JFケネディ
J.F ケネディ 大統領就任演説Vice President Johnson, Mr Speaker, Mr.Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens: We observe today /not a victory of party/ but a celebration of Freedom/--symbolizing an end/ as well as a beginning/--signifying renewal/ as well as change./ For I have sworn/ before you/ and Almighty God/ the same solemn oath/ our forbears prescribed/ nearly a century and three-quarters ago. The world is very different now./ For man holds/ in his mortal hands/ the power to abolish/ all forms of human poverty/ and all forms of human life./ And yet the same revolutionary beliefs/ for which our forebears fought/ are still at issue around the globe/--the belief that the rights of man/ come not from the generosity of the state/but from the hand of God.We dare not forget today/ that we are the heirs/ of that first revolution./ Let the word go forth/ from this time and place,/ to friend and foe alike,/ that the torch has been passed/ to a new generation of Americans/--born in this century,/ tempered by war,/ disciplined by a hard and bitter peace,/ proud of our ancient heritage/--and unwilling to witness or permit/ the slow undoing of those human rights/ to which this nation has always been committed,/ and to which we are committed today/ at home and around the world. Let every nation know,/ whether it wishes us well or ill,/ that we shall pay any price,/ bear any burden,/ meet any hardship,/ support any friend,/ oppose any foe/ to assure/ the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge/--and more. To those old allies/ whose cultural and spiritual origins we share,/ we Pledge/ the loyalty of faithful friends./ United there is little we cannot Do/ in a host of cooperative ventures./ Divided there is little we can Do/--for we dare not meet/ a powerful challenge/ at odds/ and split asunder. To those new states/ whom/ we welcome/ to the ranks of the free,/ we pledge our Word/ that one form of colonial control/ shall not have passed away/ merely to be replaced/ by a far more iron tyranny./ We shall not always expect/ to find them supporting our view./ But we shall always hope/ to find them strongly supporting their own freedom/--and to remember that,/ in the past,/ those/ who foolishly sought power/ by riding the back of the tiger/ ended up inside. To those people/ in the huts and villages/ of half the globe/ struggling to break the bonds/ of mass misery,/ we pledge/ our best efforts to help them/ help themselves,/ for whatever period is required/--not because the communists may be doing it,/ not because we seek their votes,/ but because it is right./ If a free society/ cannot help the many who are poor,/ it cannot save the few who are rich. To our sister republics/ south of our border,/ we offer a special pledge/--to convert our good words into good deeds/--in a new alliance/ for progress/--to assist free men and free governments/ in casting off the chains of poverty./ But this peaceful revolution of hope/ cannot become the prey of hostile powers./ Let all our neighbors know/ that we shall join with them/ to oppose aggression or subversion/ anywhere in the Americas./ And let every other power know/ that this Hemisphere intends to Remain/ the master of its own house. To that world assembly of sovereign states,/ the United Nations,/ our last best hope/ in an age/ where the instruments of war/ have far outpaced/ the instruments of peace,/ we renew our pledge of support/--to prevent it/ from becoming merely a forum for invective/--to strengthen its shield/ of the new and the weak/--and to enlarge the area/ in which its writ may run. Finally,/ to those nations/ who would make themselves our adversary,/ we offer/ not a pledge but a request:/ that both sides begin anew the quest for peace,/ before the dark powers of destruction/ unleashed by science/ engulf/ all humanity/ in planned/ or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them / with weakness./ For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt/ can we be certain beyond doubt/ that they will never be employed. But neither can/ two great and powerful groups of nations/ take comfort /from our present course/--both sides overburdened/ by the cost of modern weapons,/ both rightly alarmed/ by the steady spread of the deadly atom,/ yet both racing to alter/ that uncertain balance of terror/ that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew/--remembering on both sides/ that civility is not a sign of weakness,/ and sincerity is always subject/ to proof./ Let us never negotiate/ out of fear./ But let us never fear/ to negotiate. Let both sides explore/ what problems unite us/ instead of belaboring/ those problems which divide us. Let both sides,/ for the first time,/ formulate/ serious and precise proposals/ for the inspection and control of arms/--and bring /the absolute power/ to destroy other nations/ under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek/ to invoke the wonders of science/ instead of its(science) terrors./Together let us explore the stars,/ conquer the deserts,/ eradicate disease,/ tap the ocean depths/ and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed/ in all corners of the earth/ the command of Isaiah/--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free. And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back/ the jungle of suspicion,/ let both sides join/ in creating a new endeavor,/ not a new balance of power,/ but a new world of law,/ where the strong are just/ and the weak secure/ and the peace preserved. In your hands,/ my fellow citizens,/ more than mine,/ will rest the final success or failure/ of our course./ Since this country was founded,/ each generation of Americans/ has been summoned/ to give testimony/ to its national loyalty./ The graves of young Americans/ who answered/ the call to service/ surround the globe. Now the trumpet/ summons us again/--not as a call to bear arms,/ though arms we Need/--not as a call to battle,/ though embattled we are/-- but a call to bear the burden/ of a long twilight struggle,/ year in and year out,/ "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"/--a struggle against the common enemies of man:/ tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. Can we forge/ against these enemies/ a grand and global alliance,/ North and South,/ East and West,/ that can assure/ a more fruitful life for all mankind?/ Will you join/ in that historic effort? In the long history of the world,/ only a few generations have been granted/ the role/ of defending freedom/ in its(freedom) hour of maximum danger./ I do not shrink/ from this responsibility/--I welcome it./ I do not believe/ that any of us would exchange places/ with any other people/ or any other generation./ The energy, the faith, the devotion/ which we bring to this endeavor/ will light| our country and all who serve it/--and the glow from that fire/ can truly light the world.And so, my fellow Americans:/ ask not/ what your country can do for You/-Ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world:/ ask not/ what America will do for you,/ but what together we can do/ for the freedom of man. Finally,/ whether you are citizens of America/ or citizens of the world,/ ask of us Here/ the same high standards of strength and sacrifice/ which/ we ask of you./ With a good conscience/ our only sure reward,/ with history/ the final judge of our deeds,/ let us go forth to lead the land we love,/ asking His blessing and His help,/ but knowing/ that here on earth/ God's work must truly be our own.