奥巴马每周电视讲话 考验我们国家的日子

Weekly Address: President Obama Commemorates¹ the Ninth Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
 每周电视讲话：奥巴马总统纪念911袭击九周年
 
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama marked the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives.  If there is a lesson to be drawn² on this anniversary, it is that the United States is one nation and one people united by common ideals. By keeping our commitment to those protect the country and their families, by giving back to our communities, and by serving people in need, we reaffirm those ideals in defiance³ of those who would do us harm. 
 华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统称911袭击九周年纪念日为全国纪念日，以此纪念所有逝去的生命。如果说要从这个纪念日吸取什么教训，那就是美利坚合众国是一个有共同理想的国家和民族。通过坚守我们对保卫我们国家的人们以及他们家庭的承诺，反哺我们的社会，通过向需要帮助的人们服务，我们将更加坚定藐视一切想要伤害我们的人的信念。
 
Today, we pause to remember a day that tested our country.  On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the deadliest attack on American soil in our history.  We will never forget the images of planes vanishing into buildings; of photos hung by the families of the missing.  We will never forget the anger and sadness we felt.  And while nine years have come and gone since that September morning, the passage of time will never diminish the pain and loss forever seared in the consciousness of our nation.
 今天，我们放下脚步，共同纪念考验我们国家的日子。2001年9月11日，在美国的土地上，有史以来最严重的袭击导致将近3000人失去生命。我们绝不会忘记飞机冲进大楼的画面，不会忘记众多家庭张贴的寻人照片的画面。我们也不会忘记我们的愤怒和悲伤。自从那个九月早晨以来，九年时间过去了，但逝去的时间永远也不会减轻烙印在我们民族意识之中的伤痛和损失。
 
That is why, on this day, we pray with the families of those who died.  We mourn with husbands and wives, children and parents, friends and loved ones.  We think about the milestones⁴ that have passed over the course of nine years – births and christenings, weddings and graduations – all with an empty chair.
 这是为什么，在今天，我们与失去亲人的家庭一起祈祷的原因。我们与丈夫和妻子，子女和父母，朋友和亲人们一起哀悼。我们回想起九年来我们经历的所有重要时刻——出生与洗礼，结婚典礼和毕业典礼——都有一把椅子空着。
 
On this day, we also honor those who died so that others might live: the firefighters and first responders who climbed the stairs of two burning towers; the passengers who stormed a cockpit; and the men and women who have, in the years since, borne the uniform of this country and given their lives so that our children could grow up in a safer world.  In acts of courage and decency⁵, they defended a simple precept⁶: I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.
 今天，我们同样纪念那些为了他人的生存而牺牲的人们：爬上两栋燃烧的高楼的消防员和应急人员，冲进机舱的乘客，以及自那之后，身穿军装，为了我们的儿童能在一个更加安全的世界成长而牺牲的人们。在满怀勇气和尊严的行动中，他们坚守着一个简单的信念：我是我兄弟的守护者，我是我姐妹的守护者。
 
And on this day, we recall that at our darkest moment, we summoned a sense of unity⁷ and common purpose.  We responded to the worst kind of depravity with the best of our humanity.
 今天，我们再次回想起那黑暗的时刻，唤起我们团结一致的意识。我们用我们最美好的人性来回应那些最邪恶的暴行。
 
So, each year at this time, we renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act of terror and who continue to plot against us – for we will never waver in defense⁸ of this nation.  We renew our commitment to our troops and all who serve to protect this country, and to their families. But we also renew the true spirit of that day.  Not the human capacity for evil, but the human capacity for good.  Not the desire to destroy, but the impulse to save.
 因此，每年的这个时候，我们都再次重申我们对那些对我们犯下野蛮恐怖暴行和一直密谋与我们对抗的人的决心——我们永远不会在保卫国家上有所动摇。我们再次重申我们对我们的军队和保卫我们国家的人们以及他们家庭的承诺。但是，我们也重申当今的真正精神。不是人类邪恶的能力，而是人类向善的本能。不是破坏的欲望，而是保全的的动力。
 
That is why we mark September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  For if there is a lesson to be drawn on this anniversary, it is this: we are one nation – one people – bound not only by grief, but by a set of common ideals.  And that by giving back to our communities, by serving people in need, we reaffirm our ideals – in defiance of those who would do us grave harm.  We prove that the sense of responsibility that we felt for one another was not a fleeting⁹ passion – but a lasting¹⁰ virtue¹¹.
 这是我们将911作为国家纪念日的原因。因为如果说能从纪念日汲取什么教训，那就是：我们是一个国家，一个民族，不仅仅是因悲伤而团结在一起，而是因共同的理想。而且通过反哺社会，通过向需要帮助的人们服务，我们更坚定我们的理想——藐视一切想要伤害我们的人。我们一再证明，我们对彼此的责任不是短暂的激情——而是持久的美德。
 
This is a time of difficulty for our country.  And it is often in such moments that some try to stoke bitterness – to divide us based on our differences, to blind us to what we have in common.  But on this day, we are reminded that at our best, we do not give in to this temptation. We stand with one another. We fight alongside one another.  We do not allow ourselves to be defined by fear, but by the hopes we have for our families, for our nation, and for a brighter future.  So let us grieve for those we’ve lost, honor those who have sacrificed, and do our best to live up to the values we share – on this day, and every day that follows.
 当前是我们国家的困难时期。而且也经常在这种时候，有人想要增添我们的痛苦——利用我们的分歧来分裂我们，让我们看不见我们的共同点。但今天，我们被我们心底的美好信念激发，我们绝不会向这种诱导低头。我们站在一起，并肩战斗。我们绝不会让人觉得我们很惧怕，我们充满了对家庭和国家以及美好未来的希望。因此，让我们一起为逝去的生命默哀，向所有牺牲的人们致敬，尽我们最大的努力共享生活的美好价值——今天，以及接下来的每一天。
 
Thank you.
 谢谢大家！
 
 

1 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

5 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

6 precept   

n.戒律；格言

参考例句：

• It occurs to me that example is always more efficacious than precept.我想到身教重于言教。
• The son had well profited by the precept and example of the father.老太爷的言传身教早已使他儿子获益无穷。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

10 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

11 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。