奥巴马每周电视讲话：美国总统奥巴马告别演讲(12)

And isn't that part of what so often makes politics dispiriting?

不正是这些因素使人们对政治感到失望的吗？

How can elected officials rage about deficits¹ when we propose to spend money on preschool for kids, but not when we're cutting taxes for corporations?

如果政客没有对削减企业税感到不满的话，那我们提议增加对学龄前儿童的支出时，他们凭什么感到愤怒呢？

How do we excuse ethical² lapses³ in our own party, but pounce⁴ when the other party does the same thing?

在抨击其他政党腐败的同时，我们怎么能宽宥党内腐败呢？

It's not just dishonest, this selective sorting of the facts; it's self-defeating.

这些行为不只是不诚实，更是对事实的区别对待，是自我毁灭的行径。

Because, as my mom used to tell me, reality has a way of catching⁵ up with you.

因为，就像我母亲曾经告诉我的，现实总能让你自食其果。

Take the challenge of climate change.

让我们接受气候变化带来的挑战吧。

In just eight years, we've halved⁶ our dependence⁷ on foreign oil;

仅仅八年，我们对国外石油的需求量就削减了一半，

we've doubled our renewable energy;

可再生能源的产量也翻了一倍。

奥巴马一家人

we've led the world to an agreement that has the promise to save this planet.

我们领导世界各国达成协议，承诺拯救我们生活的星球。

But without bolder action, our children won't have time to debate the existence of climate change.

但是如果不坚决地采取行动，我们的孩子将没有时间再讨论气候变化问题是否存在，

They'll be busy dealing⁸ with its effects:

他们将忙于应对气候变化带来的各种影响：

more environmental disasters, more economic disruptions, waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary⁹.

更多的环境问题，更多对经济的阻碍和一拨又一拨寻求美好生活环境的气候移民。

Now, we can and should argue about the best approach to solve the problem.

现在，我们可以并且应该讨论解决环境问题的最佳方案。

But to simply deny the problem not only betrays future generations,

单纯地否认问题的存在是对后人的不负责，

it betrays the essential spirit of this country,

是对我们国家精神的实质的背叛，

the essential spirit of innovation and practical problem-solving that guided our Founders¹⁰.

是对我们开国元勋的创新与解决实际问题精神的背离。

1 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

2 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

3 lapses   

n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He sometimes lapses from good behavior. 他有时行为失检。 来自辞典例句
• He could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. 他可以宽恕突然发作的歇斯底里，惊慌失措，恶劣的莫名其妙的动作，各种各样的失误。 来自辞典例句

4 pounce   

n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意

参考例句：

• Why do you pounce on every single thing I say?干吗我说的每句话你都要找麻烦？
• We saw the tiger about to pounce on the goat.我们看见老虎要向那只山羊扑过去。

5 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

6 halved   

v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊

参考例句：

• The shares have halved in value . 股价已经跌了一半。
• Overall operating profits halved to $24 million. 总的营业利润减少了一半，降至2，400 万元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

10 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