伊丽莎白二世的2011年圣诞致辞.docVIP

The Queen ’ s Christmas Speech 2011 In this past year my family and I have been inspired by the courage and hope we have seen in so manyways in Britain, in the Commonwealth and around the world. We?ve seen that it?s in hardship that we often findstrength from our families; it?s in adversity that new friendships are sometimes formed; and it?s in a crisis thatcommunities break down barriers and bind together to help one another. Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, itseems that it is tragedy that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit. When Prince Philip and I visited Australia this year we saw for ourselves the effects of natural disaster insome of the areas devastated by floods, where in January so many people lost their lives and their livelihoods.We were moved by the way families and local communities held together to support each other. PrinceWilliamtravelledtoNewZealandandAustraliaintheaftermathofearthquakes, cyclonesandfloods and saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured, comfort the bereaved and rebuild the cities andtowns devastated by nature. The Prince of Wales also saw first hand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit after tragedy struckin a Welsh mining community, and how communities can work together to support their neighbors. This past year has also seen some memorable and historic visits–to Ireland and from America.The spirit of friendship so evident in both these nations can fill us all with hope. Relationships that yearsagowereoncesostrainedhavethroughsorrowandforgivenessblossomedintolongte rmfriendship.Itisthrough this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow. Ofcourse,familydoesnotnecessarilymeanbloodrelativesbutoftenadescriptionofac ommunity,organization or nation. The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations, all with a common bond, shared beliefs,mutual values and goals. 1 / 7 It is this whic