经典名人英语演讲稿12：巴拉克 . 奥巴马总统国情咨文
12. Barack Obama President’s State of the Union Address
12. 巴拉克 . 奥巴马总统国情咨文
Madam Speaker, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
众议院议长女士、副总统拜登、诸位国会议员、贵宾们、同胞们：
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They’ve done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they’ve done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.
我们的宪法规定，美国总统必须定期向国会报告国家情况。在过去220年的时间里，无论是繁荣和平，还是战争危机，即使存在激烈的冲突和战斗，历届美国总统也都能完成这一使命。
It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable-that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday, and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and our fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people.
回顾历史上的这些时刻，并相信我们的进步是不可阻挡的——美国永远注定会取得成功，这些固然让人感到自豪。然而，当美国股市持续10年的牛市崩溃、盟军于奥马哈海滩登陆时，我们长久以来的胜利曾遭受强烈的质疑。当市场在 “黑色星期二”局盘，游行民众在那个流血星期日被镇压的时候，美国的未来曾充满了不确定性。这些时刻都曾考验我们的信念和我们国家的力量。纵使我们拥有种种分歧，犹豫和恐惧也时刻伴随，美国最终取得了胜利，因为我们选择团结在一起，作为一个国家、一个民族向前进。
Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history’s call.
今天，我们再一次面临着考验，也再一次必须回应历史的召唤。
One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by a severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted—immediately and aggressively. And one year later worst of the storm has passed.
一年前，美国正处于两场战争之中，经济遭遇大萧条，金融体系处在崩溃的边缘，政府深陷债务之中，在这样的一个时刻，我当选了美国总统。不同政治派别的专家对我们提出警告，如果我们不采取行动，我们可能会面临第二次经济大萧条。所以我们果断而迅速地采取了行动，一年后的今天，最糟糕的暴风雨时期已经过去了。
But the devastation remains. One in 10 Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. And for those who’d already known poverty, life has become that much harder.
然而，灾难性的效应依旧存在。现在仍然有十分之一的美国人找不到工作。许多企业歇业，房屋价格下跌，小城镇和乡村受到的冲击尤其严重。对那些本已很贫穷的人来说，生活变得更加艰难。
This recession has also compounded the burdens that America’s families have been dealing with for decades—the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.
这次经济大萧条使美国家庭几十年来承载的重压进一步加剧。这种压力就是：即使他们工作更努力、时间更长，也得不到更多的收入，无法存够钱退休或者帮孩子读完大学。
So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. They’re not new. These struggles are the reason I ran for President. These struggles are what I’ve witnessed for years in places like Elkhart, Indiana; Galesburg, Illinois. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children—asking why they have to move from their home, asking when their mom or dad will be able to go back to work.
我能够理解人们现在的焦虑，这些问题并不是新的，而我就是为了解决这些问题才竞选美国总统。这几年，我在印第安纳州的埃尔克哈特和伊利诺伊州的盖尔斯堡亲眼目睹了人们的困境，也从每晚阅读他们的信件中了解情况。最让人难过的是阅读那些孩子的来信，他们在信中问，为什么他们不得不从家里搬出来，或者他们的爸爸妈妈什么时候才能重新找到工作。
For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don’t understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded, but hard work on Main Street isn’t; or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. They’re tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we can’t afford it. Not now.
对这些美国公民以及其他像他们一样的人来说，变革的速度似乎还不够快。对此，有些人感到灰心，还有人感到愤怒。他们不能理解，为什么华尔街那些不好的行为好像能受到嘉奖，而普通民众的努力工作却得不到回报；为什么政府似乎不能够或不愿意解决人们的问题；他们已经厌烦了党派分歧、叫喊和卑劣的争斗。他们认为我们解决不了这些问题，至少现在还不能。