Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address 20.Jan.， 2015 （Excerpt）.docVIP

Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address 20.Jan.， 2015 （Excerpt） 　　国情咨文，是美国宪法布置给总统向国会报告的任务，主要阐明美国总统每年面临的国内外情况，以及政府将要采取的政策措施。本文节选自奥巴马总统2015年的国情咨文，文中对过去一年美国政治、经济、军事等方面做了全方位回顾，并举瑞贝卡一家为美国千千万万家庭的代表，以小见大，颇具感染力。 　　Mr. Speaker， Mr. Vice President， Members of Congress， my fellow Amer-icans： 　　We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores； that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars； that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been， and stilliS，a hard time for many. But tonight，we turn the page. 　　Tonight， after a breakthrough year for America， our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower 　　than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before； more of our people are insured than ever before； we are as free from the 　　grip of foreign oil as weve been in almost 30 years. 　　America， for all that weve endured； for all the grit and hard work required to come back； for all the tasks that lie ahead， know this： 　　The shadow of crisis has passed， and the State of the Union isstrong. 　　At this moment-with a growing economy， shrinking deficits， bustling industry， and booming energy production-we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth.lts now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next fifteen years， and for decades to come. 　　Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well？ Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort？ 　　Will we approach the world fearful and reactive， dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing？ Or will we lead wisely， using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet？ 　　Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned