奥巴马每周电视讲话：美国总统奥巴马告别演讲(3)（在线收听）

It's what led patriots to choose republic over tyranny, pioneers to trek west, slaves to brave that makeshift railroad to freedom.

正是这一召唤引领着爱国者推翻暴政、选择共和，引领着西进运动，引领着勇敢的奴隶们建造通向自由的地下铁路。

It's what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and the Rio Grande.

它也吸引着大批移民和难民越过大洋、越过格兰德河（位于美墨之间）来到这片土地，

It's what pushed women to reach for the ballot.

鼓动女性走向投票站，

It's what powered workers to organize.

给工人们以团结的动力。

It's why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, Iraq and Afghanistan.

这是为什么美国大兵在奥马哈海滩（译者注：奥马哈海滩为二战诺曼底战役中盟军主要登陆点之一的代号）、硫磺岛战役（译者注：硫磺岛战役为二战太平洋战争中最激烈的战斗之一）、伊拉克和阿富汗中挥洒鲜血，

And why men and women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs, as well.

为什么从塞尔玛（译者注：1965年马丁·路德·金在塞尔玛领导争取黑人权益的抗议游行）到格林尼治石墙（译者注：1969年美国同性恋者在格林尼治石墙酒吧进行暴力示威，争取权利）的男男女女也都准备好了，要献出他们的生命。你

So that's what we mean when we say America is exceptional -- not that our nation has been flawless from the start,

这就是为什么我们说美国是一个独特的国家——并不是说我们的国家从一开始就完美无瑕，

but that we have shown the capacity to change and make life better for those who follow.

而是我们有能力做出改变，让追随美国梦的人拥有更好的生活。

Yes, our progress has been uneven.

是的，我们取得的进步并不对每个人来说都是公平的，

The work of democracy has always been hard. It's always been contentious. Sometimes it's been bloody.

民主的事业总是艰难的、充满争议的，有时甚至是血腥的。

For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back.

我们前进两步，给人的感觉却是我们退后了一步。

But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all and not just some.

但是，美国仍然一直在前进，我们的立国信条会拥抱越来越多的人，拥抱所有人，而不只是部分人。