2013奥巴马连任就职演讲中英全文

Here is the full text of President Barack Obama's second inaugural address on Jan. 21, 2013, as prepared for delivery:

Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional what makes us American is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.'

Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

For more than two hundred years, we have.

Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.

Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune.

Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our character.

But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.

This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it so long as we seize it together.

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America's prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.

We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That's what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.

We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.

We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice.

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths that all of us are created equal is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.

That is our generation’s task to make these words, these rights, these values of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time but it does require us to act in our time.

For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.

My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.

They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.

You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course.

You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.

Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.

2013年1月21日，美国总统奥巴马宣誓就职，开始第二任期。以下是就职演讲全文。

副总统拜登、首席大法官先生、国会议员、各位嘉宾、公民们：

2013年美国总统就职典礼每一次我们聚在一起见证总统就职，我们都在见证美国宪法的持久力量。我们都在确认美国民主制度的承诺。我们再度记起，让这个国家凝聚在一起的，不是我们的肤色、我们的信仰、我们名字的起源。让我们变得独特、让我们成为美国人的，是我们对两个多世纪前一项宣言中明确表达出来的一种信念的忠诚。

我们认为下述真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利，包括生存权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。

今天我们继续着一个永无终点的旅程，将这些话语的含义与当代现实结合起来。历史告诉我们，尽管这些真理可能是不言而喻的，却从不会自动执行；尽管自由是上帝给予我们的礼物，却必须由他在地球上的子民来捍卫。1776年的爱国者们奋力斗争，并不是为了用少数人的特权或一帮乌合之众的统治来取代国王的暴政。他们给了我们一个共和国，一个民有、民治、民享的政府，托付每一代人保护我们的建国信条。

200多年来，我们做到了。

从鞭笞和刀剑溅起的血光中，我们领悟到，基于自由与平等原则所成立的联邦，不可能在半自由半奴役的状态下存活。我们让自己重生，誓言协力向前迈进。

我们一致认定，现代经济需要有铁路和公路来加快人员流动与商务交流，需要有学校和大学来培训劳动者。

我们一致发现，只有制定出保障竞争和公平竞赛的规则，自由市场才能蓬勃发展。

我们一致决定，一个伟大的国家必须照顾弱者，并在其陷入生命中非常大的危险与不幸时给予他们庇护。

在这一过程中，我们从未放弃自己对集权的怀疑，也从未屈服于所有社会疾病都能且仅能通过政府的力量加以治愈这种谬论。我们对个人的首创精神与进取心的颂扬，我们对努力工作与个人责任的坚持，这些都是我们性格中永恒不变的东西。

但我们始终明白，当时代改变，我们自己也必须改变；忠实于我们的立国原则就需要对新的挑战做出新的回答；要维护我们的个人自由最终需要采取集体行动。对美国人来说，我们已不再能够单凭一己之力来应对当今世界的各种需求，一如美国士兵不可能凭借火枪和民兵组织来应对法西斯主义与共产主义势力的军队一样。没有哪个个人能够培训出教育我们子女所需的全部数学和科学教师，也没有哪个个人能建造出将带来新的工作机会和商机的道路、网络设施和研究实验室。现在，我们比以往任何时候都需要聚集在一个国家、一个民族的旗帜下，同心协力来完成这些工作。

这一代美国人经历了多重危机的考验，这些危机坚定了我们的决心，证明了我们的恢复力。长达10年的战争现在即将结束，经济复苏已经开始。美国有无限种可能，因为我们拥有这个没有边界的世界所需的全部品质：青春与活力，多样性与开放性，应对风险的无限能力以及进行再创造的天赋才能。同胞们，我们正是为此刻而生，我们要抓住这个机会──只要我们团结一致，我们就能抓住这个机会。

因为美国人民清楚，如果只有越来越少的人获得成功，而越来越多的人难以成功，那我们的国家就无法成功。我们相信，美国的繁荣必须建立在不断崛起的中产阶级的宽阔臂膀上。我们知道，只有当每个人都能通过工作实现自立，感到自豪，只有当通过诚实劳动赚得的薪水让家人不再艰难度日，美国才能实现蓬勃发展。只有当出生于最贫穷环境中的小女孩明白，她有着与其他任何人同样的成功机会时，我们才无愧于自己的信条。而她之所以拥有这样的机会，是因为她是美国人，她拥有自由和平等的权利。这些权利不仅由上帝见证，也通过我们的眼睛得以见证。

我们知道，过时的计划不足以满足时代的需要。我们必须用新理念和技术重塑政府，改进税法，改革学校，为民众赋权，让他们拥有一定的技能，从而更加努力地工作，学习更多知识，更上一层楼。不过，做事的方式方法会变，但我们的目标不变：任何一个美国公民，只要付出努力，怀有坚定的信心，就会得到回报。这是这一刻的要求，也将给我们的信条赋予真正的意义。


我们，人民，仍然相信，每个公民都应获得基本的安全和尊严保障。我们必须做出艰难抉择，降低医疗成本，缩减赤字规模。对于建设了这个国家的老一代人和日后将建设美国未来的年轻一代人而言，是照顾前者还是投资于后者？必须在这二者之间做出选择是我们所不能苟同的做法。因为我们记得过去的教训。那时，迟暮老人生活困窘，残障孩子的父母求助无门。我们相信，在这个国家，自由的权利并非只为幸运儿保留，幸福也不只属于少数人。我们承认，无论如何负责任地生活，谁都有可能随时面临失业、突发性疾病或住所被可怕的风暴摧毁的情况。我们通过联邦医疗保险(Medicare)、联邦医疗补助(Medicaid)和社会保障(Social Security)等计划向彼此做出承诺。这些计划不会削弱我们的积极性，相反会增强我们的力量。这些计划不会让美国成为一个人人索取的国家，相反让我们放开手脚去承担风险，将美国建设成伟大的国度。

