Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Extend Christmas Greeting and Urge Americans to Support the Troops and Their Families
每周电视讲话:总统与第一夫人致以圣诞问候并鼓励全国人民拥军拥属
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wished families across the country a “Merry Christmas” and encouraged everyone to support the troops and their families this holiday season. Anyone can visit www.serve.gov to find ideas for what they can do to help our servicemen and women and their families.
华盛顿:在本周的讲话中,巴拉克·奥巴马总统与第一夫人米歇尔·奥巴马祝福全国人民圣诞节快乐，并鼓励大家在节日里拥护军人及其家属。任何人都可以访问www.serve.gov 找寻到一些点子为我们的军人及军属们做些力所能及的事情。
THE PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas, everybody. Michelle and I just wanted to take a moment today to send greetings from our family to yours.
总统：大家圣诞快乐！今天，米歇尔和我在此向大家致以节日的问候。
THE FIRST LADY: This is one of our favorite times of year. And we’re so fortunate to be able to celebrate it together in this wonderful home.
第一夫人：这是一年之中我们最喜欢的时刻。我们非常荣幸能够在这美好的家园与大家一起庆祝。
This is the “People’s House.” So Barack and I try to open it to as many people as we can, especially during the holiday season.
这里是“人民的白宫”。因此，巴拉克和我希望敞开大门迎接宾朋，越多越好，尤其是在这样的节日里。
This month, more than 100,000 Americans have passed through these halls. And the idea behind this year’s theme, “Simple Gifts,” is that the greatest blessings of all are the ones that don’t cost a thing – the comfort of spending time with loved ones…the freedoms we enjoy as Americans… and the joy we feel upon giving something of ourselves.
这个月，已有超过10万美国人走进过这个礼堂。而今年的主题就是“简单的礼物”，最真心的祝福是无价的——与心爱的人一起欢度时光的舒适，作为美国人所享受的自由，以及基于我们真心付出后的喜悦。
So in this time of family, friends, and good cheer; let’s also be sure to look out for those who are less fortunate, who’ve hit a run of bad luck, or who are hungry and alone this holiday season.
因此，在这个与家人朋友一起欢呼的时刻。让我们照顾一下不那么幸运的人们，运气不太好的人们，还有那些在节日里依旧忍受饥饿和孤独的人们。
THE PRESIDENT: Because this is the season when we celebrate the simplest yet most profound gift of all: the birth of a child who devoted his life to a message of peace, love, and redemption. A message that says no matter who we are, we are called to love one another – we are our brother’s keeper, we are our sister’s keeper, our separate stories in this big and busy world are really one.
总统：因为这是我们庆祝这简单却意义异常深远的礼物的时候：这个将毕生奉献给传递和平、爱与救赎的孩子的生日。上帝说无论你我是谁，我们都当爱护彼此——我们是自己兄弟的守护人，我们是自己姐妹的守护人，在这个巨大而忙碌的世界上，我们每个人的故事都是真实的。
Today, we’re also thinking of those who can’t be home for the holidays – especially all our courageous countrymen serving overseas.
今天，我们也想念那些不能回家过节的人们——尤其是我们在海外执行任务的英勇的同胞们。
That’s the message I delivered when I visited our troops in Afghanistan a few weeks ago – that while you may be serving far from home, every American supports you and your families. We’re with you. And I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander in Chief.
这是我前几周在阿富汗视察部队的时候传递的信息——也许你在远离家园的地方服役，但每个美国人都会支持你们以及你们家人。我们与你们在一起。我作为你们的统帅而感到无上的荣耀。
Today’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen make up the finest fighting force in the history of the world. Just like their predecessors, they do extraordinary things in service to their country. What makes that all the more remarkable is that today’s military is an all-volunteer force – a force of mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives.
