闲聊美国大选（8）乔·拜登接受民主党总统候选人提名时的演讲全文（

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拜登 at DNC2020

你知道吗，我爸爸是个正直、体面的人。他被狠狠地撞倒了几次，但他总是站起来。

他努力工作，为我们家建立了一个很好的中产阶级生活。

他常说：“乔伊，我不指望政府能解决我的问题，但我希望政府能理解我的问题。”

然后他会说：“乔伊，一份工作远远不止关于薪水。它关乎你的尊严。它关系到尊重。它关系到你在社区中的位置。它关系到，你看着你孩子的眼睛说，亲爱的，一切都会好起来的。”

我从来没有忘记那些教导。

这就是为什么我的经济计划都是关于工作，尊严，尊重和社区。共同努力，我们可以，而且我们将重建我们的经济。而且，当我们这样做的时候，我们不仅会重建它，我们还会重建得更好。

现代公路、桥梁、高速公路、宽带、港口和机场做为经济增长的新基础。用管道把干净的水输送到每个社区。拥有500万新的制造业和技术工作岗位，所以未来将是美国制造。

在他（译者注：他指现任总统）正在试图摧毁的平价医疗法案基础上建立一个医疗保健体系来降低保险费、免赔额和药品价格。

建立一个为21世纪最好的工作培养人才的教育体系，那个体系不会让高费用妨碍年轻人上大学，也不会让学生债务在他们毕业时压垮他们。

提供儿童保育和老人照顾，使父母有可能去工作，让老人有尊严地呆在家里。让移民制度为我们的经济提供动力并反映我们的价值观。让工会得到新的授权。让男女同工同酬。让工资上升到你可以赖以养家。是的，我们要做的不仅仅是表扬我们的核心员工。我们终于要付钱给他们了。

我们可以，也将要应对气候变化。这不仅是一场危机，也是一个巨大的机会。这是美国在清洁能源领域领导世界并在这一过程中创造数百万新的高薪工作的机会。

我们可以通过堵住漏洞和终止总统向1%最富有、规模最大、利润最高的公司送出的1.3万亿美元的税款，其中一些公司根本不纳税，来支付这些投资。

因为我们不需要一个奖励财富多于奖励工作的税法。我不是想惩罚任何人。远远不是。但是，早就该让这个国家最富有的人和最大的公司支付他们的公平份额了。

对于我们的老年人来说，社会保障是一项神圣的义务，一个神圣的承诺。现任总统威胁要打破这一承诺。他建议取消现在用来支付近一半社会保障金的税收，而没有任何方式来弥补该项收入的损失。

我不会让它发生的。如果我是你的总统，我们会保护社会保障和医疗保险。我向你保证。

我们今天在这个国家听到的最有力的声音之一是来自我们的年轻人的。他们在谈论着在美国成长起来的不公平和不公正。经济不公。种族不公。环境不公。

我听到他们的声音，而且如果你听，你也能听到。无论是气候变化带来的生存威胁，还是每天担心在学校被枪杀的恐惧，还是无法开始第一份工作，- 这将是下一任总统的工作，致力于恢复美国对每个人的承诺。

我不需要一个人独自来做这些事。因为我身边会有一位伟大的副总统，参议员卡玛拉·哈里斯。她是这个国家的有力代言人。她的故事就是美国的故事。她知道我们国家许多人所面临的种种障碍。妇女，黑人妇女，美国黑人，南亚裔美国人，移民，被遗弃者和留守者。

但是她克服了她所面临的每一个障碍。没有人比她对大银行和枪支游说团体更强硬的了。没有人比她更严厉地谴责本届政府的极端主义，本届政府的不遵守法律，不讲实话。

卡玛拉和我都从我们的家庭中汲取力量。对卡玛拉来说，是道格和他们的家人。

对我来说，是吉尔和我们的。

没有一个男人在他的一生配得上一个伟大的爱。但我却知道两个。在一场车祸中失去我的第一个妻子后，吉尔走进了我的生活，并把我们的家庭重新凝聚在一起。

她是个教育者。一个妈妈。一个军人妈妈。一股势不可挡的力量。如果她下定决心做一件事情，就让开。因为她会完成的。她曾是一个伟大的第二夫人，她将成为这个国家的伟大的第一夫人，她如此深爱这个国家。

