背景:1863年11月19日,正值美國內戰中葛底斯堡戰役結束后四個半月,林肯在賓夕法尼亞州葛底斯堡的葛底斯堡國家公墓(Gettysburg National Cemetery)揭幕式中發表演說,哀悼在長達5個半月的葛底斯堡之役中陣亡的將士。林肯的演講于當天第二順位發表,修辭細膩周密,成為美國歷史上最偉大的演說之一。出乎意料的是,盡管這場演說名垂青史,聲震寰宇,其確切之措辭卻頗受爭議。五份已知的演說稿,與當時新聞報導中的謄抄本,在若干細節上都有差異。不過足夠
精彩片段:
Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that Nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that Nation might live.
87年前,我們的先輩們在這個大陸上創立了一個新國家,它孕育于自由之中,奉行一切人生來平等的原則。現在我們正從事一場偉大的內戰,以考驗這個國家,或者任何一個孕育于自由和奉行上述原則的國家是否能夠長久存在下去。我們在這場戰爭中的一個偉大戰場上集會。烈士們為使這個國家能夠生存下去而獻出了自己的生命,我們來到這里,是要把這個戰場的一部分奉獻給他們作為最后安息之所。
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 come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
2009年1月20日,近200萬美國民眾聚集在華盛頓的國家廣場(National Mall),在這個1963年馬丁路德金高呼“I have a dream”的地方,見證美國歷史上第一位黑人總統的誕生。中午12點剛過,奧巴馬將手放在林肯1861年宣誓就職時用過的《圣經》上宣誓就任美國第44任總統。這次演講的題目是New Era of Responsibility(開創負責任的新時代),整個演說振奮人心,充滿著對美國歷史的追溯和對未來生活的希望。
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.