President Bush's Christmas Address

                  

Thank you all. Thank you very much. With the lighting¹ of the National Christmas Tree, we observe one of the great traditions of our nation's capital. And throughout the Christmas season, we recall that God's love is found in ¹⁾humble² places, and God's peace is offered to all of us. Laura and I are pleased to be with you at this Christmas Pageant³ of Peace, and we thank you all for coming as well.

I want to thank Barbara for hosting this event. (Applause) I want to thank all the ²⁾entertainers for making the night such a special evening, thank you all for coming. (Applause) I want to thank Peter and the board of directors and the production team for organizing this fine event. I appreciate Santa coming. (Laughter) Looks like he needs a belt for Christmas. (Laughter) Finally, I want to thank all the good people of the National Park Service. (Applause) The National Christmas Tree is a living tree and the Park Service looks after it every single day of the year.

For nearly 80 years, in times of calm and in times of challenge, Americans have gathered for this ceremony. The simple story we remember during this season speaks to every generation. It is the story of a quiet birth in a little town, on the margins⁴ of an indifferent empire. Yet, that single event set the direction of history and still changes millions of lives. For over two ³⁾millennia, Christmas has carried the message that God is with us - and, because He's with us, we can always live in hope.

In this season, we celebrate with our families - and deeply miss family members no longer with us. Thousands of families in our nation are still grieving⁵ over the terrible losses that came to them last year on September the 11th. We pray for their comfort. We pray for the comfort for everyone who has lost a life this year.

Our entire nation is also thinking at this time of year of the men and women in the military, many of whom will spend this Christmas at posts far from home. They stand between Americans and grave danger. They serve in the cause of peace and freedom. They wear the uniform proudly and we are proud of them. (Applause)

Laura and I wish every American family the blessings⁶ of this season, happy holidays, and a merry Christmas. And now we have the honor of lighting the National Christmas Tree. And joining us, we've got two new friends, Samara Banks and Ben Schneller, to help us light this tree.

Now, if everybody - you all step up here - (laughter) - get ready. Please join us in the ⁴⁾countdown: Five, four, three, two, one. (Applause)

 

布什总统圣诞讲话

                                                   2002年12月5日

 

谢谢，非常感谢。随着国家圣诞树上灯火亮起，我们迎来了祖国首都一个重要的传统节日。整个圣诞节让我们感到世间洋溢着上帝的爱，人人都享有上帝恩赐的和平。能在这和平的圣诞庆典中与大家相聚我和劳拉都很高兴，为此我也要感谢诸位的光临。

我要感谢芭芭拉主持这场仪式。（掌声）我要感谢所有的演艺人员，因为有了你们让今晚显得格外特别，谢谢你们的到来。（掌声）我要感谢彼得、整个理事会以及所有的筹备人员，是你们组织了这场盛大的庆典。我感谢圣诞老人的光临。（笑声）看起来他需要一条腰带过圣诞节。（笑声）最后，我要感谢国家公园各部门中所有辛勤的工作人员。（掌声）国家圣诞树是一棵活生生的树，因为有国家公园的工作人员日复一日地照看着它。

近八十年来，时逢安定，时逢挑战，美国人都要聚到一块儿举行庆典。如今，我们记忆中的圣诞节小故事已是老少皆知。那是一个生命在一个冷漠国度的边境小镇上静静降生的故事。然而这件事却划定了历史前进的方向，并且直到现在仍在改写着千百万人的命运。两千多年来，圣诞节一直传递着一个信息——上帝与我们同在。正因为他陪伴着我们，所以我们能永远生活在希望之中。

值此佳节我们与家人一同张灯结彩，并一同深切缅怀那些离我们而去的亲人。我们国家有成千上万的家庭仍在为去年九月十一号降临到他们头上的那场可怕灾难而哀恸不已。我们祈祷他们安心，我们祈祷所有今年丧失生活勇气的人安心。

此时我们举国上下同样也牵挂着那些军营中的男女军人，他们中的许多人将会在远离家乡的岗位上度过这个圣诞节。他们屹立在美国人与危机之间，他们捍卫着和平与自由，他们自豪地穿着军装，而我们为他们自豪。（掌声）

我和劳拉祝愿所有的美国家庭节日好运、假期愉快、圣诞快乐。现在，我们有幸来点亮这棵国家圣诞树。我们也请来两位新朋友——莎玛拉·班克斯和本·施内尔勒——帮助我们一起来点亮这棵树。

请诸位走上前来，（笑声），各就各位。请大家跟着我们一起数：五、四、三、二、一。（掌声）

 

注释：

1) humble [5hQmbl] a. 卑下的，简陋的

2) entertainer [entE5teinE(r)] n. 款待者，演艺人员

3) millennium⁷ [mi5leniEm] n. 太平盛世，一千年（millennia [mi5leniE] 是其复数形式）

4) countdown [5kaunt7daun] n. 倒数

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

4 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

5 grieving   

感到悲痛，伤心( grieve的现在分词 )； 使…伤心

参考例句：

• They are still grieving for their dead child. 他们还在为死去的孩子伤心。
• The news brought no solace to the grieving relations. 这个消息并未给悲痛的家属带来什么安慰。

6 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。