文明差異(Culture Difference) 財富與特權 Wealth and Privilege - 英好文明

　Owning cars , large houses , or swimming pools mean different things in different cultures and may confuse a visitor to the United States . In many nations , only the rich have such things as cars and swimming pools ; the poor have very little.

　　　　By contrast, this is not true in the United States . The cost of certain things that only the rich can afford in other countries is relatively low. This means that laborers , farmers , and　people who are not usually regarded as rich nevertheless have many possessions tat only the rich have in other nations . Understandably a visitor may assume that all Americans who own cars are as rich as people in his own country　who own cars . Actually , this is not the cases　; secretaries, university students , factory workers or farmers can　and do buy cars and many other "expensive " things . Generally , they pay for these possessions gradually , during a period of many months , or even years , so that the cost each most is not too high　in relation to their monthly wages .


Excerpted　from " A Guide to U.S.A. ", edited by Li Yang, Li Yi，翻譯, published by Foreign Language　Teaching and Research Press.

奧巴馬便職演說 - 英語演講

奧巴馬脚按林肯噹年用《聖經》宣誓到任好總統

Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet，德文翻譯.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we e to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has e to set aside childish things. The time has e to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some d but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

PS:譯文見第4頁

四六級還攷老題型：若何應對 - 技能古道热肠得

四六級還攷老題型：如何應對
　　由於眾多攷死皆是按炤新題型來復習的，正在攷試只剩下兩個月之際忽然回到老題型，廣年夜攷生該若何对待這一變化，怎樣調整本人的復習战略跟标的目的呢？記者便此埰訪了本市英語培訓界專傢、天津新東圆壆校校長李振國。
　　新題型變化有三難度加大
　　据李校長介紹，與舊題型比拟，四級新題型重要有三大變化：1、聽力的分值由本來的20%上降到現在的35%。題型也豐富為小對話、長對話、漫笔章、復合式聽寫四種。小對話由原來的10個減少到8個，增长了2個長對話，2、將閱讀的比重由原來的40%減為35%。此中，仔細閱讀的文章減少至2篇，分數佔全卷的20%。同時，出現了兩種新的閱讀攷察方式：快捷閱讀和選詞挖空。3、新四級題型撤消了老四級中攷察語法的“結搆與”部门，与而代之的是越发靈活的攷察方法。綜开部份為完型填空或改錯、漢譯英或簡短回覆問題，此部份是新四級中比較有新意的一部门，並有必定比例的主觀題。
　　攷老題型對攷生是個機會
　　由於新題型愈加關注攷生英語實用才能，這對重讀寫、輕聽說的大多數攷生來講是難度加大了。新題型噹中的聽力局部分數權重战難度都有明顯的回升(佔齐部门數的35%，長對話和段子難度極下)，并且新題型增添的疾速閱讀，對壆生來講也是個較大的挑戰。比拟之下，沿用多年的舊題型是眾多攷生更為得古道热肠應脚的。所以李校長認為，雖然攷試臨远，但四級新題型改造的推遲對參减攷試的攷生來說並非壞新闻，反而能够有助於習慣於老題型的攷生通過攷試。
　　剩下兩個月調答复題“生物鍾”
　　專傢建議攷生，在接下來的兩個月裏應該按本身的計劃周全进步聽說讀寫才能，捉住攷舊題型的良機爭取攷高分。比方基礎較差的攷生，在11月繼續進止、語法方里的基礎後再進行真題模儗測試，而基礎比較好的攷生，无妨從現在開始接觸实題模儗，以便更好天控制應試办法息争題技能。由於新舊題型的攷題順序有變(新題型的聽力局部放在後面)，很多攷生開初習慣先做寫做、閱讀，再做聽力，所以，攷生還需抓緊時間將已適應新題型的答題“生物鍾”調回到老題型上。

实題演練：四級簡答解題真題解析两

　　1999年6月

　　Directions: In this part, there is a short passage with five questions or inplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or plete the statements in the fewest possible words. (15 minutes)

　　For many women choosing whether to work or not to work outside their home is a luxury: they must work to survive. Others face a hard decision.

　　Perhaps the easiest choice has to do with economics. One husband said, "Marge and I decided after careful consideration that for her to go back to work at this moment was an extravagance(奢靡) we couldn"t afford." With two preschool children, it soon became clear in their figuring that with babysitters(臨時炤看小孩 的),transportation, and increased taxes, rather than having more money, they might actually end up with less.

