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12001年美国总统布什就职演说InauguralAddressofGeorgeW.BushJanuary20,2001PresidentClinton,distinguishedguestsandmyfellowcitizens:Thepeacefultransferofauthorityisrareinhistory,yetcommoninourcountry.Withasimpleoath,weaffirmoldtraditionsandmakenewbeginnings.AsIbegin,IthankPresidentClintonforhisservicetoournation;andIthankVicePresidentGoreforacontestconductedwithspiritandendedwithgrace.Iamhonoredandhumbledtostandhere,wheresomanyofAmerica'sleadershavecomebeforeme,andsomanywillfollow.Wehaveaplace,allofus,inalongstory.Astorywecontinue,butwhoseendwewillnotsee.Itisthestoryofanewworldthatbecameafriendandliberatoroftheold,astoryofaslave-holdingsocietythatbecameaservantoffreedom,thestoryofapowerthatwentintotheworldtoprotectbutnotpossess,todefendbutnottoconquer.ItistheAmericanstory.Astoryofflawedandfalliblepeople,unitedacrossthegenerationsbygrandandenduringideals.ThegrandestoftheseidealsisanunfoldingAmericanpromisethateveryonebelongs,thateveryonedeservesachance,thatnoinsignificantpersonwaseverborn.Americansarecalledupontoenactthispromiseinourlivesandinourlaws;andthoughournationhassometimeshalted,andsometimesdelayed,wemustfollownoothercourse.Throughmuchofthelastcentury,America'sfaithinfreedomanddemocracywasarockinaragingsea.Nowitisaseeduponthewind,takingrootinmanynations.Ourdemocraticfaithismorethanthecreedofourcountry,itistheinbornhopeofourhumanity,anidealwecarrybutdonotown,atrustwebearandpassalong;andevenafternearly225years,wehavealongwayyettotravel.Whilemanyofourcitizensprosper,othersdoubtthepromise,eventhejustice,ofourowncountry.TheambitionsofsomeAmericansarelimitedbyfailingschoolsandhiddenprejudiceandthecircumstancesoftheirbirth;andsometimesourdifferencesrunsodeep,itseemsweshareacontinent,butnotacountry.Wedonotacceptthis,andwewillnotallowit.Ourunity,ourunion,istheseriousworkofleadersandcitizensineverygeneration;andthisismysolemnpledge,Iwillworktobuildasinglenationofjusticeandopportunity.IknowthisisinourreachbecauseweareguidedbyapowerlargerthanourselveswhocreatesusequalinHisimageandweareconfidentinprinciplesthatuniteandleadusonward.Americahasneverbeenunitedbybloodorbirthorsoil.Weareboundbyidealsthatmoveusbeyondourbackgrounds,liftusaboveourinterestsandteachuswhatitmeanstobecitizens.Everychildmustbetaughttheseprinciples.Everycitizenmustupholdthem;andeveryimmigrant,byembracingtheseideals,makesourcountrymore,notless,American.Today,weaffirmanewcommitmenttoliveoutournation'spromisethroughcivility,courage,compassionandcharacter.America,atitsbest,matchesacommitmenttoprinciplewithaconcernforcivility.Acivilsocietydemandsfromeachofusgoodwillandrespect,fairdealingandforgiveness.Someseemtobelievethatourpoliticscanaffordtobepettybecause,inatimeofpeace,thestakesofourdebatesappearsmall.ButthestakesforAmericaareneversmall.Ifourcountrydoesnotleadthecauseoffreedom,itwillnotbeled.Ifwedonotturntheheartsofchildrentowardknowledgeandcharacter,wewilllosetheirgiftsandunderminetheiridealism.Ifwepermitoureconomytodriftanddecline,thevulnerablewillsuffermost.Wemustliveuptothecallingweshare.Civilityisnotatacticorasentiment.Itisthedeterminedchoiceoftrustovercynicism,ofcommunityoverchaos.Thiscommitment,ifwekeepit,isawaytosharedaccomplishment.America,atitsbest,isalsocourageous.Ournationalcouragehasbeenclearintimesofdepression2andwar,whendefendingcommondangersdefinedourcommongood.Nowwemustchooseiftheexampleofourfathersandmotherswillinspireusorcondemnus.Wemustshowcourageinatimeofblessingbyconfrontingproblemsinsteadofpassingthemontofuturegenerations.Together,wewillreclaimAmerica'sschools,beforeignoranceandapathyclaimmoreyounglives;wewillreformSocialSecurityandMedicare,sparingourchildrenfromstruggleswehavethepowertoprevent;wewillreducetaxes,torecoverthemomentumofoureconomyandrewardtheeffortandenterpriseofworkingAmericans;wewillbuildourdefensesbeyondchallenge,lestweaknessinvitechallenge;andwewillconfrontweaponsofmassdestruction,sothatanewcenturyissparednewhorrors.Theenemiesoflibertyandourcountryshouldmakenomistake,Americaremainsengagedintheworldbyhistoryandbychoice,shapingabalanceofpowerthatfavorsfreedom.Wewilldefendouralliesandourinterests;wewillshowpurposewithoutarrogance;wewillmeetaggressionandbadfaithwithresolveandstrength;andtoallnations,wewillspeakforthevaluesthatgaveournationbirth.America,atitsbest,iscompassionate.InthequietofAmericanconscience,weknowthatdeep,persistentpovertyisunworthyofournation'spromise.Whateverourviewsofitscause,wecanagreethatchildrenatriskarenotatfault.AbandonmentandabusearenotactsofGod,theyarefailuresoflove.Theproliferationofprisons,howevernecessary,isnosubstituteforhopeandorderinoursouls.Wherethereissuffering,thereisduty.Americansinneedarenotstrangers,theyarecitizens,notproblems,butpriorities,andallofusarediminishedwhenanyarehopeless.Governmenthasgreatresponsibilitiesforpublicsafetyandpublichealth,forcivilrightsandcommonschools.Yetcompassionistheworkofanation,notjustagovernment.Someneedsandhurtsaresodeeptheywillonlyrespondtoamentor'stouchorapastor'sprayer.Churchandcharity,synagogueandmosquelendourcommunitiestheirhumanity,andtheywillhavea