U.S.President George W. Bush's farewell speech

Susan xie

http://www.56.com/u15/v_NDA2NDQ5MTY.html
George W. Bush: “This nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth.”

U.S.President George W. Bush gave a farewell speech to nation on Thursday night. The text of the speech follows:

Thank you. Fellow citizens, for eight years, it has been my honor to serve as your president.

The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence, a time set apart.

Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity toshare some thoughts on the journey we have traveled together and thefuture of our nation.

Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of Americandemocracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the presidencywill pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standingon the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose history reflects theenduring promise of our land.

This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole nation. And I join allAmericans in offering best wishes to President-elect Obama, his wife,Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.

Tonight, I am filled with gratitude to Vice President Cheney andmembers of the administration; to Laura, who brought joy to this houseand love to my life; to our wonderful daughters, Barbara and Jenna; tomy parents, whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime.

And above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have givenme. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And Ithank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity and grace thatI have witnessed these past eight years.

This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed youfrom this house, September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists tooknearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor.

I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three dayslater, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. Iremember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke- filledcorridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved onesbecame heroes aboard Flight 93.

I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son’s police shield asa reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much asit had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received abriefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to do everything inmy power to keep us safe.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security hasbeen created. The military, the intelligence community and the FBI havebeen transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools to monitor theterrorists’ movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots.

And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to theterrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from anation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned women in thestreets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraginggirls to go to school.

Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of Americato an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend ofthe United States.

There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions, but there canbe little debate about the results. America has gone more than sevenyears without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tributeto those who toil day and night to keep us safe — law enforcementofficers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomaticpersonnel, and the men and women of the United States armed forces.

Our nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defend us inthis time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selfless patriotsand their families. And America owes you a debt of gratitude.

And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight, there hasbeen no higher honor than serving as your commander in chief.

The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader struggle betweentwo dramatically different systems. Under one, a small band of fanaticsdemands total obedience to an oppressive ideology, condemns women tosubservience, and marks unbelievers for murder.

The other system is based on the conviction that freedom is theuniversal gift of Almighty God and that liberty and justice light thepath to peace.

This is the belief that gave birth to our nation. And in the long run,advancing this belief is the only practical way to protect our citizens.

When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders whopursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, theywill not cede their lives to violence and extremism.

So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rightsand human dignity. We are standing with dissidents and youngdemocracies, providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients back tolife, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this greatrepublic, born alone in liberty, is leading the world toward a new agewhen freedom belongs to all nations.

For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity and hopehere at home. Across our country, students are rising to meet higherstandards in public schools. A new Medicare prescription drug benefitis bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled. Every taxpayerpays lower income taxes.

The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through faith- basedprograms. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Funding for ourveterans has nearly doubled. America’s air, water and lands aremeasurably cleaner. And the federal bench includes wise new members,like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

When challenges to our prosperity emerged, we rose to meet them. Facingthe prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures tosafeguard our economy. These are very tough times for hardworkingfamilies, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted.

All Americans are in this together. And together, with determinationand hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth. Wewill show the world once again the resilience of America’s freeenterprise system.

Like all who have held this office before me, I have experiencedsetbacks and there are things I would do differently, if given thechance.

Yet, I’ve always acted with the best interests of our country in mind.I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. Youmay not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you canagree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.

The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country, andthere are some guiding principles that should shape our course.

While our nation is safer than it was seven years ago, the gravestthreat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies arepatient and determined to strike again.

America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But we have beengiven solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. We must resistcomplacency. We must keep our resolve. And we must never let down ourguard.

At the same time, we just continue to engage the world with confidenceand clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad, it can betempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must rejectisolationism and its companion, protectionism.

Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the 21stcentury, security and prosperity at home depend on the expansion ofliberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause of freedom, thatcause will not be led.

As we address these challenges, and others we cannot foresee tonight, America must maintain our moral clarity.

