奥巴马每周电视讲话：美国总统奥巴马告别演讲(17)

Our Constitution is a remarkable¹, beautiful gift.

宪法是我们无可比拟的、天赋的优势。

But it's really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own.

但这只是我们优势的一部分，因为宪法本身是无力的。

We, the people, give it power.

是我们、是民众给予了它力量。

We, the people, give it meaning.

是我们赋予了它意义。

With our participation², and with the choices that we make, and the alliances that we forge.

是我们通过参与、我们所做的选择和我们结成的联盟做到这一点的。

Whether or not we stand up for our freedoms. Whether or not we respect and enforce the rule of law.

我们是否坚守自由、是否尊重并贯彻法治决定了宪法的力量。

That's up to us.

这些都取决于我们。

America is no fragile thing. But the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured.

美国并不是一个脆弱的国家，但是我们通向自由的旅程并不是安稳无忧的。

In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning³ of our safety, prosperity, and liberty,

乔治华盛顿在他的告别演讲中提到自治是我们安全、繁荣和自由的支柱。

but "from different causes and from different quarters much pains will be taken...to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth."

但是由于各种各样的原因，取得自治的道路将是艰难的，会有很多阻碍威胁我们对真理的信念。

And so we have to preserve this truth with "jealous anxiety;"

因此我们应该以嫉妒般的敏感保卫我们的信念，

that we should reject "the first dawning of every attempt to alienate⁴ any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties" that make us one.

任何分离我们国家、割裂将我们维系的神圣纽带的企图都应该被扼杀在襁褓之中。

America, we weaken those ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so corrosive⁵

如果我们允许政治对话变得激烈，

that people of good character aren't even willing to enter into public service;

以致具备高贵品质的人放弃参与服务民众的工作；

so coarse with rancor⁶ that Americans with whom we disagree are seen not just as misguided but as malevolent⁷.

如果我们允许政治对话变得粗暴而充满敌意，以致我们的对手被误导而变得不怀好意，那么我们之间的连结就会被削弱。

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 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。

3 underpinning   

n.基础材料；基础结构；（学说、理论等的）基础；（人的）腿v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的现在分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation. 具有典范性的创新确保了这次成功。 来自辞典例句
• But underpinning Mr Armstrong's technology changes is a human touch. 但阿姆斯特朗技术变革的支柱是人情味。 来自互联网

4 alienate   

vt.使疏远，离间；转让(财产等)

参考例句：

• His attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith.他离间那两个朋友的企图失败了，因为他们彼此完全信任。
• We'd better not alienate ourselves from the colleagues.我们最好还是不要与同事们疏远。

5 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。

6 rancor   

n.深仇，积怨

参考例句：

• I have no rancor against him.我对他无怨无仇。
• Their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them.他们的积怨来自于他们之间在政治上的狗咬狗。

7 malevolent   

adj.有恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Why are they so malevolent to me?他们为什么对我如此恶毒？
• We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。