George W. Bush Delivers Emotional Eulogy for His Father
中英文演讲稿：
Distinguished guests, including our Presidents and First Ladies, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and friends; Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I and our families thank you all for being here.
尊敬的来宾，总统和第一夫人，政府官员，外国客人，朋友们；杰布，尼尔，多罗和我，以及我的家人，感谢你们的光临。
I once heard it said of man that the idea is to die young as late as possible.
我曾经听说，人最好趁身心尚年轻时候去世，当然，时间要越晚越好。
At age 85, a favorite pastime of George H. W. Bush was firing up his boat, the Fidelity, and opening up the three 300 horsepower engines to fly, joyfully fly across the Atlantic with the Secret Service boats straining to keep up.
在我父亲85岁高龄的时候，他的一个娱乐就是开快船，他的船叫“忠心号"，他开足300马力，快得象飞一样，在大西洋.上驰骋，留下保安船只在后面拼命追赶。
At age 90, George H. W. Bush parachuted out of an aircraft and landed on the grounds of St. Anne's by the Sea in Kennebunkport, Maine, the church where his mom was married and where he worshipped often.
在90岁的时候，我父亲依然从飞机中跳伞而出，降落点是缅因Kennebunkport镇海边的圣安妮教堂，我的祖母就在这个地方举行的婚礼，这也是我父亲经常去礼拜的地方。
Mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute didn't open.
母亲说，父亲特意选择了这个地方降落，就是为了应对伞包万一打不开的意外。
In his 90s, he took great delight when his closest pal, James A. Baker, smuggled a bottle of Grey Goose vodka into his hospital room.
90岁了，有一天父亲正在住院，他的老朋友，前国务卿贝克，偷偷给他带进来一瓶灰鹅牌 伏特加，他高兴坏了。
Apparently it paired well with the steak Baker had delivered from Morton's.
这酒配上贝克从默顿牛排店买来的外卖，真是棒极了。
To his very last days, dad's life was instructive.
即便是在他最后的日子，父亲的生命也有启迪。
As he aged he taught us how to grow with dignity, humor and kindness.
他一边老去，一边教会我们如何带着尊严，幽默和善良而老去。
When the good lord finally called, how to meet him with courage and with the joy of the promise of what lies ahead.
当慈爱的上帝最终来叩门的时候，怎样带着勇气，带着对天国的期盼和喜乐，去迎接死亡的来临。
One reason dad knew how to die young is that he almost did it, twice.
我父亲知道如何在“年轻”时死亡，因为他几乎曾经历过两次。
When he was a teenager, a staph infection nearly took his life.
十几岁的时候，一个葡萄球菌感染几乎要了他的命。
A few years later he was alone in the Pacific on a life raft, praying that his rescuers would find him before the enemy did.
几年后，他躺在一个救生筏里在太平洋上飘荡，一边祷告 希望救生部队能先于敌人找到他。
God answered those prayers.�It turned out he had other plans for George H. W. Bush.
显然上帝听到了他的祷告。因为.上帝给父亲的命运做了其他的安排。
For dad's part, I think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life, and he vowed to live every day to the fullest.
从我父亲的角度，这些濒死的经历让他更加珍惜生命的可贵，他发誓要把每一天活到极致。
Dad was always busy, a man in constant motion, but never too busy to share his love of life with those around him.
父亲是个大忙人，永远处于无穷动态之中。但是，他就是再忙，也不会忘记和周围的人分享快乐。
He taught us to love the outdoors.
他教会我们热爱户外运动。
He loved watching dogs flush a covey.
他喜欢看爱犬追逐被惊飞的野鸟。
He loved landing the illusive striper.
他爱钓狡诈的鲈鱼。
And once confined to a wheelchair, he seemed happiest sitting in his favorite perch on the back porch at Walker's Point contemplating the majesty of the Atlantic.
即便是受限于轮椅而行动不便，他就坐在沃克海角的码头，沉思大西洋的宏伟，这仿佛是他最快乐的时刻。
The horizons he saw were bright and hopeful.
他所看到的天边明亮而充满了希望。
He was a genuinely optimistic man, and that optimism guided his children and made each of us believe that anything was possible.
父亲是个真正乐观的人，这种乐观主义，也影响了下一代，让我们每一个人都坚信，可能性无处不在。
He continually broadened his horizons with daring decisions. He was a patriot.
一直以来，他都用一个个果敢的决定来拓展他的空间。他是个爱国者。
After high school he put college on hold and became a navy fighter pilot as World War II broke out.
高中毕业后，二战爆发，他暂停大学计划而成为海军飞行员。
Like many of his generation, he never talked about his service until his time as a public figure forced his hand.
作为公众人物，父亲和很多同代人一样，本来不大喜欢宣扬自己报效国家的事迹。
We learned of the attack, the mission completed, the shootdown.
但是我们都知道了他的经历，他执行攻击，完成任务，被击落。
We learned of the death of his crewmates whom he thought about throughout his entire life.
我们知道了他机组人员的牺牲，以及他对此穷其一生的思索。
And we learned of the rescue.
