奧巴馬總統第二任期就職演說（節選）

By Barack Obama

Vice President Biden， Mr. Chief Justice， members of the United States Congress， distinguished guests， and fellow citizens：

Each time we gather to inaugurate a President we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what 1）binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the 2）tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional—what makes us American—is our 3）allegiance to an idea 4）articulated in a declaration made more than two

centuries ago：

“We hold these truths to be 5）self-evident， that all men are created equal； that they are 6）endowed by their Creator with certain 7）unalienable rights； that among these are life， liberty， and the pursuit of happiness.”

Today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident， theyve never been 8）self-executing； that while freedom is a gift from God， it must be secured by His people here on Earth. （applause） The 9）patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the 10）tyranny of a king with the 11）privileges of a few or the rule of a 12）mob. They gave to us a republic， a government of， and by， and for the people， 13）entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

We understand that outworn programs are 14）inadequate to the needs of our time. So we must 15）harness new ideas and technology to remake our government， 16）revamp our tax code， reform our schools， and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder， learn more， reach higher. But while the means will change， our purpose endures： a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every sin gle American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

We， the people， still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our 17）deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.（applause） For we remember the lessons of our past， when 18）twilight years were spent in poverty and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn.

W e d o n o t believe that in this country f r e e d o m i s reserved for the lucky， or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how r e s p o n s i b l y w e l i v e o u r lives， any one of us at any time may face a job loss， or a sudden illness， or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security， these things do not sap our initiative， they strengthen us. （applause） They do not make us a nation of takers； they free us to take the risks that make this country great. （applause）

We， the people， still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves， but to all 19）posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change， knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.（applause） Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science， but none can avoid the devastating impact of 20）raging fires and 21）crippling drought and more powerful storms.

The path towards 22）sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition， we must lead it. We cannot 23）cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries， we must claim its promise. Thats how we will maintain our economic 24）vitality and our national treasure—our forests and 25）waterways， our crop lands and snow-capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet， commanded to our care by God. Thats what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.

We， the people， still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require 26）perpetual war. （applause） Our brave men and women in uniform， 27）tempered by the flames of battle， are 28）unmatched in skill and courage. （applause） Our citizens， 29）seared by the memory of those we have lost， know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever 30）vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also 31）heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war； who turned 32）sworn enemies into the surest of friends—and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.

We， the people， declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still； just as it guided our 33）forebears through Seneca Falls， and Selma， and Stonewall； just as it guided all those men and women， sung and unsung， who left footprints along this great Mall， to hear a preacher s a y t h a t w e cannot walk alone； to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is 34）inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth. （applause）

It is now our generations task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives， our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.（applause） Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal， then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. （applause） Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. （applause） Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the 35）striving， hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than 36）expelled from our country.（applause） Our journey is not complete until all our children， from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia， to the quiet lanes of Newtown， know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.

That is our generations task—to make these words， these rights， these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every 37）contour of life. It does not mean we all define liberty in exactly the same way or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not 38）compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time， but it does require us to act in our time. （applause）

For now decisions are upon us and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake 39）absolutism for principle， or substitute spectacle for politics， or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. （applause） We must act， we must act， knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act， knowing that todays victories will be only partial and that it will be up to those who stand here in 4 years and 40 years and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.

My fellow Americans， the 40）oath I have sworn before you today， like the one 41）recited by others who serve in this 42）Capitol， was an oath to God and country， not party or 43）faction. And we must faithfully 44）execute that 45）pledge during the 46）duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.

They are the words of citizens and they represent our greatest hope. You and I， as citizens， have the power to set this countrys course. You and I， as citizens， have the obligation to shape the debates of our time—not only with the votes we cast， but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals. （applause）

Let us， each of us， now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose， with passion and dedication， let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

Thank you. God bless you， and may He forever bless these United States of America. （applause）

拜登副總統、首席大法官先生、各位國會議員、各位嘉賓、同胞們：

每一次舉行總統就職典禮，我們都共同見證了我國憲法經久不衰的力量。我們重申我們的民主制度的承諾。回顧歷史，這個國家的團結不是源于我們的膚色、我們的宗教信仰或我們家族的來源地。我們卓爾不凡——我們美國人獨具特色——的根本原因是 我們對兩個多世紀以前的一份宣言中所闡明的思想忠誠不渝：

