书城成功励志震撼世界的声音:名人励志演讲集萃(英汉双语版)
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第43章 The Trumpet Summons Us Again(1)

John Fitzgerald Kennedy,35th President of USA

January 20,1961

Now the trumpet summons us again,not as a call to bear arms,though arms we need;not as a call to battle,though embattled we are.

号角声已经再次响起——那不是召唤我们拿起武器,虽然我们也需要武器;不是召唤我们去斗争,虽然我们严阵以待。

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

背景故事

肯尼迪于1961年1月20日正式宣誓就任美国第35任总统,他在就职演讲中提到,“不要问你们的国家能为你们做些什么,而要问你们能为国家做些什么”,这句话被奉为经典。他在演讲中提到了对国际事务给予极大关注,并呼吁美国民众承担起更多的义务,作出更大的牺牲。肯尼迪的就职演说被人们称为20世纪最令人难忘的美国总统就职演说。

名人简介

约翰·菲茨杰拉德·肯尼迪(John Fitzgerald Kennedy,1917年5月29日~1963年11月22日),通常被称作约翰·F·肯尼迪(John F.Kennedy)、JFK或杰克·肯尼迪(Jack Kennedy),美国第35任总统。是美国著名的肯尼迪家族的成员,他的执政时间从1961年1月20日开始到1963年11月22日在达拉斯遇刺身亡为止。肯尼迪在1946年~1960年期间曾先后任众议员和参议员,并于1960年当选为美国总统,成为美国历史上最年轻的总统,也是美国历史上首位信奉罗马天主教的总统和唯一获得普利策奖的总统。

演讲赏析

The Trumpet Summons Us Again

John Fitzgerald Kennedy,35th President of USA

January 20,1961

Vice President Johnson,Mr.Speaker,Mr.Chief Justice,President Eisenhower,Vice President Nixon,President Truman,reverend clergy,fellow citizens.

We observe today not a victory of party,but a celebration of freedom,symbolizing an end,as well as a beginning;signifying renewal,as well as change.For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

The world is very different now.For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state,but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.Let the word go forth from this time and place,to friend and foe alike,that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century,tempered by war,disciplined by a hard and bitter peace,proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed,and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know,whether it wishes us well or ill,that we shall pay any price,bear any burden,meet any hardship,support any friend,oppose any foe,in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.This much we pledge—and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share,we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends.United,there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.Divided,there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free,we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view.But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom—and to remember that,in the past,those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery,we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves,for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it,not because we seek their votes,but because it is right.If a free society cannot help the many who are poor,it cannot save the few who are rich.To our sister republics south of our border,we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty.But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers.Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas.And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.To that world assembly of sovereign states,the United Nations,our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace,we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

Finally,to those nations who would make themselves our adversary,we offer not a pledge but a request:that both sides begin anew the quest for peace,before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.We dare not tempt them with weakness.For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons,both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom,yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind‘s final war.

So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness,and sincerity is always subject to proof.Let us never negotiate out of fear.But let us never fear to negotiate.Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.Let both sides,for the first time,formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors.Together let us explore the stars,conquer the deserts,eradicate disease,tap the ocean depths,and encourage the arts and commerce.Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to“undo the heavy burdens……and to let the oppressed go free”.