Level 5-Day 32.Eisenhower 'The Military-Industrial Complex' (2)

词汇提示

1.alert 警觉的

2.meshing 结合

3.solitary 独自地

4.mortgage 抵押

5.disarmament 裁军

6.definite 明确的

原文

Dwight D. Eisenhower: 'The Military-Industrial Complex' (2)

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.

We should take nothing for granted.

Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Akin to and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution research has become central.

It also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly.

A steadily increasing share is conducted for by, or at the direction of the federal government.

Today the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists, in laboratories and testing fields.

In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research.

Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity.

For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time.

As we peer into society's future, we-you and I, and our government-must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow.

We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage.

We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.

Such a confederation must be one of equals.

The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength.

That table, though scarred by many past frustrations, cannot be abandoned for the certain agony of the battlefield.

Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative.

Together we must learn how to compose differences-not with arms but with intellect and decent purpose.

Because this need is so sharp and apparent, I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment.

As one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war, as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years, I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight.

翻译

德怀特·d·艾森豪威尔:“军工复合体”(二)

我们绝不能让这种结合的重压危及我们的自由或民主进程。
我们不应该想当然。
只有警惕和知识渊博的公民才能迫使庞大的工业和军事防御机器与我们的和平方法和目标适当地结合起来，这样安全和自由才能共同繁荣。
近几十年来的技术革命与我们的工业军事态势的彻底变化类似，并在很大程度上负责。
在这场革命中，研究已成为中心。
它也变得更加形式化、复杂和昂贵。
一个稳步增长的份额是由联邦政府或在联邦政府的指导下进行的。
如今，在实验室和测试领域里，科学家们组成的工作队已经让那些在自己的商店里修修补补的孤独发明家黯然失色。
同样，自由大学，历史上自由思想和科学发现的源泉，在研究行为方面也经历了一场革命。
部分由于所涉及的巨大成本，政府合同实际上已经成为求知欲的替代品。
每块旧黑板对应着数百台新的电子计算机。
保持平衡的另一个因素是时间的因素。
当我们展望社会的未来时，我们——你和我，还有我们的政府——必须避免只为今天而活的冲动，避免为了我们自己的安逸和方便而掠夺明天的宝贵资源。
我们不能抵押子孙后代的物质财富，而不冒着失去他们的政治和精神遗产的风险。
我们希望民主能够代代相传，而不是成为明日无力偿债的幻影。
这样的联盟必须是平等的联盟。
最弱小的国家必须带着和我们一样的信心来到谈判桌，因为我们受到道德、经济和军事实力的保护。
这张桌子虽然因过去的许多挫折而伤痕累累，但不能因为战场上的某种痛苦而放弃。
在相互尊重和信任的情况下进行裁军是一项持续的必要任务。
我们必须共同学习如何消除分歧——不是用武力，而是用智慧和正当的目的。
由于这种需要是如此尖锐和明显，我承认，我怀着明确的失望心情辞去了我在这一领域的正式职责。
作为一个目睹了战争的恐怖和持续不断的悲伤的人，作为一个知道另一场战争可能会彻底摧毁这个经过数千年缓慢而痛苦地建立起来的文明的人，我希望今晚我能说，持久和平近在眼前。