Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

							Inaugural Address of Barack Obama



    January 20,2009



    My fellow citizens:



    I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you h

ave bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President B

ush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has

shown throughout this transition.



    Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have be

en spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every

 so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these m

oments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in

 high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our

 forbearers, and true to our founding documents.



    So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.



    That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war,

 against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weak

ened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our

 collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Hom

es have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; o

ur schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we u

se energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.



    These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurabl

e but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear
 that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sig

hts.



       Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and

 they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know

this, America - they will be met.



       On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purp

ose over conflict and discord.



       On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false pro

mises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangle

d our politics.



       We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come t

o set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to ch

oose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed

on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are

free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.



       In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is nev

er a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or se

ttling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer

 leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has be

en the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more ofte

n men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged

 path towards prosperity and freedom.



       For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across ocean

s in search of a new life.
    For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of th

e whip and plowed the hard earth.



    For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy

 and Khe Sanh.



    Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till

 their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as big

ger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birt

h or wealth or faction.



    This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerf

ul nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began.

 Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they

 were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But

 our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant

 decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up,

 dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.



    For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy c

alls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but t

o lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric

 grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will resto

re science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s

 quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to

fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges

and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all thi

s we will do.
       Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest t

hat our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For t

hey have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women

 can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to cour

age.



       What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them

 - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer a

pply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too s

mall, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, c

are they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we int

end to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us

 who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform

bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we res

tore the vital trust between a people and their government.



       Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its

 power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has re

minded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and th

at a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of

 our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Pro

duct, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to ev

ery willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our com

mon good.



       As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety

and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, dr

afted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expande

d by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not giv

e them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who
 are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my fathe

r was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman,

and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead

once more.



    Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism not just with missiles and ta

nks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our p

ower alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, t

hey knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates fro

m the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of h

umility and restraint.



    We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we c

an meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater coopera

tion and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to

its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and form

er foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spect

er of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we wave

r in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror a

nd slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot

 be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.



    For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We ar

e a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are

 shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and b

ecause we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged fr

om that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that th

e old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as

 the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that Americ

a must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
     To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest a

nd mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or

 blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on w

hat you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corr

uption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong sid

e of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.



     To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your

farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry

 minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no

 longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume th

e world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we m

ust change with it.



     As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gra

titude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and dista

nt mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who l

ie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they ar

e guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingn

ess to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment

 - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inha

bit us all.



     For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and

determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindne

ss to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who wo

uld rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through o

ur darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smok

e, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
    Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may b

e new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty,

 courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things

 are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throug

hout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is requir

ed of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every A

merican, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that w

e do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there

 is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our

all to a difficult task.



    This is the price and the promise of citizenship.



    This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to s

hape an uncertain destiny.



    This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and c

hildren of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent

mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been

served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.



    So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we ha

ve traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band

of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital wa

s abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a m

oment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our n

ation ordered these words be read to the people:



    "Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing b
ut hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one co

mmon danger, came forth to meet [it]."



    America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let

 us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more

the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’

s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we di

d not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s gr

ace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to f

uture generations.




