奥巴马每周电视讲话 感谢所有付出的人们

Weekly Address: President Obama Delivers Thanksgiving Greeting
 每周电视讲话:奥巴马总统发表感恩节祝词
 
WASHINGTON – During this holiday season, President Obama used his weekly address to give thanks for the blessings¹ of America, in particular that distinctly American impulse to give something of ourselves and do what is required to make tomorrow better than today.  With that sense of determination and sacrifice, America has built a powerful economy, stood against tyranny, fought for equality, and connected the globe with our own science and imagination.  And by working together as one people – as Americans -- we can overcome the challenges currently facing our nation.
 华盛顿: 在这个节日里,奥巴马总统通过每周电视讲话感谢所有给与美国的祝福,尤其感谢奉献自我和履行职责的独特的美国式推动力成就了更加美好的明天。满怀坚定信念和牺牲精神，美国才得以成为强大的经济体，反对暴政，为平等而斗争，并用我们自己的科学和想象力将整个世界联系在一起。作为美国人，通过团结一致的努力，我们可以战胜当前我们国家所面临的一切挑战。
 
Today, like millions of other families across America, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will sit down to share a Thanksgiving filled with family and friends – and a few helpings² of food and football, too.  And just as folks have done in every Thanksgiving since the first, we’ll spend some time taking stock of what we’re thankful for: the God-given bounty³ of America, and the blessings of one another.
 今天，像其他千万美国家庭一样，米歇尔，玛莉亚，萨莎和我将围坐在一起，与家人和朋友们一起分享感恩节的快乐——当然，还有食物和足球。就像人们从第一个感恩节以来做的一样，我们都要花点时间来盘点一下应该感谢什么：上帝给与美国的无私恩惠，以及彼此的祝福。
 
This is also a holiday that captures that distinctly American impulse to give something of ourselves.  Even as we speak, there are countless⁴ Americans serving at soup kitchens and food pantries; contributing to their communities; and standing⁵ guard around the world.
 这还是一个让我们关注奉献自我的独特美国推动力的节日。就在我们讲话的时候，依然有无数美国人在厨房和食品间忙碌；为社区服务；以及在世界各地站岗执勤。
 
And in a larger sense, that’s emblematic⁶ of what Americans have always done.  We come together and do what’s required to make tomorrow better than today.  That’s who we are.
 就更深层意义而言，这是美国人民一直以来的行为象征。我们走到一起，尽职尽责，共创美好未来。这就是我们。
 
Consider our journey since that first Thanksgiving.  We are among the world’s youngest of peoples, but time and again, we have boldly and resiliently led the way forward.  Against tough odds⁷, we are a people who endure – who explored and settled a vast and untamed continent; who built a powerful economy and stood against tyranny in all its forms; who marched and fought for equality, and connected a globe with our own science and imagination.
 回想一下我们从第一个感恩节以来的经历吧。虽然我们是世界上最年轻的民族，但一次又一次，我们的大胆创新和充满活力引领着前进的道路。面对艰难的时刻，我们团结一致坚忍不拔——我们探索并定居到这个广漠荒蛮的大陆；建立起强大的经济，反抗各种各样的暴政统治；为了平等而奋争并不断前进，用我们的科学和想象力将全世界联系到一起。
 
None of that progress was predestined.  None of it came easily.  Instead, the blessings for which we give thanks today are the product of choices made by our parents, and grandparents, and generations before – whose determination and sacrifice ensured a better future for us.
 没有任何成就是命中注定的。没有一样是轻松得来的。相反，我们今天所感激的祝福来自于我们父母、祖父母以及之前的数代先辈的抉择——他们的坚强和牺牲为我们创造了美好未来。
 
This holiday season, we must resolve once more to do the same.
 在这个节日里，我们要再次下定决心，追随先辈的脚步。
 
This is not the hardest Thanksgiving America has ever faced.  But as long as many members of our American family are hurting, we’ve got to look out for one another.  As long as many of our sons and daughters and husbands and wives are at war, we’ve got to support their mission and honor their service.  And as long as many of our friends and neighbors are looking for work, we’ve got to do everything we can to accelerate this recovery and keep our economy moving forward.
 这并不是美国面对的最困难的感恩节。但只要我们的同胞还在受苦，我们就应该相互照料。只要我们的儿女或丈夫或妻子还在参战，我们就应支持他们完成任务并对他们的奉献致敬。只要我们身边还有大量朋友或邻居还在找工作，我们就应该竭尽全力加快经济复苏并保持我们的经济向前发展。
 
