.google и 最近重读了2008年Obama胜选时候发表的演讲,抛开政治说辞和观点不谈,这的确是近年来难得的激励人心的演讲,每次读都会感到震撼。我想起了当年在中关村图书大厦的外文区,这个演说的音频作为某本教材的sample被反复播放,我后来一直听到上句能接下句,记得住哪里有抑扬顿挫,哪里有停顿和掌声。。特别是现在重温,真是感慨万千。
随手节选一部分:
"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you! It belongs to you.
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I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards 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 give 5 dollars and 10 dollars and 20 dollars to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory!"
1. the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy
这句话的背景是大家普遍认为当代的年轻人没有那么热衷于国家大事,无所谓,冷漠(apathy)。 但是Obama表示在这次选举中,年轻人也活跃的起来,担当起了选民的责任,所以对他们的刻板印象是一种不靠谱的无稽之谈(myth).Myth这个词用的特别传神,它常用意思是故事和传说,这里是指 a popular belief,or an unfounded or false notion.
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2.the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat...
Brave作为动词,表示to face or endure with courage. 不再年轻的人们,勇敢地面对酷暑和严寒(bitter cold and scorching heat),挨家挨户地敲门拉选票。一个简单的动词,言简意赅地把大家选举时的辛勤付出表现出来。
3. a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth
前半部分引用林肯著名的Gettysburg Address中的名言,表现的是理想的一种政府状态。 has not perished 再次激起人们的信心:其实先贤们缔造的理想国度尚在人间啊!-baidu 1point3acres