奥巴马夫妇2012圣诞节祝福演讲

2012年12月22日，奥巴马携其夫人米歇尔在白宫发布了2012年度圣诞节祝福视频演讲。奥巴马说，对于他的家庭来说，圣诞节就是庆祝耶稣基督降生，以及学习耶稣的精神的日子。

THE PRESIDENT: Hi everybody. This weekend, as you gather with family and friends, Michelle and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays.
总统奥巴马：各位好。在这个周末，值此家人朋友团聚之际，我和米歇尔愿祝各位圣诞快乐、节日愉快。

THE FIRST LADY: We both love this time of year, and there’s nothing quite like celebrating the holidays at the White House. It’s an incredible experience and one that we try to share with as many folks as possible. This month, more than 90,000 people will come through the White House to see the holiday decorations. And our theme for this year’s holiday season was “Joy to All” – a reminder to appreciate the many joys of the holidays: the joy of giving…the joy of service…and, of course, the joy of homecomings.
第一夫人米歇尔：我和奥巴马都热爱一年中的这个季节，而在白宫中庆祝佳节也是种颇为独特的体验。这是次非常好的经历，我们想将这种经历分享给尽可能多的人们。在本月，超过九万人会前来白宫参观白宫的圣诞装饰。而今年我们圣诞节的主题是“所有人的快乐”——提醒人们享受节日所带来的各种喜悦：给予的喜悦，服务的喜悦，当然还有回家的喜悦。

THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. This weekend, parents are picking up their kids from college – and making room for all the laundry they bring with them. Children are counting down the hours until the grandparents arrive. And uncles, aunts and cousins are all making their way to join the family and share in the holiday spirit.
总统奥巴马：没错。这周末，家长把孩子们从大学接回家来，给孩子们所有要洗的衣服腾出地方。小孩们数着倒计时，期盼着祖父祖母的到来。孩子的伯父、姑妈、还有表兄弟姐妹们都正在加入家族团聚的途中，和家人共同分享节日的精神。

THE FIRST LADY: That’s what makes this season so special – getting to spend time with the people we love most.
第一夫人米歇尔：这就是这个季节的特别之处——我们能够和最爱的人们共同度过这段时光。

THE PRESIDENT: And this year, that’s especially true for some of our military families. You see, the war in Iraq is over. The transition in Afghanistan is underway. After a decade of war, our heroes are coming home. All across America, military families are reuniting. So this week let’s give thanks for our veterans and their families. And let’s say a prayer for all our troops--especially those in Afghanistan – who are spending this holiday season overseas, risking their lives to defend the freedoms that we hold so dear.
总统奥巴马：而今年对于军人们的家庭来说更是如此。伊拉克战争已经结束，阿富汗军队的过渡正在进行中。在长达十年的战争之后，我们的英雄们现在正回归故土。全美上下的军人家庭都在团聚。因此，在这周，让我们感谢退伍军人们和他们的家庭。也让我们为军队中的所有士兵祈祷——特别要为现在身处阿富汗的士兵们祈祷——在这个节日的季节，他们身处海外，甘冒生命的危险保卫我们珍视的自由。

THE FIRST LADY: And remember, when our men and women in uniform answer the call to serve, their families serve right along with them. Across this country, military spouses have been raising their families all alone during those long deployments. And let’s not forget about our military kids, moving from base to base--and school to school--every few years, and stepping up to help out at home when mom or dad is away. Our military families sacrifice so much on our behalf, and Barack and I believe that we should serve them as well as they serve this country. That’s why Dr. Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces – an effort to rally all Americans to honor and support our veterans and military families. Just go to joiningforces.gov to find out how you can show your gratitude for their service.
第一夫人米歇尔：也让我们记住，当这个国家的男人和女人们身着军队制服，响应服役的号召时，他们的家人也在为国家服务着。在军人漫长的服役期间，全国的丈夫、妻子们都独自一人供养着家庭。同时，我们也不应该忘记军人的孩子们。他们从一个军事基地搬到另一个基地，从一所学校辗转到另一所学校，在他们父母不在的时候站出来帮助家庭摆脱困境。我们的军人们的家庭为我们牺牲了很多。布拉克和我相信，当他们为国家做出那么多服务时，我们也理应为他们服务。这也就是为什么我和拜登夫人发起了“支持军队计划”——团结所有美国人向我们的退伍军人和军队士兵们表示敬意、提供支援。想了解怎样对他们的服务表达敬意，可以访问joiningforces.gov网站 。

THE PRESIDENT: Because that’s what this season is all about. For my family and millions of Americans, it’s a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. To reflect on His life and learn from His example. Every year, we commit to love one another. To give of ourselves. To be our brother’s keeper. To be our sister’s keeper. But those ideas are not just part of our faith. They’re part of all faiths. And they unite us as Americans.
总统奥巴马：这就是这个节日的意义。对于我的家庭和千百万的美国家庭来说，这是个庆祝耶稣降临的日子。我们从耶稣身上反省自己的生活，以耶稣为榜样，学习他的品质。每年，我们都承诺要相亲相爱、奉献自己、守护我们的兄弟姐妹。但这些不仅仅是信仰基督的人拥有的特质。这是所有信仰共有的品质，正是这些品质将我们团结成“美国人”。

THE FIRST LADY: In this country, we take care of each other. And in this season of giving, it’s inspiring to see so many people all across America taking the time to help those most in need.
第一夫人米歇尔：在这个国家，我们相互照应。在这个给予的季节，看见那么多美国上下的人付出时间帮助最需要的人，这是件振奋人心的事。

THE PRESIDENT: That’s part of what makes us such a compassionate nation. And this year, I know many of you are extending that kindness to the families who are still picking up the pieces from Hurricane Sandy and extending your prayers to the people of Newtown, Connecticut.
奥巴马：这是让我们国家成为富有怜悯心的国家的品质的一部分。而今年，我知道你们中的很多人将善意献给了飓风桑迪过后重新爬起来、仍旧还收拾残局的人们，将你们的祈祷献给了康涅狄格州纽镇的人们。

THE FIRST LADY: So thank you for all that you’ve done this year on behalf of your fellow Americans.
第一夫人米歇尔：感谢你们在今年为美国的同胞们做出的一切付出。

THE PRESIDENT: And on behalf of my favorite Americans – Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Bo – Merry Christmas, everybody.
总统奥巴马：我也代表我最爱的美国人——米歇尔、玛利亚、萨沙和波——祝各位圣诞快乐。

THE FIRST LADY: Happy Holidays.
第一夫人米歇尔：节日快乐。