我们，人民，仍然相信，身为美国人，我们不仅对自己负有责任，也对所有后代负有责任。我们将应对气候变化的威胁；我们知道，不应对就是对子子孙孙的背叛。一些人或许可以不承认压倒性的科学判断，但没有谁能避开荼毒生灵的大火、破坏性的干旱以及威力强大的风暴的冲击。能源可持续长路漫漫，有时候充满艰辛。但美国不能抗拒这种转变，我们必须引领这种转变。我们不能把启动新工作、新行业的技术拱手让给他国，我们必须把握住技术带来的希望。如此，我们才会保持经济活力，留住我们的国宝──我们的森林与河流，我们的农田与雪山。如此，我们才会保存好上帝交由我们照看的星球。如此，我们国父昔日宣扬的信条才获得意义。

我们，人民，仍然相信，持久的安全与永续的和平不需要无休止的战争。我们英勇的男女将士经过战火的锤炼，拥有无可匹敌的技能与勇气。我们的公民被对于逝者的缅怀灼烧，深知自由的代价。铭记他们的牺牲，将使我们永远防备那些要加害于我们的人。但我们的先祖不止赢得战争，还赢得了和平，把死敌变成最忠实的朋友，我们也必须把这些经验应用于当前。

我们将用武力与法治来保卫我们的人民，维护我们的价值观。我们将拿出勇气，和平地化解我们与他国的分歧──不是因为我们天真地看待面前的危险，而是因为通过接触我们可以更加持久地消除疑虑与恐惧。美国仍将是世界每一角落坚强同盟的支柱，我们将延续这些扩大国外危机管理能力的机制，因为世界最强大国家在世界和平事业中的利害关系无人能出其右。我们将支持从亚洲和非洲，从美洲到中东的民主，因为我们的利益、我们的良心驱使着我们为了渴望自由的人们而行动。而且我们必须成为贫困者、患病者、被排斥者、偏见受害者的希望之源──不只出于善心，而且是因为，要维护我们时代的和平，就要不断光大我们共同信条所述的那些原则：宽容与机会，人类的尊严与正义。

我们，人民，今天宣布，人人生而平等这个不言而喻的真理，仍然是指引我们的明星，就像它指引我们的先祖穿越塞内卡福尔斯，穿越塞尔马，穿越斯通沃尔；就像它指引那些在这座广场留下脚印、被歌颂与未被歌颂的男男女女，去听一位布道者说我们不能单独前行，去听马丁•路德•金宣称我们的个体自由与地球上每一个灵魂的自由密不可分。

继续完成先行者开创的事业是我们这一代人的任务。直到我们的妻子、母亲和女儿都能过上与她们的付出相当的生活，直到那些身为同性恋的兄弟姐妹依照法律得到跟所有人同等的待遇──如果我们真的生而平等，我们对彼此付出的爱无疑也必然平等，直到没有一位公民要被迫等上好几个小时才能行使投票权，直到我们找到更好的方式欢迎那些努力奋斗、满怀希望、认为美国充满机会的移民，直到聪明的年轻学生和工程师加入我们的劳动力大军而不是被驱逐出境，直到所有的孩子──无论他们来自底特律街头、阿巴拉契亚山脉还是纽敦安静的马路──都知道自己为人关怀珍爱、永远不会受到伤害，直到这一切得以实现，我们的使命才能宣告完成。

这是我们这代人的任务──让这些有关生命、自由和追求幸福的话语、权力和价值在每一个美国人身上实现。忠实于美国在建国时确立的一系列文件并不要求我们对生活的方方面面持有相同的看法；也不意味着我们要用完全相同的方式定义自由，完全遵循追逐幸福的相同路径。社会的进步并没有迫使我们就政府一直以来所应发挥的作用而持续了几个世纪的辩论达成和解，它只要求我们在当下有所作为。

眼下决策有待我们做出，我们无法承担拖延的代价。我们不能将专制主义误认为原则，不能用宏大的场面取代政治活动，或是将指名道姓的谩骂当成是理性的辩论。我们必须行动起来，并且明白我们的工作不会是完美的；我们必须行动起来，清楚今天的胜利并非全部，曾经在费城一座备用大厅里传承给我们的永恒精神将由四年、40年乃至400年后站在这里的人继续推进。

我的美国同胞们，今天我在你们面前宣读的誓言，就像在这个国会山工作的其他人所宣读的誓言一样，是对上帝和国家的宣誓，而不是效忠党派之词。在我们为政府工作期间，我们必须忠实地兑现这一承诺。但我今天宣读的誓词和每一位战士应征入伍或每一位移民实现其梦想时宣读的誓词没有什么不同。我的誓词和我们所有人向着在我们头顶飘扬、令我们内心充满自豪的这面旗帜许下的承诺并无二致。

这是公民的宣言，代表着我们最伟大的希望。

你我作为美国公民有权为美国的发展设定方向。

你我作为美国公民，有责任去影响我们这个时代的辩论：我们不仅要利用所投的选票，还应该要利用我们为捍卫最古老的价值观和最持久的理念所发出的种种声音。

现在，让我们每个人以庄严的责任感和真诚的喜悦来拥抱自己永恒的、与生俱来的权力。让我们通过共同的努力和一致的目标，加上热情和奉献来回答历史提出的问题，并将宝贵的自由之光带入充满不确定性的未来。

谢谢大家。愿上帝保佑你，愿上帝永远保佑美利坚合众国。