哂囂處讐後InauguralAddress.doc

哂囂處讐後InauguralAddress VicePresidentJohnson,Mr.Speaker,Mr.ChiefJustice,PresidentEisenhower,VicePresidentNixon,PresidentTruman,ReverendClergy,fellowcitizens: Weobservetodaynotavictoryofparty,butacelebrationoffreedomsymbolizinganend,aswellasabeginningsignifyingrenewal,aswellaschange.ForIhaveswornbeforeyouandAlmightyGodthesamesolemnoathourforebearsprescribednearlyacenturyandthreequartersago. Theworldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortalhandsthepowertoabolishallformsofhumanpovertyandallformsofhumanlife.Andyetthesamerevolutionarybeliefsforwhichourforebearsfoughtarestillatissuearoundtheglobethebeliefthattherightsofmanenotfromthegenerosityofthestate,butfromthehandofGod. Wedarenotforgettodaythatwearetheheirsofthatfirstrevolution.Letthewordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,tofriendandfoealike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationofAmericansborninthiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage,andunwillingtowitnessorpermittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisnationhasalwaysbeenmitted,andtowhichwearemittedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld. Leteverynationknow,whetheritwishesuswellorill,thatweshallpayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe,toassurethesurvivalandthesuccessofliberty. Thismuchwepledgeandmore. Tothoseoldallieswhoseculturalandspiritualoriginsweshare,wepledgetheloyaltyoffaithfulfriends.Unitedthereislittlewecannotdoinahostofcooperativeventures.Dividedthereislittlewecandoforwedarenotmeetapowerfulchallengeatoddsandsplitasunder. Tothosenewstateswhomweweletotheranksofthefree,wepledgeourwordthatoneformofcolonialcontrolshallnothavepassedawaymerelytobereplacedbyafarmoreirontyranny.Weshallnotalwaysexpecttofindthemsupportingourview.Butweshallalwayshopetofindthemstronglysupportingtheirownfreedomandtorememberthat,inthepast,thosewhofoolishlysoughtpowerbyridingthebackofthetigerendedupinside. Tothosepeopleinthehutsandvillagesofhalftheglobestrugglingtobreakthebondsofmassmisery,wepledgeourbesteffortstohelpthemhelpthemselves,forwhateverperiodisrequirednotbecausetheCommunistsmaybedoingit,notbecauseweseektheirvotes,butbecauseitisright.Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoarerich. Tooursisterrepublicssouthofourborder,weofferaspecialpledge:toconvertourgoodwordsintogooddeeds,inanewallianceforprogress,toassistfreemenandfreegovernmentsincastingoffthechainsofpoverty.Butthispeacefulrevolutionofhopecannotbeethepreyofhostilepowers.LetallourneighborsknowthatweshalljoinwiththemtoopposeaggressionorsubversionanywhereintheAmericas.Andleteveryotherpowerknowthatthishemisphereintendstoremainthemasterofitsownhouse. Tothatworldassemblyofsovereignstates,theUnitedNations,ourlastbesthopeinanagewheretheinstrumentsofwarhavefaroutpacedtheinstrumentsofpeace,werenewourpledgeofsupporttopreventitfrombeingmerelyaforumforinvective,tostrengthenitsshieldofthenewandtheweak,andtoenlargetheareainwhichitswritmayrun. Finally,tothosenationswhowouldmakethemselvesouradversary,weoffernotapledgebutarequest:thatbothsidesbeginanewthequestforpeace,beforethedarkpowersofdestructionunleashedbyscienceengulfallhumanityinplannedoraccidentalselfdestruction. Wedarenottemptthemwithweakness.Foronlywhenourarmsaresufficientbeyonddoubtcanwebecertainbeyonddoubtthattheywillneverbeemployed. Butneithercantwogreatandpowerfulgroupsofnationstakefortfromourpresentcoursebothsidesoverburdenedbythecostofmodernweapons,bothrightlyalarmedbythesteadyspreadofthedeadlyatom,yetbothracingtoalterthatuncertainbalanceofterrorthatstaysthehandofmankindsfinalwar. Soletusbeginanewrememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andsincerityisalwayssubjecttoproof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate. Letbothsidesexplorewhatproblemsuniteusinsteadofbelaboringthoseproblemswhichdivideus. Letbothsides,forthefirsttime,formulateseriousandpreciseproposalsfortheinspectionandcontrolofarms,andbringtheabsolutepowertodestroyothernationsundertheabsolutecontrolofallnations. Letbothsidesseektoinvokethewondersofscienceinsteadofitsterrors.Togetherletusexplorethestars,conquerthedeserts,eradicatedisease,taptheoceandepths,andencouragetheartsandmerce. Letbothsidesunitetoheed,inallcornersoftheearth,themandofIsaiahtoundotheheavyburdens,andtolettheoppressedgofree.1 And,ifabeachheadofcooperationmaypushbackthejungleofsuspicion,letbothsidesjoinincreatinganewendeavornotanewbalanceofpower,butanewworldoflawwherethestrongarejust,andtheweaksecure,andthepeacepreserved. Allthiswillnotbefinishedinthefirstonehundreddays.Norwillitbefinishedinthefirstonethousanddays;norinthelifeofthisAdministration;norevenperhapsinourlifetimeonthisplanet.Butletusbegin. Inyourhands,myfellowcitizens,morethanmine,willrestthefinalsuccessorfailureofourcourse.Sincethiscountrywasfounded,eachgenerationofAmericanshasbeensummonedtogivetestimonytoitsnationalloyalty.ThegravesofyoungAmericanswhoansweredthecalltoservicesurroundtheglobe. Nowthetrumpetsummonsusagainnotasacalltobeararms,thougharmsweneednotasacalltobattle,thoughembattledwearebutacalltobeartheburdenofalongtwilightstruggle,yearinandyearout,rejoicinginhope;patientintribulation,2astruggleagainstthemonenemiesofman:tyranny,poverty,disease,andwaritself. Canweforgeagainsttheseenemiesagrandandglobalalliance,NorthandSouth,EastandWest,thatcanassureamorefruitfullifeforallmankind?Willyoujoininthathistoriceffort? Inthelonghistoryoftheworld,onlyafewgenerationshavebeengrantedtheroleofdefendingfreedominitshourofmaximumdanger.IdonotshrinkfromthisresponsibilityIweleit.Idonotbelievethatanyofuswouldexchangeplaceswithanyotherpeopleoranyothergeneration.Theenergy,thefaith,