我将拥有只有家庭才能赋予的力量。亨特，艾希莉和我们所有的孙儿孙女，我的兄弟们，我的姐妹。他们给我勇气，让我振作。

尽管博已经不再和我们在一起，他却每天都在激励着我。（译者注：博是拜登的大儿子，曾任特拉华州总检察官，在政治前途一片光明时患脑癌于2015年去世）

2015年博·拜登葬礼，人生悲莫过于白发人送黑发人。拜登悲痛跃然图上。

博曾经穿着军服为我们的国家效忠。他是一位获得勋章的伊拉克战争老兵。

因此，我尤其看重担任总司令职位这一深远的责任。

我将成为一个与我们的盟友和朋友站在一起的总统。我会向我们的对手表明，讨好独裁者的日子已经过去了。

在拜登总统的领导下，美国不会对俄罗斯在美国士兵头上的赏金视而不见。我也不会容忍外国干涉我们最神圣的民主活动——投票。

我将永远支持我们关于人权和尊严的价值观。而且我将为一个更加安全、和平、繁荣的世界这一共同目标而工作。

历史还推给了我们另一个紧迫的任务。我们是否会成为最终把种族主义的污点从我们的国家性格中抹去的那一代人？

我相信我们能行。

我相信我们准备好了。

就在一周前的昨天是夏洛茨维尔事件三周年纪念日。

还记得看到那些新纳粹、三K党人和白人至上主义者拿着点燃的火把从田野里走出来吗？静脉隆起？喷出像30年代欧洲各地听到的同样的反犹太的毒液？

还记得那些散布仇恨的人和有勇气反抗仇恨的人之间发生的暴力冲突吗？

还记得当时问总统的时候他说什么吗？

他说，原话，“两边都有很优秀的人。”

那是给我们这个国家敲响的警钟。

对我来说，是一个行动的号召。在那一刻，我知道我必须竞选总统。我父亲教导我们保持沉默就是同谋。我永远无法保持沉默或是做一个同谋。

当时，我说我们在为这个国家的灵魂而战。

现在，我们正在为这个国家的灵魂而战。

知道吗，在整个竞选过程中，我最重要的对话之一是和一个太年轻而不能投票的人的交谈。

我见到了6岁的吉安娜·弗洛伊德，就在她父亲乔治·弗洛伊德安葬的前一天。

她是一个令人难以置信的勇敢的小女孩。

我永远不会忘记，当我俯身和她说话，她看着我的眼睛，她说：“爸爸，改变了世界。爸爸改变了世界。”

她的话深深地刻在我的心里。

也许乔治·弗洛伊德的被杀是一个关键点。也许约翰·刘易斯（译者注：于今年七月去世的美国黑人民权运动领袖）的过世给了我们激励。

但是不管是怎样产生的，不管发生了什么，美国已经准备好了，用约翰的话来说，最终放下“仇恨的重担”，然后再努力地工作来根除我们系统性的种族主义。

你知道，美国的历史告诉我们，就是在我们最黑暗的时刻我们取得了最伟大的进步，我们找到了光明。在这黑暗的时刻，我相信我们蓄势待发并将再次取得重大进展，我们可以再次找到光明。

你知道，很多人听我说过这个，我一直相信你可以用一个词来定义美国：可能性。

这个词定义美国的特征：一切皆可能。

在美国，每个人，我的意思是每一个人，都应该得到机会，他们的梦想有多远，上帝赋予他们的能力会带他们走多远，他们就能去多远。

我们永远不能失去它。

处在这样充满挑战的时刻，我相信只有一条路可以往前走。做一个团结一致的美国。在我们对一个更完美的联邦的追求中团结一致。在为我们和我们的孩子们创造一个更美好未来的梦想中团结一致。在让未来的岁月更加辉煌的决心中团结一致。