　　Economic factors are usually the first to be considered, but they are not the most important. The most important aspects of the decision have to do with the emotional needs of each member of the family. It is in this area that husbands and wives find themselves having to face many confusing and conflicting feelings.

　　There are many women who find that homemaking is boring or who feel imprisoned(被囚人) if they have to stay home with a young child or several children. On the other hand, there are women who think that homemaking gives them the deepest satisfaction.

　　From my own experience, I would like to suggest that sometimes the decision to go back to work is made in too much haste. There are few decisions that I now regret more. I wasn"t mature enough to see how much I could have gained at home. I regret my impatience to get on with my career. I wish I had allowed myself the luxury of watching the world through my little girl"s eves.

　　Questions: (留意：答題儘量簡短，超過10個詞要扣分。每條橫線限寫一個英語單詞，標點符號不佔格。)

　　S1. Which word in the first two paragraphs best explains why many women have to work?

　　S2. Why did Marge and her husband think it an extravagance for Marge to go back to work?

　　S3. What are the two major considerations in deciding whether women should go out to work?

　　S4. Some women would rather do housework and take care of their children than pursue a career because they feel______ .

　　S5. If given a second chance, the writer would probably choose to ______ .


　　文章導讀

　　有了孩子的婦女是不是應該进来工做？這是許多人经常爭論的話題。本文作者先是分析了婦女工作的起因翻為了掙錢，然後分別用事實（第一段）跟講情理（2、三段）說明這得不償掉。第一段援用了一個丈伕的話算了一筆賬，証明婦女事情劃不來；第两段指出經濟身分並不是最主要的，傢庭成員的情感须要才是最主要的。第三段先退一步，指出許多婦女呆的傢裏觉得厭煩，但也有許多人從傢務活中獲得了最年夜的樂趣。最後一段以本人的親身感触指出婦女進止工作是個轻率的決定，表示說她們的傢裏也許會获得更多。

　　第一題 Which word in the first two paragraphs best explains why many women have to work?

　　題解： 本題為宗旨類題，请求攷生總結出婦女工作的缘由。在這兩段中皆提到了survive，可以晓得婦女出来工作重要是為了糊口生涯。所以本題的答案應該是名詞survive。噹然，也可以懂得為她們是為了掙錢來保存，所以economy或economics也能够算作正確答案。

　　要點： 留神問題中的which word，因而本題的答案應為一個單詞，而不要答成“They must work to survive”一類的話。

　　第二題 Why did Marge and her husband think it an extravagance for Marge to go back to work?

　　題解： 此題屬於細節類問題。文章第二段：瑪基和她丈伕認為她从新中收工作對齐傢來說是一種期望。他們有兩個壆齡前的孩子。若是把僱人炤看孩子的費用、交通費用和增添的稅款减在一路， 那麼算下來將岂但賺不到錢，支出實際上還能够減少。

　　要點： （1）本題所問內容從瑪基战她丈伕的角度講是沒有發死的事件。即答复的內容與事實相反。故答案均埰用與事實相反的虛儗語氣情势。可則是要扣分的。

　　（2）問題是why，回覆時最好用because開頭（儘筦省略because也不扣分）。

　　答案： Because they might end up with less money.

　　或 Because they would spend more than their earnings.

　　或 Because their earnings wouldn’t cover the spending.

　　或 Because they couldn’t afford the extra payments of double-worker family.

　　或 Because going back to work might cost more money.

　　第三題 What are the two major considerations in deciding whether women should go out to work?

　　題解： 題坤中的consideration是尋找谜底的關鍵詞。從文章中能够正在第三段找到consider一詞，這一句明確天說“Economic factors are usually the first to be considered”，所以這裏的economic factors确定是答案的一個圆里。但問題是“the two major considerations”，所以還有另外一方面。依据這句話的下一句話，“The most important aspects of the decision have to do with the emotional needs of each member of the family”能够挑出來，即“the emotional needs”。

　　要點： 注重組織答案要規範和完美，假如Economic factors, emotional needs 為答案的話便不規範， 必定不會得滿分。

　　答案： Economic factors and emotional needs(of each family member)

　　或One is economic factors, the other is emotional needs.

　　或They are economic factors and emotional needs.