奥巴马就职演讲中文文本：



    同胞们：



    我今天站在这里，因为面前的任务而感到谦卑，因为你们的信任而心存感激，同时铭记

先辈们做所出的巨大牺牲。感谢布什总统为这个国家做出的贡献，同时也谢谢他在整个政权

交接期间表现出的慷慨与合作。



    迄今已经有 44 名美国人宣誓就任总统。这些誓词曾出现在繁荣的上升趋势和如水般平

静的和平中，当然，也经常会出现在乌云密布和狂风暴雨之时。在这各种时刻，美国一直在

继续前行，这不仅仅是因为执政的技巧或者有先见之明，而是因为我们的人民一直在坚守先

辈们的理想，忠实履行我们的建国宣言。过去是这样，这一代的美国人仍将会坚持这样做。



    众所周知，我们目前正处在危机之中。我们的国家正在对暴力和仇恨宣战。我们的经济

也被严重削弱，这是一些人贪婪和不负责任的后果，但在做出艰难选择和准备迎接新时代方

面，我们出现了集体性的失误。房屋失去了；工作丢掉了；商业萧条了；我们的卫生保健耗

资巨大；我们太多的学校不合格；每天都能找到更多的证据表明我们利用能源的方式使得对

手更加强大，并且威胁到了我们整个星球。
  这些数据和统计都是危机的表现特征。虽然无法具备测量，但产生的深远影响是我们的

信心受到了侵蚀--担心美国的衰退不可避免，担心下一代会降低他们的期待。今天我要向你

们说的是，我们面临的挑战是真实存在的。这些挑战很多，而且非常严重，它们不会轻易地

或者在短时间内就能得以解决。但大家也必须认识到，美国，终将会解决这些困难。



  今天，我们聚集在这里，是因为我选择用希望来战胜恐惧，用团结来战胜冲突与分歧。

今天，我们来到这里将结束悲戚和错误的承诺，抛弃指责和教条主义这些扼杀我们政治的东

西。我们仍然是一个年轻的国家，但现在应该摒弃充满孩子气的行为，重申我们不朽的精神；

选择我们更好的历史；宏扬那些珍贵而且高尚的理念，并将这一代一代地传递下去。上帝认

为天下众生皆平等，众生皆自由，而且都应该拥有追求幸福的机会。



  在重申我们国家的伟大时，我们必须明白，伟大绝对不会是一种馈赠，而是要靠我们去

努力争取。我们的征途从来没有捷径，也不属于那些胆怯懦弱、消谴工作或者只追求财富名

利的人。为了我们，他们整理起自己不多的物品开始穿越大海寻找新的生活；为了我们，他

们在血汗工厂辛苦劳作，忍受着皮鞭的抽打并且犁开坚硬的土地；为了我们，他们在诸如康

科得、盖茨堡、诺曼底等等地方作战并献出生命。



  这些男男女女们不停地奋斗和牺牲，一直工作直到双手生疼，目的只是为了过上更好一

些的生活。在他们的眼中，美国比他们个人的报负更加重要，也比所有出身、财富或者宗派

之间的差别更加重要。这就是我们今天仍在继续的征程。我们仍然是世界上最繁荣、最强大

的国家。当这场危机开始后，我们工人的生产力并没有下降；我们的思想也没有失去创造力；

我们现在需要的商品和服务，并没有比上周、上月或者去年减少；我们的生产力并没有降低。

从今天开始，我们必须振作起来，拂去身上的灰尘，重新开始振兴美国。



  环视周围，到处是要做的工作。目前的经济状况要求我们采取大胆和迅速的行动，我们

将采取行动，不仅是创造新的工作岗位，而且是为经济的增长奠定新的基石。我们将建设道

路和桥梁、电网和数字网络，它们将为我们的商业活动服务，把我们联系在一起。我们将使

科学回归其位，应用科学技术来提高医疗的质量并降低其费用。我们将利用太阳能、风能、

潮汐能来驱动我们的汽车，运营我们的工厂。我们将变革我们的学校、学院和大学以满足新
时代的需求。这些是我们能够做的，我们将做这一切。



  现在，有些人质疑我们的雄心壮志。他们称，我们的制度不能容忍太多宏伟的计划，他

们很健忘，因为他们已忘记了这个国家曾经作过的事情，忘记了自由的男女在想像力和共同

目标、必要性和勇气相结合的情况下所能取得的成就。



  愤世嫉俗者未能理解的是，他们脚下的土地已发生了变动，过去那种消耗我们太长时间

的陈腐的政治争论将不会重现。我们今天问的问题将不是我们的政府是过大或者过小，而是

它是否有效-它是否能帮助家庭找到可支付体面工资的工作，向他们提供可支付得起的医疗

服务，提供有尊严的退休。当答案是肯定时，我们就会推动这一项目。当答案是否定时，我

们就会结束这一项目。我们所有管理公共资金的人将在这一标准下工作-明智地花钱、改革

坏习惯、使我们的活动透明化，因为只有这样，我们才能恢复人民和他们政府之间的至关重

要的信任。



  对于我们来说，市场是好是坏并不是一个问题，市场产生财富和扩展自由的能力是无以

匹敌的。但这场危机提醒我们，没有有效的监管，市场会失控。当一个国家只青睐富人时，

它的繁荣将无法持久。我们经济的成功不仅取决于我们国民生产总值的总量，而且取决于我

们共享繁荣的范围，取决于我们将机会扩大至每个愿意抓住机会的人，这不仅是出于慈善之

心，而是因为这是一条通往我们共同利益的最确切的道路。



  就我们共同的防务而言，我们拒绝那种在我们的安全和我们的理想之间作出取舍的错误

选择。我们的建国先辈曾面临我们几乎无法想像的危险，他们起草了确保法制和人权的宪章，

数代美国人的鲜血扩展了这一宪章。这些理想仍然照亮着世界，我们将不会为了权宜之计而

