And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it’s our turn. Now, it’s our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for — the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.
所以,在这个时刻,随着我们逐步收缩在伊拉克的战事,我们必须全力以赴,坚定不移,以在海外服务的我国军人的同心同德的精神迎接国内的种种挑战。他们经受了面临的一切考验。现在,轮到我们了。现在我们有责任以他们为榜样,共同努力,我们大家同心协力,捍卫世世代代无数人为之奋斗的理想——更美好的生活在等待着每一个愿意为之努力,为之奋斗的人。
Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.
我们最紧迫的使命是恢复我国经济,使数百万失业的美国人重返工作岗位。为了加强我们的中产阶级,我们必须为我们所有的孩子提供他们应得的教育机会,为我们所有的工人提供他们参与全球经济竞争所必要的技术。我们必须大力推动能创造就业机会的行业,结束我们对外国石油的依赖。我们必须发挥创新精神,使新产品源源不断流出我们的装配线,鼓励我国企业家发挥自己的创意。这并非易事。然而,在未来的日子里,这必须是我国人民的核心使命,也是我作为总统的中心职责。
Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and we will do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That’s why we’ve already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We’re treating the signature wounds of today’s wars — post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury — while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we’re funding a Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II — including my grandfather — become the backbone of our middle class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.
这项职责的内容之一是,确保我们履行我们向那些如此英勇地为国效力的军人做出的承诺。 只要我还担任总统,我们将维持举世无双的作战部队,我们将竭尽全力为我们的退伍军人提供良好的服务,如同他们为我们效力一样。这是一种神圣的信任。这正是为什么几十年来我们已又一次为退伍军人提供大量拨款的原因。我们正在医治当代战争特有的创伤--创伤后压力症候群及创伤性脑损伤--同时为我们全体退伍军人提供他们应得的医疗服务和福利。我们正为《后9/11军人安置法案》拨款,帮助我们的退伍军人及家庭追求大学教育的梦想。《军人安置法案》曾为二战老兵--其中包括我祖父--提供了帮助,使他们成为我们中产阶级的支柱,因此,今天的男女军人也必须有机会为壮大美国经济施展才华。以负责任的方式结束战争,从某些方面来说需要支持那些曾经参加作战的人员。