他懂得什么是美国梦

米歇尔·奥巴马

过去的几年里，借由作为第一夫人的非凡殊荣，我几乎游遍了整个美国。

成为诸位的第一夫人，是我的荣耀和幸运。但当我们四年前首次聚在一起的时候，我仍对我们即将展开的旅程心怀疑虑。

那么，直到今天，我的丈夫经历了那么多我从未想象过的困难之后，我认识到，当总统并不会改变一个人，它只会然我们看到最本真的那个他。

你们瞧，我有幸能近距离的亲眼观察当总统是怎么一回事。

我发现,放到总统桌上的问题总是难题，哪些风险如此之高选择，更笨容不得一星半点的差错。

作为总统，你会收到各种各样的人向你发出的各种各样的建议。

但是到最后，需要作出决定的时刻，作为总统，你所拥有的全部指引就是你的价值观、判断力，以及那些对你影响深远的成长经历。

这就是为什么他签署了《莉莉·列得贝塔同工同酬法案》，以帮助女性获得同工同酬的权利；这就是为什么他为工作家庭和小型企业削减了税负，并努力让汽车工业重新起步；这就是他如何将我们的经济从崩溃的边缘拉回并使其重新开始创造工作机会，让人们能够养家糊口的工作，这些好工作就在这里，在美利坚合众国。

至于家庭健康问题，贝拉克拒绝听从所有那些要他暂缓医疗改革，把问题留给下一任总统的人。

他不在乎这在政治上的是不是一件容易的事，这不是他所接受的教育，他在乎的是：做正确的事。

不管你们信不信，刚结婚的时候，我们的学生贷款账单合起来比我们 的房贷还要高。 我们那么年轻，那么想爱，又是那么的负债累累。

这就是为什么贝拉克努力增加助学金，并保持低贷款利率的原因，因为他想让每个年轻人都能达成所愿，而不需要为了进入大学背负山一样沉重而债务。所以归根结底，对贝拉克来说，这些并非政治问题，而是个人问题。因为贝拉克知道一个人家庭挣扎度日意味着什么，他知道要想让下一代和下下一代过上更好的生活意味着什么。

贝拉克懂得什么是美国梦，因为他正用一生去实践它。而他想让生活在这个国度里的每一个人都拥有的同样的机会，无论我们肤貌如何，无论我们爱的对象。

因此，当人们问我，入主白宫是否改变了我的丈夫，我可以诚实的说，无论从他的性格、他的信念，还是从他的心灵来看，贝拉克都仍是许多年前我所爱上的那个男人。 他仍是那样一个人，会在自己的事业起步期拒绝高薪工作，而走入一个因钢铁厂倒闭而陷入困境的社区，为社区的重建和人们重获工作而奋斗。因为对贝拉克来说，成功并不等于你挣得钱，而是你给人们生活带来的改变。

他仍是那样一个人，当我们的女儿刚出生的时候，隔不了几分钟就急匆匆地查看摇篮，确认她们仍在好好呼吸，并骄傲地向我们认识的每个人展示自己的宝贝女儿。

他还是那个几乎每晚都会坐下来陪我和女儿们吃晚餐，耐心的回答她们关于新闻事件的问题，并为中学生间的友谊问题出谋划策的人。

他还是那个，我常常看到在万籁俱寂的深夜里，仍趴在书桌上钻研人们寄来的信件的人。

写信来的有努力工作支付账单的父亲，有保险公司拒绝赔付医疗费用而命在旦夕的癌症女病人，有具有无限天赋潜力而得不到机会的年轻人。

我能看到他眼里的忧虑，我也能听出他声音里的决心，他说：“你不会相信这些人们在经历些什么，米歇尔，这不对。我们必须继续工作，直到解决这些问题。我们还有更多事情要做。”

我看到人们的这些生活故事，我们所收集的这些奋斗、希望和梦想，我看到这些都是推动贝拉克·奥巴马每一天工作的动力。

我曾以为我不能更加爱他，然而今天，我比四年前更加爱他了，甚至比23年前我们初见的时候更爱。

如果这么都勇敢的男人和女人能穿上祖国的军装，为我们最基本的权利献出生命；如果农民和铁匠能从一个帝国手中赢得独立；如果移民能够放弃他们所熟知的一切，登上我们的海岸，来寻找更好的生活；如果女性们会为争取选举的权利而锒铛入狱；如果一代人可以战胜经济衰退，赋予伟大一个永垂不朽的定义；如果一位年轻的牧师能用他正义的理想将我们引导至山顶，而且如果骄傲的美国人敢于做真正的自己，与自己所爱之人一起站到神的面前，那么当然，我们当然能够为此国度中的每一个人都提供一个实现伟大的美国梦的公平机会。

因为归根结底，最重要的是，这就是这个国家的历史故事——为了根植于毫不退缩的斗争中的毫不动摇的梦想。这就是造就了我的故事，贝拉克的故事，以及其他众多美国人的故事的来源。

今天，我四年前关于我和贝拉克是否在为女儿们做最正确的事情的疑虑已经烟消云散。 因为今天，我的经历告诉我，如果我真的想为我的后代留下一个更好的世界，如果我们想要给予我们所有的孩子们实现梦想的基础和与他们的潜力相称的机遇，如果我们想要让他们感到无限的可能性，相信在这里，在美国，只要你愿意为之努力，就一定会比现在更好，那么，我们就必须比从前更加努力地工作，我们必须再次团结起来，支持这个值得我们信任，会推动着这个国家进步的人，我的丈夫，我们的总统贝拉克·奥巴马总统。

感谢大家，上帝保佑你们。

 

第二篇：什么是美国梦？

什么是美国梦？

1. Introduction

1. 前言

That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone is an original concept of American dream engraved in many people‘s mind. However, with the development of culture and value, its perceptions are increasingly deepened. There are several factors that interact American dream, in turns, it may affect people in many dimensions, such as, daily life and interpersonal relationship. Never should we ignore that those American presidents can exert an immense impact on American Dream. Dating back Geoge Washinton, the founding father of America to present outstanding American president, Barack Obama, we can never fail to endorse the fact that American dream is admittedly interacted by their diverse charisma and unique working style. This thesis, I intend to illustreate some typical policies and incidents of Amrican presidents to show the connotation and the extension of the American Dream. The chief aim of this paper is to show the evolution and development of the American dream.

