美国拉丁文化月——现在进行时（在线收听）

美国拉丁文化月——现在进行时

In the thirty days between September 15th and October 15th, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of those United States citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

9月15日至10月15日期间的30天是美国的拉丁文化月，用以祖籍为西班牙、墨西哥、加勒比、中美洲和南美洲的美国市民的丰富历史、多样文化和繁多贡献。

In 1968, then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, intent on paying tribute to the United States' southern neighbors, proclaimed the week including September 15th and 16th to be National Hispanic Heritage week. The date was specifically chosen because, as stated in the White House proclamation that established the observance, September 15th marks the Independence Day of 5 South American countries--Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica—and September 16 is Mexico's Independence Day.

1968年，为了向美国南边的这几个好邻居致敬，时任总统林顿约翰逊指定包括阳历9月15日和16日在内的一周为拉丁文化周。之所以特意选定这两天，总统令中这样解释道：9月15日是危地马拉、萨尔瓦多、洪都拉斯、尼加拉瓜、哥斯达黎加这5个南美洲国家的独立日，而9月16日是墨西哥的独立日。

Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan extended the observance to cover the 30-day period from September 15 to October 15.

20年后，时任总统里根将这一惯例延长为9月15日到10月15日的30天。

People of Hispanic heritage have had a profound influence on the United States, contributing significantly to its development.

这些南美国家的人民对美国影响深远，贡献巨大。

In 1565, long before any other European set foot on what is today the continental United States, the first Spanish settlers built Fort St. Augustine in Northern Florida. Today, St. Augustine is still a thriving town, the country's oldest continuously occupied city.

1565年，早在欧洲人踏上现在的美国大陆之前，就有一批西班牙人在福罗里达州北部建立了圣奥古斯汀。如今，圣奥古斯汀城依然是繁华似锦的百年古城。

In the West, a string of missions along California's coast grew into some of the world's great cities, from San Diego and Los Angeles in the South to Sacramento and San Francisco in the North. And in the South West, Mexican vaqueros herded cattle across the great grass plains North of the Rio Grande over two centuries before the first Texas cowboys began their cross-country cattle drives.

加利福尼亚沿岸的很多古城都逐渐发展为国际大都市：从南方的圣地亚哥和洛杉矶，到北方的萨克拉门托和旧金山。而在第一批德克萨斯州牛仔全国牧牛的两个多世纪之前，西南部的墨西哥游牧人已经在格兰德河北部的广阔草原上牧牛了。

“Hispanics have served honorably in our Armed Forces, defending the values we hold dear. They have transformed industries with new, innovative ideas. And they have led and inspired movements that have made our Nation more equal and more just,” wrote President Barack Obama.

“拉丁人民不仅光荣入伍我们的军队，捍卫我们珍视的价值观；改旧换新，为我们带来创新理念；还引领民主运动，让我们的国家更加平等公正”，奥巴马曾如是写道。

From those with roots that trace back generations to those who have just set out in pursuit of the promise of America, they have come to represent the spirit of our Nation: that with hard work, you can build a better life for yourself and a better future for your children.

无论是祖上扎根美国的，还是为追寻美国未来希望而初来美国的，都代表着我们国家的精神，那就是：只要努力劳作，就能为自己和子孙后代打造幸福生活和美好未来。