Change Has Come to America 变革已降临美国（在线收听）

导言阅读

贝拉克·奥巴马（1961— ）出生于美国夏威夷州火奴鲁鲁，祖籍肯尼亚（The Republicof Kenya）。父亲是一位来自肯尼亚的黑人穆斯林，母亲是堪萨斯州的白人。奥巴马是首位拥有黑人血统，并且童年在非洲成长的美国总统，在不同地方与不同文化背景的人共同生活过。

2008年11月4日，民主党总统候选人贝拉克·奥巴马在大选中击败共和党总统候选人约翰·麦凯恩，当选第44任美国总统。他的当选使民主党人夺回了已失去8年之久的总统宝座。2012年11月7日，奥巴马在美国总统选举中击败共和党候选人罗姆尼，成功连任。

演讲实录

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things arepossible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questionsthe power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nationhas never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time intheir lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be thatdifference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black,white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled Americans whosent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: weare, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical , andfearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend itonce more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election,at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in thiscampaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has enduredsacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the servicerendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they haveachieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the monthsahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spokefor the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that trainhome to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for thelast sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady,Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppythat's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know mygrandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, andknow that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the bestcampaign team ever assembled in the history of politics — you made this happen, and I amforever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to — it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or manyendorsements . Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in thebackyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to givefive dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young peoplewho rejected the myth of their generation's apathy ; who left their homes and their families forjobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter coldand scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans whovolunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of thepeople, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did itbecause you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight,we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, aplanet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we knowthere are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan torisk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fallasleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage , or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough forcollege. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build andthreats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year oreven one term, but America—I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will getthere. I promise you—we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decisionor policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I willalways be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when wedisagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it'sbeen done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years—block by block, brick by brick,calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumnnight. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make thatchange. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen withoutyou.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of usresolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let usremember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving WallStreet while Main Street suffers — in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness andimmaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from thisstate who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House — a party foundedon the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share,and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure ofhumility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said toa nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may havestrained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I haveyet to earn — I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will beyour President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces tothose who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world — our stories aresingular , but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To thosewho would tear this world down — we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security —we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright —tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might ofour arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty,opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can beperfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achievetomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that'son my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millionsof others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing — AnnNixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road orplanes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons —because she was awoman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America — theheartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and thepeople who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed , she lived to seethem stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nationconquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there towitness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, anda preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected byour own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to ascreen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and thedarkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. Sotonight, let us ask ourselves — if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughtersshould be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? Whatprogress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time — to put ourpeople back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promotethe cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth — thatout of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism,and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sumsup the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

参考译文

芝加哥的市民们，你们好！

如果还有人对美国是否凡事都有可能存疑，还有人怀疑美国奠基者的梦想在我们所处的时代是否依然鲜活，还有人质疑我们的民主制度的力量，那么今晚，这些问题都有了答案。

这是设在学校和教堂的投票站前排起的前所未见的长队给出的答案；是等了三四个小时的选民给出的答案，其中许多人都是有生以来第一次投票，因为他们认定这一次肯定会不一样，认为自己的声音会是这次大选有别于以往之所在。

这是所有美国人民共同给出的答案——无论老少贫富，无论是民主党还是共和党，无论是黑人、白人、拉美裔、亚裔、原住民，是同性恋者还是异性恋者、残疾人还是健全人——我们从来不是“红州”和“蓝州”的对立阵营，我们是美利坚合众国这个整体，永远都是。

长久以来，很多人一再受到告诫，要对我们所能取得的成绩极尽讽刺、担忧和怀疑之能事，但这个答案让这些人伸出手来把握历史，再次让它朝向美好明天的希望延伸。

已经过去了这么长时间，但今晚，由于我们在今天、在这场大选中、在这个具有决定性的时刻所做的，美国已经迎来了变革。

我刚刚接到了麦凯恩参议员极具风度的致电。他在这场大选中经过了长时间的努力奋斗，而他为自己所深爱的这个国家奋斗的时间更长、过程更艰辛。他为美国做出了我们大多数人难以想象的牺牲，我们的生活也因这位勇敢无私的领袖所做出的贡献而变得更美好。我向他和佩林州长所取得的成绩表示祝贺，我也期待着与他们一起在未来的岁月中为复兴这个国家的希望而共同努力。

我要感谢我在这次旅程中的伙伴——已当选美国副总统的拜登。他全心参与竞选活动，为普通民众代言，他们是他在斯克兰顿从小到大的伙伴，也是在他回特拉华的火车上遇到的男男女女。

