時事新聞:09年奧巴馬獨立紀念日獻詞
【英文原文】
背景知識：美國國慶節，日期爲7月4日，以紀念1776年7月4日大陸會議通過《獨立宣言》。 《獨立宣言》由托馬斯·傑佛遜起草，1776年7月4日由大陸會議主席約翰·漢寇克簽字生效。《獨立宣言》提出了一切人生而平等，具有追求幸福與自由的天賦權利，政府的權力來自人民；歷數了英國對北美13州進行殖民統治的罪行；最後莊嚴宣告美利堅合衆國脫離英國而獨立。從此，通過《獨立宣言》的這一天成爲美國人民永遠紀念的節日。 早期獨立日的慶祝活動主要是遊行和演講，後來又增加了戶外活動、體育比賽等項目。燃放爆竹、煙花的活動曾一度十分流行，20世紀後爲防止發生火災等危險而取消。
Today, we are called upon to remember not only the day our country was born, but also the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible. We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known — a government of, by, and for the people.
That unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail. It is what led my grandparents’ generation to persevere in the face of a depression and triumph in the face of tyranny. It is what led generations of American workers to build an industrial economy unrivaled around the world. It is what has always led us, as a people, not to wilt or cower at a difficult moment, but to face down any trial and rise to any challenge, understanding that each of us has a hand in writing America's destiny.
On this day, we also remember that during our most defining moments, it was brave and selfless men and women in uniform who defended and served our country with honor — waging war so that we might know peace; braving hardship so that we might know opportunity; and at times, paying the ultimate price so that we might know freedom. This service — the service of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — makes our annual celebration of this day possible. This service proves that our founding ideals remain just as powerful and alive in our third century as a nation as they did on the first July 4. This service guarantees that the United States of America shall forever remain the last, best hope on Earth.
All of us must call on this spirit of service and sacrifice to meet the challenges of our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. Our economy — and our nation itself — are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs, inadequate schools, and a dependence on foreign oil.
Meeting these extraordinary challenges will require an extraordinary effort on the part of every American. It will require us to remember that we did not get to where we are as a nation by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.
We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. On this July 4, we need to summon once more the spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today.
That is how this generation of Americans will make its mark on history. That is how we will make the most of this extraordinary moment. And that is how we will write the next chapter in the great American story.
I wish you all the best for a happy Fourth of July.
【中文譯文】
今天，我們受到這個日子的感召，不僅紀念我國誕生的那一天，而且需要繼承建國初期美國公民不屈不饒的精神，是他們使這一天成爲值得紀念的日子。我們應該記住，當年的這一切多麼來之不易。我們進行創建美國的試驗，結果獲得了成功；爲數不多的愛國者宣佈獨立，脫離了帝國強權的統治；他們還在新世界建立了舊世界不可思議的事物──民有、民治、民享的政府。
正是這種頑強的精神構築了美國人的特徵。正是這種精神指引一代又一代先驅者開拓西進之路。正是這種精神指引我們的祖祖輩輩，以堅韌不拔的毅力渡過了大蕭條，戰勝了專制暴政。正是這種精神指引世世代代的美國勞動者建成全世界無可比擬的工業經濟。正是這種精神始終指引全體美國人民在時局艱難的時刻永不氣餒，永不退縮，敢於經受任何考驗，迎接任何挑戰，因爲我們知道美國的命運有待於我們每一個人爲之努力。
在這一天到來的時候，我們還不應該忘記，在我國最緊要的關頭，勇敢無私的男女軍人不辱使命，保衛我們的國家，忠心爲國效力──爲實現和平奔赴戰場；爲贏得機會不辭勞苦；有時還爲捍衛自由付出極爲高昂的代價。正因爲他們爲國效力──陸軍、海軍、空軍、海軍陸戰隊和海岸警衛隊士兵做出的奉獻，我們纔有可能每年慶祝這個節日。這種爲國效力的精神說明，在進入建國後第三個百年之際，我國的建國理想仍然長盛不衰，生氣勃勃，永遠保持第一個7月4日的活力。這種爲國效力的精神保證美利堅合衆國永遠是地球上最後、最大的希望。
爲了迎接我們這個時代的挑戰，我們大家都必須發揚這種爲國效力和獻身的精神。我們正在參與兩場戰爭。同時我們也在抗擊嚴重的衰退。我們長期拖延了曠日持久的問題：持續上升的醫療成本、學校設施的欠缺和對外國石油的依賴，導致問題日益惡化，我國經濟以及國家本身正面臨着危難。
我國人民敢於面對未來。我國人民敢於創造未來。在今年7月4日到來之際，我們必須再次振奮233年前獨立廳(Independence Hall)凝聚的精神。
唯有如此，這一代美國人才能在歷史上留下自己的印記。唯有如此，我們才能最有效地把握當前的重要關頭。唯有如此，我們才能爲偉大的美國曆史書寫新的篇章。
我謹祝願大家7月4日節日愉快。
【詞彙學習】
1. indomitable adj. 不屈服的，不氣餒的，不可戰勝的
Finally it ended in divorce, but Hannah was indomitable.
這樁婚姻最終以離婚而宣告結束，但哈娜是不會輕易認輸的。
2. unyielding adj. 堅硬的，不能彎曲的，不屈的
3. triumph n. 勝利，成功
The victorious army returned in triumph.
獲勝的部隊凱旋而歸。
He achieved great triumphs.
他獲得了巨大成功。
4. tyranny n.暴虐；專橫；暴政；苛政
They came to America in order to escape political tyranny.
他們爲逃避暴政而來到美洲。
5. unrivaled adj. 無敵的，至高無上的
【詞組講解】
call upon 號召，拜訪
We call upon our partners in the international community to join with us in ensuring a democratic and secure future for the Iraqi people.
我們呼籲國際社會的夥伴們同我們一道確保伊拉克人民有一個民主和安全的未來。