一个国家的梦想-在这个国家里，人们的生活更好，更富裕，更充实，这是深深印在很多人头脑中的美国梦的原意。然而，随着文化和价值观念的发展，对它的理解也日益深化。很多因素影响着美国梦，同样，它也可能会在日常生活和人际关系等很多方面影响着人们。我们千万不该忘记，历代美国总统对美国梦都有着巨大的影响。从美国的建国之父乔治·华盛顿到现任总统巴拉克·奥巴马，我们不得不承认美国梦确实受他们的不同魅力和独特的工作风格影响这一事实。本文中，我打算通过举例说明美国总统的某些典型政策和事件来体现美国梦的内涵与外延。本文的主要目的是展现美国梦的演变和发展过程。

2. The Definition of the American dream

1. 美国梦的定义

2.1 The background of the American Dream

2.1 美国梦的背景

In the way beginning of the foundation American Declaration of Independence endowed equal rights of pursuing a better life in this way: "we held certain truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are 1 life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."American writer and historian James Truslow Adams, it is believed first coined the term "American Dream" in his 1931 book The Epic of American, and elaborated it as

美国建国之初的《独立宣言》赋予这样赋予人们追求美好生活的权利：―我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，他们都从他们的造物主那边被赋予了某些不可转让的权利，其中包括生命权、自由

1权和追求幸福的权利‖。美国作家及历史学家詹姆斯·特拉斯洛·亚当斯被认为是在其作品《美国史诗》首

次提出―美国梦‖这一名词，并将其阐述为

"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be 2recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." “美国梦想就是一个国家的梦想-在这个国家里，人们的生活更好更富裕更充实，并且根据能力或者成就有着各自的机会。这个难以实现梦想对于欧洲上层阶级来说很难充分解释，我们中的许多人已经厌倦了并且对此保持怀疑。它不仅仅是拥有汽车和高工资这么简单，而是希望有一个很好的社会秩序使得每个人都能充分发挥个人的潜力，为别人所认可，不管其出生或者地位所带来的优越环境”2

Thomas Wolfe and John M.Oskison expressed their opinion on American way of life respectively. "to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity,the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make 3 him."and "America means equality of citizenship – every man has a vote. Most of all, America means relief from the burden of taxes and militarism, and an opportunity to make more money and live 4better."

托马斯·沃尔夫和约翰·米尔顿·艾萨克森分别就美国生活方式表达了他们的看法：―对于每个人而言，无论他的出身、肤色，千载难逢得机会，生存，工作，做他自己的权利，以及成为任何他自身人格和眼界交

3汇所塑造出来的人‖和―美国意味着公民权利与义务的平等-每个人都有选举的权利。最重要的是，美国意

4味着免除税收和兵役的负担，以及赚更多钱和生活更好的机会。‖

2.2 The Various Perceptions and Connotations of the American Dream

2.2 美国梦的各种概念和内涵

With so many versions and explanations of American dream, there are two ways to illustrate the

American dream：in the broad sense, it means "democracy, freedom, equality". In the narrow sense, it means one can succeed through one's own effort. It's a belief in the freedom that allows all citizens and residents of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work. America is the land of opportunity. If I work hard enough, I can be whatever I want to be. If I truly want something I can get it. 这么多美国梦的版本和解释，美国梦可以用两种方式来阐释：广义上讲，它是指―民主，自由和平等‖。狭义上讲，他意味着一个人可以通过自身努力成功。这是一种对自由的信仰，它允许所有的美国公民和居民可以通过努力工作来追求自己的目标。美国号称机遇之国。如果我足够努力地工作，我就能成为我想成为的。如果我真想要什么，我就能得到什么。

American Dream has touched the lives and consciousness of American citizens and residents. One person may place monetary gain as their highest goal, and thus strive for this in a very American way, gaining through ability rather than social status. For another, the American Dream could consist in achieving a state of pure freedom from the choke-hold of money and social structure. These two examples of the American Dream are only drops in an ever-expanding spectrum of possibilities.

美国梦已经关系到美国公民和居民的生活和意识。一个人可能会以获取金钱作为最高目标，从而以非常美国的方式为此奋斗，通过能力而非社会地位来获取金钱 。另一方面，美国梦可能存在于从令人窒息的金钱和社会结构中获取纯粹的自由。这两个美国梦的例子在日益扩大的可能性中只是沧海一粟。 The phrase's meaning has evolved over the course of American history. The

Founding Fathers used the phrase, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." For others it is the opportunity for their children to grow up and receive an education and its consequent career

opportunities. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class, religion, race, or ethnic group. President Clinton said, "We need a new spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this together, or the American Dream will continue to wither. Our destiny is bound up with the 6destiny of every other American." 5

这个短语的意义随着美国历史进程的演变而演变。建国之父曾使用该短语，―生命，自由，以及对幸福

5的追求。‖其他方面，它是自己子女成长，接受教育和获得随之而来的就业机会的机会。它是在没有阶

级，宗教，种族和民族限制下做出个人选择的机会。克林顿总统曾经说，―我们需要一种新的大同精神，

6一种我们都在一起，亦或是美国梦将会继续破灭的观念。我们的命运与每一个美国人的命运密切相关‖

From the birth of America, to America today, the driving force and the heart of America has always been the American Dream.The American Dream is success, freedom, and being able to control your own destiny. Everyone has dreams, but to carry them out is the American Dream. It is something that makes America great. It allows those with aspirations to make them come true. In America all one needs is a dream and the motivation to carry out that dream. Ambition is the driving force behind the American Dream. It allows anyone that has an aspiration, a desire, a yearning, to carry out their individual dream. It stands for something great, something that everyone can strive towards. It's a dream and a desire for something great. In America, the American Dream allows dreams to become realities. It is the ability to come from nothing and become something. To have the desire and the drive to carry out ones aspirations embodies the American Dream. It's an kind of American spirit.

