我们的国家和未来令人担忧 I 布什9/11二十周年演讲（中英文，含视频）

《纽约时间》出品

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编辑：Schnappi

第六篇

【编者按】

2021年9月11日，全国纪念2001年9月11日恐怖袭击20周年。20年前的这一天，恐怖组织“基地”组织驾驶被劫持的飞机撞向世界贸易中心、宾夕法尼亚州的尚克斯维尔（Shanksville）和五角大楼，造成近3000人死亡。

庄严仪式在最近从阿富汗撤军和塔利班重新掌权的局面之后进行，平添几分感伤。

从8时46分至10时28分，全美各地共进行了6次默哀，时间点分别代表2001年9月11日双子塔遭撞击和倒塌、五角大楼遇袭，以及美联航93号航班在宾夕法尼亚州坠毁的6个时刻。

在尚克斯维尔的93航班国家纪念馆举行的9/11纪念活动中，美国前总统乔治·W·布什发表了演讲。演讲中，他将国内暴力极端分子与9/11恐怖分子相提并论。以下为演讲中英文全文以及演讲视频。

值得一提的是，演讲视频时长9分11秒。

本文为《纽约时间》9/11二十周年特辑的第六篇。

9/11二十周年特辑：

第一篇

：

恐惧驱使美国

第二篇：没有人比伊斯兰激进分子更有理由庆祝9/11二十周年

第三篇：反恐二十年，美国受到了更大的伤害

第四篇：9/11华裔英雄空姐的最后几分钟

第五篇：20年，持续辨认9/11遇难者遗骸

这就是我认识的美国

演讲：乔治·W·布什

译：新约客

Thank you very much. Laura and I are honored to be with you. Madam Vice President, Vice President Cheney. Governor Wolf, Secretary Haaland, and distinguished guests:

非常感谢你们。劳拉（布什夫人，译者注）和我很荣幸能与你们在一起。副总统女士，副总统切尼（Dick Cheney，布什任期时副总统），沃尔夫州长（ Tom Wolf，宾州第47任州长），哈兰德部长（Deb Haaland，美国内政部部长），各位尊敬的来宾：

Twenty years ago, we all found -- in different ways, in different places, but all at the same moment -- that our lives would be changed forever. The world was loud with carnage and sirens, and then quiet with missing voices that would never be heard again. These lives remain precious to our country, and infinitely precious to many of you. Today we remember your loss, we share your sorrow, and we honor the men and women you have loved so long and so well.

20年前，我们都发现 —— 不同方式，不同地点，同一时刻 —— 我们的生活将被永远改变。这个世界，先是因大屠杀和警报声而震耳欲聋，然后又因那些失踪的声音再也听不到而静默。这些生命，对我们的国家仍然珍贵，对你们中的许多人，也同样无限珍贵。今天，我们缅怀你们的损失，我们与你们同悲，我们向你们永久深爱的男人和女人致敬。

For those too young to recall that clear September day, it is hard to describe the mix of feelings we experienced. There was horror at the scale -- there was horror at the scale of destruction, and awe at the bravery and kindness that rose to meet it. There was shock at the audacity -- audacity of evil -- and gratitude for the heroism and decency that opposed it. In the sacrifice of the first responders, in the mutual aid of strangers, in the solidarity of grief and grace, the actions of an enemy revealed the spirit of a people. And we were proud of our wounded nation.

对于那些太年轻的人，要回忆起那个晴朗的九月天，很难描述我们所经历的种种感受。有对规模—— 毁坏的规模 —— 的惊恐，也有对迎击毁坏的勇敢和善良的敬畏。我们震惊于这种胆大妄为—— 邪恶的胆大妄为，也对反对这种行为的英雄主义和正义凛然深怀感激。在救生队员的牺牲中，在陌生人的互助中，在悲痛和恩典的团结中，一个敌人的行动令一个民族的精神得以彰显。我们为我们遭受创伤的国家感到骄傲。

In these memories, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 must always have an honored place. Here the intended targets became the instruments of rescue. And many who are now alive owe a vast, unconscious debt to the defiance displayed in the skies above this field.

