07 Change with the World and Remake America A与时俱进，重塑美国A
Barack Obama
巴拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马，美国第44任总统
My fellow citizens：
同胞们：
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
我今天站在这里，深感面前使命的重大，深谢你们赋予的信任，并铭记我们前辈所做的牺牲。我感谢布什总统对国家的贡献以及他在整个过渡阶段所展示出的慷慨协作。
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
至此，已有四十四位美国人发表过总统誓言。这些字词曾在蒸蒸日上的繁荣时期和宁静安详的和平年代被诵读。但是间或，它们也响彻在阴云密布、风暴降临的时刻。美国能够历经这些时刻而勇往直前，不仅因为当政者的远见卓识，也因为美国人民始终坚信我们先辈的理想，对我们的建国理念忠贞不渝。
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
前辈们如此，我们这一代美国人也更是如此。
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.Homes have been lost；jobs businesses shuttered.Our health care is too costly；our schools fail too many；and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
现在我们深知，我们身处危机之中。我们的国家身处战争之中，打击分布广泛的暴力和仇恨势力。我们的经济严重衰退，原因虽有一些人的贪婪不轨，同时也是因为我们作为一个整体，未能痛下决心，让国家做好面对新时代的准备。如今，住房不在，就业减少，商业破产。医疗保健费用过度昂贵；学校质量没有保障；而每一天都在不断显示，我们使用能源的方式助长了我们的敌对势力，也威胁着我们的星球。
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land-a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
数据和统计都在预示着危机的来临。目前整个国家都面临信心动摇的问题，它虽不易衡量，却同样严重——这是一种挥之不去的恐惧感，认为美国将不可避免地走下坡路，下一代人不得不放低眼光。
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.But know this, America：They will be met.
今天，我告诉大家，我们面临的挑战真实存在，数量众多且情势严重。它们虽无法在短时间内被轻松解决。但是美国，请记住这句话——我们一定会渡过难关。
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
我们今天聚集在这里是因为我们选择希望而不是恐惧，选择齐心协力而不是冲突对立。
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
我们今天在这里宣告，让斤斤计较与虚假承诺就此结束，让窒息我国政治为时已久的相互指责和陈词滥调就此完结。
humble[ˈhʌmbl]adj.谦逊的；简陋的；（级别或地位）低下的
例 Defeat and failure make people humble.
挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
bestow[bɪˈstəʊ]v.使用；授予；放置；留宿
例 The country bestowed its highest medal on the war hero.
国家给战争英雄颁发国家最高奖章。
forbearer[fɔːˈbeə（r）]n.祖先v.忍耐
例 His forbearers ascend to the 15th century.
他的祖先可上溯到十五世纪。
shutter[ˈʃʌtə（r）]v.装以遮门；关上窗板；停业
例 The house was empty and shuttered.
这所房子是空的，窗板都关上了。
indicator[ˈɪndɪkeɪtə（r）]n.指示器；指示剂；指示牌
例 Complexion was thought to be an indicator of one’s character.
肤色被认为是一个人的性格的指示器。
sapping[ˈsæpɪŋ]n.基蚀；挖掘；下切
例 They wanted to draw us in to endless wars, sapping our strength and confidence as a nation.
他们要把我们拖入无休止的战争中去，逐渐消耗完国民的力量和信心。
nagging[ˈnægɪŋ]adj.唠叨的；挑剔的；使人不得安宁的n.唠叨；挑剔
例 I can’t stomach your constant nagging.
我再也忍受不了你不停的唠叨了。
discord[ˈdɪskɔːd]n.不和；不调和；嘈杂声
例 His remark discords with the fact.
他的话与事实不符。
dogma[ˈdɒgmə]n.教条，教理；武断的意见
例 It is precisely such ignorant people who take Marxism-Leninism as a religious dogma.
那些将马克思列宁主义当宗教教条看待的人，就是这种蒙昧无知的人。
①Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
这个句子中有一个结构“take the oath”，表示“宣誓”，等同于swear。
例 As he prepares to take the oath of office, Barack Obama’s biggest political roadblock may end up being institutional hurdles rather than a united Republican opposition.
竞选总统奥巴马正在为宣誓就职做准备，然而制度的阻碍有可能成为他最大的政治障碍，而并非是共和党的联合对抗。
②……but because we the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers……
这个句子中有一个结构“（be）faithful to”，表示“忠诚于”，等同于be true to。
例 It has been so much my religion ever since we were married to be faithful to you in every thought and look.
自从我们结婚以来，我的宗教就是在思想上和外表上都要忠实于你。
③Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.
这个句子中有一个结构“be at war”，表示“处于战争中”。
例 We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas.
我们在战争中的耗费超过一万亿美元，而且经常从国外借贷资金。
④These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.
这个句子中有一个结构“（be）subject to”，表示“服从，受……支配，取决于……”。
例 Although these targets would not be internationally binding, they would be subject to outside verification.
虽然这些目标不具有国际约束力，但它们将受到外界监督。
1.Knowledge is power.Information is liberating.Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.
知识是力量，资讯是救犊，教育是进步的前提，在每一个社会及家庭。
2.If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
要是都没有人批评你，表示你可能没做什么事。
3.The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.
我必须说，最大的过错，莫过于看不到任何过错。
4.Most of our obstacles would melt away if instead of cowering before them we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
与其在困难面前蜷缩起来，不如勇敢地从它中间穿过，大部分的困难都可迎刃而解。
5.Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you；spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
找一群会刺激并鼓舞你的人，花很多时间和他们在一起，这将改变你的人生。
读书笔记__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________