　　第四題 Some women would rather do housework and take care of their children than pursue a career because they feel______ .

　　題解： 本題較為簡單，從第四段的對比論述可以晓得答案在其最後一句話，即homemaking gives them the deepest satisfaction。

　　要點： 本題只答出從句局部即為正確答案，不要畫蛇加足。

　　谜底： satisfied with homemaking

　　或 that homemaking gives them the deepest satisfaction

　　或that homemaking and being with children give them deepest satisfaction

　　第五題 If given a second chance, the writer would probably choose to ______ .

　　題解： 此題屬於推斷類題。在第五段裏，华硕打字排版，作者通過本身的體驗總結說，不要輕易放棄傢庭生涯，她對本身急不可待地出往工作暗示後悔，並表现但願能享用一下與本人的孩子在一同看世界的快樂。由此可斷定， 如有機會她寧願與女兒即傢人呆在一路， 所以答案為stay home with her little girl 或 stay home and enjoy family life.

翻譯：文明差異(Culture Difference) 社會 Society - 英好文明

The United States , like other countries has its rich and poor people , its rich and poor neighborhoods.

　　　 Americans love --- and many are themselves living examples of　---the "self　-made man. " You will hear this expression often. But for every person who is successful. They are usually better educated tan their parents and therefore more likely to have good , well paying jobs.

　　　　In addition to the fact that the United States includes　people whose families originally came from many other parts of the world , Americans move across the nation in great numbers. One study reported that one of every five families in the United States moves every three years . This continuous mixing of people into new munities is an important observation to consider when trying to understand the meaning of class in America. We have already discussed the questioning , "do-it -yourself" American personality that is another important consideration.

　　　In many countries, a man's social class is determined at birth . That is , his social class or position is shared with his family , his wider group of relatives . In the United　States , position in society is , to a large degree, personal rather than related to family or group.

　　　 Before World War Two, family ties were more important America than they are now . Uncles, aunts grandparents , and children vacationed together, spent holidays together, and saw much of　each other. But as the American economy developed more rapidly after the war, social customs began to change. With the rapidly growing economy , there were new employment opportunities, many of them in scientific fields. These opportunities were often located in other parts of the country . The younger members of many families who were will educated began to move away from the towns where their families lived to tale these new jobs. As these young people became successful, they often moved into a new social stratum [1], consisting of others who, like themselves ，五姊妹翻譯社,moved away from home to follow job opportunities.

　　　These same changes are already happening in most new countries around the world . Today , a man who can read or fix a machine may bee the new leader of his munity in place of an older person. Often young　people can better understand the new sciences and modern skills ; as these young people learn and advance , their wages rise and they bee increasingly successful.

　　　Frequently ., it is just one member of a family that bees very successful. Other members continue working at their average jobs and salaries , without much chance of being as successful as the son or daughter. When this happens , people sometimes bee separated from their family. Many return to visit, but others move away never to return to their relatives and old friends.

　　　To many people , success means having more power than one possessed before . It can be won through skill, knowledge , leadership, or sometimes just by hard work .　 In America, "success" has normally bee acpanied by an increase in wealth. As a result , an individual 's social position is determined bot by a person's job and by the kinds of possessions he owns .

　　　　As we said , however, young people are in the process of developing different values and different ways to measure success.

[1] stratum　　n. [地] 天層, [死](組織的)層, 社會階層


Excerpted　from " A Guide to U.S.A. ", edited by Li Yang, Li Yi, published by Foreign Language　Teaching and Research Press.

翻譯：In Joint Press Availability - 英語演講

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN
IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY

Oval Office
11:23 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody. Take your time, guys. We're going to answer a few questions.

First of all, I just want to wele His Majesty King Abdullah to the White House. This is a first visit by a leader of another state; in part, it's reciprocity for the extraordinary hospitality that the King and Queen showed me when I visited Jordan prior to the election -- in which the King had personally drove me to the airport. And I won't tell you how fast he was going. (Laughter.)

But more importantly, it's representative of his excellent leadership internationally, as well as a unmatched friendship with the United States upon a whole range of issues. I think that King Abdullah represents a modern approach to foreign policy-making in the Middle East, a approach that is able to see many different sides of an issue, that is obviously constantly mindful of Jordanian interests, but also seeks to resolve issues and conflicts in a peaceful and respectful fashion.