如果没有一个人的坚决支持，我今晚就不会站在这里，她是我过去16年来最好的朋友、是我们一家人的中坚和我一生的挚爱，更是我们国家的下一位第一夫人：米歇尔·奥巴马。萨莎和玛丽亚，我太爱你们两个了，你们已经得到了一条新的小狗，它将与我们一起入驻白宫。虽然我的外祖母已经不在了，但我知道她与我的亲人肯定都在看着我，因为他们，我才能拥有今天的成就。今晚，我想念他们，我知道自己欠他们的无可计量。

我的竞选经理大卫·普劳夫、首席策略师大卫·艾克斯罗德以及政治史上最好的竞选团队——是你们成就了今天，我永远感激你们为实现今天的成就所做出的牺牲。

但最重要的是，我永远不会忘记这场胜利真正的归属——它属于你们。

我从来不是最有希望的候选人。一开始，我们没有太多资金，也没有得到太多人的支持。我们的竞选活动并非诞生于华盛顿的高门华第之内，而是始于得梅因、康科德、查尔斯顿这些地方的普通民众家中。

我们的竞选活动能有今天的规模，是因为辛勤工作的人们从自己的微薄积蓄中拿出钱来，捐出一笔又一笔5美元、10美元、20美元。而竞选活动的声势越来越大则是源自那些年轻人，他们拒绝接受认为他们这代人冷漠的荒诞说法；他们离开家、离开亲人，从事报酬微薄、极其辛苦的工作；同时也源自那些已经不算年轻的人们，他们冒着严寒酷暑，敲开陌生人的家门进行竞选宣传；更源自数百万的美国民众，他们自动自发地组织起来，证明了在两百多年以后，民有、民治、民享的政府并未从地球上消失。这是你们的胜利。

我知道你们的所作所为并不只是为了赢得大选，我也知道你们做这一切并不是为了我。你们这样做是因为你们明白摆在面前的任务有多艰巨。因为即便我们今晚欢呼庆祝，我们也知道明天将面临我们一生之中最为艰巨的挑战——两场战争、一个面临危险的星球，还有百年来最严重的金融危机。今晚站在此地，我们知道伊拉克的沙漠里和阿富汗的群山中还有勇敢的美国士兵醒来，甘冒生命危险保护着我们。会有在孩子熟睡后仍难以入眠的父母，担心如何偿还按揭月供、付医药费或是存够钱送孩子上大学。我们亟待开发新能源、创造新的工作机会；我们需要修建新学校，还要应对众多威胁、修复与许多国家的关系。

前方的道路会十分漫长艰辛。我们可能无法在一年甚至一届任期之内实现上述目标，但我从未像今晚这样满怀希望，相信我们会实现。我向你们承诺——我们作为一个整体将会达成目标。

我们会遭遇挫折和不成功的开端。对于我作为总统所做的每项决定和政策，会有许多人持有异议，我们也知道政府并不能解决所有问题。但我会向你们坦诚我们所面临的挑战。我会聆听你们的意见，尤其是在我们意见相左之时。最重要的是，我会请求你们参与重建这个国家，以美国221年来从未改变的唯一方式——一砖一瓦、胼手胝足。

21个月前那个寒冬所开始的一切不应该在今天这个秋夜结束。今天的选举胜利并不是我们所寻求的改变——这只是我们进行改变的机会。而且如果我们仍然按照旧有方式行事，我们所寻求的改变不可能出现。没有你们，也不可能有这种改变。

因此，让我们发扬新的爱国精神，树立新的服务意识和责任感，让我们每个人下定决心全情投入、更加努力地工作，并彼此关爱。让我们铭记这场金融危机带来的教训：我们不可能在金融以外的领域备受煎熬的同时拥有繁荣兴旺的华尔街——在这个国家，我们患难与共。

让我们抵制重走老路的诱惑，避免重新回到令美国政治长期深受毒害的党派纷争和由此引发的遗憾和不成熟中。让我们牢记，正是伊利诺伊州的一名男子首次将共和党的大旗扛到了白宫。共和党是建立在自强自立、个人自由以及全民团结的价值观上，这也是我们所有人都珍视的价值。虽然民主党今天晚上赢得了巨大的胜利，但我们是以谦卑的态度和弥合阻碍我们进步的分歧的决心赢得这场胜利的。林肯在向远比我们眼下分歧更大的国家发表讲话时说，我们不是敌人，而是朋友……虽然激情可能褪去，但是这不会割断我们感情上的联系。对于那些现在并不支持我的美国人，我想说，或许我没有赢得你们的选票，但是我听到了你们的声音，我需要你们的帮助，而且我也将是你们的总统。