在这些记忆里，93航班的乘客和机组人员必须永远拥有一个光荣的位置。在这里，预定的目标变成了救援的工具。因为他们在这片土地之上的天空进行的捍卫，许多现在还活着的人都欠他们一笔巨大的、无意识的债务。

It would be a mistake to idealize the experience of those terrible events. All that many people could initially see was the brute randomness of death. All that many could feel was unearned suffering. All that many could hear was God's terrible silence. There are many who still struggle with a lonely pain that cuts deep within.

将那些可怕事件的经历理想化是一个错误。许多人最初能看到的只是死亡残酷的随机性；许多人所能感受到的只是不应有的痛苦；许多人能够听到的只是上帝可怕的沉默；许多人，仍然在内心深处，在孤独的痛苦中挣扎。

In those fateful hours, we learned other lessons as well. We saw that Americans were vulnerable, but not fragile -- that they possess a core of strength that survives the worst that life can bring. We learned that bravery is more common than we imagined, emerging with sudden splendor in the face of death. We vividly felt how every hour with our loved ones was a temporary and holy gift. And we found that even the longest days end.

在那致命的几个小时里，我们也学到了其他。我们看到，美国人是脆弱的，但不是易碎的 —— 他们拥有力量的核心，可以在生活最糟糕的情况下生存；我们明白，勇敢比我们想象的更常见，它们会在面对死亡时辉煌乍现；我们真切地感受到，与我们所爱的人在一起的每一个小时都是一个暂时而神圣的礼物；我们也发现，即使是最长的日子，也会结束。

Many of us have tried to make spiritual sense of these events. There is no simple explanation for the mix of providence and human will that sets the direction of our lives. But comfort can come from a different sort of knowledge. After wandering long and lost in the dark, many have found they were actually walking, step by step, toward grace.

我们许多人都试图从这些事件获精神意义。对于那些决定了我们生活方向的，天意和人意的混合，没有简单的解释。而安慰可以来自不同的认识。在黑暗中迷失、徘徊日久之后，许多人发现，他们实际上正在前行，一步一步地，走向恩典。

As a nation, our adjustments have been profound. Many Americans struggled to understand why an enemy would hate us with such zeal. The security measures incorporated into our lives are both sources of comfort and reminders of our vulnerability. And we have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within. There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home. But in their disdain for pluralism, in their disregard for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols, they are children of the same foul spirit. And it is our continuing duty to confront them.

作为一个国家，我们的变化是深刻的。许多美国人努力理解为什么一个敌人会如此狂热地仇恨我们。融入我们生活的安全措施既是安慰的来源，也提醒我们的脆弱性。我们已经看到，越来越多的证据表明，我们国家面临的危险不仅来自于边境之外，也同样来自于在内部集结的暴力。国外的暴力极端分子和国内的暴力极端分子在文化上几乎没有重叠，但他们对多元化的蔑视，对人类生命的漠视，对玷污国家象征的决心，都是同一个邪恶灵魂的孩子。而我们，继续有责任对抗他们。

After 9/11, millions of brave Americans stepped forward and volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces. The military measures taken over the last 20 years to pursue dangers at their source have led to debate. But one thing is certain: We owe an assurance to all who have fought our nation's most recent battles. Let me speak directly to veterans and people in uniform: The cause you pursued at the call of duty is the noblest America has to offer. You have shielded your fellow citizens from danger. You have defended the beliefs of your country and advanced the rights of the downtrodden. You have been the face of hope and mercy in dark places. You have been a force for good in the world. Nothing that has followed -- nothing -- can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments. To you, and to the honored dead, our country is forever grateful.

