Obama's Final State Of The Union Address[Part 3]
当地时间12号晚，美国总统奥巴马在华盛顿发表了任上最后一次国情咨文。
英文原文摘自：白宫官网
由于文章字数限制，故将全文分为三部分。
第一部分：State Of The Union Address[Part 1]
第二部分：State Of The Union Address[Part 2]
以下为最后一部分内容：
It’s up to us to help remake[重制;翻新;修改;改造] that system. And that means we have to set priorities[(对事务)进行优先排序].
Priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks. Both al Qaeda[基地组织] and now ISIL[Islamic State Of Iraq And The Levant 伊斯兰国] pose a direct threat to our people[对我们的人民造成直接威胁], because in today’s world, even a handful of terrorists who place no value on human life[无视生命], including their own, can do a lot of damage. They use the Internet to poison['pɔɪzn][污染;使中毒,放毒于;败坏;阻碍] the minds of individuals inside our country; they undermine our allies[破坏我们和盟友的关系].
But as we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top[过多的;言过其实的;夸大其词的] claims that this is World War III just play into their hands[这种说法正中某些人下怀]. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks[小货车] and twisted souls [灵魂扭曲的人]plotting[plɑt][密谋;策划;绘制] in apartments or garages pose an enormous danger to civilians and must be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence[国家存在;民族生存]. That’s the story ISIL wants to tell; that’s the kind of propaganda['prɑpə'gændə][宣传] they use to recruit. We don’t need to build them up to show that we’re serious, nor do we need to push away vital allies[重要盟友] in this fight by echoing the lie that[呼应这一谎言] ISIL is representative of one of the world’s largest religions[中了“伊斯兰国代表世界最大宗教之一”的圈套]. We just need to call them what they are – killers and fanatics[fə'nætiks][(对宗教、政治等)狂热者;盲信者;疯子] who have to be rooted out[发现;根除;肃清], hunted down[穷追直至抓获], and destroyed[追踪、缉捕并摧毁].
That’s exactly what we are doing. For more than a year, America has led a coalition[,koə'lɪʃən][联合;结合,合并] of more than 60 countries to cut off[切断;中断;使死亡;剥夺继承权] ISIL’s financing, disrupt their plots[破坏他们的阴谋], stop the flow of terrorist fighters[阻止武装分子的人员流动], and stamp out[扑灭;踩灭;镇压] their vicious ideology[邪恶意识形态/思想意识]. With nearly 10,000 air strikes[空袭], we are taking out their leadership[除掉他们的头目], their oil, their training camps, and their weapons. We are training, arming, and supporting forces who are steadily reclaiming territory in Iraq and Syria.
If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, you should finally authorize the use of military force against ISIL[授权军事力量介入对抗伊斯兰国]. Take a vote[(投票)表决]. But the American people should know that with or without Congressional action, ISIL will learn the same lessons as terrorists before them. If you doubt America’s commitment – or mine – to see that justice is done, ask Osama bin Laden[奥萨马·本·拉登][如果你们怀疑美国或是我个人伸张正义的决心，不妨问问奥萨马•本•拉登]. Ask the leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, who was taken out last year, or the perpetrator['pɜːpətreɪtə(r)][犯罪者;作恶者;行凶者] of the Benghazi[班加西(利比亚北部港口城市)] attacks, who sits in a prison cell[牢房]. When you come after Americans, we go after you. It may take time, but we have long memories, and our reach has no limit.
Our foreign policy must be focused on the threat from ISIL and al Qaeda, but it can’t stop there. For even without ISIL, instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world – in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia. Some of these places may become safe havens[安全港;温床] for new terrorist networks; others will fall victim to ethnic conflict[民族冲突], or famine['fæmɪn][饥荒;饥饿], feeding the next wave of refugees[滋生新一轮难民潮]. The world will look to us to help solve these problems, and our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb[地毯式轰炸] civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite[(广播、电视的)摘要播放,剪辑播放;声明(或发言)的简要节录,简短片断], but it doesn’t pass muster[合格;符合要求;通得过,过得去] on the world stage.[世界人民会指望我们去解决这些问题，我们的回应不能只是嘴上功夫：不断使用强硬的措辞，做给平民们看。这种回应可能在电视新闻上起点作用，但世界人民感受不到切实的鼓舞。]
We also can’t try to take over and rebuild every country that falls into crisis. That’s not leadership; that’s a recipe for quagmire['kwægmaɪə; 'kwɒg-][沼泽,沼泽地;无法脱身的困境][那样只会将我们拖入泥潭], spilling[spɪl][使流血;泼洒,使溅出] American blood and treasure that ultimately weakens us. It’s the lesson of Vietnam, of Iraq – and we should have learned it by now.
Fortunately, there’s a smarter approach, a patient and disciplined strategy[耐心、克制的策略] that uses every element of our national power. It says America will always act, alone if necessary, to protect our people and our allies; but on issues of global concern, we will mobilize the world to work with us, and make sure other countries pull their own weight[尽到自己的职责].
