VOA常速英语2014--Obama Praises Predecessor Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Legacy 奥巴马赞扬美前总统约翰逊民权贡献

Obama Praises Predecessor 1 Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Legacy 2 奥巴马赞扬美前总统约翰逊民权贡献

President Barack Obama applauded his predecessor Lyndon Johnson for a civil rights legacy that eventually led to the election of the first U.S. black president nearly half a century later. Obama gave the keynote address at a ceremony Thursday marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Civil Rights Act. Former U.S. presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, civil rights leaders and other dignitaries also attended the three-day Civil Rights Summit in Austin, Texas.

美国总统奥巴马赞扬了美国前总统林登·约翰逊在民权方面作出的贡献。奥巴马星期四在美国德克萨斯州奥斯汀出席美国《民权法案》50周年纪念活动，发表主旨演讲。他说，约翰逊总统的贡献让美国在半个世纪之后选出了第一个黑人总统。

The president reminded the audience at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library of the significance of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The law, was soon was followed by the Voting Rights Act and other laws that now are part of U.S. civil society. Obama said those important measures opened new doors of opportunity for many Americans.''

美国总统奥巴马在林登·约翰逊总统图书馆提醒公众《1964年民权法案》的重要性。民权法案随后诞生了《选举权法》等组成美国公民社会的重要法律。奥巴马说，这些重要的措施为许多美国人开启了一扇新的大门。

"Not just blacks and whites but also women, and Latinos and Asians and native Americans," he noted 3. "And gay Americans. And Americans with a disability. They swung open for you and they swung open for me."

他说：“不只是黑人，还有白人、妇女、拉美人、亚裔、美国印第安人。还有同性恋的美国人、身体有残障的美国人。这些举措为你我都打开了大门。”

The president praised Lyndon Johnson for his courage to fight for a cause that many officials had told him was lost.

奥巴马还赞扬约翰逊总统为事业奋斗的勇气。

"And one particularly bold aide said he did not believe a president should spend his time and power on lost causes, however worthy 4 they might be, to which, it is said, President Johnson replied: 'Well, what the hell's the presidency 5 for? What the hell's the presidency for if not to fight for causes you believe in?'" Obama told the audience.

奥巴马说：“有一个特别胆大的助手说，他认为总统不应该把时间和精力用在已经输掉的事业上，无论多有价值。约翰逊总统回应说，那当总统还有什么用？如果不为了你相信的事业而抗争，当总统还为了什么？”

The president also said that the fight started by President Johnson is not over yet.

奥巴马说，约翰逊总统开启的这场抗争还没有结束。

"As was true 50 years ago, there are those who dismiss the Great Society as a failed experiment and an encroachment 6 on liberty, who argue the government has become the true source of all that ails 7 us, and that poverty is due to the moral failings of those who suffer from it," said Obama.

他说：“和50年前一样，现在还是有人认为大社会这个构想是个失败的实验，是对自由的侵蚀。他们争论说，政府是干扰我们的一切问题的根源，贫穷的原因是穷人自己道德上的失败。”

President Obama insisted that the government has a role in making sure all Americans enjoy equal access to education, jobs, health care and other basic rights.

奥巴马坚持认为，要保证所有美国人能够享有平等的教育、就业、医疗等基本权利，政府能够发挥作用。

Civil Rights Movement veteran John Lewis, now a congressman 8 from Georgia, praised Obama's understanding that there is much more to be done in that area.

民权运动资深领袖约翰·路易斯说，奥巴马总统理解在民权方面还有很多问题亟待解决，他对此表示赞赏。

"That is why, as president, he has set his shoulders to the plow 9 to bring about meaningful change in America by ending two wars and passing comprehensive health care reform... Thank you, Mr. President," said Lewis.

路易斯说：“这就是为什么，作为总统，他为了给美国带来有意义的变革全力以赴，结束了两场战争，通过了全面的医保改革法。谢谢你，总统先生。”

Obama ended his speech on an optimistic note, saying America is a story of progress, despite challenges along the way.

奥巴马的讲话结尾语气乐观。他说，美国是一个进步的故事，尽管路途充满挑战。