放弃它们。对于所有那些今天在观看就职典礼的世界其它各地的人民和政府，从宏伟的首都

至我父亲所出生的那个小村庄，请明白，美国是所有国家、所有试图寻求和平和尊严男人、

女人、儿童的朋友，我们已作好了再次担任领导者的准备。



  我们回忆起前几辈的美国人，他们不仅仅是靠导弹和坦克击败法西斯主义，而且是靠紧

密的联盟和持久的信念。他们明白，我们自身的力量不足以保护我们，也不会使我们为所欲

为。相反，他们知道，我们的力量只有在谨慎使用的情况下才会增涨，我们的安全来源于我
们事业的正义、我们榜样的力量、人性和克制的品格。



  我们是这种遗产的继承者。这些原则将再次指引我们，我们可以应对那些需要更多努力

的新威胁，这些新威胁需要国家之间进行更大程度的合作和理解。我们将负责任地把伊拉克

交给它的人民，我们将在阿富汗推动负出重大代价才赢得的和平。我们将和老朋友和前敌手

一起毫不松懈地削弱核威胁，应对全球变暖。我们将不会为我们的生活方式道歉，我们也不

会放松我们的防务。对通过谋杀无辜者推动自己生活方式的人，我们对你们说，我们的精神

更为强大，它无法被挫败，你们不可能消灭我们，我们将击败你们。



  我们都知道，我们各类遗产的汇集是一种力量，而不是脆弱。美国是由信仰基督教、伊

斯兰教、犹太教和印度教的人们以及无信仰人士组成的国家，来自地球上每一个角落的语言

和文化在这里融汇。我们有过内战和种族隔离的惨痛经历，翻过黑暗的一页，我们因此变得

更加强大、更加团结，我们因此坚信古老的仇恨总有一天会化解，部族之间的隔阂很快就会

消除。我们坚信，随着世界变得越来越小，我们共有的人道精神将放出光芒，美国必须克尽

己职，开创一个和平的新纪元。



  对于穆斯林世界，我们将寻求新的共处之道，一种基于共同利益和相互尊重的方式。对

于世界上那些播种冲突的种子或将自己社会的弊病归咎于西方的领导人，你们应该明白一

点，你们的人民将根据你们所建设的而非破坏的来对你们作出评判。对于那些通过腐败、欺

骗和镇压异见者来攫取权力的领导人，你们应该明白自己在违逆历史的潮流，但如果你们愿

意松开拳头，我们将向你们提供帮助。



  对于那些贫穷国家的人民，我们发誓将跟你们并肩战斗，让你们的农场繁茂、让洁净的

水源流淌，让挨饿的身体获得营养、让饥渴的头脑获得食粮。对于那些像我们一样相对富有

的国家，我们要说，我们再也不能对自己国界之外的苦难漠不关心，我们再也不能不顾后果

地消耗世界的资源。这个世界已经改变，我们必须与之俱变。



  当我们展望未来的路途，我们怀着谦卑的感激想起此时此刻正守卫在边远的沙漠和山区

的勇敢的美国人。今天他们有话要对我们说，就像躺在阿林顿国家公墓里那些倒下的英雄的

低语一样。我们之所以尊敬他们，不仅仅因为他们为我们的自由保驾护航，更是因为他们践
行着服务的精神，以及在比自身更宏伟的事物上寻找意义的崇高意愿。然而就在此时，这个

将影响一代人的时刻，我们所有人需要的正是这种精神。



  因为不论政府能做什么和必须做什么，最终这个国家都要依赖美国人民的信念和决心。

它是当堤坝溃决后收留一个陌生人的仁善，它是那些宁愿减少自己的工时也不愿看见一位朋

友失业、帮助我们度过黑暗时光的工人的大公无私，它是消防员们冲进浓烟滚滚的楼梯的勇

气，也是那些养育小孩并最终决定我们的命运的父母们的意愿。



  我们可能面临着全新的挑战，我们应对这些挑战的手段也可能是全新的，但是我们的成

功所仰赖的价值标准却是古老的——勤劳、诚实、勇气、公正、忍耐、好奇、忠诚和爱国。

这些东西都是真实的，它们在整个美国历史上一直是我们取得进步的背后推动力。现在所亟

需的是回归这些真理，现在我们需要进入一个新的责任时代——需要每个美国人都认识到，

我们对自己、对这个国家、对整个世界都负有责任，不是勉强接受的责任，而是当仁不让，

应该彻底明白一点，即除非将我们的一切献给一项艰巨的任务，我们的精神无法获得满足、

我们的人格也无法获得塑造。



  这是作为一位公民的价值和承诺。



  这是我们的信心之源，是上帝召唤我们去塑造一个不确定的命运。



  这是我们的自由和信念的意义所在——为什么不同信仰、不同种族的男女老少能够在这

个宏伟的大厅里欢聚一堂，以及为什么不到六十年前一个人的父亲还不能在当地餐馆里就

餐、现在他却能够站在大家面前进行最庄严的宣誓。



  让我们为这一天打上标记吧，用对我们是谁以及走过的旅程的回忆。在美国诞生的那一

年，在最寒冷的季节，一小队爱国志士围着河边快要熄灭的篝火，此时河流已经冰封。首府

被遗弃了。敌人在挺进。雪地上血迹斑斑。在革命成败茫然未知的时刻，我们的国父让人民

听到了下面的话语：



  “让未来的世界知道……在冰天雪地的寒冬里，当唯有希望和美德幸存的时候……这个城
市和这个国家，在危险的警报响起之后，挺身迎向它们。”



  美国。现在我们面临共同的危险，在这个艰苦卓绝的寒冬，让我们记起这些不朽的话语。

怀着希望和美德，让我们再次迎击冰冷的湍流，忍受可能来临的风暴。让我们的孙辈这样讲

述我们：当我们面临考验之时，我们拒绝让这段旅程中止，我们没有转过身去，也没有摇摆

不定，而是眼睛坚定地望着前方，承蒙上帝的恩典，我们携带着自由的伟大礼物，安全地将

它交付给我们的后代。