乔治·布什在达拉斯枪击事件追悼会上的演讲（节译）

「译者按」2016年达拉斯市区警察遭枪击案，是指在美国得克萨斯州达拉斯一场抗议美国警察滥杀黑人的和平示威活动结束后，一名黑人埋伏狙击维护活动秩序的警察，并试图枪击12名警察和两名平民以致五名警察遇害的事件。以下是乔治·W·布什（小布什）前总统在遇害警察追悼会上的讲话。当时听到这个演讲就特别感动，就将演讲词下载保存。前几天读到再次感动，就动手将它翻译成中文。小布什的语言朴实无华，句子简短有力，但它透出的同理心和宗教情怀悠远深邃。特别是他关于美国精神和种族分歧的表述，成熟睿智。原文可以作为英语背诵的范文。

今天，整个国家都在哀伤，但我们这些热爱达拉斯并以此为家的人感到我们家庭里有五人死亡。(夫人)劳拉和我每天都会见到执法人员。我们把他们当作朋友。像其他所有美国人一样，我们知道执法人员的勇气是我们的保护和盾牌。

这些被杀的警官是我们当中最好的。洛恩·阿伦斯 （Lorne Ahrens），是侦探卡特里娜·阿伦斯 （Katrina Ahrens）心爱的丈夫，也是两个孩子的父亲。迈克尔·克罗尔 （Michael Krol），是位有爱心的儿子、兄弟、叔叔、侄子和朋友。迈克尔·史密斯（Michael Smith），是美国陆军退伍兵，忠诚的丈夫和两个孩子的父亲。布伦特·汤普森 （Brent Thompson），是海军陆战队退伍军人，最近才结婚。帕特里克·扎马里帕 （Patrick Zamarippa），是美国海军预备役退伍军人、自豪的父亲和德克萨斯游骑兵队的忠实球迷。

他们的死亡让我们失去了许多。我们悲痛欲绝，彻底心碎，但永远感激不尽。每位警官都接受了（上帝的）召唤而使他们与众不同。

我们大多数人都想过，如果需要，我们会冒着生命危险保护配偶或孩子。但那些穿制服的人冒着生命危险保护陌生人。他们和他们的家人都知道，每一天都会有新危险。

但我们谁都没有，也不可能准备好面对（如此）仇恨和恶意的伏击。这种邪恶带来的冲击至今都未消退。有时，分裂我们的力量似乎比团结的力量更大。争论太容易变成敌意。分歧太快就升级为非人化。

很多时候，我们以最坏的例子来评判其他群体，而以我们最好的意图来评判自己。这是......，这使我们相互理解和共同目标的纽带变得紧绷。但我认为，美国人有一个很大的优势，那就是为了恢复我们的团结，我们只需要记住我们的价值观。

我们从来不是因为血缘或共同背景聚在一起。将我们绑在一起的是精神的东西，是对理想的共同承诺。

在最好的情况下，我们心怀同理，设身处地着想他人。这是跨越我们国家最深分歧的桥梁。

这不仅是为了宽容，而是从他人的挣扎和故事中学习，并在此过程中找到更好的自己。

在最好的情况下，我们尊重在彼此身上看到的上帝形象。我们认识到，我们是兄弟姐妹，在地球上共享同样短暂的时刻，并具有同样彼此共通的人性。

在最好的状态下，我们知道我们共有一个国家、一个未来、一个命运。我们不要统一悲伤，也不想要统一的恐惧。我们想要统一的希望、感情和崇高目标。

我们知道，我们想要建立一个公正、人道的国家，我们在最美好的梦想中看到，当有身着制服的男女站岗放哨，它就有可能实现。在最好的状态下，当身穿制服的人得到培训、信任和负责任时，他们会让我们免于恐惧。

使徒保罗说：“因为神赐给我们的灵不是惧怕，乃是力量、爱心和节制。这些是对我们国家生活中恐惧的最佳反应，也是（身穿制服的）和平官兵的行为准则。

今天，我们所有人都感到失去，但有人失去得更甚。（所以）最后，我想替死者家属、配偶，尤其是孩子说几句。你所爱的人和你在一起的时间太短了。他们没有机会好好说再见。但他们去了职责所召唤的地方。他们保护了我们，直到最后。他们完成得很好。我们不会忘记他们为我们所做的一切。

你的损失是不公平的，我们无法解释（这种不公）。我们可以站在你身边，分担你的悲伤，我们祈求上帝给予你希望的安慰，愿这个希望比悲伤更幽深、比死亡更强烈。

愿上帝保佑你

布什原文

George W. Bush’s Speech at the Dallas Shooting Memorial Service

Thank you all. Thank you, Senator. I, too, am really pleased that President Obama and Mrs. Obama have come down to Dallas. I also want to welcome vice president, Mrs. Biden, Mr. Mayor, Chief Brown, elected officials, members of the law enforcement community. 

Today, the nation grieves, but those of us who love Dallas and call it home have had five deaths in the family. Laura and I see members of law enforcement every day. We count them as our friends. And we know, like for every other American, that their courage is our protection and shield.

We’re proud [of] the men we mourn and the community that has rallied to honor them and support the wounded. Our mayor, and police chief and our police departments have been mighty inspirations for the rest of the nation.

These slain officers were the best among us. Lorne Ahrens, beloved husband to detective Katrina Ahrens and father of two. Michael Krol, caring son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend. Michael Smith, U.S. Army veteran, devoted husband and father of two. Brent Thompson, Marine Corps vet, recently married. Patrick Zamarippa, U.S. Navy Reserve combat veteran, proud father and loyal Texas Rangers fan.

With their deaths, we have lost so much. We are grief stricken, heartbroken and forever grateful. Every officer has accepted a calling that sets them apart.

Most of us imagine if the moment called for, that we would risk our lives to protect a spouse or a child. Those wearing the uniform assume that risk for the safety of strangers. They and their families share the unspoken knowledge that each new day can bring new dangers.

But none of us were prepared, or could be prepared, for an ambush by hatred and malice. The shock of this evil still has not faded. At times, it seems like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together. Argument turns too easily into animosity. Disagreement escalates too quickly into de-humanization.

Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this is…And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose. But Americans, I think, have a great advantage. To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values.

We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit, by shared commitments to common ideals.

At our best, we practice empathy, imagining ourselves in the lives and circumstances of others. This is the bridge across our nation’s deepest divisions.

And it is not merely a matter of tolerance, but of learning from the struggles and stories of our fellow citizens and finding our better selves in the process.

At our best, we honor the image of God we see in one another. We recognize that we are brothers and sisters, sharing the same brief moment on Earth and owing each other the loyalty of our shared humanity.

At our best, we know we have one country, one future, one destiny. We do not want the unity of grief, nor do we want the unity of fear. We want the unity of hope, affection and high purpose.

We know that the kind of just, humane country we want to build, that we have seen in our best dreams, is made possible when men and women in uniform stand guard. At their best, when they’re trained and trusted and accountable, they free us from fear.

The Apostle Paul said, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of strength and love and self-control.” Those are the best responses to fear in the life of our country and they’re the code of the peace officer.

Today, all of us feel a sense of loss, but not equally. I’d like to conclude with the word of the families, the spouses, and especially the children of the fallen. Your loved one’s time with you was too short. They did not get a chance to properly say goodbye. But they went where duty called. They defended us, even to the end. They finished well. We will not forget what they did for us.

Your loss is unfair. We cannot explain it. We can stand beside you and share your grief. And we can pray that God will comfort you with a hope deeper than sorrow and stronger than death.

May God bless you.