And we will.  But we won’t do it as any one political party.  We’ve got to do it as one people.  And in the coming weeks and months, I hope that we can work together, Democrats⁸ and Republicans and Independents alike, to make progress on these and other issues.
 我们定能做到。但不是某一个政党来做，而是我们作为一个整体来努力。在未来的岁月里，我希望我们可以共同努力，民主党人，共和党人还有独立党派人士，在一切可能的问题上取得进展。
 
That’s why, next week, I’ve invited the leadership of both parties to the White House for a real and honest discussion – because I believe that if we stop talking at one another, and start talking with one another, we can get a lot done.
 这是下周我将邀请两党的领导到白宫进行一次真切而坦诚的讨论的原因——因为我相信如果我们停止相互攻讦，开始相互交谈，我们可以做好很多事情。
 
For what we are called to do again today isn’t about Democrats or Republicans.  It’s not about left or right.  It’s about us.  It’s about what we know this country is capable of.  It’s about what we want America to be in this new century.
 我们现在需要做的事情无关乎民主党人或共和党人。也与左右路线无关。而是关乎我们自己。关乎我们所知道的这个国家拥有的能力。关乎我们希望美国在新世纪的地位和成就。
 
A vibrant⁹ nation that makes sure its children are the best-educated in the world.  A healthy, growing economy that runs on clean energy and creates the jobs of tomorrow.  A responsible government that reduces its deficits¹⁰.  An America where every citizen is able to go as far as he or she desires.
 一个充满朝气的国度会确保她的儿童得到世界上最好的教育。确保一个基于清洁能源和创造未来就业的健康、持续增长的经济。确保一个负责任的政府削减他的财政赤字。确保美国的国民可以去他任何他想去的地方。
 
We can do all this, because we’ve done it before.  We’re made of the same sturdy stuff as the travelers who sat down to the first Thanksgiving, and all who came after – who worked, and sacrificed, and invested, because they believed that their efforts would make the difference for us.
 所有的一切我们都能做到，因为我们曾经做到过。我们拥有当初的探险家及其后继者在第一个感恩节（在这片大陆上）安营扎寨的坚强决心——他们为之奋斗，牺牲，并费尽心血，因为他们相信他们的付出将为我们而改变一切。
 
That’s who we are.  We shape our own destiny with conviction, compassion¹¹, and clear and common purpose.  We honor our past and press forward with the knowledge that tomorrow will be better than today.  We are Americans.  That’s the vision we won’t lose sight of.  That’s the legacy¹² that falls to our generation.  That’s the challenge that together, we are going to meet.
 这就是我们这个民族。我们用我们的信仰，慈悲和简明的目标塑造着我们的命运。我们尊重我们的过去并怀揣明天会更好的信念奋力向前。我们就是美国人。这是我们不会忘记的愿景。这是从先辈手中传递下来的遗愿。这是我们将要共同去面对的挑战。
 
To every American, I am thankful for the privilege of being your President.  To all our service members stationed around the world, I am honored to be your Commander-in-Chief.  And from the Obama family to yours, have a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Thank you.
 我想对每个美国人说，我非常感激你们赋予我作为你们的总统的权力。对在世界各地驻扎执勤的人员，我想说我很荣幸担任你们的统帅。希望奥巴马全家以及所有家庭都度过一个快乐的感恩节。谢谢大家。
 
 

1 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》

2 helpings   

n.（食物）的一份( helping的名词复数 )；帮助，支持

参考例句：

• You greedy pig! You've already had two helpings! 你这个馋嘴！你已经吃了两份了！
• He had two helpings of pudding. 他吃了两客布丁。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 bounty   

n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与

参考例句：

• He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
• We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

4 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 emblematic   

adj.象征的，可当标志的；象征性

参考例句：

• The violence is emblematic of what is happening in our inner cities. 这种暴力行为正标示了我们市中心贫民区的状况。
• Whiteness is emblematic of purity. 白色是纯洁的象征。 来自辞典例句

7 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

8 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

10 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

11 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

12 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。