That’s our approach to conflicts like Syria, where we’re partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace.
That’s why we built a global coalition[,koə'lɪʃən][联合;结合,合并], with sanctions['sæŋkʃən][制裁;处罚] and principled diplomacy[有原则的外交手段], to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. As we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out[运出] its uranium stockpile[铀储备], and the world has avoided another war.
That’s how we stopped the spread of Ebola[埃博拉病毒] in West Africa. Our military, our doctors, and our development workers set up the platform that allowed other countries to join us in stamping out[扑灭;踩灭;镇压] that epidemic[epɪ'demɪk][传染病;流行病].
That’s how we forged a Trans-Pacific Partnership[跨太平洋伙伴关系协定]to open markets, protect workers and the environment, and advance American leadership in Asia. It cuts 18,000 taxes on products Made in America, and supports more good jobs. With TPP, China doesn’t set the rules[制订规则] in that region, we do. You want to show our strength in this century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it.
Fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed to promote democracy, setting us back in Latin America. That’s why we
American leadership in the 21st century is not a choice between ignoring the rest of the world – except when we kill terrorists[除了打击恐怖主义，再不关心其他世界事务]; or occupying and rebuilding whatever society is unraveling[,ʌn'rævəl][瓦解;拆散;解开][抑或，占领和重建每个正在土崩瓦解的社会]. Leadership means a wise application of military power, and rallying['ræli][团结;集合] the world behind causes that are right. It means seeing our foreign assistance as part of our national security, not charity[它意味着将海外援助视为国家安全的一部分，而非施舍]. When we lead nearly 200 nations to the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change – that helps vulnerable['vʌlnərəbl][易受攻击的;易受伤害的;有弱点的] countries, but it also protects our children. When we help Ukraine defend its democracy[捍卫民主], or Colombia resolve a decades-long war[帮助哥伦比亚结束长达十年的战争], that strengthens the international order we depend upon. When we help African countries feed their people and care for the sick, that prevents the next pandemic[pæn'demɪk][流行性疾病] from reaching our shores. Right now, we are on track to end the scourge[skɝdʒ][灾祸;瘟疫] of HIV/AIDS, and we have the capacity to accomplish the same thing with malaria[mə'lɛrɪə][疟疾] – something I’ll be pushing this Congress to fund this year.
That’s strength. That’s leadership. And that kind of leadership depends on the power of our example. That is why I will keep working to shut down the prison at Guantanamo[关塔那摩(古巴): it’s expensive, it’s unnecessary, and it only serves as a recruitment brochure[招聘简章,招聘小册子] for our enemies[只会为我们的敌人继续招兵买马提供说辞] 42 36740 42 15535 0 0 2236 0 0:00:16 0:00:06 0:00:10 3021span>.
That’s why we need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion[种族或者宗教]. This isn’t a matter of political correctness[政治正确性]. It’s a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal['ɑ:sənəl][兵工厂;军械库]; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way werespect every faith[对每一信仰的尊重]. His Holiness[教皇陛下], Pope Francis[(教宗)方济各], told this body from the very spot[on the very spot正是在这个地方] I stand tonight that
“We the People.”
[“我们合众国人民”]
Our Constitution[kɒnstɪ'tjuːʃ(ə)n][宪法] begins with those three simple words, words we’ve come to recognize mean all the people, not just some; words that insist we rise and fall together[共进退]. That brings me to the fourth, and maybe the most important thing I want to say tonight.
The future we want – opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids – all that is within our reach[触手可及;可以实现的]. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates[理性、有建设性的辩论].
It will only happen if we fix our politics[解决政治问题].
A better politics doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything. This is a big country, with different regions and attitudes and interests. That’s one of our strengths, too. Our Founders[开国先驱] distributed power[分权] between states and branches of government, and expected us to argue, just as they did, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and the imperatives of security[安全的必要性].
But democracy does require basic bonds of trust[信任纽带] between its citizens. It doesn’t work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice['mælɪs][恶意;怨恨;预谋], or that our political opponents are unpatriotic['ʌn'petrɪ'ɑtɪk][不爱国的;无爱国心的]. Democracy grinds to a halt[慢慢停止] without a willingness to compromise; or when even basic facts are contested, and we listen only to those who agree with us[如果不愿意妥协，连最基本的事实都存在争议，而我们只听那些赞同的声音，那么民主就会停滞不前]. Our public life withers['wɪðɚ][枯萎;凋谢;衰弱] when only the most extreme voices get attention[如果只有最极端的声音受到重视，那我们的公共生活就会衰落]. Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter; that the system is rigged[riɡd][操纵,控制] in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest[当人民大众觉得自己的呼声无关紧要，而整个社会体制被有钱、有权或者个别人的利益所操控时，民主就将崩溃].
