Level 5-Day 12.George W. Bush 'Inaugural Address' (3)

词汇提示

1.sacrifice 牺牲

2.spectator 旁观者

3.accumulate 积累

4.dignity 尊严

5.whirlwind 旋风

原文

George W. Bush: 'Inaugural Address' (3)

America,at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected.

Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats, it is a call to conscience.

And though it requires sacrifice, it brings a deeper fulfillment.

We find the fullness of life not only in options, but in commitments.

And we find that children and community are the commitments that set us free.

Our public interest depends on private character, on civic duty and family bonds and basic fairness, on uncounted, unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom.

Sometimes in life we are called to do great things.

But as a saint of our times has said, every day we are called to do small things with great love.

The most important tasks of a democracy are done by everyone.

I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with civility, to pursue the public interest with courage, to speak for greater justice and compassion, to call for responsibility and try to live it as well.

In all these ways, I will bring the values of our history to the care of our times.

What you do is as important as anything government does.

I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor.

I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character.

Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves.

When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it.

When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson:

"We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?"

Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration.

The years and changes accumulate.

But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage andits simple dream of dignity.

We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose.

Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service toone another.

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and everylife.

This work continues.

This story goes on.

And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.

God bless you all, and God bless America.

翻译

乔治·W·布什：“就职演说”（3）

在最好的情况下，美国是一个重视和期望个人责任的地方。
鼓励承担责任不是寻找替罪羊，而是对良知的呼唤。
尽管这需要牺牲，但它带来了更深层次的满足感。
我们发现生活的充实不仅在于选择，而且在于承诺。
我们发现，儿童和社区是让我们获得自由的承诺。
我们的公共利益取决于个人性格、公民义务、家庭纽带和基本公平，取决于为我们的自由指明方向的无数、不受谴责的体面行为。
在生活中，有时我们被召唤去做伟大的事情。
但正如我们这个时代的一位圣人所说，我们每天都被召唤用挚爱去做小事。
民主国家最重要的任务是由每个人来完成的。
我将按照这些原则生活和领导：以文明的态度推进我的信念，以勇气追求公众利益，为更大的正义和同情发声，呼吁承担责任，并努力做到这一点。
通过所有这些方式，我将把我们历史的价值观带给我们的时代。
你所做的和政府所做的一样重要。
我请求你们在舒适之外寻求共同利益；保护所需的改革不受轻易攻击；为你的国家服务，从你的邻居开始。
我要求你们成为公民：公民，而不是旁观者；公民，而不是主体；负责任的公民，建设服务社区和有个性的国家。
美国人慷慨、坚强、得体，不是因为我们相信自己，而是因为我们拥有超越自我的信念。
当这种公民精神缺失时，任何政府项目都无法取代它。
当这种精神存在时，任何错误都无法与之对抗。
《独立宣言》签署后，弗吉尼亚州政治家约翰·佩奇写信给托马斯·杰斐逊：
“我们知道，比赛不属于敏捷者，战斗不属于强者。你不认为有天使乘着旋风指挥这场风暴吗？”
自从杰斐逊来参加他的就职典礼以来，已经过去了很多时间。
岁月和变化在积累。
但他会知道今天的主题：我们国家勇气的伟大故事和尊严的简单梦想。
我们不是这个故事的作者，他用自己的目的填满了时间和永恒。
然而，他的目的是在我们的职责中实现的，我们的职责是在相互服务中履行的。
永不疲倦，永不屈服，永不结束，我们今天重申这一目标，使我们的国家更加公正和慷慨，确认我们的生命和每一个生命的尊严。
这项工作仍在继续。
这个故事还在继续。
一位天使仍然在旋风中驰骋，指挥着这场风暴。
上帝保佑你们所有人，上帝保佑美国。