你们准备好了吗？

我相信我们准备好了。

这是一个伟大的国家。

我们是一个善良和体面的民族。

上帝知道，这是美利坚合众国。

只要是我们共同去做的事情，从来没有什么是我们没有做成的。

爱尔兰诗人希默斯·希尼曾写道：

“历史告诉我们，

别在坟墓的这边希望，

但是，一生就那么一次，

渴望的潮汐

正义升起，

希望与历史押韵。”

这是我们让希望和历史押韵的时刻。

带着激情和目标。让我们开始吧。你和我一起。

一个国家。在上帝的指引下。让我们在对美国的爱中团结。让我们在对彼此的爱中团结。

因为爱比恨更加强大。希望比恐惧更加强大。光明比黑暗更加强大。这是我们的时刻。这是我们的使命。

愿历史能够说，这一章美国之黑暗的终结从今晚在这里开始了，因为爱、希望和光明加入了为国家灵魂而战的行列。

这是一场我们，将一起，赢得的战斗。

我向你保证。

谢谢你。

愿上帝保佑你。

愿上帝保佑我们的军队。

- 伟小姑 草译，2020年8月22日，上海

Joe Biden Acceptance Speech at DNC, 2020 (2/2)

You know, my Dad was an honorable, decent man.

He got knocked down a few times pretty hard, but always got up.

He worked hard and built a great middle-class life for our family.

He used to say, "Joey, I don't expect the government to solve my problems, but I expect it to understand them."

And then he would say: "Joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about your place in your community. It's about looking your kids in the eye and say, honey, it's going to be okay."

I've never forgotten those lessons.

That's why my economic plan is all about jobs, dignity, respect, and community. 

Together, we can, and we will, rebuild our economy. And when we do, we'll not only build it back, we'll build it back better.

With modern roads, bridges, highways, broadband, ports and airports as a new foundation for economic growth. With pipes that transport clean water to every community. With 5 million new manufacturing and technology jobs so the future is made in America.

With a health care system that lowers premiums, deductibles, and drug prices by building on the Affordable Care Act he's trying to rip away.

With an education system that trains our people for the best jobs of the 21st century, where cost doesn't prevent young people from going to college, and student debt doesn't crush them when they get out.

With child care and elder care that make it possible for parents to go to work and for the elderly to stay in their homes with dignity. With an immigration system that powers our economy and reflects our values. With newly empowered labor unions. With equal pay for women. With rising wages you can raise a family on. Yes, we're going to do more than praise our essential workers. We're finally going to pay them.

We can, and we will, deal with climate change. It's not only a crisis, it's an enormous opportunity. An opportunity for America to lead the world in clean energy and create millions of new good-paying jobs in the process.

And we can pay for these investments by ending loopholes and the president's $1.3 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest 1 percent and the biggest, most profitable corporations, some of which pay no tax at all.

Because we don't need a tax code that rewards wealth more than it rewards work. I'm not looking to punish anyone. Far from it. But it's long past time the wealthiest people and the biggest corporations in this country paid their fair share.

For our seniors, Social Security is a sacred obligation, a sacred promise made. The current president is threatening to break that promise. He's proposing to eliminate the tax that pays for almost half of Social Security without any way of making up for that lost revenue.

I will not let it happen. If I'm your president, we're going to protect Social Security and Medicare. You have my word.

One of the most powerful voices we hear in the country today is from our young people. They're speaking to the inequity and injustice that has grown up in America. Economic injustice. Racial injustice. Environmental injustice.

I hear their voices and if you listen, you can hear them too. And whether it's the existential threat posed by climate change, the daily fear of being gunned down in school, or the inability to get started in their first job — it will be the work of the next president to restore the promise of America to everyone.

