英语阅读:肯尼迪总统就职演说

英语 阅读:肯尼迪总统就职演说

Now the trumpet summons us again- not as a call to bear arms, thougharms we need- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-but acall to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and yearout, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation- a struggle against thecommon enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, Northand South, East and West that can assure a more fruitful life for allmankind? Will you join in that historic effort?In the long history of the world, only a few generations have beengranted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. Ido not shrink from this responsibility- I welcome it. I do not believethat any of us would exchange places with any other people or any othergeneration. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to thisendeavor will light our country and all who serve it-and the glow from

that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you,but what together we can do for the freedom of man.Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world ,ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice whichwe ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, withhistory the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the landwe love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here onearth God’s work must truly be our own.

1961年1月20日

……

现在，号角已再次吹响--不是召唤我们拿起武器，虽然我们需要武器;不是召唤我们去作战，虽然我们严阵以待。它召唤我们为迎接黎明而肩负起漫长斗争的重任，年复一年，从希望中得到欢乐，在磨难中保持耐性，对付人类共同的敌人¬--专制、贫穷、疾病和战争本身。为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗?你们愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗?在漫长的世界历史中，只有少数几代人在自由处于最危急的时刻被赋予保卫自由的责任。我不会推卸这一责任，我欢迎这一责任。我不相信我们中间有人想同其他人或其他时代的人交换位置。我们为这一努力所奉献的精力、信念和忠诚，将照亮我们的国家和所有为国效劳的人，而这火焰发出的光芒定能照亮全世界。

因此，美国同胞们，不要问国家能为你们做些什么、而要问你们能为国家做些什么。全世界的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做些什么，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。

最后，不论你们是美国公民还是其他国家的公民，你们应要求我们献出我们同样要求于你们的高度的力量和牺牲。问心无愧是我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史是我们行动的最终裁判，让我们走向前去，引导我们所热爱的国家。我们祈求上帝的福佑和帮助，但我们知道，确切地说，上帝在尘世的工作必定是我们自己的工作。