从建国之初到现在，美国的动力和核心始终是美国梦。美国梦就是成功，自由以及控制自己的命运。每个人都有梦想，但是实现梦想才是美国梦。它是是美国变得伟大的东西。他让那些壮志凌云的人实现梦想。在美国，所有人需要的是一个梦想以及推动梦想实现的动力。抱负是美国梦背后的驱动力。它让任何有志向，有愿望，有渴望的人们实现自己的梦想。它代表了伟大的事物，以及人们努力想实现的事物。它是追求伟大事物的梦想和渴望。在美国，美国梦使梦想成为现实。它是从无到有的能力。拥有实现志向的渴望和动力体现了美国梦。它是一种美国精神。

3. American Presidents—

the Top Conductor of the American Dream

3. 美国总统-美国梦的最高执行者

3.1 Founder of the American Dream

3.1 美国梦的创始人

3.1.1 George Washington and the Founding of America―the Regime Base of American dream

3.1.1乔治·华盛顿，美国的建国之父-美国梦的政权统治基础

George Washington, led the Continental Army to victory over the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and served as the first President of the United States of America. Washington is seen as a symbol of the United States, an excellent delegator and judge of talent and character, He was systematic, orderly ,energetic and solicitous person, with decisive, ambitious mind.

乔治·华盛顿带领大陆军于1775-1783年的美国解放战争中战胜大不列颠王国并当选为美利坚合众国第一任总统。华盛顿被看作是美国的标志，他是一位有才能，有声望的委派人和法官。他是一个有着决定性和雄心壮志的头脑，条理，利落，精力充沛和热情的人。

''First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting…Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues…Such was the man for whom 7our nation mourns''

“战时第一，和时第一，同胞心中第一，他在私人生活方面的谦逊和隐忍是无可匹敌的。他虔诚，公正，仁爱，温和，真诚；他体态匀称，高贵，威严；他的事迹对他身边的人具有教育意义并有持久的影响……在其职位上，考虑周到，小心谨慎，品行德行得以培养。他的个性的纯洁为其公众德性增添了光辉……这才是我们的国家哀悼的英雄”7

Washington was regarded as the "Father of His Country." He sought to create a great nation capable of surviving in a world torn asunder by the war between Britain and France. His devotion to civic virtue made him an exemplary figure among early American politicians . His unilateral Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793 provided a basis for avoiding any involvement in foreign conflicts. He supported plans to build a strong central government by funding the national debt, implementing an effective tax system, and creating a national bank. Washington avoided the temptation of war and began a decade of peace with Britain. Besides, he had a marked impact on the nation's highest court through his

appointment of the first ten Justices of the Supreme Court. His public political address warned against foreign influence in domestic affairs and America‘s meddling in European affairs. He warned against bitter partisanship in domestic politics and called for men to move beyond partisanship and serve the common good. He called for an America wholly free of foreign attachments, saying the United States must concentrate primarily on American interests. He advocate friendship and commerce with all nations, his address quickly set American values regarding religion and foreign affairs.

华盛顿被视为―建国之父‖。他努力创造了一个在被英法两国蹂躏的四分五裂之后仍能生存在这个世界上的伟大国家。他对公民道德的贡献使他成为早期美国政客的楷模。他于1793年单方面做出的《独立宣言》为避免美国卷入外部冲突提供了依据。他支持通过积累国债，实施有效税制和创立国家银行的方式建立一个强大的中央政府的方案。华盛顿避免了战争的诱惑，并与英国开始了长达十年的和平关系。另外，通过任命首批十位最高法院的大法官，他对美国的最高法院又产生了显著的影响。他的公共政治演说告诫了外国对美国内政的影响以及美国对欧洲事务的干涉。他警告了国内政治中的党派偏见，呼吁人们超越党派以及为共同利益服务。他呼吁美国完全摆脱对外国的依附，主张美国必须专心致志于美国自身的利益。他提倡与各国建立友好及商业关系。他的演说迅速确定了美国在宗教和外交事务上的价值观念。

Since America was founded, American people began to work, create, and weave their American dream in their own way on this supernatural and vigorous land. The founding of America also set the base and tone for the future development of this nation. Most importantly, it makes the contiuous presence and evolution of the American dream possible.

自从美国成立，美国人民便开始在这块超自然的和充满活力的土地上以他们自己的方式工作，创造和编制他们的美国梦。美国的成立也为着这个国家的未来发展奠定了基石和基调。最重要的是，它使美国梦的持续存在和演化成为可能。

3.1.2 Thomas Jefferson and the Enaction of United States Declaration of Independence

3.1.2 托马斯·杰弗逊以及美国《独立宣言》的制定

The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental

Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson.

Philosophically, the Declaration stressed two themes: individual rights and the right of revolution.

Particularly, it stressed that the unalienable rights of ―Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness‖ belong to every American citizen.