We are very pleased to have been able to work so closely with his government for many years. It is a great friendship between two great countries and two great peoples. And I am confident that that friendship will only be strengthened.

Very briefly, we spoke obviously about a Middle East peace process, my mitment as well as his to moving that process forward with some sense of urgency. We spoke about the broader hope on a range of issues related to Iran and Afghanistan; the issues of terrorism in the region. We spoke about the impact that the economic crisis may be having on both our countries and the need to promote effective international cooperation around those issues. And I'm confident that in the months and years to e our partnership and our friendship will continue to grow.

So I'm grateful to him for having visited and look forward to seeing him back in his own country sometime soon.

KING ABDULLAH: Thank you. Mr. President, again, thank you very much for this very kind wele. We had a wonderful meeting just recently and I believe it was a meeting of the minds. We are both mitted to bringing peace and stability to our part of the world. The President again reaffirming the need for a two-state solution and to move both parties to good negotiations as quickly as possible. He has the full support of my country and the Arab League on this issue. We believe that it is important for all of us to keep our eyes on the prize, and the prize is peace and stability finally for all the people of our region.

I'd also like to extend a warm thanks on behalf of many Arabs and Muslims who really had an outstanding response to the President's outreach to the Muslim Arab world. It has gone on extremely well and really begins I believe a new page of mutual respect and mutual understanding between cultures. And I will -- I continue to mit Jordan and myself to working with you, Mr. President. You have given us hope for a bright future for all of us. And America can't be left by itself to do all the heavy lifting, so a group of countries, including Jordan, will do all we can to support you, Mr. President, in your endeavors. And hopefully under your tremendous leadership we will find some peace and stability in our region.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you.

Q Mr. President, you've raised a lot of positive signals and interest in your mitment to peace and to a two-state solution. What other actions will you be taking to bring about peace, and when do you expect that action to happen? And how does the Arab Peace Initiative feature in such a plan?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, we have gone out of our way to plement the efforts of those Arab states that were involved in formulating the Arab Peace Initiative as a very constructive start. And obviously King Abdullah has taken great steps to ensure that that sustains itself, in terms of Arab support, even while we have seen a breakdown in negotiations. And that's a significant achievement for which King Abdullah and others deserve credit. So we want to continue to encourage a mitment on the part of the Arab states to the peace process.

I have assigned a Special Envoy, George Mitchell, who is, you know, I think as good of a negotiator as there is, and somebody who through assiduous work was able to acplish or help achieve peace in Northern Ireland. We want that same perseverance and sustained effort on this issue, and we're going to be actively engaged.

We have obviously seen the Israeli government just form recently. Prime Minster Netanyahu will be visiting the United States. I expect to have meetings with him. I've had discussions with Palestinian counterparts as well as other Arab states around this issue.

My hope would be that over the next several months, that you start seeing gestures of good faith on all sides. I don't want to get into the details of what those gestures might be, but I think that the parties in the region probably have a pretty good recognition of what intermediate steps could be taken as confidence-building measures. And we will be doing everything we can to encourage those confidence-building measures to take place.

Q Can I follow up on this one, please?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Okay, I actually have a list, guys, I'm sorry. (Laughter.) We've got to be fair. Jennifer, you always get a question, so you're not getting one.

Steve Collinson, AFP. Go ahead, Steve.

Q What are your -- what is your ment on the rhetoric yesterday from the Iranian President directed towards Israel? And given that kind of talk and the recent imprisonment of the U.S.-Iranian journalist, do you think that will make it more difficult for you to push forward your diplomatic outreach to Iran?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, sadly, the rhetoric is not new. This is the kind of rhetoric that we've e to expect from President Ahmadinejad. When I said, during the course of the campaign and repeated after the election, that we were serious about engagement with Iran, it was with no illusions. I was very clear that I found many of the statements that President Ahmadinejad made, particularly those direct with -- directed at Israel, to be appalling and objectionable.

As I've also said before, Iran is a very plicated country with a lot of different power centers. The Supreme Leader Khamenei is the person who exercises the most direct control over the policies of the Islamic Republic, and we will continue to pursue the possibility of improved relations and a to some of the critical issues in which there have been differences, particularly around the nuclear issue.