我们也知道他最终获救了。
And then another audacious decision; he moved his young family from the comforts of the East coast to Odessa, Texas.
另一个大胆的决定，他把自己的小家庭从舒适的东部搬到了陌生的德州奥德赛。
He and Mom adjusted to their arid surroundings quickly.
他和母亲很快就习惯了周边荒凉的环境。
He was a tolerant man.
他是个很宽容大度的人。
After all, he was kind and neighborly to the women with whom he, Mom and I shared a bathroom in our small duplex.
后来，我家当年和另几位女士共享一栋独立房子，我家在一边，她们在另一边，但是两家需要共享一个卫生间。
Even after he learned their profession, ladies of the night.�
后来，我们知道了这些女士是从事“特殊”职业的。
Dad could relate to people from all walks of life.� 但我父亲依然以善良和蔼的态度对待她们。
He was an empathetic man.�
他是个非常宽容大度的人。
He valued character over pedigree, and he was no cynic.�
父亲能够和来自生活不同轨道的人交往，他善于推己及人，感同身受。
He looked for the good in each person and he usually found it.
他重品格而不是背景，他决不愤世嫉俗，他善意地从每个人身上找优点，总是能找到。
Dad taught us that public service is noble and necessary, that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values like faith and family.
父亲教会我们，当“官”， 为公众服务是必须的，也是崇高的，当“政客”，也可以当得正直，并且|对家庭信仰这样重要的价值观问心无愧。
He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived.
他坚信我们必须回报国家和社会。
He recognized that serving others enriched the giver's soul.
他知道，为他人服务，也能丰富自己的灵魂。
To us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light.
对我们而言，父亲是“闪耀繁星”中最亮的那一颗（“闪耀繁星”是老布什成立的非盈利机构，旨在提倡志愿者服务）。
When he lost, he shouldered the blame.�
当他失败，他铁肩担责难。
He accepted that failure is a part of living a full life.
他承认，失败是完整人生的一部分。
but taught us never to be defined by failure.�
但他告诉我们，永远不要让失败来定义你的人生。
He showed us how setbacks can strengthen.�
他亲身实践，挫折怎样可以转化为强大。
None of his disappointments could compare with one of life's greatest tragedies, the loss of a young child.
在他所有的不幸中，没有什么能比得上他人生最大的悲剧，年幼爱女的过世。
Jeb and I were too young to remember the pain and agony he and Mom felt when our 3-year-old sister died.
我们有个姐姐，在三岁就去世了，这给我父母带来的痛苦和绝望，我和杰布那时太小了都记不住。
We only learned later that Dad, a man of quiet faith, prayed for her daily.
我们后来知道，父亲这个把信仰深藏内心的人，天天为她祷告。
He was sustained by the love of the Almighty and the real and enduring love of her Mom.
只有依靠了神的爱，和他对母亲真正持久的爱，他才能坚持下去。
Dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again.
父亲总是相信，有一天他能够再次拥抱他珍贵的女儿罗宾。
He loved to laugh, especially at himself.
他喜欢大笑，特别是自嘲。
He could tease and needle but never out of malice.
他乐于开玩笑，但绝非恶意。
He placed great value on a good joke.
他特别热衷于精彩的笑话。
That's why he chose Simpson to speak.
这也是他选择辛普森参议员致悼词的原因。
On e-mail he had a circle of friends with whom he shared or received the latest jokes.
他有一个电子邮件群，专门用于朋友之间分享最新的笑话。
His grading system for the quality of the joke was classic George Bush.
他对笑话有一个很典型的乔治.布什笑话质量评分系统。
The rare 7s and 8s were considered huge winners, most of them off- color.
能得到十分罕见的7分和8分的笑话，大多数都是带色的。
George Bush knew how to be a true and loyal friend.�He nurtured and honored his many friendships with a generous and giving soul.
乔治布什知道如何成为一个真正忠诚的朋友。慷慨大度和愿意付出，让他和各界友人成为至交。
There exists thousands of handwritten notes encouraging or sympathizing or thanking his friends and acquaintances.
他曾经给朋友和熟人写了成千上万的亲笔信，出于鼓励、同情或者感谢。
He had an enormous capacity to give of himself.
他能量惊人。
Many a person would tell you that Dad became a mentor and a father figure in their life.
很多人会告诉你，父亲是他们生活中的导师和父亲。
He listened and he consoled.
他乐于倾听，善于安慰。
He was their friend.
愿意和人交流。
I think of Don Rhodes, Taylor Blanton, Jim Nantz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and perhaps the unlikeliest of all, the man who defeated him, Bill Clinton.
他的好朋友，除了唐.罗德斯，泰勒布兰顿，吉姆：南茨，阿诺德*施瓦辛格，最不可思议的，还有后来在总统竞选中打败他的比尔：克林顿。
My siblings and I refer to the guys in this group as brothers from other mothers.
对我和我的兄弟姐妹们来说，父亲的这些朋友亲如自己同父异母的兄弟。
He taught us that a day was not meant to be wasted.
他告诉我们要珍惜每一天。
He played golf at a legendary pace.
