名人励志英语演讲 第79期:我放弃了 但我会继续战斗(13)

 　　That has always been the history of progress in America. Think of the suffragists who gathered at Seneca Falls in 1848 and those who kept fighting until women could cast their votes. Think of the abolitionists who struggled and died to see the end of slavery. Think of the civil rights heroes and foot soldiers who marched, protested, and risked their lives to bring about the end of segregation¹ and Jim Crow.

　　美国曾经的进步都已成为历史。想想1848年，聚集在塞尼卡福尔斯的选民，他们不懈奋斗直至女人拥有投票的权利；想想废奴主义者们，他们为看到奴隶制的终结而奋斗牺牲；想想人权斗争的英雄和徒步行军的士兵，他们前进、抗议、至死不渝地将种族隔离和种族歧视推向死亡。

　　Because of them, I grew up taking for granted that women could vote and, because of them, my daughter grew up taking for granted that children of all colors could go to school together. Because of them, Barack Obama and I could wage a hard-fought campaign for the Democratic nomination². Because of them and because of you, children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can, yes, become the president of the United States. And so--when that day arrives, and a woman takes the oath of office as our president, we will all stand taller, proud of the values of our nation, proud that every little girl can dream big and that her dreams can come true in America.

　　正因为有他们，我成长在女人可以选举的时代；正因为有他们，我的女儿成长在不同肤色的孩子们可以在一起上学的时代；正因为有他们，巴拉克·奥巴马和我可以为民主党的提名候选参加这样一场激烈的竞选；正因为有他们和你们，如今孩子们成长在黑人和女人可以当美国总统的时代。当那一天来临时，一个女人宣誓成为总统时，我们将站得更高，更加为我们国家的价值观自豪，为每个美国的小姑娘都能有一个远大的梦想并且她的梦想是可以实现的而自豪。

　　And all of you will know that, because of your passion and hard work, you helped pave the way for that day. So I want to say to my supporters: When you hear people saying or think to youself, "If only," or, "What if," I say, please, don't go there. Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.

　　你们将会明白，正因为有你们的热烈感情和艰苦奋斗，才为那一天的到来铺平了道路。因此我想对我的支持者说：当你听到有人或你自己想说“如果……该多好”或“要是……就好了”时，我说，你一定不要这样。每个回望过去的片刻都会耽误我们向前迈进。

1 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。