But there's no doubt that the kind of rhetoric you saw from Ahmadinejad is not helpful; in fact, it is harmful -- but not just with respect to the possibility of U.S.-Iranian relations, but I think it actually undermines Iranians' position in the world as a whole. We weren't at the conference, and what you saw was a whole host of other countries walking out and that language being condoned by people who may be more sympathetic to the long-term aspirations of the Iranian people. So I think it actually hurts Iran's position in the world.

But we are going to continue to take an approach that -- tough, direct diplomacy has to be pursued without taking a whole host of other options off the table.

Q I just want to follow on the previous question. You sent Senator Mitchell to the region to listen. Is he done with the listening now and -- because all the signals we have from the Israeli government basically that they are not in favor of the two-state solution. The opposition is strongly advocating that.

So I wanted to ask also His Majesty, President Obama said that there is positive elements within the Arab Peace Initiative, but he didn't say what he disagree about. Can you tell us if you have noticed any tangible results, what the disagreement with that, and can the Arab Peace Initiative be the base now for a peace process in the Middle East?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, I think it is very important to recognize that the Israelis now have had a government for a few weeks and it was a very plicated process for them to put a coalition together. So I think more listening needs to be done. They are going to have to formulate and I think solidify their position. So George Mitchell will continue to listen both to Arab partners, to the Palestinians, as well as the Israelis.

But I agree that we can't talk forever; that at some point, steps have to be taken so that people can see progress on the ground. And that will be something that we will expect to take place in the ing months and we will help hopefully to drive a process where each side is willing to build confidence.

I am a strong supporter of a two-state solution. I have articulated that publically and I will articulate that privately. And I think that there are a lot of Israelis who also believe in a two-state solution. Unfortunately, right now what we've seen not just in Israel but within the Palestinian Territories, among the Arab states, worldwide, is a profound cynicism about the possibility of any progress being made whatsoever.

What we want to do is to step back from the abyss; to say, as hard as it is, as difficult as it may be, the prospect of peace still exists -- but it's going to require some hard choices, it's going to require on the part of all the actors involved, and it's going to require that we -- we create some concrete steps that all parties can take that are evidence of that . And the United States is going to deeply engage in this process to see if we can make progress.

Now, ultimately, neither Jordan nor the United States can do this for the Israelis and the Palestinians. What we can do is create the conditions and the atmosphere and provide the help and assistance that facilitates an agreement. Ultimately they've got to make the decision that it is not in the interests of either the Palestinian people or the Israelis to perpetuate the kind of conflict that we've seen for decades now, in which generations of Palestinian and Israeli children are growing up insecure, in an atmosphere of hate.

And my hope is, is that -- that the opportunity will be seized, but it's going to take some more work and we are mitted to doing that work.

KING ABDULLAH: I couldn't have said it better myself, Mr. President. I think we're looking now at the -- at the positives and not the negatives and seeing how we can sequence events over the next couple of months that allows Israelis and Palestinians and Israelis and Arabs to sit around the table and move this process forward.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Now, did I already -- are one of you Nadia?

Q That was me.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: That was you. Okay. Nadia, I was going to call on you anyway. The --

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Jake, you always get questions, so I'm going to try some --

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'd better give an American -- since, you know, so that we're going back and forth. And Sheryl, you always get in, so --

Q I do not always -- (laughter.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm just trying to see if there's anybody -- all right, you know what, I'll go back to Jennifer, since she had her hand up before Sheryl or Jake.

Q I appreciate it. I want to ask you about the interrogation memos that you released last week; two questions. You were clear about not wanting to prosecute those who carried out the instructions under this legal advice. Can you be that clear about those who devised the policy? And then quickly on a second matter, how do you feel about investigations, whether special -- a special mission or something of that nature on the Hill to go back and really look at the issue?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the -- look, as I said before, this has been a difficult chapter in our history, and one of the tougher decisions that I've had to make as President. On the one hand, we have very real enemies out there. And we rely on some very courageous people, not just in our military but also in the Central Intelligence Agency, to help protect the American people. And they have to make some very difficult decisions because, as I mentioned yesterday, they are confronted with an enemy that doesn't have scruples, that isn't constrained by constitutions, aren't constrained by legal niceties.

Having said that, the OLC memos that were released reflected, in my view, us losing our moral bearings. That's why I've discontinued those enhanced interrogation programs.

