GW Bush:

我现在就是站在笼子里向你们讲话


小布什任期届满离职之前有过一段脍炙人口的演讲：


“人类千万年的历史，最为珍贵的不是令人炫目的科技，不是浩瀚的大师们的经典著作，不是政客们天花乱坠的演讲，而是实现了对统治者的驯服，实现了把他们关在笼子里的梦想。因为只有驯服了他们，把他们关起来才不会害人。我现在就是站在笼子里向你们讲话。”

美国普通老百姓比较喜欢小布什，就是因为这位“牛仔”总统比较诚实。


布什告别演说（英文全文）


[George W. Bush: “This nation must continue to speak out forjustice and truth.” U.S.President George W. Bush gave a farewell speech to nation onThursday night]
The text of the speech follows:

Thank you. Fellow citizens, for eight years, it has been myhonor to serve as your president.
The first decade of this new century has been a period ofconsequence, a time set apart.
Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a finalopportunity to share some thoughts on the journey we have traveledtogether and the future of our nation.

Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality ofAmerican democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, thepresidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the Americanpeople. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whosehistory reflects the enduring promise of our land.

This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole nation. And Ijoin all Americans in offering best wishes to President-electObama, 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 thishouse and love to my life; to our wonderful daughters, Barbara andJenna; to my parents, whose examples have provided strength for alifetime.
And above all, I thank the American people for the trust youhave given me. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted myspirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage,generosity and grace that I have witnessed these past eightyears.

This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressedyou from this house, September 11, 2001. That morning, terroriststook nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since PearlHarbor.

I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Centerthree days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been workingaround the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who chargedthrough smoke- filled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands andwives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93.

I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son’s policeshield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry hisbadge.

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to lifemuch as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, Ireceived a briefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to doeverything in my power to keep us safe.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Securityhas been created. The military, the intelligence community and theFBI have been transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools tomonitor the terrorists’ movements, freeze their finances, and breakup their plots.

And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight tothe terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gonefrom a nation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned womenin the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror andencouraging girls to go to school.

Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy ofAmerica to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and afriend of the United States.

There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions, butthere can be little debate about the results. America has gone morethan seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. Thisis a tribute to those who toil day and night to keep us safe — lawenforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security anddiplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United Statesarmed forces.

Our nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defendus in this time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selflesspatriots and their families. And America owes you a debt ofgratitude.

And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight, therehas been no higher honor than serving as your commander inchief.

The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader strugglebetween two dramatically different systems. Under one, a small bandof fanatics demands total obedience to an oppressive ideology,condemns women to subservience, and marks unbelievers formurder.

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

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

When people live in freedom, they do not willingly chooseleaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope inthe future, they will not cede their lives to violence andextremism.

So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, humanrights and human dignity. We are standing with dissidents and youngdemocracies, providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients backto life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And thisgreat republic, born alone in liberty, is leading the world towarda new age when freedom belongs to all nations.
For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity andhope here at home. Across our country, students are rising to meethigher standards in public schools. A new Medicare prescriptiondrug benefit is bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled.Every taxpayer pays lower income taxes.

The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through faith-based programs. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Fundingfor our veterans has nearly doubled. America’s air, water and landsare measurably cleaner. And the federal bench includes wise newmembers, like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

When challenges to our prosperity emerged, we rose to meet them.Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisivemeasures to safeguard our economy. These are very tough times forhardworking families, but the toll would be far worse if we had notacted.
All Americans are in this together. And together, withdetermination and hard work, we will restore our economy to thepath of growth. We will show the world once again the resilience ofAmerica’s free enterprise 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 inmind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought wasright. You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, butI hope you can agree that I was willing to make the toughdecisions.
The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country,and there are some guiding principles that should shape ourcourse.

While our nation is safer than it was seven years ago, thegravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Ourenemies are patient and determined to strike again.
America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But wehave been given solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. Wemust resist complacency. We must keep our resolve. And we mustnever let down our guard.

At the same time, we just continue to engage the world withconfidence and clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad,it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we mustreject isolationism and its companion, protectionism.

Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the21st century, security and prosperity at home depend on theexpansion of liberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause offreedom, that cause will not be led.

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

I have often spoken to you about good and evil, and this hasmade some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in thisworld and between the two, there can be no compromise. Murderingthe innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time,everywhere.
Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right.This nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. Wemust always be willing to act in their defense and to advance thecause of peace.

President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of thefuture better than the history of the past.” As I leave the househe occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism.

America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growingand renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift oureyes to the broad horizon ahead.

I have confidence in the promise of America because I know thecharacter of our people. This is a nation that inspires immigrantsto risk 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 themto join us in the White House this evening.

We see America’s character in Dr. Tony Recasner, a principal whoopened a new charter school from the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. Wesee it in Julio Medina, a former inmate who leads a faith-basedprogram to help prisoners returning to society. We see it in StaffSgt. Aubrey McDade, who charged into an ambush in Iraq and rescuedthree of his fellow Marines.

We see America’s character in Bill Krissoff, a surgeon fromCalifornia. His son Nathan, a Marine, gave his life in Iraq. When Imet Dr. Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news.He told me he wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of hisson.
This good man was 60 years old, 18 years above the age limit.But his petition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year hehas trained in battlefield medicine.

Lt. Cmdr. Krissoff could not be here tonight, because he willsoon deploy to Iraq, where he will help save America’s woundedwarriors and uphold the legacy of his fallen son.

In citizens like these we see the best of our country, resilientand hopeful, caring and strong. These virtues give me an unshakablefaith in America. We have faced danger and trial, and there is moreahead.

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 yourpresident. There have been good days and tough days. But every day,I have been inspired by the greatness of our country and upliftedby the goodness of our people.

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

And so, my fellow Americans, for the final time, good night. MayGod bless this house and our next president. And may God bless youand our wonderful country.