As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
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. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
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 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
【奧巴馬就職演講中文版(供參考)】
各位同胞:
今天我站在這里，為眼前的重責大任感到謙卑，對各位的信任心懷感激，對先賢的犧牲銘記在心。我要謝謝布什總統(tǒng)為這個國家的服務，也感謝他在政權轉(zhuǎn)移期間的寬厚和配合。
四十四位美國人發(fā)表過總統(tǒng)就職誓言，這些誓詞或是在繁榮富強及和平寧靜之際發(fā)表，或是在烏云密布，時局動蕩之時。在艱困的時候，美國能箕裘相繼，不僅因為居高位者有能力或愿景，也因為人民持續(xù)對先人的抱負有信心，也忠于創(chuàng)建我國的法統(tǒng)。
因此，美國才能承繼下來。因此，這一代美國人也必須承繼下去。
現(xiàn)在大家都知道我們正置身危機核心，我國正在與四處蔓延的 暴力和憎恨作戰(zhàn)。我們的經(jīng)濟元氣大傷--這既是某些人貪婪且不負責任的后果，也是大眾未能做出艱難的選擇，對國家進入新時代做準備不足所致。許多人失去房 子，丟了工作，生意蕭條。我們的醫(yī)療太昂貴，學校教育讓人失望。每天都有更多證據(jù)顯示，我們利用能源的方式壯大我們的對敵，威脅我們的星球。
這些都是得自資料和統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)的危機指標。比較無法測量但同樣深沉的，是舉國信心盡失--持續(xù)擔心美國將無可避免地衰退，也害怕下一代一定會眼界變低。
今天我要告訴各位，我們面臨的挑戰(zhàn)是真的，挑戰(zhàn)非常嚴重，且不在少數(shù)。它們不是可以輕易，或在短時間內(nèi)解決。但是，美國要了解，這些挑戰(zhàn)會被解決。
在這一天，我們聚在一起，因為我們選擇希望而非恐懼，有意義的團結(jié)而非紛爭和不合。
在這一天，我們來此宣示，那些無用的抱怨和虛偽的承諾已終結(jié)，那些扭曲我們政治已久的相互指控和陳舊教條已終結(jié)。