那些彻夜关注美国大选的海外人士，从国会到皇宫，以及在这个世界被遗忘的角落里挤在收音机旁的人们，我们的经历虽然各有不同，但是我们的命运是相通的，新的美国领袖诞生了。那些想要颠覆这个世界的人们，我们必将击败你们。那些追求和平和安全的人们，我们支持你们。那些所有怀疑美国能否继续照亮世界发展前景的人们，今天晚上我们再次证明，我们国家真正的力量并非来自我们武器的威力或财富的规模，而是来自我们理想的持久力量：民主、自由、机会和不屈的希望。

这才是美国真正的精华——美国能够改变。我们的联邦会日臻完善。我们取得的成就为我们将来能够取得的以及必须取得的成就增添了希望。

这次大选创造了多项“第一”，也诞生了很多将世代流传的故事。但是今天晚上令我难忘的却是在亚特兰大投票的一名妇女。她和其他数百万排队等待投票的选民没有什么差别，除了一点——安·尼克松·库波尔已是106岁的高龄。

她出生的那个时代奴隶制度刚刚结束；那时路上没有汽车，天上也没有飞机；当时像她这样的人由于两个原因不能投票——一是她是女性，另一个原因是她的肤色。

今天晚上，我想到了她在美国过去一百年间所经历的种种——心痛和希望；挣扎和进步；那些我们被告知我们办不到的世代，以及那些坚信美国信条——是的，我们能做到──的人们。

曾几何时，妇女没有发言权，她们的希望化作泡影，但是安·尼克松·库波尔活了下来，看到妇女们站了起来，看到她们大声发表自己的见解，看到她们去参加大选投票。是的，我们能做到。

当30年代的沙尘暴和大萧条引发人们的绝望之情时，她看到一个国家用罗斯福新政、新就业机会以及对新目标的共同追求战胜恐慌。是的，我们能做到。

当炸弹袭击了我们的海港、独裁专制威胁到全世界，她见证了美国一代人的伟大崛起，见证了一个民主国家被拯救。是的，我们能做到。

她看到蒙哥马利通了公交车、伯明翰接上了水管、塞尔马建了桥，一位来自亚特兰大的传教士告诉人们：我们能成功。是的，我们能做到。

人类登上月球、柏林墙倒下，世界因我们的科学和想象被连接在一起。今年，就在这次选举中，她用手指触碰屏幕投下自己的选票，因为在美国生活了106年之后，经历了最好的时光和最黑暗的时刻之后，她知道美国如何能够发生变革。是的，我们能做到。

美国，我们已经走过漫漫长路。我们已经历了很多。但是我们仍有很多事情要做。因此今夜，让我们自问——如果我们的孩子能够活到下个世纪；如果我们的女儿有幸活得和安一样长，他们将会看到怎样的改变？我们将会取得怎样的进步？

现在是我们回答这个问题的机会。这是我们的时刻。这是我们的时代——让我们的人民重新就业，为我们的后代敞开机会的大门；恢复繁荣发展，推进和平事业；让“美国梦”重新焕发光芒，再次证明这样一个基本的真理——我们是一家人；一息尚存，我们就有希望；当我们遇到嘲讽和怀疑，当有人说我们办不到的时候，我们要以这个永恒的信条来回应他们：

是的，我们能做到。感谢你们。上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。

Vocabulary Bank

1. cynical ［'sinik?l ］adj 愤世嫉俗的

They've grown rather cynical about democracy.

他们逐渐感到所谓民主制度也不过如此。

2. gracious ［'ɡrei??s ］adj 和善的，有礼貌的，大方的He was most gracious to everyone, smiling and thanking them.

他对大家彬彬有礼，向他们微笑，道谢。

3. unyielding ［?n'ji:ldi? ］adj （在压力和影响下）不让步的，坚固的The mattress was hard and unyielding.

这床垫很硬，没有弹性。

4. endorsement ［in'd?:sm?nt ］n 违章记录，赞同，支持Her son has had two endorsements for speeding.

她儿子的驾驶执照上有两次超速记录。

5. apathy ［'?p?θi ］n 无积极性，漠不关心

Extreme poverty had reduced them to a state of apathy.

极端的贫困使他们万念俱灰。

6. enormity ［i'n?:miti ］n 巨大，严重罪行

Such enormities would not be tolerated today.

这种严重罪行今日是不能容忍的。

7. mortgage ［'m?:ɡi? ］n 抵押，抵押契据

It's difficult to get a mortgage on an old house.

