奧巴馬卸任演講（四）
So we see that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try talking with one in real life. If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Stay at it. Sometimes you’ll win. Sometimes you'll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk. And there will be times when the process will disappoint you. But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in America – and in Americans will be confirmed.
所以你可以看到這是我們民主的要求。它需要你的參與。不僅在大選投票時，不僅在你狹隘的利益受到威脅時，而是貫穿著整個生命過程。如果你厭倦與陌生人在互聯網上爭論，大可嘗試回到現實找個人聊天;如果有什麼東西需要修補，大可繫好鞋帶，擼起袖子加油幹;如果你對當選的官員感到失望，大可拿出剪貼板，爭取簽名，自己來參與競選。大膽表現，專注做事，持之以恆，或成或敗。就算存著好心去做事也有風險，可能也會給你帶來失望。但對於我們這些幸運者而言，這是工作的一部分。坦白講，當接近它，你就能從中獲得激勵和啟發。在大多數情況下，你對於美國以及美國人的信仰，遲早都會得到印證。
Mine sure has been. Over the course of these eight years, I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers. I’ve mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace in Charleston church. I’ve seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, I’ve seen wounded warriors who at point, were given up for dead walk again. I’ve seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks. I’ve seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through the generosity of our obligations to care for refugees or work for peace, and above all to look out for each other.
我的經歷就證明了這點。在過去8年的任職中，我從年輕的畢業生以及軍官中看到過充滿希望的臉龐;我為悲傷的家庭哀悼，尋求答案，並在查爾斯頓的教堂找到了恩惠;我見過科學家幫助一個癱瘓的人恢復觸覺，我見過受傷的戰士們又重新站立起來; 我見過我們的醫生和志願者在地震後重建，盡其職責，阻止流行病的爆發;我看到最小的兒童通過行動提醒我們如何用最大的善意與責任照顧難民，為和平而努力。總而言之，讓我們彼此幫助。
So that faith I placed all those years ago, not far from here, in the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change – that faith has been rewarded in ways I couldn’t have possibly imagined. And I hope yours has to. Some of you here tonight are watching at home were there with us in 2004, 2008, 2012. Maybe you still can’t believe we pulled this whole thing off.
只有這樣，多年來我所一直堅持著的信仰，並不遠離，藉助普通美國民眾的力量來實現改變，才能像今天那樣得以達成，這是我們過去所不敢想象的。同意我希望你們的信念也可以（實現）。你們現場當中的某人或者守候在電視機前的某人都一直團結著，有些從 2004 年， 2008 年，和2012 年就這了，可能你依然無法相信，我們居然至今同行。
Let me tell you--You’re not the only ones. Michelle, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the south side, for the past twenty-five years, you’ve not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. You took on a role you didn’t ask for and you made it your own with grace and grit and with style and good humor. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody. And a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. So you’ve made me proud. You’ve made the country proud.
讓我告訴你，你們並不是唯一不相信的人，米歇爾。米歇爾•拉範恩•羅賓森，來自南方你女孩，過去二十五年，你不僅是我的妻子和孩子的母親，而且是我最好的朋友。你扮演一個無所求的角色，而且你做得很出色。憑藉著你的優雅、勇氣、氣度和幽默。你使白宮成為屬於每個人的地方。而新一代的之所以視野更高，是因為他們有你作為榜樣。你令我感到自豪。你讓國家感到自豪。
Malia and Sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women, you are smart and you are beautiful, but more importantly, you are kind and thoughtful and full of passion. And you wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad.
瑪麗亞和薩莎，在這種最奇特的環境中，你們成為兩個驚人的年輕女性，聰明又美麗，但更重要的是，善良、周到且充滿激情。你在聚光燈下承受了多年的負擔，依然輕鬆面對。回顧我一生中的成就，最自豪的是成為你們的父親。
To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favorite son. You were the first decision I made as a nominee, and it was the best. Not just because you have been a great Vice President, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother. We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our lives.
