奥巴马每周电视讲话：美国总统奥巴马告别演讲(10)

For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn't suddenly vanish in the'60s,

对于美国白人，这意味着去承认奴隶制度的影响，还有美国黑人不会突然消失在六十年代（"Jim Crow"原意为：黑人，是美国白人至上主义者对黑人的蔑称；今译作“黑人隔离法”。），

that when minority groups voice discontent,

当少数群体发出不满的声音，

they're not just engaging in reverse racism¹ or practicing political correctness.

他们不仅正热衷于逆向种族主义，还正在实践政治正确。

When they wage peaceful protest, they're not demanding special treatment

当他们进行和平示威，他们不是在要求特别待遇，

but the equal treatment that our Founders² promised.

而是我们的建国之父承诺过的平等对待。

For native-born Americans, For native-born Americans,

对于本土的美国人来说，对于本土的美国人来说，

it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes³ about immigrants today

这代表不断提醒我们自己对于当今赋予移民的刻板印象，

were said, almost word for word, about the Irish, and Italians, and Poles,

就像我们之前逐字地形容爱尔兰人、意大利人和波兰人，

who it was said we're going to destroy the fundamental character of America.

那些宣称要摧毁美国最基本特性的人，

And as it turned out, America wasn't weakened by the presence of these newcomers;

最后的结果是美国并没有因为新来的人而削弱，

these newcomers embraced this nation's creed⁴, and this nation was strengthened.

这些新人们加强了拥抱这个国家的信念，这个国家也因此变强了。

So regardless of the station that we occupy, we all have to try harder.

因此无论我们持什么立场，我们都应该更加努力。

We all have to start with the premise⁵ that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do;

我们都应该以这样的认知为出发点：每一个公民都同我们一样热爱着这个国家，

that they value hard work and family just like we do;

同我们一样努力工作、一样重视家庭；

that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy⁶ of love as our own.

他们的孩子也像我们的孩子一样，充满好奇、前途无量并且值得爱护。

1 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

2 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

3 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

5 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

6 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。