肯尼迪就职演说中文 肯尼迪就职演说(John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address)

肯尼迪就职演说(John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address)  

约翰·肯尼迪自幼受到良好的教育，最后读了哈佛大学和斯坦福大学，1940年毕业。第二次世界大战中肯尼迪加入美国海军，在对日作战中负伤。战后，肯尼迪29岁即当选为议员，后三次连任。他在1953 年9月12 日与杰奎琳·布维尔结婚，生有二子一女。

1960年肯尼迪参加总统竞选。他提出“新边疆”的竞选口号，倡导在科学技术、经济发展、战争与和平等各个领域开拓新天地。1961年，肯尼迪在选民投票过程中以极小的差距赢得总统的位置，击败了共和党人尼克松，成为美国历史上最年轻的总统，也是第一个罗马天主教总统。

在肯尼迪的就职演说中说道：“不要问你的国家能为你做什么？而要问你能为你的国家做什么。”作为总统，他开始履行他的竞选承诺再次使美国运转起来。他上台后并非一切如愿。任职开始就遇到了美国入侵古巴惨败的事实。他为了寻得平等的权利采取有力措施，要求新公民权利立法。他给予民族文化的质量和艺术在一起至关重要的社会中心角色。他希望美国恢复老的任务作为致力于人权的革命的最早的民族。 由于发展和和平小组的联盟，他对发展中国家的帮助为美国人带来理想主义。1963年，正当肯尼迪踌躇满志要进一步干一番事业的时候，他遇刺身亡。

我的美国同胞们，不要问你的国家能为你做些什么，而要问你能为你的国家做些什么。
my fellow Americans
ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

演讲全文：John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address

Vice President Johnson
Mr. Speaker
Mr. Chief Justice
President Eisenhower
Vice President Nixon
President Truman
Reverend Clergy
fellow citizens:

We observe today not a victory of party
but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end
as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal
as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man e not from the generosity of the state
but from the hand of God.

We dare not fet today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place
to friend and foe alike
that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century
tempered by war
disciplined by a hard and bitter peace
proud of our ancient heritage
and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been mitted
and to which we are mitted today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know
whether it wishes us well or ill
that we shall pay any price
bear any burden
meet any hardship
support any friend
oppose any foe
to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge -- and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share
we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

To those new states whom we wele to the ranks of the free
we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that
in the past
those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery
we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves
for whatever period is required -- not because the Communists may be doing it
not because we seek their votes
but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor
it cannot save the few who are rich.

To our sister republics south of our border
we offer a special pledge: to convert our good words into good deeds
in a new alliance for progress
to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot bee the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To that world assembly of sovereign states
the United Nations
our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace
we renew our pledge of support -- to prevent it from being merely a forum for invective
to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak
and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

Finally
to those nations who would make themselves our adversary
we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace
before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

But neither can o great and powerful groups of nations take fort from our present course -- both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons
both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom
yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness
and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear
but let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides
for the first time
formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms
and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars
conquer the deserts
eradicate disease
tap the ocean depths
and encourage the arts and merce.

Let both sides unite to heed
in all corners of the earth
the mand of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens
and [to] let the oppressed go free."?
And
if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion
let both sides join in creating a new endeavor -- not a new balance of power
but a new world of law -- where the strong are just
and the weak secure
and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days; nor in the life of this Administration; nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this pla. But let us begin.

In your hands
my fellow citizens
more than mine
will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded
each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms
though arms we need -- not as a call to battle
though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long ilight struggle
year in and year out
"rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation
"?a struggle against the mon enemies of man: tyranny
poverty
disease
and war itself.

Can we fe against these enemies a grand and global alliance
North and South
East and West
that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world
only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I wele it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy
the faith
the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so
my fellow Americans
ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world
ask not what America will do for you
but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally
whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world
ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward
with history the final judge of our deeds
let us go forth to lead the land we love
asking His blessing and His help
but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.