I have often spoken to you about good and evil, and this has made someuncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world and betweenthe two, there can be no compromise. Murdering the innocent to advancean ideology is wrong every time, everywhere.

Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right. Thisnation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. We must alwaysbe willing to act in their defense and to advance the cause of peace.

President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of the futurebetter than the history of the past.” As I leave the house he occupiedtwo centuries ago, I share that optimism.

America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing andrenewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes tothe broad horizon ahead.

I have confidence in the promise of America because I know thecharacter of our people. This is a nation that inspires immigrants torisk everything for the dream of freedom.

This is a nation where citizens show calm in times of danger andcompassion in the face of suffering. We see examples of America’scharacter all around us, and Laura and I have invited some of them tojoin us in the White House this evening.

We see America’s character in Dr. Tony Recasner, a principal who openeda new charter school from the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. We see it inJulio Medina, a former inmate who leads a faith-based program to helpprisoners returning to society. We see it in Staff Sgt. Aubrey McDade,who charged into an ambush in Iraq and rescued three of his fellowMarines.

We see America’s character in Bill Krissoff, a surgeon from California.His son Nathan, a Marine, gave his life in Iraq. When I met Dr.Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news. He told mehe wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of his son.

This good man was 60 years old, 18 years above the age limit. But hispetition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year he has trainedin battlefield medicine.

Lt. Cmdr. Krissoff could not be here tonight, because he will soondeploy to Iraq, where he will help save America’s wounded warriors anduphold the legacy of his fallen son.

In citizens like these we see the best of our country, resilient andhopeful, caring and strong. These virtues give me an unshakable faithin America. We have faced danger and trial, and there is more ahead.

But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great nation will never tire, never falter and never fail.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your president.There have been good days and tough days. But every day, I have beeninspired by the greatness of our country and uplifted by the goodnessof our people.

I have been blessed to represent this nation we love. And I will alwaysbe honored to carry a title that means more to me than any Other —citizen of the United States of America.

And so, my fellow Americans, for the final time, good night. May Godbless this house and our next president. And may God bless you and ourwonderful country. （CNN）

Susan xie

各位同胞：

　　过去的八年，我很荣幸地成为你们的总统。这个世纪的头十年是一个非常重要的时期。今晚，带着一颗感恩的心，我将利用这最后的机会和你们一起分享我的一些看法，对过去一起走过的时光以及我们国家未来的看法。

　　再过五天，世界将见证充满活力的美国民主政治。根据我们建国时创立的传统，总统职位将交给你们--美国人民选举出来的继任者。届时站在国会台阶上的那个人，他的经历将折射出我们这个国家长久以来的承诺。对于我们整个国家来说，这是一个充满希望和自豪的时刻。我将和其他所有美国人民一起，向当选总统奥巴马、他的妻子米歇尔以及他们两位美丽的女儿表达最美好的祝愿。

　　今晚，我的内心充满感激。我要感谢副总统切尼以及白宫的每一位工作人员；我要感谢劳拉，是她带给了这个家庭无比的快乐，带给我爱；我要感谢两名优秀的女儿--巴巴拉和杰纳；我要感谢我的父母，他们树立的榜样为我的一生提供了动力。除此之外，还我要感谢所有美国人民给予我的信任。谢谢你们的祈祷让我斗志昂扬。在过去的八年时间里，你们给了我无穷的勇气和宽厚，我对此表示深深的感谢。

　　今晚，我的思绪重新回到2001年9月11日，当时我第一次在这里发表晚间演说。那天上午，恐怖分子对美国发动了自珍珠港事件以来最为严重的恐怖袭击，造成约3000人死亡。我清楚地记得，我三天后站在世贸大楼的残骸前，周围是夜以继日不停工作的救援人员。我记得我同那些穿过五角大楼浓烟密布的走廊进行救援的勇士们交谈，同那些93号航班英雄们的妻子和爱人们对话。我还记得阿勒内-霍华德，她将自己已经牺牲的儿子的警徽送给我，提示我们所失去的一切。直到现在，我都一直保存着他的徽章。