致敬喬·拜登，來自斯克蘭頓的淘氣小孩，後來成為了最受歡迎的特拉華之子：當我成為候選人時你是我的第一個決定、也是最佳選擇。不僅僅是因為你是一位如此出色的副總統，更使我收穫了一位兄弟。我們像家人一樣愛你和你的妻子吉爾，我們的友誼是我們生命中最大的快樂之一。
To my remarkable staffs. For eight years and for some of you, a whole lot more. I’ve drawn from your energy, and every day, I tried to reflect back what you displayed: heart, and character, and idealism. I’ve watched you grow up, get married, have kids, and start incredible new journeys of your own. Even when times got tough and frustrating, you never let Washington get the better of you. You guard against cynicism. And the only thing that makes me prouder than all the good we’ve done is the thought of amazing things that you’re gonna achieve from here
致敬我最棒的團隊：8 年以來——對你們中的有些人來說，時間更長——我從你們身上獲取能量，並每天試圖回想你們每天所展現的真心、品性和理想主義。我見證了你們成長、結婚、生子，以及開始你們自己的美妙的新旅程。甚至在困難和沮喪的時候，你們都從來沒有讓華盛頓的政治打敗自己，變成憤世嫉俗的人。我們一起取得的成績已經足夠榮耀，唯一讓我更自豪的是想到你們未來將會取得的非凡成績。
And all of you out there, every organizer who moved to an unfamiliar town, every kind family who welcomed them in, every volunteer who knocked on doors, every young person who cast a ballot for the first time, every American who lived and breathed the hard work of change, you are the best supporters and organizers anyone could ever hope for. And I will be forever grateful. Because you did change the world. You did.
以及致敬你們所有人——每一個搬到陌生城鎮的組織者，每一個接納他們的家庭，每一位上門拜訪的志願者，每一個首次投票的年輕人，每一個親身體味改變之艱難的美國人。你們是所有人都想要的支持者和組織者，我將永遠心存感激。因為是你們改變了世界。你做到了.
And that’s why leave the stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than when we started. Because I know our work has not only helped so many Americans, it has inspired so many Americans. Especially so many young people out there, to believe you can make a difference, to hitch your wagon to something bigger than yourselves. Let me tell you, this generation coming up – unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic. I’ve seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair, just, inclusive America; you know that constant change has been America’s hallmark, something not to fear but to embrace, and you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward. You’ll soon outnumber all of us, and I believe as a result that the future is in good hands.
這也是為什麼今晚我離開這個舞臺後，我們可以比開始時對這個國家的未來更加樂觀。因為我知道我們的工作不僅幫助和很多美國人，它也鼓舞瞭如此多的美國人——尤其是那麼多的年輕人——相信自己會有所作為，對偉大的事業抱有雄心。我來告訴你們，無私、利他、創新、愛國的一代已經到來，我在這個國家的每一個角落都能看到你們。你們堅信一個公平、正義和包容的美國，你們知道美國的標誌就是不斷改變，這不是應該恐懼而是應該擁抱的，你們會努力讓艱難的民主進程不斷向前。很快，你們就會超過我們，因此，我相信未來會在更好的人手中。
My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won’t stop. In fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my remaining days. But for now, whether you’re young or you are young at heart, I do have one final ask of you as your President – the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago.
美利堅的同胞們，服務你們是我一生的榮幸。我不會止步，實際上，我的餘生都會以公民身份和你們在一起。但現在，不管你年輕還是心態年輕，我作為總統向你們提出最後一個請求——和 8 年前你們選我做總統時的請求一樣。
I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.
我請求你們相信。不是我的能力帶來了改變，而是你們。
I am asking you to hold fast to that a written into our founding documents; that ideal whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written:
Yes We Can.
Yes We Did.
Yes We Can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
我要求你堅持那些被寫進建國綱領的精神;那些奴隸以及廢奴主義者低聲細語的想法;那些移民和家園被竊取者追求正義的靈魂歌唱;那些把旗幟插在國外戰場和月球表面的人的信念重申;那些每一個故事還沒有被書寫的美國人內心堅持的信念。
是的，我們可以的。
是的，我們做到了。
是的，我們可以的。
謝謝!
願上帝保佑你們，願上帝繼續保佑美利堅合眾國!
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