他在高尔夫球场上是一个传奇。
I always wonder why he insisted on speed golf; he's a good golfer.
他是一名优秀的高尔夫球手，我总是想知道他高尔夫为什么打那么快。
Here's my conclusion.
我的结论是。
He played fast so he could move on to the next event, to enjoy the rest of the day, to expend his enormous energy, to live it all.
打快点，才有时间参加下一个活动，用一天中剩下的时间，来消耗他旺盛的精力，不让一日虚度。
He was born with just two settings, full throttle, then sleep.�
看来他出生时只有两种设置：全力以赴，倒头大睡。He taught us what it means to be a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather.
他告诉我们如何做一个好父亲，好祖父和好曾祖父。
He was firm in his principles and supportive as we began to seek our own ways.
他有自己坚信的原则，但当我们想用自己的方法的时候。
He encouraged and comforted but never steered.
他支持、鼓励、安慰，但从不试图操纵。
We tested his patience.
我们都挑战过他的耐心。
I know I did.
我清楚自己曾这么做过。
But he always responded with the great gift of unconditional love.
每次我触及他的底线时，他总是用无条件的爱来回应。
Last Friday when I was told he had minutes to live, I called him.
上周五，当我被告知他不久于人世时，赶紧打电话给他。
The guy answered the phone, said "I think he can hear you but he hasn't said anything for most of the day".
接电话的人说：“我觉得他能听见你，但他己经一整天没怎么说话了。”
I said, "Dad, I love you and you've been a wonderful father," and the last words he would ever say on Earth were, "I love you too".
我说，“爸爸， 我爱你，你是一个很棒的父亲，他留在世上的最后一句话是，“我也爱你。”
To us he was close to perfect, but not totally.
对我们来说，他并不完美。但已经非常接近。
His short game was lousy.
他不擅长于打短时比赛。
He wasn't exactly Fred Astaire on the dance floor.
在舞池里也比弗雷德.阿斯泰尔差远了。
The man couldn't stomach vegetables, especially broccoli.
他不爱吃蔬菜，尤其讨厌西兰花。
And by the way, he passed these genetic defects along to us.
顺便说一句，他把这些缺陷也遗传给了我们。
Finally, every day of his 73 years of marriage, Dad taught us all what it means to be a great husband.
最后，在他73年的婚姻中，父亲每天都在以身作则地教导我们如何成为一个好丈夫。
He married his sweetheart.
他娶了他的初恋。
He adored her.
他崇拜她。
He laughed and cried with her.
陪她大笑，陪她痛哭。
He was dedicated to her totally.
对她始终忠诚如一。
In his old age dad enjoyed watching police show reruns, the volume on high, all the while holding Mom's hand.
上了年纪的时候，父亲喜欢握着母亲的手，把电视机的音量调得老高，一遍遍地观看警察节目。
After Mom died, Dad was strong, but all he really wanted to do was hold Mom's hand again.
母亲去世后，父亲表现得很坚强，但我们知道，他真正想做的事就是牵着母亲的手。
Of course Dad taught me another special lesson.
父亲还教给我另外一个特别一课。
He showed me what it means to be a President who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country.
他身体力行地向我展示如何成为一个有诚信，有勇气的总统，如何充满爱心地为国民服务。
When the history books are written, they will say that George H. W. Bush was a great President of the United States, a diplomat of unmatched skill, a Commander in Chief of formidable accomplishment, and a gentleman who executed the duties of his office with dignity and honor.
历史书.上会记载，乔治：H：W.布什是一 个伟大的美国总统，一个有着无与伦比技巧的外交官，一个成就显赫的总司令，一个以尊严和荣誉捍卫其职责的绅士。
In his inaugural address the 41st President of the United States he said this:
在美国第41任总统的就职演说中，他说：
"We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account, we must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it.
“我们不能只希望孩子拥有更大的汽车，更多的钱财，我们必须让他们知道如何成长为一个忠诚的朋友，慈爱的父母和好公民：当他离世时，他所在的社区和城镇因为他的来过而变得更加美好。
What do we want the men and women who work with us to say when we were no longer there?
我们希望和我们一起工作的人们在我们不在了如何评价我们？
That we were more driven to succeed than anyone around us or that we stopped to ask if a sick child had gotten better and stayed a moment there to trade a word of friendship?"
比周围任何人都更渴望成功？还是停下来关心那个生病的孩子是否好转，送上关爱和慰问？”
Well, Dad, we're going to remember you for exactly that and much more, and we're going to miss you.
好了，爸爸，挂一漏万，就说到这儿，我们会一直想念你。
Your decency, sincerity, and kind soul will stay with us forever.
你体面、真诚、善良的灵魂将永远和我们在一起。
So through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man.
眼泪中，我们明白，这得是多么大的幸运，能认识你，爱戴你，一个伟大而高尚的人。
The best father a son or daughter could have.
一个孩子可能拥有的、最好的父亲。
And in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom's hand again.
在悲痛中，我们微笑着永别。亲爱的父亲，您总算可以拥抱罗宾，再次牵着母亲的手了。
用户评论