Casual Words #4: Inauguration

歐巴馬就職成為美國第四十四任總統，也是第一位入主白宮的非裔美國人。美國正值經濟衰退期，歐巴馬總統在國會大廈的階梯上，對國家廣場上的群眾，發表了一番沉重的演說。白宮稱歐巴馬就職的這天，是「嶄新、和協的國慶日」。
Barack Obama was inaugurated as America’s 44th president, becoming the first black man to hold the office. With the country in recession, Mr Obama delivered a sombre speech from the steps of the Capitol building to a throng of people on the National Mall. The White House proclaimed it “a national day of renewal and reconciliation”.
Source: http://www.economist.com資料來源：http://www.economist.com

評論：
歐巴馬的勝利不只是他的勝利，也不是只黑白之爭的勝利。在美國這樣一個民主國家，總統不但是國家的主人，他還代表了賜予他權力的選民，反應出其選民的態度與道德。

歐巴馬的總統之路是否會一帆風順？難說。政治情勢可能在短時間內變得惡劣。在經濟陷入危機的時候，人通常會找另一個人做為發洩的對象。在恐怖攻擊的陰影下，害怕會很容易導致局勢緊張，並帶來憤怒和躁動。

美國現在擁有一位新總統，但這位新總統也有一個全新的國家待他領導，一個改變幾乎已超越我們的想像的國家。

Our say:
The Obama victory is about more than Obama, and about more than black and white. In a democratic republic like the U.S., the president is both a maker and a mirror of the manners and morals of the electorate that has invested him with ultimate authority.
Will the journey be smooth? That is doubtful. Politics can quickly turn mean. In hard economic times there is often a search for an "other" on which to blame the problems of life. In the wake of a possible terrorist attack, fear could easily lead to tension, resentment and discord.
The U.S. has a new president. But he, too, has a new nation to lead, one that's changing almost beyond recognition.

Source: www.newsweek.com資料來源：www.newsweek.com