奥巴马每周电视讲话：美国总统奥巴马告别演讲(16)

Rivals like Russia or China cannot match our influence around the world,

俄罗斯和中国这样的对手也不可能与我们匹敌，

unless we give up what we stand for, and turn ourselves into just another big country that bullies¹ smaller neighbors.

除非我们抛弃了立场、变成另一个欺凌周边小国的大国。

Which brings me to my final point: Our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted.

这也就引出了我想声明的最后一点——如果我们把民主视作理所当然之时，便是它受到威胁之时。

All of us, regardless of party, should be throwing ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions.

我们所有人，无论属于哪个党派，都应该投身于对民主体制的重建之中。

When voting rates in America are some of the lowest among advanced democracies,

在民众投票率处于发达民主政体中最低水平时，

we should be making it easier, not harder, to vote.

我们应该将实施投票变得更简单而不是更复杂；

When trust in our institutions is low, we should reduce the corrosive² influence of money in our politics,

在民众对体制缺乏信任的时候，我们应该减少金钱对政治的影响、

and insist on the principles of transparency and ethics³ in public service.

坚持公务透明和基本的道德原则；

When Congress is dysfunctional,

当国会运作低效时，

we should draw our congressional districts to encourage politicians to cater⁴ to common sense and not rigid⁵ extremes.

我们应该鼓励各选区的政客回归常识而非转向极端。

But remember, none of this happens on its own.

但是我们要牢记，所有这些目标的实现都不会是自然而然的。

All of this depends on our participation⁶;

所有这些都取决于我们每个人的参与，

on each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship⁷, regardless of which way the pendulum⁸ of power happens to be swinging.

取决于无论政治风向如何变动，我们都能够承担公民责任。

1 bullies   

n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负

参考例句：

• Standing up to bullies takes plenty of backbone. 勇敢地对付暴徒需有大无畏精神。
• Bullies can make your life hell. 恃强欺弱者能让你的日子像活地狱。

2 corrosive   

adj.腐蚀性的；有害的；恶毒的

参考例句：

• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。
• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。

3 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

4 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

5 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

6 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

7 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

8 pendulum   

n.摆，钟摆

参考例句：

• The pendulum swung slowly to and fro.钟摆在慢慢地来回摆动。
• He accidentally found that the desk clock did not swing its pendulum.他无意中发现座钟不摇摆了。