Level 5-Day 6.Bill Clinton : Second Inaugural Address(1)

词汇提示

1.inaugural 就职

2.millennium 千年

3.bold 勇敢的

4.scourge 祸害

5.turmoil 混乱

6.unrivaled 无双的

7.atom 原子

8.dignity 有尊严的

9.exhilarating 振奋的

原文

Bill Clinton: 'Second Inaugural Address' (1)

My fellow citizens: At this last presidential inauguration of the 20th century, let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century.

It is our great good fortune that time and chance have put us not only at the edge of a new century, in a new millennium, but on the edge of a bright new prospect in human affairs-a moment that will define our course, and our character, for decades to come.

We must keep our old democracy forever young.

Guided by the ancient vision of a promised land, let us set our sights upon a land of new promise.

The promise of America was born in the 18th century out of the bold conviction that we are all created equal.

It was extended and preserved in the 19th century, when our nation spread across the continent, saved the union, and abolished the awful scourge of slavery.

Then,in turmoil and triumph, that promise exploded onto the world stage to make this the American Century.

And what a century it has been.

America became the world's mightiest industrial power;saved the world from tyranny in two world wars and a long cold war;and time and again, reached out across the globe to millions who, like us, longed for the blessings of liberty.

Along the way, Americans produced a great middle class and security in old age; built unrivaled centers of learning and opened public schools to all;split the atom and explored the heavens; invented the computer and the microchip;and deepened the wellspring of justice by making a revolution in civil rights for African Americans and all minorities,and extending the circle of citizenship, opportunity and dignity to women.

Now,for the third time, a new century is upon us, and another time to choose.

We began the 19th century with a choice, to spread our nation from coast to coast.

We began the 20th century with a choice,to harness the Industrial Revolution to our values of free enterprise, conservation, and human decency.

Those choices made all the difference.

At the dawn of the 21st century a free people must now choose to shape the forces of the Information Age and the global society,to unleash the limitless potential of all our people, and, yes, to form a more perfect union.

When last we gathered, our march to this new future seemed less certain than it does today.

We vowed then to set a clear course to renew our nation.

In these four years, we have been touched by tragedy, exhilarated by challenge, strengthened by achievement.

America stands alone as the world's indispensable nation.

Once again, our economy is the strongest on Earth.

Once again, we are building stronger families, thriving communities, better educational opportunities, a cleaner environment.

Problems that once seemed destined to deepen now bend to our efforts: our streets are safer and record numbers of our fellow citizens have moved from welfare to work.

翻译

比尔·克林顿:“第二次就职演说”(1)

同胞们:在这20世纪最后一次总统就职典礼上，让我们正视下个世纪等待我们的挑战。
时间和机遇不仅把我们置于一个新世纪、一个新千年的边缘，而且把我们置于人类事务一个光明的新前景的边缘，这是我们的巨大幸运。这一时刻将决定我们今后几十年的道路和性格。
我们必须使我们古老的民主永葆青春。
在对应许之地古老憧憬的指引下，让我们把目光投向一个充满新希望的土地。
美国的希望诞生于18世纪，源于我们人生而平等的坚定信念。
它在19世纪得到扩展和保存，当时我们的国家在大陆上扩张，拯救了联邦，废除了可怕的奴隶制祸害。
然后，在动荡和胜利中，这一承诺在世界舞台上爆发，使这个世纪成为美国世纪。
这是一个怎样的世纪啊。
美国成为世界上最强大的工业强国;在两次世界大战和漫长的冷战中把世界从暴政中拯救出来;并一次又一次地向全球数百万像我们一样渴望自由祝福的人伸出援助之手。
在这一过程中，美国产生了庞大的中产阶级和老年保障;建立了无与伦比的学习中心，向所有人开放公立学校;分裂原子，探索天空;发明了计算机和微芯片;深化了正义的源泉，为非裔美国人和所有少数民族进行了民权革命，扩大了妇女的公民权、机会和尊严。
现在，我们第三次迎来了一个新世纪，这是另一个选择的时刻。
19世纪伊始，我们有一个选择，那就是把我们的国家从一个海岸扩展到另一个海岸。
进入20世纪时，我们有一个选择:利用工业革命来实现我们的自由企业、环境保护和人类尊严的价值观。
这些选择决定了一切。
在21世纪的黎明，一个自由的民族现在必须选择塑造信息时代和全球社会的力量，释放我们所有人的无限潜力，并且，是的，建立一个更完美的联邦。
上次我们聚在一起时，我们向这个新未来的进军似乎没有今天那么确定。
我们当时发誓要制定一条明确的路线来振兴我们的国家。
在这四年里，我们因悲剧而感动，因挑战而振奋，因成就而坚强。
美国是世界上不可或缺的国家。
再一次，我们的经济是地球上最强大的。
再一次，我们正在建设更强大的家庭，繁荣的社区，更好的教育机会，更清洁的环境。
曾经似乎注定要加深的问题，现在屈服于我们的努力:我们的街道更安全了，创纪录数量的同胞从领取福利转向工作。