约翰.肯尼迪演讲稿(中英文对照)

First Inaugural Address

(John F. Kennedy)

Jan. 2o, 1961.

Brief introduction to the speaker:

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) John F. Kennedy was a war hero, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a U.S. senator

for most of the 1950s. in November 1960, at the age of 43, John F. he became the youngest man ever elected

president of the United States. on Nov. 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot to death in Dallas, Tex., the fourth United

States president to die by an assassin

’

s bullet..

< br>*********************************************** ********************************

We

observe

today

not

a

victory

of

party

but

a

celebration

of

freedom.

Symbolizing

an

end,

as

well

as

a

beginning, signify- ing renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn betbre you,and almighty God, the same

solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

The worried is very different now for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human

poverty, and all forms of human life. And yet, the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forbears fought are

still at issue around the globe. The belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but

from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first, revolution. Let the word go forth, from this time and

place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has

been passed to

a new

generation of Americans, born in this

century tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to

witness, or permit, the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed,

and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any

hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and

success of liberty

This much we pledge and more.

To

those

old

allies,

whose

cultural

and

spiritual

origins

we

share,

we

pledge

the

loyalty

of

faithful

friends.

United there is little we cannot do, in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided

there is little we can do. For we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split us asunder.

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our words that one form of colonial

control

shall

not

have

passed

away

merely

to

be

replaced

by

a

far

more

iron

tyranny

We

sha1l

not

always

expect to tind them supporting our view, but we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own

freedom, and to remember that in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger

ended up inside.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe, struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we

pledge

our

best

efforts

to

help

them

help

themselves,

for

whatever

period

is

required,

not

because

the

Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot

help the many who are poor, it

‘

s cannot save the

few who are rich.

To our sister republics

south of our border, we

offer

a special pledge, to

convert our

good words

into, good

deeds,

in

a

new

alliance

for

progress

to

assist,

free

men

and

free

governments

in

casting

off

the

chains

of

poverty But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile power s. Let al our neighbors

know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere ill the Americas. And let every

other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last and best hope in an age age where the

instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support to prevent it

from becoming merely a form for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the

area in which it

’

s written and run.

Finally to those nations who would make themselves our adversary we offer not a pledge, but a request, that

both sides begin a new quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all

humanity in planned or accidental self destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness, for only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt, can we be certain

beyond doubt, that they will never be employed.

But

neither

can

two

great

and

powerful

groups

of

nation

take

comfort

from

our

present

course,

both

sides

over- burdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom,

and yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind

’

s final war.

So let us begin aneW remembering on both sides that stability is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always

subject to proof Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us, instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals, for the inspection and control of arms,

and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together, let us explore the stars,

conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage

the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah, to rsndo the herrny brrrdens rrnd

let the oppressed go hee.

And, if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new

endeavor not a new balance of powen but a new world of law, whel-e the

strong

are

just,

and

the

weak

secured,

and

the

peace

preserved.

All

this will

not

be

finished in

the

first

one

hundrcd days, nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor

even perhaps in our lifietime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our cause. Since this

country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to

give

testimony

to

its

national

loyalty

The

graves

of

young

Americans,

who

answered

the

caI1

to

service,

surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a cal1 to bear arms, though arms we need, not as a call to battle,

though in battle we are, but a call to bear the burden of a long, twilight

struggle, year in and year out, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, a struggle against the common enemies

of man: tyranny poverty disease, and war itself

Can we forge against these enemies, a grand and global alliance, north and south, east and west, that can assure

a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic

effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its

hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I

welcome

it.

I

do

not

believe

that

any

of

us

would

exchange

places

with

any

other

people,

or

any

other

generation. The energy the faith, the devotion, which we bring to this endeavor,

will light our country and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.