美国《独立宣言》是美国大陆会议于1776年7月4日通过的声明，该声明宣告战时英国的13个美国殖民地不再是大英帝国的一部分。这一声明首先由托马斯·杰弗逊起草。从哲学角度上讲，该声明强调两个主题：个人权利和革命的权利。尤其是，它强调―生命，自由和追求幸福的权利‖属于每一个美国公民不可剥夺的权利。

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States , the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. and one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the America, he is a polymath and Jefferson is a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, inventor, and founder of the University of Virginia. He is also one of the three greatest presidents in the America history.

托马斯·杰弗逊（1743.4.13-1826.5.4）是美国第三任总统，《独立宣言》的主要作者以及美国最有影响力的建国之父之一。他是个学识渊博的人。杰弗逊是一位园艺家，政治家，建筑家，考古学家，发明家以及弗吉尼亚大学的创始人。他也是美国历史上最伟大的三位总统之一。

Jefferson believed that each individual had "certain inalienable rights." That is, these rights exist with or without government; man cannot create, take, or give them away. It is the right of "liberty" on which Jefferson is most notable for expounding. He defines it by saying "rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant‘s will, and always so when it violates the rights of 8the individual." Hence, for Jefferson, though government cannot create a right to liberty, it can indeed violate it. And the limit of an individual's rightful liberty is not what law says but simply a matter of prohibiting other individuals from having the same liberty. A proper government, for Jefferson, is one that not only prohibits individuals in society from infringing on the liberty of other individuals, but also restrains itself from diminishing individual liberty.

杰弗逊认为，每个人都有―某些不可剥夺的权利‖。也就是说，这些权利存在与否与政府无关；人类不能创造，剥夺或放弃这些权利。―自由权‖是杰弗逊最为著名的论述。他将之定义为―正当的自由为，在其他人据相同权利划定之范围内，依我等之意愿畅行无碍。我并未加述?合法范围内‘，因律法通常不过是专制

8独裁者之意图，而律法的确就是这样侵犯个人权利。‖因此，对杰弗逊而言，尽管政府不能创造自由

权，但实际上，政府可以侵犯自由权。个人正当的自由的限制不是法律所说的而仅仅是禁止其他个人拥有同样的自由。对杰弗逊而言，一个合理的政府应该是不仅禁止社会中的个人侵犯其他个人的自由，而且约束自身削弱个人自由。

Jefferson believed that individuals had an innate sense of morality that prescribes right from wrong when dealing with other individuals—that whether they choose to restrain themselves or not, they have an innate sense of the natural rights of others. The natural rights of all men have been stated as "life, liberty, and the puruit of happiness." In order for freedom to exist, people must take on the

responsibility to pursue and maintain their dream.

杰弗逊认为，个人拥有一种天生的道德感，可以在与他人打交道的过程中订明是非-不管他们是否选择约束自己，他们天生就能意识到他人与生俱来的权利。人人所享有的与生俱来的权利可以归纳为―生命，自由和追求幸福的权利。‖为了争取自由的存在，人类必须肩负起追求梦想和坚持梦想的责任。

The dream of freedom requires people to take responsibility to govern themselves in a way in which freedom can succeed without chaos，the country have used governmental law and social rules to regulate their citizens. People must maintain a direct hold on their government and society through their laws and social structure, allowing for each individual within their citizenship to keep their own identity while participating in the civilization as a whole. When people take on the responsibility of their citizenship and follow the laws and rules founded for them, freedom is allowed to work for everyone. 自由的梦想要求人们负责的以某种方式克制自己，通过这种方式，自由可以实现而不混乱。国家采用政府立法以及社会规则的方式来规范他们的公民。人们必须通过法律和社会结构直接影响他们的政府和社会，允许其公民范围内的每一个人保持自己的身份，同时作为一个整体参与人类文明的生活。当人们肩负起他们作为公民的责任，并且遵守为他们设立的法律法规时，自由便属于每一个人。

This is the origin of the American dream, it give people all the rights to pursue their own dream, design and create their own life. After the enaction of the Declaration of Independence, American people

began to shape this country and themselves in various ways, all the American people believe that they are the only "God chosen people" in the world, and they have the unalienable rights to pursue happiness of their own.

这便是美国梦的起源。他给予人们追求自己梦想的权利，设计和创造自己生活的权利。《独立宣言》颁布以后，美国人民开始开始以各种方式发展这个国家和他们自己。所有的美国人都相信，他们是世界上唯一的―上帝选民‖，他们拥有追求自己幸福的不可剥夺的权利。

3.2 Expander of the American Dream—President Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt

3.2 美国梦的扩展者--亚伯拉罕·林肯总统和西奥多·罗斯福总统

3.2.1 President Abraham and Emancipation Proclamation

3.2.1 亚伯拉罕·林肯总统和《解放奴隶宣言》

In the Constitution of the United States of America it is stated that all men are created equal but in society it is over shadowed by racism.

美国宪法规定人人生而平等，但是在社会中，它却被蒙上了种族主义的阴影。

Segregation was common during different times in the American history,and this made it extremely hard for people of color or immigrants to find a good job and live a normal life. For a black man there was little or no American dream. A dream is somewhat a condition or achievement that is longed for and without good effort it is highly unlikely. America‘s appeal is the aspiration of improving the life they are living and the lives of their children. People move to this country to work to achieve their dreams and make something out of their lives. For an immigrant or an African American, challenges stood in the way of their dreams. The challenge was segregation. If it wasn‘t difficult enough to make something out of nothing it was harder with the obstacles of segregation.