今天的陆军士兵，海军士兵，飞行员，陆战队员以及海岸警卫队员组成了这个世界上最为优秀的战斗力量。就像他们的前辈们一样，他们为了国家做着非凡的事情。今天的军队与以前更加显著的特点就是这是一只完全由志愿者组成的部队——由父母、子女、夫妻共同组成的部队。
THE FIRST LADY: That’s right. As First Lady, I’ve had the honor to meet members of our military and their families on bases and in communities all across the country. I’ve gotten to know husbands and wives doing the parenting of two while their spouse is on another deployment…children trying their best in school but always wondering when mom or dad is coming home…patriots putting their lives on hold to help with a loved one’s recovery…or carry on the memory of a fallen hero.
第一夫人：是的。作为总统夫人，我在全国各地的军事基地会见我们的军人和在社区会见军人家属时深感自豪。我了解到丈夫们和妻子们在配偶执行任务时身兼两职又当爹又当妈…孩子们在学校努力学习但却不知道妈妈或爸爸什么时候回家…爱国人士用一生来帮助爱人的康复…或者是唤醒一个失落英雄的记忆。
When our men and women in uniform answer the call to serve, their families serve, too. And they’re proud and glad to do it. But as long as that service keeps the rest of us safe, their sacrifice should also be our own. Even heroes can use a hand, especially during the holidays.
当我们穿上军装的男男女女响应号召参军时，他们的家庭同样在付出。而且他们非常自豪和高兴。正是有了他们的付出才有了我们的安宁，因此我们应当分担他们的牺牲。即便是英雄也需要帮助，尤其是在这样的节日里。
THE PRESIDENT: So we’re encouraging Americans to ask what you can do to support our troops and their families in this holiday season. For some ideas on how to get started, just visit Serve.gov.
总统：因此我们鼓励美国人民问问自己在这个节日里能为支持我们的军人和他们的家庭而做些什么。如果想找些点子，你可以访问serve.gov
THE FIRST LADY: You’ll see that you don’t need to be an expert in military life to give back to those who give so much to us. There are countless ways to contribute by harnessing your unique talents.
第一夫人：你会发现你不必是一个军旅专家来为这些为我们付出这么多的人做出回报。那里有无数的方式去展现你独特的才华来贡献你的力量。
If you live near a base, you can reach out through your local school or church. If you don’t, you can volunteer with organizations that support military families. And anybody can send a care package or pre-paid calling card to the front lines, or give what’s sometimes the most important gift of all: simply saying “thank you.”
如果你住在军事基地附近，你可以到当地学校或教堂传递你的爱心。如果不是，你可以加入支援军属家庭的志愿者组织。而且任何人都可以发送爱心包裹或预付费电话卡到前线，或者送出有时候却是最重要的礼物：简单的说一句“谢谢您！”
THE PRESIDENT: America’s brave servicemen and women represent a small fraction of our population. But they and the families who await their safe return carry far more than their fair share of the burden. They’ve done everything they’ve been asked to do. They’ve been everything we’ve asked them to be. And even as we speak, many are fighting halfway around the globe – in hopes that someday, our children and grandchildren won’t have to.
总统：美国英勇的军人是只占全国人口的一少部分。但他们以及期盼他们平安归来的家人们承担着超越他们责任的重担。他们做的事情远超他们的义务。他们远超我们的期待。就在我们讲话的时刻，还有很多人仍在世界各地的战斗之中——只是期望有一天，我们的子孙们不用这么做。
So let’s all remind them this holiday season that we’re thinking of them – and that America will forever be here for them, just as they’ve been there for us.
因此让我们在这个节日里想起他们铭记他们——美国永远在此地为他们守候，如同他们在彼岸为我们守候。
And on behalf of Michelle, Malia, Sasha…
我们代表米歇尔，玛莉亚，萨莎…
THE FIRST LADY: and Bo…
第一夫人：还有波（奥巴马的狗狗）…
THE PRESIDENT: and Bo…have a very Merry Christmas.
总统：还有波…祝大家的圣诞节快乐。
THE FIRST LADY: and an even happier New Year.
第一夫人：还有新年快乐。 |