VOA常速英语2021--2021年美国总统就职典礼（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions. On January 20th, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America. Once inaugurated, he will be, at 78 years and 61 days old, the oldest President to date. His Vice President, the former Senator Kamala Harris, will be the first woman to hold the office, as well as the first person of African American and of South Asian descent. Indeed, the inauguration of the 46th President will be unusual in many respects. As tradition dictates, President-elect Biden and Vice-President elect Harris will take their Oaths of Office on the west side of the U.S. Capitol building overlooking the expansive grassy grounds of the National Mall. As has been the case since 1981, seating for guests of honor and members of Congress will be set up on the steps and terrace there. But whereas in the past 200,000 or more tickets to the ceremony were allotted to Senators and members of the House of Representatives to distribute among their constituents, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year each lawmaker will only receive one extra ticket. No more than 3,000 people will be allowed onto the Capitol grounds.

以下是一篇反映美国理想和制度的社论。1月20日，约瑟夫·罗比内特·拜登将宣誓就任美国第46任总统。一旦就职，现年78岁零61天的拜登将成为迄今为止年龄最大的总统。前联邦参议员卡玛拉·哈里斯将担任拜登的副总统。她将是首位女性副总统，也是首位同时具有非洲裔和南亚血统的副总统。事实上，第46任总统的就职典礼在许多方面都是不同寻常的。按照传统，当选总统拜登和当选副总统哈里斯将在俯瞰国家广场宽阔草坪的美国国会大厦西侧宣誓就职。自1981年以来，参加就职典礼的贵宾和国会议员的座位都设在台阶和露台上。以往就职典礼的20多万张入场券都是分给参众两院的议员，再由他们分派给他们的选民。但由于新冠疫情，今年每位议员只会获得一张额外的入场券。进入国会大厦的人数不允许超过3000人。

In the past, as many as 1.8 million citizens watched and celebrated the ceremony and the confirmation of the incoming leadership from the National Mall grounds. But not this year. Once the Inaugural Ceremony is finished, 80 percent of the festivities will be virtual: televised, but not attended in person by the usual crowd of one million plus celebrants. This includes the Inaugural Parade and the “Pass in Review”, a tradition that symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power, wherein the incoming president surveys a group of uniformed members of the military. That’s in keeping with the President’s primary duty—to keep the American people safe, be it from external threats, domestic malefactors, or Covid-19. In taking this oath, the President affirms his loyalty to the U.S. Constitution. Whatever his personal feelings, party loyalty or religious convictions, he or she is bound to follow the provisions of these fundamental laws. Once sworn in, he or she is President of all Americans everywhere, regardless of whom they voted for and whether they agree with his or her policies. From the Inauguration on, the President heeds the national motto: E Pluribus Unum. Out of the many, one. That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

过去在国家广场观看总统就职典礼并进行庆祝的公民人数最多时达到180万人。但今年不行。一旦就职典礼结束，80%的庆祝活动将是虚拟方式进行的：电视直播，不会像过去那样有一百多万人亲自到场参加庆祝。这包括就职典礼游行以及名为“接受检阅”的象征权力和平交接的传统阅兵式，即将上任的总统将检阅军队将士。这符合总统保护美国人民安全的首要职责，无论是面对外部威胁、国内犯罪分子或新冠病毒威胁。在宣誓时，总统重申了他对美国宪法的忠诚。无论个人感情、忠于哪个党派、宗教信仰如何，他（或她）都必须遵守宪法这些根本的法律条文。无论美国人投票给谁，也不管是否同意他（或她）的政策，他（或她）一旦宣誓就职就是所有美国人的总统。总统从就职那一刻起，就要信守国家箴言：和众为一。这是一篇反映美国理想和制度的社论。