【看新聞學英語】歐巴馬就職演說精選(下)

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作者:David Lee

【演說關鍵字】

1. recall: v. 回憶

2. sturdy: adj. 強固的

3. enduring convictions: n. 持久的信念

4. entitle: v. 授予權利

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.

回想先前的世代力抗法西斯主義和共產主義,靠的除了飛彈和戰車之外,還有強固的聯盟和持久的信念。他們知道單單力量本身不足以讓我們自保,也不能讓我們為所欲為。

5. patchwork: n. 拼湊之物

6. heritage: n. 遺產

7. every end of this Earth: n. 地球上的每個角落

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

因為我們知道,我們拼湊組合而成的遺產是我們的強處,而非弱點。我們是由基督徒和穆斯林,猶太教徒和印度教徒,以及非信徒組成的國家。我們由取自世界四面八方的各種語文和文化所形塑。

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.

對穆斯林世界,我們尋求一種新的前進方式,以共同的利益和尊重為基礎。那些想播植衝突並把自己社會的問題怪罪于西方的領袖,須知你的國民藉以判斷你的,是你能建立什麼,而非你能毀壞什麼。

8. cling: v. 緊靠

9. corruption: n. 貪污

10. deceit: n. 欺騙

11. dissent: n. 異議

12. extend: v. 伸出

13. to unclench fist: 鬆開拳頭

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

那些靠著貪腐欺騙和箝制異己保住權勢的人,須知你們站在歷史錯誤的一邊,而只要你願意鬆手,我們就會幫忙。

14. flourish: v. 使昌盛

15. nourish: v. 滋養

16. starved: adj. 饑餓的

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.

那些窮國的人民,我們保證會和你們合作,讓你們的農場豐收,讓清流湧入,滋補餓壞的身體,餵養饑餓的心靈。

17. indifference: n. 漠不關心

18. without regard to effect: phr. 不計後果

19. instrument: n. 工具

20. creed: n. 信條

And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

而對那些和我們一樣比較富裕的國家,我要說,我們不能再對國界以外的苦痛視而不見,也不能再消耗世上的資源而不計後果。因為世界已經變了,我們也要跟著改變。

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends – hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism – these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths.

我們的挑戰也許是新的,我們迎接挑戰的工具也許是新的,但我們賴以成功的價值觀─辛勤工作和誠實、勇氣和公平競爭、容忍和好奇心、忠實和愛國心─這些都是固有的。這些價值是真實的,是我們歷史上進步的沉默力量。我們有必要找回這些真實價值。

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed – why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

這是我們的自由和信條的真諦,為什麼不同種族和信仰的男女老幼能在這個大草坪上共同慶祝,為什麼一個人的父親在不到六十年前也許還不能進當地的餐廳用餐,現在卻能站在你們面前做最神聖的宣誓。

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