Delayed by Hurricane Irene in August, the day finally came. U.S. President Barack Obama, the country’s first black president, dedicated a $120 million statue and memorial park Sunday to the slain civil rights leader who helped pave the way for him and many others in the United States.
原计划于8月份举行的马丁.路德.金纪念园落成典礼因艾琳飓风而推迟，而纪念园落成典礼这一天现在终于到来。星期天，美国历史上第一位黑人总统奥巴马参加这个耗资1.2 亿美元的马丁.路德.金雕像和纪念公园的落成典礼，纪念这位被杀害的民权运动领袖。马丁.路德.金为他和美国的其他许多人铺平了道路。
Renowned civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. galvanized the U.S. civil rights movement with his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, his non-violent message calling for an end to racial segregation.
著名的民权领袖、牧师马丁·路德·金博士1963年发表的题为"我有一个梦想"的经典演讲更加推动了美国的民权运动，他的非暴力理念呼吁结束种族隔离。
Almost half a century later, thousands convened on Washington’s National Mall to give his new memorial a proper dedication.
近半个世纪之后，数千名群众聚集在华盛顿的国家大草坪对他的新落成的纪念园致意。
Joyce Hayward flew from the island of Bermuda to be here. “I wanted to be part of the celebration of the person who helped me be free," she said.
乔伊斯·海沃德从百慕大岛飞来华盛顿，他说：“我要来参加庆祝活动，向这位帮助我获得自由的人致意。”
For Jeanine Hill, it was a long bus ride from Ohio. “This is a special day because African Americans, we need something like this, especially for an election year ... this is a very important endeavor, and I am proud very proud to be a part of history," she said.
简宁·希尔从俄亥俄州坐长途汽车来到这里。希尔说：“这是一个特别的日子，因为非洲裔美国人，我们需要这样的人，特别是在选举年......这是个非常重要的努力，我对成为历史的一部分感到非常骄傲。”
Revered civil-rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson greeted reporters before his formal remarks, saying King’s fight must go on. “We have the obligation to not just glow in this but to keep raising the challenging and disturbing moral questions of economic justice and fairness," he said.
受人尊敬的民权领袖杰西·杰克逊牧师在发表正式讲话前对记者说，马丁.路德.金的奋斗必须继续。杰克逊说：“我们不仅有义务将这种精神发扬光大，而且还要继续提出具有挑战性和令人不安的有关经济正义和公平的道德问题。”
Stevie Wonder added to the chorus with his song, and members of King’s family orated, including Reverend King's sister, Dr. Christine King Farris. "I witnessed a baby become a great hero to humanity, who provides hope and inspiration for freedom-loving people everywhere," she said.
美国著名歌星史蒂维·旺德也在吟唱，包括金牧师的姐姐克里斯汀·金·法里斯在内的马丁.路德.金家人也发表了演说。金·法里斯说：“我见证了一个婴儿如何成为人类的伟大英雄，他为世界各地热爱自由的人们带来希望和鼓舞。”
And designer Tommy Hilfiger, who supplied an ocean of white baseball caps to the crowd, was swarmed by journalists before speaking.
设计师托米·希尔菲格为人群提供大量的白色棒球帽，记者在他发表讲话前围住了他。
But the day’s big speaker was no doubt U.S. President Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president, who was just six-years old when King was assassinated. “Because of that hopeful vision because of Dr. King’s moral imagination, barricades began to fall and bigotry began to fade. New doors of opportunity swung open for an entire generation. Yes laws changed, but hearts and minds changed as well," he said.
然而这一天的主要演讲者无疑是美国总统奥巴马，他是这个国家历史上第一位黑人总统。当年马丁.路德.金被刺杀时奥巴马只有6岁。奥巴马说：“因为那充满希望的视野，因为金博士的道德想象，障碍开始瓦解，偏执开始消失。崭新的机会大门为整整一代人展开。是的，法律改变了，但是人们的心和思想也改变了。”
The 10-meter-tall statue of Dr. King reminds the world of his fight for equality.
这个10米高的金博士雕像提醒世界，他曾为公平而奋斗。
And his ultimate belief that great dreams can come true.
他的最终信念、他的伟大梦想是能够实现的。 |