在美国历史的不同时期，种族隔离是很常见的，这让有色人种或移民很难找到一份好的工作以及过上正常的生活。对黑人来讲，他们几乎或者根本没有美国梦。梦想，从某种程度上讲，是一种令人向往的地位或成就，不付出很大的努力，是极不可能实现的。美国呼吁提高他们及其子女的生活水平。对一个移民或非裔美国人而言，挑战挡在他们追求梦想的路上。这一挑战就是种族隔离。如果说使某些事物无中生有不算困难，那么种族隔离才是真正的障碍。

How could one man‘s American dream overcome the segregation and racism of millions? Does the American Dream really exist in the black community or do blacks labor under the false impression that our lives will be better in the future? Do blacks in America also accept their fate? Are we living under a veil of hope that one day America will become that word that everyone loves to throw around? Did the American Dream ever exist for us, or did we just believe that things had to get better because they couldn't possibly get any worse? Benjamin Franklin wrote that "laziness travels so slowly, that poverty 9soon overtakes him" and "diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry." In other words, if you work hard and are not lazy, you will not be poor. Furthermore, hard work dictates good luck in America. Franklin was one of America's founding fathers. The people looked up to him for guidance. Was he telling the truth?

一个人的美国梦怎么可能克服数百万人的种族隔离和种族主义？美国梦真的存在于黑人群体中，亦或是黑人同胞在我们的生活未来会更好的假象下劳动？美国的黑人也接受他们的命运吗？我们是否生活在这样一线希望之下，有一天，美国会变成这样一个世界：每个人都喜欢挥霍？美国梦真的为我们存在过吗，亦或是我们只是相信万物会变好因为他们不可能在再变坏？本杰明·富兰克林写到―懒惰走得太慢，很

9快就被贫穷追上‖和―勤奋是幸运之母，上帝将万物赐予勤劳。‖换句话说，如果你努力工作不懒惰，你不

会穷。此外，在美国，勤奋工作推动者好运的到来。富兰克林是美国建国之父之一。人们尊重他的领导。他说的是实话吗？

People began to quest whether American can be still equal among every people, is America still under the umbrella of theDeclaration of Independence which states that "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" are not limited to the white race?

人们开始质疑美国是否可以实现民族平等，美国是否还处于《独立宣言》中规定 ―生命，自由和追求幸福的权利‖不局限于白人的保护之下？

However, since the enaction of the Emancipation Proclamation, black people' fate has changed a lot. 然而，从《解放奴隶宣言》的制定，黑人的命运已经改变了很多。

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the sixteenth President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest domestic crisis, the American Civil War, and enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, saving the Union and ending slavery. He is one the greatest presidents in the American history. It was the Declaration of Independence, rather than the Bible, that Lincoln most relied on in order to oppose any further territorial expansion of slavery. He saw the Declaration as more than a political document. To him, as well as to many abolitionists and other antislavery leaders, it was, foremost, a moral document that had forever determined valuable criteria in shaping the future of the nation.

亚伯拉罕·林肯(1809.2.12-1865.4.15) 是美国的第六任总统。他成功的带领美国度过了最大的国内危机-美国内战，并且制订了《解放奴隶宣言》，拯救了联合政府并结束了奴隶制度。他是美国历史上最伟大的总统之一。在反对奴隶制进一步扩张的斗争中，林肯最依赖的《独立宣言》而非圣经。在他的眼里，《独立宣言》绝不仅仅是一份政治文件。对他而言，以及对很多废奴派和其他的反奴隶制领袖而言，《独立宣言》主要是一份永远决定塑造该国前途的宝贵标准的道德文件。

The Emancipation Proclamation, announced on September 22, 1862 and put into effect on January 1, 1863, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. As Union armies advanced south, more slaves were liberated until all of them in Confederate territory (over three million) were freed. Lincoln later said: "I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this 10paper." The proclamation made the abolition of slavery in the rebel states an official war goal. Lincoln then threw his energies into passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to permanently abolish slavery throughout the nation.

《解放奴隶宣言》发表于1862年9月22日，1863年1月1日生效，解放了领土内已不再受联合政府控制的奴隶。随着联合军南下进攻，更多的奴隶被解放直至同盟军领土内所有的奴隶（多于三百万）都

10被解放。林肯后来说到：―我生平从没有什么比签署这个文件更确信我做的是正确的‖该宣言在叛乱中废

除了奴隶制，体现了这次战争的目标。之后，林肯便全身心的投入到《第十三次修正案》中来，以在全国范围内彻底废除奴隶制。

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the

Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose

according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish 11that all men everywhere could be free.

在这场斗争中，我的最高目标是通过这场战争来拯救联邦，不是保全或推翻奴隶制度。如果不必解放奴隶就能拯救联邦，我就不去解放，如果只有解放全部的奴隶才能拯救联邦，我就解放。如果我通过解放部分奴隶达到拯救联邦的目的，我就这么选择。我之所以做了一些对奴隶和有色人种有益的事情，是因为我相信这样做有助于拯救联邦。我之所以能容忍某些事情，那也是因为我相信这样做有助于拯救联邦。凡是我认为会破坏这个目标的事情，我都会少做一点；相反，我就多做一点。凡是被证明是错误的事，我都会尽力改正，那些可以经过证明是正确的观点，我就立刻接受。在此，我根据自己对公职的理解重申我的目的；我没打算修改我再三表示的所有人都能自由的个人愿望。

Although there are still a lot of struggles of black people in American history, and the issue of black people are still under a lot of discussion. Black people's American dream is still doubtful, but the

enaction of the Emancipation Proclamation set a tone and become the base of the continuous black

people' movement.

尽管在美国历史上还有很多关于黑人的斗争，有关黑人的话题仍然备受争议。黑人的美国梦仍然令人质疑，但《解放奴隶宣言》的制定为持续的黑人运动奠定了基调和基石。

3.2.2 President Theodore Roosevelt and His New Deal

3.2.2 西奥多·罗斯福和他的新政

Throughout history there has been a quest for a better life for American people, and one of the first things an American learns as a schoolchild is the phrase written on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me 12your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." People will journey far and wide, traverse the entire continent, suffer all manner of pain and suffering, if they believe that, in the end, they will be rewarded, and there is nothing quite like survival to motivate people. That is why it comes as no surprise when people from other countries struggle to get to America, believing the ancient tale of the American Dream, convinced that they will finally make it big in this land of riches.People believe that the roads are paved with gold in America, and that everyone here is a

millionaire, and they want a piece of that giant, glittering pie, whether to help their families back home or to help themselves.