“我們認為以下真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主賦予他們某些不可剝奪的權利，其中包括生存、自由和追求幸福的權利。”

今天，我們仍在繼續著這一永無終點的旅程——努力把這些話的含義化作我們時代的現實。歷史告訴我們，這些真理雖然不言而喻，卻從未自動降臨；自由雖然是上帝的恩賜，卻須上帝在普天之下的子民們加以捍衛。（掌聲）1776年愛國者們的奮斗不是為了用少數人的特權或是一群暴民的統治來取代一個君王的專制。他們給予我們的是一個共和國——一個民有、民治、民享的政府——并托付每一代人去捍衛我們的立國之本。

我們都知道，已經過時的計劃無法滿足我們這個時代的需要。因此，我們必須利用新的思維和技術再造我們的政府，重訂我們的稅法，改革我們的學校，讓我們的公民獲得所需要的技能，從而更加努力地工作，掌握更多的知識，達到更高的水平。但是，雖然方式會發生改變，但我們的目的是永恒的：一個對每一位美國人的努力和堅毅都給予回報的國度。這是時代賦予我們的重任。這才能真正體現我們的信念之真諦。

我們的人民仍然相信，每一位公民都應享有基本的安全保障和尊嚴。我們必須作出艱難的抉擇來降低醫療保障的開支和赤字的規模。但我們擯棄這樣的看法，即美國必須選擇要么照顧建設起這個國家的那一代人，要么投資于將要建設這個國家的未來的那一代人。（掌聲）因為我們記得我們過去的經驗教訓——暮年在貧困中度過，殘疾兒童的父母求助無門。

我們相信，在這個國家，自由并不專屬于那些幸運兒，幸福也不專屬于少數人。我們知道，不管我們對自己的生活多么負責，我們任何一個人都隨時有可能面臨失業或突發疾病，或住房被可怕的颶風摧毀。我們通過聯邦醫療保險、醫療補助和社會保障等計劃對每一個人作出承諾，這些舉措不會挫傷我們的主動性，而是讓我們更強大。（掌聲）它們不會讓我們成為一個依賴救濟的國家，而是讓我們敢于承擔風險，使這個國家更加偉大。（掌聲）

我們的人民依然相信，作為美國人，我們不僅僅對自己承擔義務，而且還對子孫后代承擔義務。我們將應對氣候變化的威脅，因為我們知道，不這么做就是有負于子孫后代的利益。（掌聲）有人可能仍然拒絕接受壓倒性的科學論斷，但沒有人能夠躲避肆虐的火災、嚴重的干旱和更具破壞性的風暴所帶來的毀滅性后果。

通往可持續能源的道路漫長且曲折。但是，美國不能拒絕這種轉變，我們必須領導這種轉變。我們不能把推動創造新就業機會和新行業的技術拱手相讓給其他國家，我們必須抓住它所蘊含的機遇。這樣，我們才能保持我們的經濟活力、保護我們的國家財富——我們的森林與河流、農田與冰峰。這樣，我們才能保護上帝托付我們照料的星球。這樣，我們將能為建國先賢宣告的理念賦予意義。

我們的人民依然相信，持久的安全與永久的和平不需要靠持續的戰爭來實現。（掌聲）我們英勇的男女軍人歷經戰火考驗，能力和勇氣舉世無雙。（掌聲）我們的公民們銘記陣亡者，深知自由的代價。他們的犧牲將讓我們對那些企圖傷害我們的勢力永遠保持警惕。但是，我們的先輩不僅贏得了戰爭，也贏得了和平；他們把不共戴天的仇敵轉變成我們最可靠的朋友——今天，作為后輩的我們也必須將那些經驗在我們這個時代傳承下去。

我們的人民今天宣布，最不言而喻的真理——人人生而平等——依然是為我們指引方向的星斗；如同它曾在塞尼卡瀑布城、在塞爾瑪、在石墻指引我們的先輩一樣；如同它曾指引所有那些知名的、無名的男女公民一樣——他們在這片壯觀的草坪上留下足跡，聆聽一位姓金的牧師說我們不能獨自前行，因為我們個人的自由與地球上每個人的自由不可分割。（掌聲）