9/11之后，数百万勇敢的美国人挺身而出，自愿服役。过去20年，为从源头上追击危险而采取的军事措施争议不断，但有一件事是肯定的：我们应该肯定所有参加过我们国家最近的战斗的人。让我直接对退伍军人和穿制服的人说话：你们奉命追求的事业是美国所提供的最崇高的事业；你们保护了你们的同胞免受危险；你们捍卫了你们国家的信仰，促进了被压迫者的权利；在黑暗之地，你们是希望和仁慈的代言人；你们一直是这个世界的善意之师。接下来的一切 —— 一切 —— 都不能玷污你们的荣誉或削弱你们的成就。我们的国家将永远感谢你们，以及那些光荣牺牲的人。

In the weeks and months following the 9/11 attacks, I was proud to lead an amazing, resilient, united people. When it comes to the unity of America, those days seem distant from our own. A malign force seems at work in our common life that turns every disagreement into an argument, and every argument into a clash of cultures. So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear, and resentment. That leaves us worried about our nation and our future together.

在9/11袭击后的几周和几个月里，我很自豪地领导着一个了不起的、坚韧的、团结的人民。谈到美国的团结，那些日子似乎离我们很遥远。一股邪恶的力量看来正在我们的公共生活中作祟，它把每一个分歧变成争执，把每一个争执变成文化冲突。我们的大部分政治已经沦为对愤怒、恐惧和怨恨赤裸裸的呼吁。这让我们对我们的国家与未来感到担忧。

I come without explanations or solutions. I can only tell you what I have seen.

我不企图解释或提出解决办法。我只能告诉你们我所看到的一切。

On America's day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor's hand and rally to the cause of one another. That is the America I know.

At a time when religious bigotry might have flowed freely, I saw Americans reject prejudice and embrace people of Muslim faith. That is the nation I know.

At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome to immigrants and refugees. That is the nation I know.

At a time when some viewed the rising generation as individualistic and decadent, I saw young people embrace an ethic of service and rise to selfless action. That is the nation I know.

在美国经受考验和悲痛的日子里，我看到千百万人民本能地抓住邻舍的手，为彼此而团结奋斗。这就是我认识的这个美国。

在宗教偏见可能肆意泛滥之时，我看到美国人拒绝偏见，拥抱信仰穆斯林的人。这就是我认识的这个国家。

在本土主义可能激起对被视为外来者的仇恨和暴力之时，我看到美国人重申他们对移民和难民的欢迎。这就是我认识的这个国家。

在一些人认为正在成长的这一代个人主义和颓废堕落之时，我看到年轻一代拥抱服务伦理，无私行动。这就是我认识的这个国家。

This is not mere nostalgia; it is the truest version of ourselves. It is what we have been -- and what we can be again.

这不是单纯的怀旧；这是最真实的我们自己。这是我们曾经的样子，也是我们可以再次成为的样子。

Twenty years ago, terrorists chose a random group of Americans, on a routine flight, to be collateral damage in a spectacular act of terror. The 33 passengers and 7 crew of Flight 93 could have been any group of citizens selected by fate. In a sense, they stood in for us all.

The terrorists soon discovered that a random group of Americans is an exceptional group of people. Facing an impossible circumstance, they comforted their loved ones by phone, braced each other for action, and defeated the designs of evil.

These Americans were brave, strong, and united in ways that shocked the terrorists -- but should not surprise any of us. This is the nation we know. And whenever we need hope and inspiration, we can look to the skies and remember.

20年前，在一次例行的飞行中，恐怖分子随机选择了一群美国人，让他们成为一次大规模恐怖行动的牺牲品。93号航班上的33名乘客和7名机组人员可能是被命运选中的任何一群公民。在某种意义上，他们代表了我们所有人。

而恐怖分子们很快发现，一群随机的美国人也是一群特殊的人。面对一个不可能的情况，他们打电话安慰自己的所爱，然后相互支持采取行动，并打败了邪恶的计划。

这些美国人勇敢、坚强、团结，让恐怖分子感到震惊 —— 但不应该让我们任何人惊讶。这就是我们认识的这个国家。每当我们需要希望和鼓舞，我们都能仰望天空并记住这一切。

God bless.

上帝保佑。