美国历届总统们的圣诞致辞 谈爱与信仰
来源 陌上美国
从富兰克林·罗斯福(Franklin D。 Roosevelt)总统开始,美国总统每年都会在圣诞节的那天,在华盛顿特区白宫附近的国家圣诞树前,发表讲话。
总统们通常在这天表达圣诞节的意义,传递对民众的祝福。
这里汇编了自罗斯福总统以来十多位美国总统的圣诞节致辞,与读者朋友们分享,祝大家节日快乐!
1944年12月24日富兰克林·罗斯福
“Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional American way- because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will。 But, in perhaps every home in the United States, sad and anxious thoughts will be continually with the millions of our loved ones who are suffering hardships and misery, and who are risking their very lives to preserve for us and for all mankind the fruitsof His teachings and the foundations of civilization itself。”Address to the Nation, December 24, 1944
在这里,在我们的家园,我们用美国的传统方式庆祝圣诞节——它对我们有深刻的精神意义。因为基督的教义是我们生活的基础。
希望年青的一代也知道这个传统的意义,以及带来和平善良的、永生的天父之子的故事。
但是,悲伤和焦虑可能仍将不断地出现。我们所爱的数百万人,依然在遭受苦难和痛苦;或在为我们和全人类的教义和文明根基,承受生命危险。
1949年12月24日哈里·杜鲁门
“Let us not on this Christmas, in our enjoyment of the abundance with which Providence has endowed us, forget those who, because of the cruelty of war, have no shelter — those multitudes for whom, in the phrase of historic irony, there is no room in the inn。”Address given during the National Community Christmas Tree, December 24, 1949
在这个圣诞节,当我们享受着神赋予的快乐富足时,不要忘记那些因残酷战争而失去避难所的人——那些在讽刺性的冰冷的历史阶段,无容身之处的成千上万的人。
1953年12月24日德怀特·艾森豪威尔
“Tonight, richly endowed in the good things of the earth, in the fellowship of our neighbors and the love of our families, would it not be fitting for each of us to speak in prayer to the Father of all men and women on this earth, of whatever nation, and of every race and creed — to ask that He help us — and teach us — and strengthen us — and receive our thanks。”
Remarks Upon Lighting the National Community Christmas Tree。 December 24, 1953
今晚,受世间美好万物的泽被,让我们在邻里和睦和家庭关爱中,共同祈祷:愿天父保佑地球上的男男女女,不分国家、种族和信仰——请他帮助我们——并教导我们——让我们强大——并得到我们的感恩。
1962年12月17日约翰·肯尼迪
“For nearly 2,000 years the message of Christmas, the message of peace and good will towards all men, has been the guiding star of our endeavors 。。。 (Christmas) is the day when we remind ourselves that man can and must live in peace with his neighbors and that it is the peacemakers who are truly blessed。”
Remarks at the Pageant of Peace Ceremonies, December 17, 1962。
近两千年来,圣诞节的信息,和平的信息以及对所有人的祝福,一直是我们开启新生活前进的指路明灯。。。。。。
圣诞节是提醒自己需要而且必须和邻里和平相处的日子,是和平安康真正的缔造时刻。
1966年12月23日林顿·约翰逊
“In every generation the burden of protecting liberty has fallen to a few stouthearted men。 We Americans celebrate this holy season in liberty because our forebears had the courage, the determination, the will to sacrifice, that was equal to the challenges before them。”
Christmas Message to the Americans in Viet-Nam。 December 23, 1964
在每一代人中,保护自由的重担都落到了少数勇敢而坚韧的人身上。
美国人在自由中庆祝这个神圣的季节。因为我们的先辈们有勇气、决心和牺牲精神,承担了空前的挑战。
1971年12月23日理查德·尼克松
“As we give to one another, in the spirit of Christmas, let us give of ourselves。 For one of the lessons of Christmas is this: among God‘s greatest gifts to man is the gift of giving itself, and the more we give of ourselves the more of ourselves we have to give。”
Christmas Message December 23, 1971
当我们互相奉献时,本着圣诞的精神,让我们放下小我。
圣诞节的一个启示就是:上帝给人类的最伟大的礼物,是给予精神。我们在懂得感恩中升华了自己。
1975年12月24日杰拉尔德·福特
“The spirit of Christmas is ageless, irresistible and knows no barriers。 It reaches out to add a glow to the humblest of homes and the stateliest of mansions。 It catches up saint and sinner alike in its warm embrace。 It is the season to be jolly — but to be silent and prayerful as well。”
Christmas Message December 24,1975
圣诞节的精神永恒,不可抗拒,无坚不摧。
无论是最卑微的家庭还是最豪华的庄园,都能平等地感受到它的光芒。它也一视同仁地将圣徒和罪人揽入温暖的怀中。
这是一个欢乐的季节——同时也要保持安静和虔诚。
1977年12月15日吉米·卡特
“Our Nation is not one of solemn faces and sad demeanors, but our Nation is one of hope and vision and even happiness。 And Christmas is a time to remind us that even when we do suffer and are disappointed in the United States and live even a dismal life, compared to our own immediate neighbors, compared to most of the rest of the world, we indeed have a joyous life and a wonderful life。 God has blessed us in this country。”
