評論
打印
And what a century it has been. America became the world s mightiest industrial power; saved the world from tyranny in two world wars and a long cold war; and time and again, reached out across the globe to millions who, like us, longed for the blessings of liberty.
這是怎樣的一個世紀啊。美國成為世界上最強大的工業大國，它把世界從兩次世界大戰和曠日持久的冷戰的暴虐中拯救出來，并且一再向全球上百萬像我們一樣渴望自由賜福的人們伸出援助之手。
Along the way, Americans produced a great middle class and security in old age; built unrivaled centers of learning and opened public schools to all; split the atom and explored the heavens; invented the computer and the microchip; and deepened the wellspring of justice by making a revolution in civil rights for African Americans and all minorities, and extending the circle of citizenship, opportunity and dignity to women.
在這一進程中，美國產生了龐大的中產階級和養老保障制度；建立了無與倫比的學習中心，并對全民開放公立學校；分裂了原子且探索了太空；發明了計算機和微芯片；通過發起一場非裔美國人和少數民族的民權革命及擴大婦女的公民權利、就業機會和人身尊嚴，從而深掘了正義之泉。
Now, for the third time, a new century is upon us, and another time to choose. We began the 19th century with a choice, to spread our nation from coast to coast. We began the 20th century with a choice, to harness the Industrial Revolution to our values of free enterprise, conservation, and human decency. Those choices made all the difference.
現在，也是第三次，一個新世紀到來，這又是一個選擇的時候。我們進入十九世紀時有一個選擇，使得我們國家從一個海岸擴展到另一個海岸。我們進入二十世紀時又有一個選擇，使得工業革命能符合我們的價值觀，即自由經營、養護環境、和捍衛人格尊嚴。這些選擇使得一切迥然不同。