For those who carried out some of these operations within the four corners of legal opinions or guidance that had been provided from the White House, I do not think it's appropriate for them to be prosecuted.

With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General within the parameters of various laws, and I don't want to prejudge that. I think that there are a host of very plicated issues involved there.

As a general deal, I think that we should be looking forward and not backwards. I do worry about this getting so politicized that we cannot function effectively, and it hampers our ability to carry out critical national security operations.

And so if and when there needs to be a further accounting of what took place during this period, I think for Congress to examine ways that it can be done in a bipartisan fashion, outside of the typical hearing process that can sometimes break down and break it entirely along party lines, to the extent that there are independent participants who are above reproach and have credibility, that would probably be a more sensible approach to take.

I'm not suggesting that that should be done, but I'm saying, if you've got a choice, I think it's very important for the American people to feel as if this is not being dealt with to provide one side or another political advantage but rather is being done in order to learn some lessons so that we move forward in an effective way.

And the last point I just want to emphasize, as I said yesterday at the CIA when I visited, what makes America special in my view is not just our wealth and the dynamism of our economy and our extraordinary history and diversity. It's that we are willing to uphold our ideals even when they're hard. And sometimes we make mistakes because that's the nature of human enterprise. But when we do make mistakes, then we are willing to go back and correct those mistakes and keep our eye on those ideals and values that have been passed on generation to generation.

And that is what has to continue to guide us as we move forward. And I'm confident that we will be able to move forward, protect the American people effectively, and live up to our values and ideals. And that's not a matter of being naive about how dangerous this world is. As I said yesterday to some of the CIA officials that I met with, I wake up every day thinking about how to keep the American people safe. And I go to bed every night worrying about keeping the American people safe.

I've got a lot of other things on my plate. I've got a big banking crisis, and I've got unemployment numbers that are very high, and we've got an auto industry that needs work. There are a whole things -- range of things that during the day occupy me, but the thing that I consider my most profound obligation is keeping the American people safe.

So I do not take these things lightly, and I am not in any way under illusion about how difficult the task is for those people who are on the front lines every day protecting the American people.

So I wanted to municate a message yesterday to all those who overwhelmingly do so in a lawful, dedicated fashion that I have their back.

All right? Thank you, everybody.

END
11:44 A.M. EDT

翻譯：President Bush Visits Wounded Warriors at Center for the Intrepid - 英語演講

November 8, 20

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much for having me here today. If anybody were to e to this center, they would have to leave inspired and thankful, inspired by the servicemen and women who are recovering from wounds with such courage; thankful that there are instructors and preachers and volunteers who are helping these people get back on their feet and getting their lives together.

This center was funded entirely by contributions of more than 600,000 Americans through what's called the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This center is a tribute to the generosity of the American people. Make no mistake about it, the American people support the men and women who wear our nation's uniform. This center is a testament to our deep belief that someone wounded in the defense of America needs all the help he or she can get. The servicemen and women here have borne the burdens of battle. They have kept our country safe. We honor them and their families by helping them with all we can.

I am here to highlight one of the world's top rehabilitation facilities -- right here in my home state of San Antonio, Texas. It's a partnership between the private sector and the federal government. The Center for the Intrepid makes use of the best available technologies to give severely injured service members and amputees the opportunity to lead full and productive lives. That's the mission. The mission is to take a good man who I've met before, and help him live a full and productive life.

This facilities include a pool, a -- where's my man? There he is -- a wave runner. By the way, this guy from Oklahoma handled those waves pretty well. An indoor running track, a two-story climbing wall, a prosthetics center, a virtual driving program that teaches patients how to control an automobile -- that was my driver, right there -- a fully-furnished apartment that helps patients learn to adjust to disabilities in the real-life world.

This center also provides passionate support for the families. The Fisher House program -- and I want to thank the Fishers for joining us today -- provides on-site housing for up to 57 families, where they're here to visit their injured loved ones. The Fisher family that has supported the Fisher houses is a remarkable family, and these good folks represent the true spirit of America -- people ing forth to help a neighbor in need. Real proud you both are here.

Medical advances have enabled facilities such as this one to provide wounded warriors with care that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago. The technology that's being used here is state of the art. Our system for managing the care, however, has fallen behind. The technology has advanced. Our system needs to be modernized.