纵观美国历史，美国人对更好生活的探索一直没有停过，美国人孩童时代知道的第一件事情就是写在自

12由女神像上的短语：―让我来分担你的疲劳，穷困，你那拥挤着渴望呼吸自由的大众。‖人们会游历很

广，穿越整个大陆，遭受所有形式的痛苦和苦难，如果他们相信，在最后，他们将会被嘉奖，而且没有什么比生存更能激励人。这就是为什么其他国家的人千方百计来到美国，相信美国梦这一古老的故事，以及这个富人的土地上自己能够发大财，一点也不稀奇的原因。人们相信，在美国，路是由黄金铺设的，这里的每一个人都是百万富翁，他们想分食这一巨大的，闪闪发光的馅饼，以帮助他们的家人回归家园，亦或是自助。

In the 20th century, the American dream had its challenges. The Depression caused widespread hardship during the twenties and thirties, and was almost a reverse of the dream for those directly affected. From 1915 to 1925, it was the period of time for the industrialisation and growth of American cities. Also around that time, there was an increase in money and wealth that attracted people all over the world. However, a few years later from 1929 to 1941, America experienced the Great Depression. The Great Depression was the period of time when there was mass unemployment and millions of

Americans were living in a miserable life, the whole society was covered under the shadow of the crisis People began to lose their jobs and money, as well as to go panic and the stability of the whole American society face big challenge. The New Deal was enacted under such circumstances.

在20世纪，美国梦遇到了挑战。大萧条在二三十年代引起了广泛的苦难，对于这些受到直接影响的人而言，大萧条几乎就是梦想的破灭。19xx年到19xx年是工业化以及美国城市发展的时期。同样在该时期，金钱和财富的增长吸引着世界各地的人。然而，几年后的19xx年到19xx年，美国经历了大萧条。大萧条是大量失业，成千上万美国人过着悲惨生活的时期，整个社会蒙上了危机的阴影。人们开始失去工作和金钱，以及变得恐慌，整个美国社会的稳定性遇到了巨大的挑战。新政就是在这样的背景下制定的。

Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the twenty-sixth President of the United States. He was the leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Party, and also a governor of New York and a professional historian, naturalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier. He was most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, the biggest of which is his New Deal, that was considered as the last straw of the American economy and society.

西奥多·罗斯福（1858.10.27-1919.1.6）是美国的第二十六任总统。他是共和党领导人，也是纽约市的州长，还是一位专业的历史学家，自然学家，探险家，猎人，作家和军人。他以他的人格最著名，他的精力，他广泛的兴趣和成就，最著名的就是他的新政，被视为美国经济与社会的最后一根救命稻草。 The New Deal mainly dealed with the current issues caused by the Great Depression and was implemented in the fields of economy, social security, and other major departments in the nation. The main purpose of the New Deal was to rebound the national economy and to stabilize the whole society. Economic and financial success are at the center of all the American dreams, after Roosevelt's New Deal, the whole economy began to rejuvenate and the whole society has been pulled back to the

normal track, people's confidence towards the country and the future of their life was aroused again and American people once again began to dream their American dream.

新政主要解决了当时大萧条引起的一系列问题，并在经济，社会安全以及该国其他重要部门展开。新政的主要目的是振兴国民经济和稳定整个社会。经济和财政成功是所有美国梦的中心，罗斯福新政之后，整个经济开始复兴，整个社会被拉回到正常轨道上来，人们对这个国家以及对他们未来生活的信心重新激发出来，美国人民再一次开始做自己的美国梦。

3.3 Destroyer of the American Dreamv—President George H. W. Bush, Gorge W. Bush

3.3 美国梦的破坏者- 老布什和小布什总统

American Dream also can best be explained as a "city upon a hill." "City upon a hill" means being above and superior over those below, it is a severe form of nationalism, and a kind of privilege, so

American Dream is dangerous. The majority of Americans seem to take the Dream for granted, they all want more, more, and more, they aren't satisfied with their health, money and family, they become more and more greedy, they want to magnify this kind of privilege and enjoy more superiority.The

American dream has been tortured and destroyed by George H. W. Bush and Gorge W. Bush, the Gulf war, the Iraq war, and the invasion of Afghanistan, the global wide anti-terrerist wars all the living proof of the twist and distortion of the American dream.

美国梦也可以被解释为一座―山巅之城‖，指的是高于或优越于其他低山，它是一种严格的民族主义形式和特权，因此美国人是危险地。大多数的美国人把梦想视为当然，他们都想要得到更多，更多以及更多，他们不满足于他们的健康，金钱和家庭，他们变得日益贪婪，他们想夸大这种特权并享受更多的优越性。美国梦被老布什和小布什践踏和破坏，海湾战争，伊拉克战争，入侵阿富汗，全球范围内的反恐斗争，都是美国梦被扭曲和变形的活生生的证明。

"I come before you and assume the Presidency at a moment rich with promise. We live in a peaceful, prosperous time, but we can make it better. The totalitarian era is passing, its old ideas blown away like 13leaves from an ancient, lifeless tree. There is new ground to be broken, and new action to be taken." ―我在你们面前就总统职，正是一个充满前途充满希望的时刻。我们生活在和平，繁荣的时代，可是我们还可以将其变得更加美好。极权主义时代正在过去，它那陈旧的观念，如同无生命的古老树木上的树叶，被吹得脱落飘零。这里还有新的天地可以开辟，新的行动可以采取。‖

August 1, 1990, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded its oil-rich neighbor to the south, Kuwait; Bush condemned the invasion and began rallying opposition to Iraq in European, Asian, and Middle Eastern allies.Iraq made attempts to negotiate with Bush through a deal that would allow the country to take control of half of Kuwait. Bush rejected this proposal and insisted on a complete withdrawal of Iraqi forces, "Iraq must withdraw from Kuwait completely, immediately, and without condition. Kuwait's legitimate government must be restored. The security and stability of the Persian Gulf must be 14assured. And American citizens abroad must be protected." He then outlined a fifth, long-term objective"Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective — a new world order — can emerge: a new era — freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live 15 in harmony."He tried his best to legalize this kind of invasion and find excuses and umbrella in order to protect America's interests abroad.

