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It's what led patriots to choose republic over tyranny, pioneers to trek west, slaves to brave that makeshift railroad to freedom.
正是這一召喚引領著愛國者推翻暴政、選擇共和，引領著西進運動，引領著勇敢的奴隸們建造通向自由的地下鐵路。
It's what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and the Rio Grande.
它也吸引著大批移民和難民越過大洋、越過格蘭德河（位于美墨之間）來到這片土地，
It's what pushed women to reach for the ballot.
鼓動女性走向投票站，
It's what powered workers to organize.
給工人們以團結的動力。
It's why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, Iraq and Afghanistan.
這是為什么美國大兵在奧馬哈海灘（譯者注：奧馬哈海灘為二戰(zhàn)諾曼底戰(zhàn)役中盟軍主要登陸點之一的代號）、硫磺島戰(zhàn)役（譯者注：硫磺島戰(zhàn)役為二戰(zhàn)太平洋戰(zhàn)爭中最激烈的戰(zhàn)斗之一）、伊拉克和阿富汗中揮灑鮮血，
And why men and women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs, as well.
為什么從塞爾瑪（譯者注：1965年馬丁·路德·金在塞爾瑪領導爭取黑人權益的抗議游行）到格林尼治石墻（譯者注：1969年美國同性戀者在格林尼治石墻酒吧進行暴力示威，爭取權利）的男男女女也都準備好了，要獻出他們的生命。
So that's what we mean when we say America is exceptional -- not that our nation has been flawless from the start,
這就是為什么我們說美國是一個獨特的國家——并不是說我們的國家從一開始就完美無瑕，
but that we have shown the capacity to change and make life better for those who follow.
而是我們有能力做出改變，讓追隨美國夢的人擁有更好的生活。
Yes, our progress has been uneven.
是的，我們?nèi)〉玫倪M步并不對每個人來說都是公平的，
The work of democracy has always been hard. It's always been contentious. Sometimes it's been bloody.
民主的事業(yè)總是艱難的、充滿爭議的，有時甚至是血腥的。
For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back.
我們前進兩步，給人的感覺卻是我們退后了一步。
But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all and not just some.
但是，美國仍然一直在前進，我們的立國信條會擁抱越來越多的人，擁抱所有人，而不只是部分人。
