life. they saw america as bigger than the sum of our individual
ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.一次又一次,我们的先辈们战斗着、牺牲着、操劳着,只为了我们可以生活得更好。在他们看来,美国的强盛与伟大超越了个人雄心,也超越了个人的出身、贫富和派别差异。
this is the journey we continue today. we
remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth. our workers are no less
productive than when this crisis began. our minds are no less inventive, our
goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or
last year. our capacity remains undiminished. but our time of standing pat, of
protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time
has surely passed. starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves
off, and begin again the work of remaking america.
for everywhere we look, there is work to be
done. the state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will
act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. we
will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that
feed our commerce and bind us together. we will restore science to its rightful
place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise healthcare’s quality and lower
its cost. we will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars
and run our factories. and we will transform our schools and colleges and
universities to meet the demands of a new age. all this we can do. and all this
we will do.
now, there are some who question the scale
of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big
plans. their memories are short. for they have forgotten what this country has
already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to
common purpose, and necessity to courage.
what the cynics fail to understand is that
the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that
have consumed us for so long no longer apply. the question we ask today is not
whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether
it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a
retirement that is dignified. where the answer is yes, we intend to move
forward. where the answer is no, programs will end. and those of us who manage
the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad
habits and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we
restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
nor is the question before us whether the
market is a force for good or ill. its power to generate wealth and expand
freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful
eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long
when it favours only the prosperous. the success of our economy has always
depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach
f; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of
charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
我们面临的问题也不是市场好坏的问题。市场创造财富、拓展自由的能力无可匹敌,但是这场危机提醒我们,如果没有监管,市场很可能就会失去控制,而且偏袒富人国家的繁荣无法持久。国家经济的成败不仅仅取决于国内生产总值的大小,而且取决于繁荣的覆盖面,取决于我们是否有能力让所有有意愿的人都有机会走向富裕。我们这样做不是慈善,而是因为这是确保实现共同利益的途径。as for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our
safety and our ideals. our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely
imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a
charter expanded by the blood of generations. those ideals still light the
world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. and so to all other
peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to
the small village where my father was born: know that america is a friend of
each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and
dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
recall that earlier generations faced down
fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy
alliances and enduring convictions. they understood that our power alone cannot
protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. instead, they knew that
our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the
justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of
humility and restraint.
we are the keepers of this legacy. guided
by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even
greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. we
will begin to responsibly leave iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned
peace in afghanistan. with old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly
to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. we
will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and
for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering
innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;
you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
for we know that our patchwork heritage is
a strength, not a weakness. we are a nation of christians and muslims, jews and
hindus - and non-believers. we are shaped by every language and culture, drawn
from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of
civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more
united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass;
that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller,
our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that america must play its role in
ushering in a new era of peace.
to the muslim world, we seek a new way
forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. to those leaders around
the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the west -
know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you
destroy. to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the
silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that
we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
to the people of poor nations, we pledge to
work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to
nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. and to those nations like ours
that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to
suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without
regard to effect. for the world has changed, and we must change with it.
as we consider the road that unfolds before
us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave americans who, at this very
hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. they have something to tell
us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in arlington whisper through the
ages. we honour them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but
because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in
something greater than themselves. and yet, at this moment - a moment that will
define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
for as much as government can do and must
do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the american people upon
which this nation relies. it is the kindness to take in a stranger when the
levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than
see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. it is the
firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a
parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
our challenges may be new. the instruments
with which we meet them may be new. but those values upon which our success
depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and
curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. these things are
true. they have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. what
is demanded then is a return to these truths. what is required of us now is a
new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every american, that
we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not
grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is
nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving
our all to a difficult task.
this is the source of our confidence - the
knowledge that god calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
我们自信源于对上帝的信仰,上帝号召我们要掌握自己的命运。
this is the meaning of our liberty and our
creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join
in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less
than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now
stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
so let us mark this day with remembrance,
of who we are and how far we have traveled. in the year of america’s birth, in
the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on
the shores of an icy river. the capital was abandoned. the enemy was advancing.
the snow was stained with blood. at a moment when the outcome of our revolution
was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the
people:
"let it be told to the future
world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could
survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came
forth to meet [it]."
america. in the face of our common dangers,
in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. with hope
and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may
come. let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we
refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter;
and with eyes fixed on the horizon and god’s grace upon us, we carried forth
that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.