Pearl Harbor address to the nation

（国会珍珠港演说）

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu,the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the

Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition,American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the

American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

副总统先生、议长先生、参众两院各位议员： 昨天，１９４１年１２月７日，我们必须永远记住这个耻辱的日子，在这一天美利坚合众国受到了日本帝国海空军突如其来的蓄意攻击。

美国和日本是和平相处的，根据日本的请求仍在同它的政府和天皇进行会谈，以期待维护太平洋地区的和平。

实际上，就在日本空军部队已经着手开始轰炸美国瓦湖岛之后的一小时，日本驻美国大使和同僚还向我们的国务卿提交了对美国最近致日方消息的正式答复。虽然复函声称继续现行外交谈判似已无用，但却并未包含有关战争或武装攻击的威胁或暗示。

历史将会作证，由于夏威夷距离日本的距离如此之远，显然表明这次进攻是经过许多天甚至许多个星期精心策划的。在调停期间，日本政府蓄意以虚伪的声明和表示继续维持和平的愿望来欺骗美国。

昨天对夏威夷群岛的攻击给美国海陆军部队造成了严重的损害。我遗憾地告诉各位，许多美国人丧失了生命，此外，根据报告，美国船只在旧金山和火奴鲁鲁之间的公海上也遭到了鱼雷袭击。 昨天，日本政府已发动了对马来亚的进攻。

昨晚，日本军队进攻了香港。 昨晚，日本军队进攻了关岛。

昨晚，日本军队进攻了菲律宾群岛。 昨晚，日本人进攻了威克岛。 今晨，日本人进攻了中途岛。

因此，日本在整个太平洋区域采取了突然攻势。昨天和今天的事实不言自明。美国的人民已经形成了自己的见解，并且非常清楚这关系到我们国家的安全和生存本身。

作为陆、海军总司令，我已指示，为了我们的防务采取一切措施。但是，我们整个国家将永远记住这次对我们突袭的性质。

不论要用多长时间才能战胜这次有预谋的入侵，美国人民将一定要以自己的正义力量赢得绝对的胜利。

我们现在预言，我们不仅要做出最大的努力来保卫我们自己，我们还将确保这种背信弃义的形式永远不会再次危及到我们。我这样说，相信是表达了国会和人民的意志。

敌对行动已经存在。无庸赘言，我国人民、我国领土和我国利益都处于严重危险之中。

相信我们的武装部队——依靠我国人民的坚定决心——我们将取得必然的胜利——愿上帝帮助我们！

我要求国会宣布：自１９４１年１２月７日星期日，日本发动无端的、卑鄙的进攻时起，美国和日本帝国之间已处于战争状态。

========================== -----------------------------------------------========================== 美国第32任总统富兰克林·D·罗斯福(Franklin D. Roosevelt )(1933—1945)，从19xx年3月起，直到19xx年4月去世时为止，任职长达12年。曾赢得美国民众长达7周的高支持率，创下历史记录。

19xx年12月7日早晨7点53分，日本突袭美军在夏威夷的基地珍珠港。次日，美国总统罗斯福在国会愤然发表了这篇的演说，至此，太平洋战争全面爆发。

 

第二篇：珍珠港演说-罗斯福

背景知识

日本由19xx年起，在亚洲进行军国主义扩张活动，到19xx年，日本已侵占大部分中国领土，并准备挥军东南亚国家，攫取这些地区的天然资源。19xx年，日本和德国、意大利组成轴心国，与英法为首的同盟国对垒。

欧洲陷于二次世界大战的战火中，但美国仍然不想卷入战争，只对日采取石油禁运，并希望透过谈判，劝阻日本的侵略行动。不过日本决定先发制人，在19xx年12月7日，派出海空军部队，突袭美国位于夏威夷的海军基地--珍珠港 (Pearl Harbor)，结果成功击沉、击毁美国19艘大型舰只，炸毁美国150架飞机，造成 2400多名美国人死亡，伤 1178 人。而日本付出的代价轻微，仅损失飞机 20多架和5艘袖珍潜水艇。

当时的美国总统罗斯福 (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)，在发生突袭后第二日，在国会发表对日宣战的著名演说--珍珠港演说 (Pearl Harbor Speech)。美国人在日本偷袭珍珠港前，对应否加入二次大战存在分歧，偷袭事件激起民愤，结果全国团结起来，支持参战。德国和意大利亦于3日后，对美国宣战。

罗斯福是美国第32任总统，在位时间长达12年。他在19xx年（39岁时）曾染上小儿麻痹症，双脚瘫痪，但他并未放弃从政的道路，继出任纽约州长后，在19xx年成功入主白宫，并三次成功竞选连任，19xx年4月12 日，罗斯福第4次宣誓成为美国总统后不久，因脑溢血而离开人世。

演说原文

PEARL HARBOR SPEECH

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

December 8, 1941

To the Congress of the United States:

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the

Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

评价讲解

很多人将20xx年9月11日恐怖分子袭击纽约和华盛顿，比作60年前的日本偷袭珍珠港事件，当时的美国总统罗斯福(Franklin Delano Roosevelt)，于日本发动突袭后的第二日，在国会发表美国对日宣战的著名演说。

和布什的演说一样，罗斯福一开始就把事件的时间和性质交代清楚︰Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

昨日，19xx年12月7日是耻辱的一天(Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy)，成为历史的名言，不用a date with infamy，是为了表示庄重。

拿这一句和布什911演说的第一句比较︰Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. 大家都用了deliberately或deliberate，字典解作蓄意，但在这两篇演说中的意思，是有预谋或有阴谋，带有强烈批判意义。

马丁路德金在I have a Dream演说中，不断重复关键的字眼和句子，以加强煽动力，其实也是采用了罗斯福重复的手法︰

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

罗斯福一连用了4个Last night和5个Japanese，绝不是累赘，也不是单调，反而令演说充满一种凝重的节奏。

演说中有一个句子的结构非常特别︰Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. 这是一个倒装的句子，很多人以为应该是︰We will always remember the character of the onslaught against us. 或者不用character，用nature︰We will always remember the nature of the onslaught against us. 其实Always will放在前面，是一种倒装的修辞方法，强调永远的意思，如此奇耻大辱，国民将会永志不忘。

英语中这样的倒装用法不多，另一个例子是︰Not until I finish the job, may I go. 没有完成工作之前，我不能离开。正确的讲法应为︰I may not go until I finish the job. 倒装句法较灵活，但通常用于书面语。

罗斯福演说的结论是向日本宣战︰I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire. 总统权力虽然很大，但所有的行政权力，必须要由国会批准，这种上尊下卑、繁文缛节，行政与立法的关系，必须交代清楚，罗斯福不能自己说I declare that，而要不厌其烦地用两个that︰I ask that the Congress declare that。

这一句用得非常聪明，他说美国和日本已经存在了战争状态，避免了我向你宣战的主语和宾语的关系。这是学英语一个比较难的地方，因为中国人学英文，往往受中文思维影响，如美国向日本宣战，但英语的客观说法︰美国和日本之间存在战争状态，更能营造沉重、不共戴天、势不两立的激愤和仇恨。

演说中有一句，用了一个较特别的字眼︰Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu. 罗斯福用Commence，而不是我们常用的Start 和Begin，因为前者较正式。我们也要留意这三个词的习惯用法︰Commence bombing / Start bombing / Begin to bomb. 这些英语的习惯用法，只能死记硬背，没有快捷方式可走。

罗斯福和布什发表演说的时间相距60年，但两篇演说一脉相承，在段落和字句中都闪耀着美国精神的光芒，难怪美国一直保持其超级强国的地位。