　　随着时光流逝，绝大多数美国人重新回到了911以前的生活状态。但我却从来没有。每天早上，我都会听取国家面临威胁的一个简报。那时我会发誓要尽我最大的努力来保证我们的安全。

　　在七年前，一个全新的机构--国土安全部正式成立了。美国的军队、情报机构以及联邦调查局都进行了改造，我们的国家使用最新的装备来监控恐怖分子的动向，冻结他们的财产并且粉碎他们的阴谋。和我们强有力的盟友一起，我们对恐怖分子以及他们的支持者宣战。阿富汗原来是一个塔利班政权包庇“基地”组织，妇女走在街头会遭到石头袭击的国家，但现在却成为了一个新兴的民主国家，它在与恐怖势力做斗争并且鼓励女孩们上学。伊拉克也从一个残暴的独裁政权，一个发誓与美国不共戴天的国家，变成为中东心脏地带的民主国家，变成为美国的朋友。

　　关于这些决策存在着一些合理的争论，但对于这些结果却没有任何争议。美国在过去的7年多时间里没有再在本土遭到过恐怖袭击，这要感谢那些日夜辛勤工作保卫我们安全的人，包括执法人员、情报分析人员、国土安全和外交官员，以及美国军队的男女士兵。

　　我们的国家非常幸运地拥有这样的国民，当我们的国家处在危险之中时，他们自愿起来保卫我们的国家。我非常珍视与这些无私的爱国者以及他们家人进行的会面，美国应该感谢你们。对于那些今晚正在聆听这次演讲的男女军人们，我想说的是：这个世界上再也没有比成为你们的总司令更让人感到荣幸了。

　　我们的军队目前正在进行的战争，广义上来看其实是两种不同体系之间的战争。一种是一小撮狂热分子要求人们完全臣服于压迫的意识形态，他们迫害妇女并且杀害那些和他不一样信仰的人。另外一种体系则建立在普世的民主基础上，自由和正义照亮了和平之路。

　　我们的国家正是在这种信念下诞生的。长期来看，倡导这种信念是保卫我们国民的唯一切实有效的方法。当人们生活在民主政治中，他们就不会选举出那些追随恐怖势力的领导人。当人们对未来充满希望，他们就不会选择放弃生命来发动暴力袭击。因此，美国一直在全世界倡导自由、人权和尊严。我们向那些新兴的民主政体提供支持，向艾滋病人提供药物让垂死的病人起死回生，让母亲和婴儿们免受疟疾的困扰。这个在自由基础上诞生的伟大国家，正带领全世界走向一个新时代，这个时代民主将属于所有的国家。

　　过去八年里，我们也努力地在国内扩张机会和希望。在全国，学生们现在可以在公立学校接受条件更好的教育；新的医疗福利政府让老人和残疾人更加安心；每一位纳税人的个人所得税降低；通过信心重建计划，那些吸毒者也找到了新的希望；人们脆弱的生命得到更好的保护；为老兵提供的资金保障几乎增加一倍；美国的空气、水源以及土地比以前更加清洁。

　　当繁荣遇到挑战时，我们采取了行动。在面临金融崩溃时，我们采取了决定性的措施来保卫经济。对于那些辛苦工作的家庭来说，这是一个非常艰难的时期，但是如果我们不采取行动，后果会更严重，所有的美国人都受到了影响。团结一心的美国人将通过坚定信心和辛勤的工作来使我们的经济再次走上成长之路。我们将向世界再次展示，美国自由企业制度的坚韧性。

　和所有前任一样，我也经历过挫折，我也有一些失误。不过，我的行动总是以我们国家的最佳利益为出发点。我对的起自己的良心，采取了我认为是正确的措施。你们可能不同意我所作出的一些艰难决定，但是我希望，你们能认为，我是一位愿意作出艰难决定的总统。我们的国家在未来将面临更多的艰难选择，必须用一些指导性原则来指引我们的路线。