I won't have to do it alone. Because I will have a great Vice President at my side. Senator Kamala Harris. She is a powerful voice for this nation. Her story is the American story. She knows about all the obstacles thrown in the way of so many in our country. Women, Black women, Black Americans, South Asian Americans, immigrants, the left-out and left-behind. 

But she's overcome every obstacle she's ever faced. No one's been tougher on the big banks or the gun lobby. No one's been tougher in calling out this current administration for its extremism, its failure to follow the law, and its failure to simply tell the truth.

Kamala and I both draw strength from our families.

For Kamala, it's Doug and their families.

For me, it's Jill and ours.

No man deserves one great love in his life. But I've known two. After losing my first wife in a car accident, Jill came into my life and put our family back together.

She's an educator. A mom. A military Mom. And an unstoppable force. If she puts her mind to it, just get out of the way. Because she's going to get it done. She was a great Second Lady and she will make a great First Lady for this nation, she loves this country so much.

And I will have the strength that can only come from family. Hunter, Ashley and all our grandchildren, my brothers, my sister. They give me courage and lift me up.

And while he is no longer with us, Beau inspires me every day.

Beau served our nation in uniform. A decorated Iraq war veteran.

So I take very personally the profound responsibility of serving as Commander in Chief.

I will be a president who will stand with our allies and friends. I will make it clear to our adversaries the days of cozying up to dictators are over.

Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting.

I will stand always for our values of human rights and dignity. And I will work in common purpose for a more secure, peaceful, and prosperous world.

History has thrust one more urgent task on us. Will we be the generation that finally wipes the stain of racism from our national character?

I believe we're up to it.

I believe we're ready.

Just a week ago yesterday was the third anniversary of the events in Charlottesville.

Remember seeing those neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists coming out of the fields with lighted torches?  Veins bulging? Spewing the same anti-Semitic bile heard across Europe in the '30s?

Remember the violent clash that ensued between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it? 

Remember what the president said when asked?

He said, there were, quote, "very fine people on both sides."

It was a wake-up call for us as a country.

And for me, a call to action. At that moment, I knew I'd have to run. My father taught us that silence was complicity. And I could not remain silent or complicit.

At the time, I said we were in a battle for the soul of this nation.

And we are.

One of the most important conversations I've had this entire campaign is with someone who is too young to vote.

I met with six-year old Gianna Floyd, a day before her Daddy George Floyd was laid to rest.

She is incredibly brave.

I'll never forget. When I leaned down to speak with her, she looked into my eyes and said "Daddy, changed the world. Daddy changed the world."

Her words burrowed deep into my heart.

Maybe George Floyd's murder was the breaking point.

Maybe John Lewis' passing the inspiration.

However it has come to be, whatever has happened, America is ready to, in John's words, to lay down "the heavy burdens of hate at last" and to do the hard work of rooting out our systemic racism.

America's history tells us that it has been in our darkest moments that we've made our greatest progress. That we've found the light. And in this dark moment, I believe we are poised to make great progress again. That we can find the light once more.

I have always believed you can define America in one word: Possibilities. The defining feature of America, everything is possible.

That in America, everyone, and I mean everyone, should be given the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given ability will take them.

We can never lose that. In times as challenging as these, I believe there is only one way forward. As a united America. United in our pursuit of a more perfect Union. United in our dreams of a better future for us and for our children. United in our determination to make the coming years bright.

Are we ready?

I believe we are.

This is a great nation.

And we are a good and decent people.

For Lord’s sake, this is the United States of America.

And there has never been anything we've been unable to accomplish when we've done it together.

The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote:

"History says,

Don't hope on this side of the grave,

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme"

This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme.

With passion and purpose, let us begin – you and I together, one nation, under God – united in our love for America and united in our love for each other.

For love is more powerful than hate.

Hope is more powerful than fear.

Light is more powerful than dark. 

This is our moment.

This is our mission.

May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight as love, and hope, and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation.

And this is a battle that we, together, will win.

I promise you.

Thank you.

And may God bless you.

And may God protect our troops.

First published on August 20, 2020 / 11:52 PM (from CBS website)