VOA慢速英语:Obama Appeals for Unity, Warns of Threats to Democracy

In his final speech as president, Barack Obama said he is more hopeful now than when he was first elected.
在奥巴马最后的告别演讲中，他表示和最初当选相比，如今的他更加充满希望。

He called for unity and for all Americans to stay involved in the country’s democracy.
他呼吁美国人民团结一致，呼吁美国人民参与国家民主。

Obama went home to Chicago, Illinois to give his last speech as president.He leaves office on January 20.
奥巴马回到伊利诺州的芝加哥，发表他最后的总统演说。1月20日他将卸任。

Chicago was where his political career started more than 20 years ago.On Tuesday night, he spoke to thousands of supporters.
芝加哥是20年多前他的政治生涯开启的地方。周二晚上，他向数千名支持者发表演说。

Thank you, It’s good to be home,Thank you!
“谢谢,回到家真好,谢谢！”

Obama took a look back on his eight years as president.He said the United States is a "better, stronger place" than when he took office in 2009.
奥巴马回顾了八年来的政绩。他说如今的美国，比2009年他刚任职时“更好更强大”。

People cheered as he listed some of the things his administration has done.
他列举自己任期内取得的成绩，人们致以阵阵欢呼。

If I had told you eight years ago that America would reverse a great recession, reboot our auto industry,and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history...if I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people,shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, and take out the mastermind of 9/11…if I had told you that we would win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens ...if I had told you all that, you might have said our sights were set a little too high...
“如果八年前我告诉你们，美国可以逆转经济大萧条，重振汽车业，创造史上最长就业增长期；如果我告诉你们，我们能和古巴人民开创友谊新篇章，不耗费一枪一弹制止伊朗核武器项目，击毙911头目；如果我告诉你们，我们能够赢得婚姻平等， 能为另外2000万人民争取到医保；如果八年前我这么说，你们可能会说，我们的目标定得有点太高了。”

Recognizing the current political divide in the country, Obama urged Americans to seek common ground with one another.He said that while "democracy does not require uniformity," it does "require a basic sense of solidarity."
意识到如今美国内部政治分裂的状况，奥巴马敦促美国人民互相寻找共同点。他说，虽然“民主不需要一致”，但民主“需要最基本的团结一致”。

Barack Obama is the first African American to serve as president of the United States.After his election, there was talk of a "post-racial" America — one where race is not important.But Obama said race is a still a "potent and often divisive force" -- meaning that it is still a strong issue, and one that divides people.
奥巴马是美国历史上第一位非裔美籍总统。他竞选成功后，一种“后种族”美国言论开始流行，即在美国，种族不是很重要。但奥巴马表示，种族仍然是“强有力的分裂力量”，也就是说，种族问题依旧是一项严重的问题，仍然会分裂美国人民。

The president warned that the nation faces threats to democracy, such as issues of economic and racial inequality.
巴马警告人民，美国面临民主的威胁，如经济和种族不平等。

Obama said the United States has to guard against weakening its values because of fear.One of the loudest cheers he received was when he said he rejects discrimination against Muslim Americans.
他说美国需要防止因恐惧而削弱价值观。当他说到反对歧视美国的穆斯林时，获得了全场最热烈的欢呼声。

The president said he was more hopeful about the country now than when he took office.He called on Americans to stay involved in the democratic process.
奥巴马表示相比刚刚执政，如今的美国让他感到更加充满希望。他呼吁美国人民继续参与到民主的过程中来。

I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists;that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice;that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon;a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes, We Can...
“我请求你们坚守那些写在建国文献中的信仰，那些奴隶和废奴主义者低声吐露的思想，那些移民、开荒者、为正义而游走的人所歌颂的精神，那些将胜利旗帜从外国战场插至月球表面的英雄们的信条，这个信条根植在每一个尚未书写自己故事的美国人心中：是的，我们可以……”

It was a return to his 2008 campaign saying "Yes, we can."
“是的，我们可以”，是奥巴马2008年的竞选口号。

Some observers say the president’s comments sounded more like a campaign speech than a traditional farewell address.
一些观察员说，与传统的告别演讲相比，奥巴马总统的告别演说听上去更像是一个竞选演讲。

Larry Sabato is a political scientist with the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.He told VOA the speech was different from others given by presidents before they left office.
拉瑞.萨巴图是弗吉尼亚大学政治中心的政治研究员。他接受VOA采访时说，奥巴马的演讲不同于其他总统的告别演说。

Certainly, it was untraditional, we’ve never had a farewell address like this.One can only imagine what George Washington, or for that matter Dwight Eisenhower,who had the most famous farewell address, would have thought of this manner of delivery.It was more like a political rally.
“很显然，这场演说颠覆传统，我们从未听过这样的告别演说。我们可以想想乔治.华盛顿、德怀特.艾森豪威尔，这些人发表的最著名的告别演说，就能想到这场演说的方式是多么不同。它更像是一场政治集会。”

Sabato says Obama leaves office with a mixed record.He thinks the president achieved a fair amount, but he adds, "it’s also true that we’re more divided than ever."And he notes, most of the speech was about positions and actions that Donald Trump wants to amend or end in the coming years.
萨巴图说论述奥巴马的功过很复杂。他觉得奥巴马确实实现了很多目标，但“美国也确实比之前更加分裂”。他指出，大部分演讲和未来几年特朗普想要修正或废止的定位或行动有关。

When we think back on this speech, we’re going to realize that most of what President Obama talked about is no longer reality...
“当我们回想这场演讲，我们会意识到，大部分奥巴马所讲述的都不再是事实。”

In less than two weeks, Trump will be sworn-in as president.And Barack Obama will return to being a private citizen.
不到两周，特朗普就会上台就职。奥巴马又做回了普通的公民。

Obama says he will stay involved as a citizen.He plans to stay in Washington while his youngest daughter finishes high school.
奥巴马说，即便是一名普通公民，也会继续关注政治。他计划待在华盛顿，直到他的小女儿上完高中。

I’m Anne Ball.
安娜.鲍尔为您报道。