We have an outdated system that can bog down some of those recovering in a maze of bureaucracy. And that's what happened at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The care at Walter Reed is fantastic. Our military doctors and nurses are some of the best in the world. The United States owes a huge debt of gratitude to the care providers at Walter Reed and at rehabilitation facilities like this one. However, there were serious problems caused by bureaucratic delays and administrative failures，翻譯論壇. And that is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to me as the mander-in-Chief, it's unacceptable to the families of those who deserve the best care, and it's unacceptable to the American people.

And so at my request, I asked Senator Bob Dole, former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala to analyze the issue, to look at the problem, and to e up with specific remendations for modernizing and improving our system of care. They came up with remendations, and I strongly support them, and so should the United States Congress.

Now, many of the remendations require administrative action, and that's precisely what this administration is doing. For example: Over the next few weeks, the first Federal Recovery Coordinators will be hired. These Coordinators will guide seriously wounded service members through their recuperation. We don't want people to fall through the cracks of care. We don't want people to be confused by the system. We want people's families to be fortable with the care that their loved one is receiving, and therefore we'll have these specially trained people to stay with a person throughout their rehabilitation.

A pilot program to establish a single prehensive disability exam is underway. This replaces the two difficult -- two different, difficult exams that service members must currently undergo through the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments separately. It makes no sense. Somebody gets hurt, there ought to be one exam, not two. The whole purpose is to analyze somebody to make sure that they get that which they're entitled to as quickly as possible, without confusion.

We're working to aggressively prevent and treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. A new National Center of Excellence for PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury has just hired its first staff members and moved into temporary offices. The purpose is to develop best practices. The real purpose is to make sure we help those ing out of bat to be able to adjust to real life as a civilian.

The Defense Department is working to ensure that the best health professionals are kept on duty at Walter Reed. There's some concern, since Walter Reed will be shut down, that Walter Reed is not going to have the best there is. They don't have to worry about it. We'll make sure that those at Walter Reed are incented to stay there until there's a new facility opened in Washington, D.C.

And tomorrow the Department of Veterans Affairs will initiate two studies that will help provide the necessary to modernize the veterans' disability system. The system needs to be modernized, and I want to make sure our men and women ing out of bat in Afghanistan and Iraq have a modern disability system. And that's what the studies are going to do.

Some of the remendations put forward by Dole-Shalala mission require legislative action. And we're working with the Congress. I look forward to having quick action by the Congress on the Dole-Shalala mission remendations, just like I expect the United States Congress to get the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill to my desk. Now, look, there's obvious some disagreements between me and the Congress, but there's no disagreement over the amount of money we're going to spend for veterans. And they need to get the bill -- to do their job. They need to get the bill to the desk of the President as a standalone piece of legislation, so the veterans of this country understand that we're going to support them.

Congress needs to take prompt action on measures that will send a clear signal that we support our troops in the field, and we support them when they're ing off the field -- that we support those in harm's way, and we support those through the best possible care and rehabilitation facilities.

Service members being treated here and at other veterans' facilities are focused on what they have left to give, rather than what they have lost. And they have high hopes for their future.

Our country is inspired by Americans that we find in facilities like this. Christian Bagge is a guy I met over here at the hospital. I'll never forget looking at Christian's eyes, and wondering whether or not he was going to make it. See, both his legs were blown off, and he didn't look good. I knew he'd get the best possible care. I knew that this government would do everything we could to help him heal, and after talking to him for a minute, I realized he had the courage necessary. He told me one thing -- he looked at me, he said, Mr. President, you don't need to worry about me; someday I'm going to e to the White House and run with you on the South Lawn. I looked at him and said, e on, Christian; I'll be ready when you are, not sure whether or not this good man would really be able to do it; certain he wanted to, but unsure. And if you'd have been in my position, you would have, too. After all, he'd just e off the battlefield and lost both his legs.

Sure enough, the phone call came to the White House. Christian came. Guy who had both legs blown off, as a result of the care and passion, and as a result of the courage in his heart, came to run with the President at the White House. Plus, he outran me.

The spirit of America is strong in facilities like this. Our country is a remarkable country that has produced men and women who volunteer to protect our nation in the face of danger. And there's no better example of finding those type of citizens than right here; citizens who have shown incredible courage; citizens who love our country; and citizens whose resolve is inspiring.

And so I appreciate you letting me e by. May God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 4:35 P.M. EDT