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约翰·肯尼迪就职演讲稿FRIDAY,JANUARY20,1961VicePresidentJohnson,Mr.Speaker,Mr.ChiefJustice,PresidentEisenhower,VicePresidentNixon,PresidentTruman,reverendclergy,fellowcitizens,weobservetodaynotavictoryofparty,butacelebrationoffreedom--symbolizinganend,aswellasabeginning--signifyingrenewal,aswellaschange.ForIhaveswornIbeforeyouandAlmightyGodthesamesolemnoathourforebearslprescribednearlyacenturyandthreequartersago.Theworldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortalhandsthepowertoabolishallformsofhumanpovertyandallformsofhumanlife.Andyetthesamerevolutionarybeliefsforwhichourforebearsfoughtarestillatissuearoundtheglobe--thebeliefthattherightsofmancomenotfromthegenerosityofthestate,butfromthehandofGod.Wedarenotforgettodaythatwearetheheirsofthatfirstrevolution.Letthewordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,tofriendandfoealike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationofAmericans--borninthiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage--andunwillingtowitnessorpermittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisNationhasalwaysbeencommitted,andtowhichwearecommittedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld.Leteverynationknow,whetheritwishesuswellorill,thatweshallpayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe,inordertoassurethesurvivalandthesuccessofliberty.Thismuchwepledge--andmore.Tothoseoldallieswhoseculturalandspiritualoriginsweshare,wepledgetheloyaltyoffaithfulfriends.United,thereislittlewecannotdoinahostofcooperativeventures.Divided,thereislittlewecando--forwedarenotmeetapowerfulchallengeatoddsandsplitasunder.TothosenewStateswhomwewelcometotheranksofthefree,wepledgeourwordthatoneformofcolonialcontrolshallnothavepassedawaymerelytobereplacedbyafarmoreirontyranny.Weshallnotalwaysexpecttofindthemsupportingourview.Butweshallalwayshopetofindthemstronglysupportingtheirownfreedom--andtorememberthat,inthepast,thosewhofoolishlysoughtpowerbyridingthebackofthetigerendedupinside.Tothosepeoplesinthehutsandvillagesacrosstheglobestrugglingtobreakthebondsofmassmisery,wepledgeourbesteffortstohelpthemhelpthemselves,forwhateverperiodisrequired--notbecausetheCommunistsmaybedoingit,notbecauseweseektheirvotes,butbecauseitisright.Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoarerich.Tooursisterrepublicssouthofourborder,weofferaspecialpledge--toconvertourgoodwordsintogooddeeds--inanewallianceforprogress--toassistfreemenandfreegovernmentsincastingoffthechainsofpoverty.Butthispeacefulrevolutionofhopecannotbecomethepreyofhostilepowers.LetallourneighborsknowthatweshalljoinwiththemtoopposeaggressionorsubversionanywhereintheAmericas.AndleteveryotherpowerknowthatthisHemisphereintendstoremainthemasterofitsownhouse.Tothatworldassemblyofsovereignstates,theUnitedNations,ourlastbesthopeinanagewheretheinstrumentsofwarhavefaroutpacedtheinstrumentsofpeace,werenewourpledgeofsupport--topreventitfrombecomingmerelyaforumforinvective--tostrengthenitsshieldofthenewandtheweak--andtoenlargetheareainwhichitswritmayrun.Finally,tothosenationswhowouldmakethemselvesouradversary,weoffernotapledgebutarequest:thatbothsidesbeginanewthequestforpeace,beforethedarkpowersofdestructionunleashedbyscienceengulfallhumanityinplannedoraccidentalself-destruction.Wedarenottemptthemwithweakness.Foronlywhenourarmsaresufficientbeyonddoubtcanwebecertainbeyonddoubtthattheywillneverbeemployed.Butneithercantwogreatandpowerfulgroupsofnationstakecomfortfromourpresentcourse--bothsidesoverburdenedbythecostofmodernweapons,bothrightlyalarmedbythesteadyspreadofthedeadlyatom,yetbothracingtoalterthatuncertainbalanceofterrorthatstaysthehandofmankind'sfinalwar.Soletusbeginanew--rememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andsincerityisalwayssubjecttoproof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear.Butletusneverfeartonegotiate.Letbothsidesexplorewhatproblemsuniteusinsteadofbelaboringthoseproblemswhichdivideus.Letbothsides,forthefirsttime,formulateseriousandpreciseproposalsfortheinspectionandcontrolofarms--andbringtheabsolutepowertodestroyothernationsundertheabsolutecontrolofallnations.Letbothsidesseektoinvokethewondersofscienceinsteadofitsterrors.Togetherletusexplorethestars,conquerthedeserts,eradicatedisease,taptheoceandepths,andencouragetheartsandcommerce.LetbothsidesunitetoheedinallcornersoftheearththecommandofIsaiah--toundotheheavyburdens...andtolettheoppressedgofree.Andifabeachheadofcooperationmaypushbackthejungleofsuspicion,letbothsidesjoinincreatinganewendeavor,notanewbalanceofpower,butanewworldoflaw,wherethestrongarejustandtheweaksecureandthepeacepreserved.Allthiswillnotbefinishedinthefirst100days.Norwillitbefinishedinthefirst1,000days,norinthelifeofthisAdministration,norevenperhapsinourlifetimeonthisplanet.Butletusbegin.Inyourhands,myfellowcitizens,morethaninmine,willrestthefinalsuccessorfailureofourcourse.Sincethiscountrywasfounded,eachgenerationofAmericanshasbeensummonedtogivetestimonytoitsnationalloyalty.ThegravesofyoungAmericanswhoansweredthecalltoservicesurroundtheglobe.Nowthetrumpetsummonsusagain--notasacalltobeararms,thougharmsweneed;notasacalltoba