19xx年8月1日，在伊拉克，由萨达姆·侯赛因领导的军队入侵南部石油丰富的邻国科威特；老布什谴责这次入侵，并开始联合欧洲，亚洲，中东反对伊拉克。伊拉克妄图与布什谈判，并提议美国控制科威特的半壁江山作为交换条件。老布什拒绝了这一提议并坚持伊拉克军队全部撤离科威特，―伊拉克必须全部，立刻，毫无条件的撤离科威特。必须恢复科威特的合法政府。必须保证波斯湾的安全与稳定。必须

14保护国外的美国公民‖之后，他勾勒出第五个长期的目标―由于现在是多事之秋，我们的第五个目标-一

个新的世界秩序-出现：一个新的时代-更加摆脱恐怖威胁，更加坚定的追求公正，更加确切的质疑和

15平。一个世界各国，东方和西方，北方和南方能够共同繁荣以及和睦相处的年代。‖他试图使这种入侵

合法化以及寻找理由和保护伞以保护美国在国外的利益。

The similarity is also shared by Gorge W. Bush, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

occurred, and Bush announced a global war on trrorism, ordered an invasion of Afghanistan that same year and an invasion of Iraq in 2003.

20xx年9月11日的恐怖袭击发生后，相似的事件也发生在小布什身上，当时小布什宣告了全球范围内的反恐战争的到来，同年命令入侵阿富汗， 20xx年入侵伊拉克。

On January 29, 2002, he asserted that an "axis of evil" consisting of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq was "arming to threaten the peace of the world" and pose a grave and growing danger, but later it war claimed that the Bush Administration manipulated or exaggerated the threat and evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities. Bush has been criticized internationally and targeted by the global anti-war and anti-globalization campaigns, particularly for his administration's foreign policy. 20xx年1月29日，小布什断言包括北朝鲜，伊朗和伊拉克在内的―邪恶轴心国‖正武装威胁到世界的和平并构成严重威胁，但是后来传来，布什政府操纵或夸大了伊拉克大规模杀伤武器的威力。布什受到国际社会的谴责，成为国际上反战和反全球化运动，尤其是其政府对外政策的攻击的对象。

Up till now, the original American dream has been corrupted, the American dream has become the tool of the top conductor to carry out his own will for his interests, trample over other country's sovereignty for his own economic earnings, enslave other country's people for his own freedom, build his own

happiness over other people's agony. Undoubtedly, George H. W. Bush and Gorge W. Bush should be the sinner-taker.

时至今日，原来的美国梦已经堕落，美国梦已经成为最高统治者为实现其自身欲望，为达自身经济利益蹂躏他国主权，为追求自由征服他国人民以及将幸福建立在他人痛苦之上的工具。毫无疑问，老布什和小布什才该是罪人。

3.4 Savior of the American Deam―President Barack Obama

3.4 美国梦的救世主-巴拉克·奥巴马总统

In September 2008, as stock markets world-wide crashed and a considerable number of banking,

mortgage and insurance companies went bankcrupt in the following weeks. The whole world witnessed the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression in American history and immediately the financial crisis became the economic crisis worldwide, people began to lose jobs and money and all were shadowed under great panic and chaos. America became the greatest victim of this crisis and many people then claimed that this crisis was the collapse of the American dream, and the downfall of American spirit and American myth. American dream has become American nightmare so American is no longer the "land of opportunity" as before, the spirit pillar and the "start from scratch" story of America was no longer exist.

20xx年9月，全球范围内的股市崩溃，大量银行业，抵押贷款和保险机构在数周内相继破产。整个世界经历了大萧条以来最大的经济危机，顷刻之间，金融危机变成全球范围内的经济危机，人们开始丢失工作和金钱，整个世界蒙上了恐慌和混乱的阴影。美国成为这次经济危机的最大受害者，很多人就断言，这次危机就是美国梦的瓦解，美国精神和美国神话的垮台。美国梦已经成为美国的梦魇，因此美国不再是以前的―机遇之邦‖， 美国精神支柱和―白手起家‖的故事已不存在。

However, On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama defeated John McCain in the general election and became the first African American to be elected President of the United States. This news was just like a thunder and immediately traveled to every corner of this world. An African American, coming from a single parent family, first worked as a community organizer in some of Chicago‘s poorest communities after graduating from college, set foot in politics just four years ago and finally became the president of the United states. This amazing story was extolled by every American and his election again made the world believe that American dream is still alive and American myth is still realizable, just as Obama proclaimed himself "change has come to America".

然而，20xx年11月4日，巴拉克·奥巴马在大选中击败约翰·麦凯恩成为美国选举史上首位非裔美国人。这个消息像是晴天霹雳自可传遍世界的每一个角落。奥巴马总统是一位非裔美国人，来自于一个单亲家庭，毕业后在芝加哥的某些穷人社区任社区干事，4年前踏入政坛最终成为美国总统。这一传奇故事被每个美国人所称颂，他的选举成功让世人相信，美国梦仍然还活着，美国神话仍然可以实现，正如奥巴马自己宣称的―美国的变革时代已到来‖。

Hundreds of years ago, a black man named Martin Luther King Jr delivered the famous speech ―I Have a Dream‖, touching and inspiring numbers of people to pursue equality and harmony.