Too many Americans feel that way right now. It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency[我总统任期内的几件憾事之一 ] – that the rancor['ræŋkə][深仇;怨恨;敌意] and suspicion[sə'spɪʃ(ə)n][怀疑;嫌疑;疑心] between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. There’s no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide[可能党派之间的嫌隙会调和得好一些], and I guarantee I’ll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.
But, my fellow Americans, this cannot be my task – or any President’s – alone. There are a whole lot of folks in this chamber who would like to see more cooperation, a more elevated['elɪveɪtɪd][提高的;高尚的;严肃的][更高层次的] debate in Washington, but feel trapped by the demands of getting elected. I know; you’ve told me. And if we want a better politics, it’s not enough to just change a Congressman[国会议员] or a Senator[参议员] or even a President; we have to change the system to reflect our better selves.
We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts[划分国会选区] so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around.
But I can’t do these things on my own. Changes in our political process – in not just who gets elected but how they get elected[政治进程的变革，不是改变谁当选，而是改变当选的方式] – that will only happen when the American people demand it. It will depend on you. That’s what’s meant by a government of, by, and for the people[这就是“民有、民治、民享政府”的真正含义].
What I’m asking for is hard. It’s easier to be cynical['sɪnɪkl][愤世嫉俗的;冷嘲的]; to accept that change isn’t possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don’t matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake[fə'seɪk][放弃;断念] a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, or allow another economic disaster, or roll back[击退;驳回] the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure. As frustration[frʌ'streɪʃn][挫折] grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into tribes[traɪb][部落(时代)], to scapegoat['skeɪpgəʊt][使成为…的替罪羊] fellow citizens who don’t look like us, or pray like us, or vote like we do, or share the same background[如果这样的倒行逆施持续下去，又会有人催促我们回到部落时代，让那些与我们长相不同，信仰不同，选举方式不同，背景不同的同胞当他们的替罪羊].
We can’t afford to go down that path. It won’t deliver the economy we want, or the security we want, but most of all, it contradicts[kɒntrə'dɪkt][反驳;否定;与…矛盾] everything that makes us the envy of the world.
So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen[履行作为公民的义务]. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. To stay active in our public life so it reflects the goodness and decency['disnsi][正派;体面;庄重;合乎礼仪;礼貌] and optimism that I see in the American people every single day.
It won’t be easy. Our brand of democracy is hard. But I can promise that a year from now, when I no longer hold this office, I’ll be right there with you as a citizen – inspired by those voices of fairness and vision, of grit[grɪt][刚毅,坚韧; 勇气] and good humor and kindness that have helped America travel so far. Voices that help us see ourselves not first and foremost as black or white or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born; not as Democrats[民主党;民主党人] or Republicans[共和党，共和党员], but as Americans first, bound by[约束;邻接,接壤]a common creed[kriːd][信条，教义]. Voices Dr. King believed would have the final word – voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love[不靠武装发声的真理和无条件的爱].
They’re out there, those voices. They don’t get a lot of attention, nor do they seek it, but they are busy doing the work this country needs doing[寂静无声，不求关注，但却一直在为这个国家奔忙].
I see them everywhere I travel in this incredible country of ours. I see you. I know you’re there. You’re the reason why I have such incredible confidence[异常的自信] in our future. Because I see your quiet, sturdy['stɜːdɪ][坚定的;强健的;健全的] citizenship all the time.
I see it in the worker on the assembly line[装配线;流水作业线] who clocked extra shifts to keep his company open[每天加班加点以确保公司正常运营], and the boss who pays him higher wages to keep him on board.
I see it in the Dreamer who stays up late to finish her science project, and the teacher who comes in early because he knows she might someday cure a disease.
I see it in the American who served his time[服刑], and dreams of starting over[想要重新开始] – and the business owner who gives him that second chance. The protester determined to prove that justice matters, and the young cop walking the beat[巡逻;巡查], treating everybody with respect, doing the brave, quiet work of keeping us safe.
I see it in the soldier who gives almost everything to save his brothers, the nurse who tends to him ‘til he can run a marathon, and the community that lines up to cheer him on.
It’s the son who finds the courage to come out as who he is, and the father whose love for that son overrides[重写;压倒;撤销;无视] everything he’s been taught[有个孩子勇敢地做自己，敢于出柜，而深爱他的父亲也会放弃自己的旧观念继续爱他].
I see it in the elderly woman who will wait in line to cast her vote[投下她的选票] as long as she has to; the new citizen who casts his for the first time; the volunteers at the polls who believe every vote should count, because each of them in different ways know how much that precious right is worth.
That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love. Clear-eyed[头脑清晰的;有洞察力的]. Big-hearted[慷慨的;宽大的;洒脱的]. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word[不靠武器发声的真理和无条件的爱必将主导这个世界]. That’s what makes me so hopeful about our future. Because of you. I believe in you. That’s why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
全文完。