Christmas Pageant of Peace Remarks on Lighting the National Community Christmas Tree, December 15, 1977
我们拥有的不是一个充斥冷酷和哀怨国民的国家,而是充满着希望、愿景和幸福的地方。
圣诞节提醒我们,即使美国人也遭受着痛苦和失望,有的人或过着不尽人意的生活,但与世界上大多数人相比,与我们的近邻相比,我们拥有着更快乐美好的日子。
上帝保佑着我们的国家。
1981年12月23日罗纳德·里根
“Some celebrate Christmas as the birthday of a great and good philosopher and teacher。 Others of us believe in the divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace。 Yes, we‘ve questioned why he who could perform miracles chose to come among us as a helpless babe, but maybe that was his first miracle, his first great lesson that we should learn to care for one another。”
Address to the Nation About Christmas and the Situation in Poland December 23, 1981
有的人因为一位伟大而优秀的先哲和导师的诞生,而庆祝圣诞节。
我们其他人相信这个伯利恒出生的孩子的神性,他是和平之子。
是的,我们疑惑,能够创造奇迹的人,为什么却选择以一个无助的幼婴的身份降生到我们中间。
或许这就是他的第一个奇迹,伟大的第一课,那就是,我们应该学会关怀照顾彼此。
1990年12月18日乔治·H·W·布什
“Christ‘s brief time on Earth was devoted to tending the physical and spiritual needs of His flock: healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and illuminating the path to eternal salvation。 His Incarnation radically altered the course of human history by challenging men and women to live according to the will of our just and merciful Father in Heaven。 Today, Christ’s message of hope and redemption -- first delivered on that holy night in the City of David -- continues to bring peace and joy to millions of people around the world。”
Message on the Observance of Christmas December 18, 1990。
基督在世间短暂的一生,都奉献给了照顾他人,从身体到精神:治愈病人,救济饥饿的人,照亮人通往永恒救赎的路。
他的化身,通过挑战男人和女人,彻底改变了人类的历史进程。让人按照公正仁慈的天国中的天父的意愿去生活。
今天,基督的祝福和救赎的信息——首先于那个神圣的夜晚从大卫城传递——继续为全世界数百万人带来安康和欢乐。
1995年12月20日比尔·克林顿
“The Christmas story is dear and familiar to us all—shepherds and angels, Wise Men and King Herod, Mary and Joseph, and, at the heart of it all, a Child。 This Child was born into poverty in a city too crowded to offer Him shelter。 He was sent to a region whose people had endured suffering, tyranny, and exile。 And yet this Child brought with Him riches so great that they continue to sustain the human spirit two thousand years later: the assurance of God‘s love and presence in our lives and the promise of salvation。”
Message on the Observance of Christmas, December 20, 1995。
我们所有人对圣诞故事都感到亲切而熟悉——牧羊人和天使,智者和希律王,玛丽和约瑟夫,以及一切的中心,圣婴。
这个孩子出生在一个人口过度拥挤、贫困,连庇护所都找不到的城市。后来,他被发配到一个人民遭受着苦难、暴政和流亡的地方。
然而,这个孩子带来了如此伟大的精神财富,让后世传承了两千年:保证上帝之爱存在于我们的生活中,承诺救赎。
2003年12月23日乔治·W·布什
“The Christmas season fills our hearts with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives。 With those blessings comes a responsibility to reach out to others。 Many of our fellow Americans still suffer from the effects of illness or poverty。 Others fight cruel addictions, cope with division in their families, or grieve the loss of a loved one。 Christmastime reminds each of us that we have a duty to love our neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves。”
Christmas Statement, December 23, 2003。
圣诞是我们对生活中的各种幸运满怀感激的季节。这些祝福促使我们与他人友善往来。
许多美国同胞仍然遭受着疾病或贫困的影响。一些人则要对抗(毒品)上瘾,处理家庭中的分裂,或承受着失去亲人的悲伤。
圣诞提醒每个人,我们有责任爱我们的邻居,就像我们希望自己被关爱一样。
2013年12月16日巴拉克·奥巴马
“Each Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a child who came into the world with only a stable’s roof to shelter Him。 But through a life of humility and the ultimate sacrifice, a life guided by faith and kindness towards others, Christ assumed a mighty voice, teaching us lessons of compassion and charity that have lasted more than two millennia。 He ministered to the poor。 He embraced the outcast。 He healed the sick。 And in Him we see a living example of scripture that we ought to love others not only through our words, but also through our deeds。”
Address given during the National Community Christmas Tree, December 16, 2013。
每逢圣诞节,我们都会庆祝圣婴的诞生。
他出生在贫民窟,一个只剩屋顶的避难所。但是,通过谦卑的生活和最终的牺牲,他度过了一种以信仰和善良为导向的人生。
基督发出强大的声音,教导我们慈悲和善良,缔造了延续两千多年的传统。
他为穷人服务,接受被抛弃的人,医治病人。
透过他的灵魂,我们看到一个鲜明生动的例子,爱别人不是光靠说,而是落实于行动。