美国总统奥巴马每周电台演讲2013.07.07

Hi everybody. I hope you all had a safe and happy Fourth of July, filled with parades, cookouts, fireworks and family reunions.

大家好。我希望你们所有人都过一个到处是欢乐游行、野餐、烟花和家庭团聚的安全幸福的独立日。

We celebrated at the White House with a few hundred members of the military and their families. And we took a moment amid the festivities to remember what our Independence Day is all about – what happened 237 years ago, and what it meant to the world.

我们在白宫与几百名军人和他们的家属共同欢庆独立日。我们在节日里缅怀独立日的全部意义—237年前发生的一切以及它对世界的影响。

On July 4th, 1776, a small band of patriots declared that we were a people created equal – free to think and worship and live as we please. It was a declaration heard around the world – that we were no longer colonists, we were Americans, and our destiny would not be determined for us; it would be determined by us.

在1776年7月4日，为数不多的爱国者们宣布我们是生来就平等的民族—自由思考、崇拜和过我们希望的生活。这个宣言响彻世界—我们不再是殖民者，我们是美国人，我们的命运不再由他人主宰；我们的命运由我们自己主宰。

It was a bold and tremendously brave thing to do. It was also nearly unthinkable. At that time, kings and princes and emperors ruled the world. But those patriots were certain that a better way was possible. And to achieve it – to win their freedom – they were willing to lay it all on the line. Their lives. Their fortunes. Their sacred honor.

这是个英勇无比的壮举。它几乎是不可想象的。在那个时代，国王们、王子们和皇帝们统治这个世界。但是爱国者们认为我们当然可能有更好的生活方式。为了实现这个理想—赢得自由—他们立志为此付出一切。他们的生命、他们的财富和他们的神圣荣誉。

They fought a revolution. Few would have bet on our side to win. But for the first of many times to come, America proved the doubters wrong.

他们发动了一次革命。几乎没有人认为我们能赢。但是在此后的多个第一次里，美国证明了怀疑者们错了。

And now, 237 years later, the United States – this improbable nation– is the greatest in the world. A land of liberty and opportunity. A global defender of peace and freedom. A beacon of hope to people everywhere who cherish those ideals.

现在，237年以后，美利坚合众国—一个几乎不能诞生的国家—成了世界上最伟大的国家。一个充满自由和希望的乐土。一个全球和平和自由的捍卫者。一个世界各地珍惜这些理想的人们的希望的灯塔。

Generations of Americans made our country what it is today – farmers and teachers, engineers and laborers, entrepreneurs and elected leaders – people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world, all pulling in the same direction.

一代代美国人—农民们、工程师们和工人们、企业家们和民选领导人们—来自各行各业的人们、来自世界各地的走向同一方向的人们--把美国打造成今天的样子。

And now we, the people, must make their task our own – to live up to the words of that Declaration of Independence, and secure liberty and opportunity for our own children, and for future generations.

现在我们，人民，必须继承他们的使命—践行独立宣言，保障我们的儿女们和未来未来后代的自由和机会。

I want to say a special word of thanks to the men and women of our military, who have played such a vital role in the story of our nation. You have defended us at home and abroad. And you have fought on our nation ’ s behalf to make the world a better, safer place. People in scattered corners of the world are living in peace today, free to write their own futures, because of you. We are grateful for your service and your sacrifice, especially those still serving in harm’s way and your families here at home.

我想对在我们国家历史上起着中流砥柱作用的军人们表示特别的感谢。你们在本土和海外保卫了我们的国家。你们为了我们国家的利益而战，使我们国家成了更加美好和安全的乐土。因为你们，世界各地的人们今天生活在和平中，可以自由地书写他们的历未来。我们感谢你们的坚守岗位和无私奉献，特别是那些至今仍然远离家人置身险境的军人们。

So, God bless you all. And may God bless the United States of America.

上帝保佑你们。上帝保佑美利坚合众国。