几百年前，一位叫马丁·路德·金的黑人发表了著名的演讲―我有一个梦想‖，感动和鼓舞着若干人追求平等和和谐。

And exactly on today, the America have made a historic step toward the dream.

Obama was born in a special family. His father is a foreign student from Kenya and his mother is a

white woman from Kansas. When Obama was only two years old, his parents got divorced. He grew up with his grandparents. He got his bachlor‘s degree at Columbia University. Then he served the poor people at Chicago communities for a few years. In 1991, he got his doctoral degree at Law School, Harvard University. Then he became a lawyer and a teacher at Chicago University. In 1997, he ran for the state senator at Illinois and succeeded. In 2004, he ran for the federal senator and won it. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the 16power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

而恰恰在今天，美国人民向着这个梦想迈进了历史性的一步。奥巴马出生于一个特殊的家庭。他父亲是一名来自肯尼亚的外国留学生，他母亲是美国肯萨斯州的一位白人女性。奥巴马两岁的时候，他的父母便离异。他跟随祖父母长大。他于哥伦比亚大学获得学士学位。之后很多年，一直在芝加哥社区服务穷人。19xx年，他于哈弗大学法学院获得博士学位。之后便成为芝加哥大学的一名律师和教师。19xx年，他成功竞选伊利诺斯州的议员。20xx年，他又成功竞选联邦参议员。20xx年11月4日，他被选举为美国第四十四任总统，并于20xx年1月20日宣誓就职。―如果还有人对美国是否凡事都有可能存疑，还有人怀疑美国奠基者的梦想在我们所处的时代是否依然鲜活，还有人质疑我们的民主制度的力量，那

16么今晚，这些问题都有了答案‖

Barak Obama is the typical example of the American Dream, He realized his American Dream finally and also made everyone believe that American Dream is still alive today, his election of the president of the United States gave American people and the people all over the world strong confidence and courage to realize their own American Dream.

奥巴马是美国梦的典型例子。他最终实现了自己的美国梦，并且让所有人相信，今天美国梦仍然存活于世，他竞选美国总统的成功给予了美国人民及世界人民追求自己美国梦的坚定信心和勇气。

The American Dream is a faith, a kind of pursuit, belief and determination. The evolvement of the American Dream experienced different phases and movements, nevertheless, the American Dream will never wither and fade but endure and flourish for ever.

美国梦使一个信念，一种追求，信仰和决心。美国梦的演化经历了不同阶段和进展，尽管如此，美国梦永远不会破灭，消失，而会永远的持续，蓬勃发展。

4．Conclusion

4. 结论

Based on the factors that I have just outlined, we can never fail to wholeheartedly endorse the fact that those American presidents do exert either positive or negative effects on ―American dream‖ by taking close look at the historic American presidents. No doubly, George Washionton, the founding father of the America ,is the regime base of American dream, who contributed to the rise of American dream. Conversly, Thomas Jefferson, the advocator of Declariation of Independence, just laid a solid

foundation of American Dream, which, I belive , injected vigor and vitality to the American dream. In addition, President Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt are acted as expander of the American Dream. Theodore Roosevelt‘s "New Deal" boosted American people‘s confidence and Abranham

Lincoln rendered a great help for black people to realize their American Dream. On the contrary,

President Bush just serveed as a catalyst activating dormant jeopardy of American Dream, devastating American Dream by invading of other counties for the sake of its own interest. Barack Obama, coming from a humble family, was elected the first black President of the United States. His own experience, his diligence, fully interpreted the perceptions of American Dream.Taking a series of positive actions, he successfully controlled America‘s financial market. He focuses more on establishing diplomatic threlations with Russia and China. His visited China on Decenmeber 15,2009 pave a tremendous way for the sound relation between China and America, making the true concept of American Dream rooted into a lot of Chinese. For my part, with the frequent exchange of diverse cultures and values, American dream is no long a privilege of American people, but also belongs to the whole world. Impossible is nothing that "American dreams knows no bound".

基于我所概述的因素，我们一定要通过仔细观察，心服口服的认可这一事实：美国总统对―美国梦‖有或积极或消极的影响。毫无疑问，美国的建国之父乔治·华盛顿建立了美国梦的制度基础，对于美国梦的产生做出了贡献。相反地，《独立宣言》的倡导者托马斯·杰弗逊只是为美国梦打下了坚实的基础，我认为，他为美国梦注入了生机与活力。另外，亚伯拉罕·林肯总统和西奥多·罗斯福总统被视为美国梦的扩展者。西奥多·罗斯福的―新政‖增强了美国人民的信心，亚伯拉罕·林肯大大帮助黑人实现了他们的美国梦。相反，布什总统只是在激活美国梦的休眠危险地过程中起了催化剂的作用，为追求自身利益入侵他国，彻底摧毁了美国梦。来自于卑微家庭的巴拉克·奥巴马当选为美国历史上首位黑人总统。

他的经历，勤奋很好的诠释了美国梦的含义。通过采取一系列积极措施，他成功的控制了美国的金融市场。他注重与俄罗斯和中国建立外交关系。他于20xx年12月15日访问中国，为中美两国友好关系铺平了一条宽广的大道，是美国梦的概念深深扎根于很多中国人的心里。对我而言，通过多种文化和价值观念的频繁交流，美国梦不再是仅仅属于美国人民的特权，也是整个世界的特权。没有什么不可能的，―美国梦永无止境‖。