　　虽然我们的国家现在比七年前更为安全，但我们所面临的最严重威胁仍然是恐怖袭击。我们的敌人很有耐心，他们决心再次对我们发动袭击。美国没有试图挑起冲突或者作过任何导致冲突的错事。但我们有庄严的责任，必须负起责任。我们必须克服自满，必须保持决心，不能放松警惕。

　　与此同时，我们必须抱有信心和明确目的与世界进行接触。在面临海外威胁的情况下，人们很容易受到孤立主义的诱惑，但是我们必须抵制孤立主义和保护主义，撤退至我们的国境线内只会招来危险。在21世纪，国内的安全和繁荣取决于自由事业在海外的扩展。如果美国不领导自由事业，那么自由事业将没有领导者。

　　在我们应对这些挑战时，我们今晚还无法预测其它的挑战，美国必须保持道德上的纯洁。人们经常对你们谈起正义和邪恶，这可能使一些人感到不舒服，但是这个世界存在着正义和邪恶，两者之间不可能有妥协。无论何时何地，杀害无辜者来推动一种意识形态都是错误的，把人们从压迫和绝望中解放出来永远是正确的。美国必须为正义和真相说话。我们必须保卫它们，推进和平事业。

　　托马斯-杰斐逊总统曾写道：“我不缅怀过去的历史，而致力于未来的梦想。”在我即将离开他两个世纪前所居住的白宫时，我也持这种乐观的态度。美国是一个年轻的国家，富有活力，不断在成长和更新自己。即使是在最困难的时刻，我们也可以展望未来的前景。

　　我对美国的未来充满信心，因为我知道美国人民的性格，这是一个激发移民冒着失去所有东西的风险来追求自由梦想的国家，这是公民们在危险时刻表现平静、在遭受苦难时表现出同情心的国家。我们在身边可以看到这样的例子。我和劳拉今晚邀请了一些这样的人到白宫。

　　我们可以在托尼-里卡斯尼尔的身上看到美国的性格，这位校长在卡特里娜飓风的废墟上重建了他的学校。我们可以在胡利奥-梅迪纳看到这种性格，这位前犯人领导着一个基于信仰的项目来帮助犯人们重返社会。我们也可以在奥布里-麦克达德参谋军士身上看到这种性格，他冲入包围圈，营救出了三名海军陆战队战友。

　　我们在加州医生比尔-克里索夫身上看到了美国的这种性格，他的儿子纳塔恩作为一名海军陆战队队员在伊拉克献出了自己的生命。当我遇到克里索夫和他的家人时，他告诉我一些令我意想不到的消息：他告诉我，为了记念自己的儿子，他想加入海军医疗部门。这位好人已60岁，超过规定年龄的上限18年，但他所提出的例外申请获得了批准，他在过去一年一直在接受战场救治的训练。克里索夫中校今晚不能来到这里，因为他即将被部署至伊拉克，他将在那里帮助救护美军伤员，维护他为国牺牲的儿子所留下的遗产。

　　我们在这些公民身上看到我们国家最优良的品质：坚韧和抱有希望、有爱心和坚强。这些品质使我对美国有不可动摇的信心。我们曾面临危险和考验，未来还会有更多的危险和考验。但是借助于我们人民的勇气和我们对理想的信心，这个伟大的国家将永远不会疲倦、不会松懈，不会失败。

　　作为你们的总统为你们服务是我一生的荣耀，任期内有过好日子和艰难的日子，但我每天都被我们国家的伟大所鼓舞，为我们人民的善良所振奋。我对自己有机会代表我们所热爱的国家感到幸福，我将永远对自己是美国公民而感到荣耀，对我来说，这一身份比任何其它身份都有份量。

　　所以，我亲爱的美国同胞，让我最后一次对你们说：晚安。愿上帝保佑白宫和我们的下一位总统。愿上帝保佑你和我们这个美好的国家。(萧熙)

月明

thanks for sharing.