历史英雄名人演讲 第61期:奥巴马总统国情咨文(1)

 　　12. Barack Obama President's State of the Union Address

　　12. 巴拉克 . 奥巴马总统国情咨文

　　Madam Speaker, Vice¹ President Biden, members of Congress, distinguished² guests, and fellow Americans:

　　众议院议长女士、副总统拜登、诸位国会议员、贵宾们、同胞们：

　　Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union.

　　我们的宪法规定，美国总统必须定期向国会报告国家情况。

　　For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty.

　　在过去220年的时间里，

　　They've done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility.

　　无论是繁荣和平，还是战争危机，

　　And they've done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife³ and great struggle.

　　即使存在激烈的冲突和战斗，历届美国总统也都能完成这一使命。

　　It's tempting⁴ to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable-that America was always destined⁵ to succeed.

　　回顾历史上的这些时刻，并相信我们的进步是不可阻挡的——美国永远注定会取得成功，这些固然让人感到自豪。

　　But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt.

　　然而，当美国股市持续10年的牛市崩溃、盟军于奥马哈海滩登陆时，我们长久以来的胜利曾遭受强烈的质疑。

　　When the market crashed on Black Tuesday, and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody⁶ Sunday, the future was anything but certain.

　　当市场在 黑色星期二局盘，游行民众在那个流血星期日被镇压的时候，美国的未来曾充满了不确定性。

　　These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union.

　　这些时刻都曾考验我们的信念和我们国家的力量。

　　And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations⁷ and our fears,

　　纵使我们拥有种种分歧，犹豫和恐惧也时刻伴随，

　　America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people.

　　美国最终取得了胜利，因为我们选择团结在一起，作为一个国家、一个民族向前进。

　　Again, we are tested.

　　今天，我们再一次面临着考验，

　　And again, we must answer history's call.

　　也再一次必须回应历史的召唤。

　　One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by a severe recession,

　　一年前，美国正处于两场战争之中，经济遭遇大萧条，金融体系处在崩溃的边缘，

　　a financial system on the verge⁸ of collapse⁹, and a government deeply in debt.

　　政府深陷债务之中，在这样的一个时刻，我当选了美国总统。

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

3 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

4 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

5 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 hesitations   

n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃

参考例句：

• His doubts and hesitations were tiresome. 他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cool manipulators in Hanoi had exploited America's hesitations and self-doubt. 善于冷静地操纵这类事的河内统治者大大地钻了美国当局优柔寡断的空子。 来自辞典例句

8 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

9 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。