bush讲演稿

1美国文化--布什就职演说(2008-05-2208:08:21)标签：杂谈InauguralAddressofGeorgeW.Bush,January20,2001PresidentClinton,distinguishedguestsandmyfellowcitizens:Thepeacefultransferofauthorityisrareinhistory,yetcommoninourcountry.Withasimpleoath,weaffirmoldtraditionsandmakenewbeginnings.Wehaveaplace,allofus,inalongstory.Astorywecontinue,butwhoseendwewillnotsee.Itisthestoryofanewworldthatbecameafriendandliberatoroftheold,astoryofaslave-holdingsocietythatbecameaservantoffreedom,thestoryofapowerthatwentintotheworldtoprotectbutnotpossess,todefendbutnottoconquer.ItistheAmericanstory.Astoryofflawedandfalliblepeople,unitedacrossthegenerationsbygrandandenduringideals.ThegrandestoftheseidealsisanunfoldingAmericanpromisethateveryonebelongs,thateveryonedeservesachance,thatnoinsignificantpersonwaseverborn.Americansarecalledupontoenactthispromiseinourlivesandinourlaws;andthoughournationhassometimeshalted,andsometimesdelayed,wemustfollownoothercourse.Throughmuchofthelastcentury,America'sfaithinfreedomanddemocracywasarockinaragingsea.Nowitisaseeduponthewind,takingrootinmanynations.Ourdemocraticfaithismorethanthecreedofourcountry,itistheinbornhopeofourhumanity,anidealwecarrybutdonotown,atrustwebearandpassalong;andevenafternearly225years,wehavealongwayyettotravel.Whilemanyofourcitizensprosper,othersdoubtthepromise,eventhejustice,ofourowncountry.TheambitionsofsomeAmericansarelimitedbyfailingschoolsandhiddenprejudiceandthecircumstancesoftheirbirth;andsometimesourdifferencesrunsodeep,itseemsweshareacontinent,butnotacountry.Wedonotacceptthis,andwewillnotallowit.Ourunity,ourunion,istheseriousworkofleadersandcitizensineverygeneration;andthisismysolemnpledge,Iwillworktobuildasinglenationofjusticeandopportunity.IknowthisisinourreachbecauseweareguidedbyapowerlargerthanourselveswhocreatesusequalinHisimageandweareconfidentinprinciplesthatuniteandleadusonward.Americahasneverbeenunitedbybloodorbirthorsoil.Weareboundbyidealsthatmoveusbeyondourbackgrounds,liftusaboveourinterestsandteachuswhatitmeanstobecitizens.Everychildmustbetaughtthese2principles.Everycitizenmustupholdthem;andeveryimmigrant,byembracingtheseideals,makesourcountrymore,notless,American.Today,weaffirmanewcommitmenttoliveoutournation'spromisethroughcivility,courage,compassionandcharacter.America,atitsbest,matchesacommitmenttoprinciplewithaconcernforcivility.Acivilsocietydemandsfromeachofusgoodwillandrespect,fairdealingandforgiveness.Someseemtobelievethatourpoliticscanaffordtobepettybecause,inatimeofpeace,thestakesofourdebatesappearsmall.ButthestakesforAmericaareneversmall.Ifourcountrydoesnotleadthecauseoffreedom,itwillnotbeled.Ifwedonotturntheheartsofchildrentowardknowledgeandcharacter,wewilllosetheirgiftsandunderminetheiridealism.Ifwepermitoureconomytodriftanddecline,thevulnerablewillsuffermost.Wemustliveuptothecallingweshare.Civilityisnotatacticorasentiment.Itisthedeterminedchoiceoftrustovercynicism,ofcommunityoverchaos.Thiscommitment,ifwekeepit,isawaytosharedaccomplishment.America,atitsbest,isalsocourageous.Ournationalcouragehasbeenclearintimesofdepressionandwar,whendefendingcommondangersdefinedourcommongood.Nowwemustchooseiftheexampleofourfathersandmotherswillinspireusorcondemnus.Wemustshowcourageinatimeofblessingbyconfrontingproblemsinsteadofpassingthemontofuturegenerations.Together,wewillreclaimAmerica'sschools,beforeignoranceandapathyclaimmoreyounglives;wewillreformSocialSecurityandMedicare,sparingourchildrenfromstruggleswehavethepowertoprevent;wewillreducetaxes,torecoverthemomentumofoureconomyandrewardtheeffortandenterpriseofworkingAmericans;wewillbuildourdefensesbeyondchallenge,lestweaknessinvitechallenge;andwewillconfrontweaponsofmassdestruction,sothatanewcenturyissparednewhorrors.Theenemiesoflibertyandourcountryshouldmakenomistake,Americaremainsengagedintheworldbyhistoryandbychoice,shapingabalanceofpowerthatfavorsfreedom.Wewilldefendouralliesandourinterests;wewillshowpurposewithoutarrogance;wewillmeetaggressionandbadfaithwithresolveandstrength;andtoallnations,wewillspeakforthevaluesthatgaveournationbirth.America,atitsbest,iscompassionate.InthequietofAmericanconscience,weknowthatdeep,persistentpovertyisunworthyofournation'spromise.Whateverourviewsofitscause,wecanagreethatchildrenatriskarenotatfault.AbandonmentandabusearenotactsofGod,theyarefailuresoflove.Theproliferationofprisons,howevernecessary,isnosubstituteforhopeand3orderinoursouls.Wherethereissuffering,thereisduty.Americansinneedarenotstrangers,theyarecitizens,notproblems,butpriorities,andallofusarediminishedwhenanyarehopeless.Governmenthasgreatresponsibilitiesforpublicsafetyandpublichealth,forcivilrightsandcommonschools.Yetcompassionistheworkofanation,notjustagovernment.Someneedsandhurtsaresodeeptheywillonlyrespondtoamentor'stouchorapastor'sprayer.Churchandcharity,synagogueandmosquelendourcommunitiestheirhumanity,andtheywillhaveanhonoredplaceinourplansandinourlaws.Manyinourcountrydonotknowthepainofpoverty,butwecanlistentothosewhodo.Icanpledgeournationtoagoal,WhenweseethatwoundedtravelerontheroadtoJericho,wewillnotpasstotheothersi