以旧房作抵押很难获准。

8. setback ［'setb?k ］n 挫折，失败

Hopes of an early end to the strike received a severe set-back yesterday.

希望罢工早些结束，这一愿望昨日严重受挫。

9. temptation ［temp'tei??n ］n 劝诱，诱惑

The bag of sweets on the table was too strong a temptation for the child to resist.

桌上那包糖果对那孩子是个难以抗拒的诱惑。

10. singular ［'si?ɡjul? ］adj 单数的，异常的What is the singular form of ‘children’?

children的单数形式是什么？

11. genius ［'?i:nj?s ］n 天才，创造力

It is rare to find such genius nowadays.

这样的天才现在非常罕见。

12. dismiss ［dis'mis ］v 对某人/某事不予理睬或不屑一提She was dismissed as a dreamer.

人们认为她是个空想家而不予理睬。

13. conquer ［'k??k? ］v 击败（敌人、对手等）The mountain was not conquered until 1953.

1953年以前，从未有人能攀登到这座山的山顶。

14. reclaim ［ri'kleim ］v 恢复或收回某事物

He managed to reclaim young offenders from a life of crime.

他成功挽救了失足少年脱离罪恶的生活。

15. reaffirm ［'ri:?'f?:m ］v 重申（某事物），再确认She reaffirmed that she was prepared to help.

她再次表明她乐于提供帮助。

Language Guide

Democrats and Republicans

美国民主党与美国共和党

美国的民主党（Democratic Party）与共和党（Republican Party）是美国轮流执政的两大政党。民主党在经济议题上的立场比共和党更为左倾，前总统克林顿转变了民主党的政策走向，民主党的意识形态色彩逐渐淡化。自奥巴马执政后，民主党开始更趋向于左倾的自由派与进步主义。共和党的前身为1792年成立的民主共和党。共和党被视为是社会保守主义，经济古典自由主义的代表，在外交和国防问题上倾向采取强硬态度。

Red States and Blue States

红色州与蓝色州

在美国，红色州指当地选民倾向投票给共和党的州，红色为共和党的代表色。蓝色州指当地选民倾向投票给民主党的州，蓝色为民主党的代表色。

Joe Biden

乔·拜登

乔·拜登（Joe Biden）1942年出生于美国一个中产阶级家庭，曾是美国特拉华州的律师和政治家，是美国现任副总统。他曾于1988年和2008年两度竞选美国总统，均告失败，并于2008年和2012年两度作为奥巴马的竞选搭档。

First Lady

第一夫人

第一夫人是一个国家元首的妻子，一般用来形容一个国家或联邦州领导人的妻子。国家元首出访，参加活动多携第一夫人参加。第一夫人并非公职，在某种意义上，她首先是一种礼仪和形象的存在。所以，大部分第一夫人们总是让自己尽量切合传统角色。

Grammar Master

1. even作为副词，可以用以加强出乎意料的语气，意为“甚至、连、都、即使”。

例　He never even opened the letter.

他甚至都没把信打开。

例　Even a child can understand the book.

甚至连孩子都看得懂这本书。

even也可用以加强比较级的语气，表示“甚至，还”的语气。

例　You know even less about it than I do.

你对此事知道得比我还少。

例　She's even more intelligent than her sister.

她甚至比姐姐还聪明。

even as用作复合连词，意为“正当，恰恰”。

例　Even as he shouted the warning, the car skidded.

就在他高喊注意的时候，汽车滑动了。

注意区别even as与even so，后者用作连词，表示“尽管如此，然而，不过”。

例　There are many spelling mistakes; even so it's quite a good essay.

这篇文章有许多拼写错误，然而仍不失之为好文章。

2. let's 和let us并不完全相同。let us的us既可指说话者一方（此时表示请求或命令），也可以指说话者和听话者双方（此时表示建议或劝诱，此用法在语体上较正式）。而let's中的's则只能指说话者和听话者双方（表示建议或劝诱），不能指说话者一方（即不能用来表示命令或请求）。

例　Let's tell you what we saw in the museum.（误）Let us tell you what we saw in the museum.（正）让我们告诉你我们在博物馆里看到的情况。

例　Let's be friends.（较口语化）

Let us be friends.（较正式）

我们做朋友吧。

在反意疑问句中，当表示请求或命令时，用will you；表示建议或劝诱时，用shallwe。

例　Let's go swimming together, shall we?（较口语化）Let us go swimming together, shall we?（较正式）我们一起去游泳好吗？

例　Let us go with you, will you?（正）

Let's go with you, will you［shall we］?（误）让我们跟你一起去好吗?