Hi everybody.
嗨，大家好。
I hope you all had a safe and happy Fourth of July, filled with parades, cookouts, fireworks and family reunions.
我希望在7月4日这一天你们所有人都享受这到处是欢乐游行、野餐、烟花和家庭团聚的安全幸福的独立日。
We celebrated at the White House with a few hundred members of the military and their families.
我们在白宫与几百名官兵将士和他们的家人一起共庆这一节日。
And we took a moment amid the festivities to remember what our Independence Day is all about.
而在这当中我们要铭记独立日的意义。
what happened 237 years ago, and what it meant to the world.
237年前发生的一切以及它对世界的影响。
On July 4th, 1776, a small band of patriots declared that we were a people created equal-free to think and worship and live as we please.
在1776年7月4日，为数不多的爱国者们宣布我们生来就是平等的民族—自由思考、崇拜及过我们希望的生活。
It was a declaration heard around the world-that we were no longer colonists, we were Americans,
这一宣言响彻世界—我们不再是殖民者，我们是美国人，
and our destiny would not be determined for us;
我们的命运不再由他人主宰；
it would be determined by us.
我们的命运由自己掌控。
It was a bold and tremendously brave thing to do.
这是一次英勇无比的壮举。
It was also nearly unthinkable.
几乎不可想象。
At that time, kings and princes and emperors ruled the world.
在那个时代是由国王们、王子们和皇帝们统治这个世界。
But those patriots were certain that a better way was possible.
但是爱国者们确信当然可能有更好的生活方式。
And to achieve it-to win their freedom-they were willing to lay it all on the line.
为了实现这一理想—赢得自由—他们甘愿付出一切。
Their lives. Their fortunes. Their sacred honor.
他们的生命、他们的财富及他们的神圣荣誉。
They fought a revolution.
他们发起了一次革命。
Few would have bet on our side to win.
几乎没有人认为我们能赢。
But for the first of many times to come, America proved the doubters wrong.
但是在此后的多个第一次里，美国证明了怀疑者们的错误论调。
And now, 237 years later, the United States-this improbable nation– is the greatest in the world.
而现在，237年后，美利坚合众国这个不大可能诞生的国家成为了世界上最伟大的国家。
A land of liberty and opportunity.
一片自由和希望的乐土。
A global defender of peace and freedom.
一位全球和平和自由的捍卫者。
A beacon of hope to people everywhere who cherish those ideals.
一座珍惜世界各国人民理想的希望灯塔。
Generations of Americans made our country what it is today.
一代代美国人把美国铸就成现今的模样
farmers and teachers, engineers and laborers, entrepreneurs and elected leaders-people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world, all pulling in the same direction.
农民、工程师和工人、企业家和民选领导人们—来自各行各业的人们、来自世界各地的走向同一方向的人们。
And now we, the people, must make their task our own.
而现在我们，美国人民，必须继承他们的使命，
to live up to the words of that Declaration of Independence, and secure liberty and opportunity for our own children, and for future generations.
履行独立宣言，保障我们的儿女们和未来后代的自由和机会。
I want to say a special word of thanks to the men and women of our military, who have played such a vital role in the story of our nation.
我想对在我们国家历史上起着中流砥柱作用的军人们表示特别的感谢。
You have defended us at home and abroad.
你们在本土和海外保卫了我们的国家。
And you have fought on our nation's behalf to make the world a better, safer place.
你们为我们国家的利益而战，使世界成为更美好及更安全的乐土。
People in scattered corners of the world are living in peace today, free to write their own futures, because of you.
因为你们，世界各地的人们今天生活在和平中，可以自由地书写他们的历未来。
We are grateful for your service and your sacrifice,
我们对你们的无私奉献和牺牲表达感激，
especially those still serving in harm's way and your families here at home.
特别是那些至今仍然远离家人置身险境的军人们。
So, God bless you all.
愿上帝保佑你们。
And may God bless the United States of America.
愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。 |