조 바이든 취임식 연설 1

My fellow Americans: This is America's day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

 

*rise to the challenge:

To show resolve or effectiveness in dealing with a difficulty. (난국에 잘 대처하다, 임기응변으로 처리하다)

EX) Of course, the coronavirus outbreak hit Korean economy hard, but it seems that Korea has risen to the challenge.

 

Today, we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause. The cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile. At this hour my friends, democracy has prevailed.

 

*prevail:

If a proposal, principle, or opinion prevail, it gains influence or is accepted, often after a struggle or argument. (=triumph)

If one side in a battle, contest, or dispute prevails, it wins.

EX) Judgement, not passion should prevail. (Epicharmus)

 

So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries. As we look ahead in our uniquely American way: restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

 

*set one's sights on + N:

To give one's close attention to, especially as a goal, objective, or other object of special interest. (=aspire to)

EX) Grace sets her sights on being great at English.

 

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I know the resilience of our constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

 

*from the bottom of one's heart: sincerely, with one's full feeling.

 

I've just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken, the oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On we the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we've come so far, but we still have far to go.

 

*strife: strong disagreement or fighting (= conflict)

 

We'll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.

 

*press forward (with N): to continue moving forward quickly, to continue to do a task in a determined way (= press ahead with N)

EX) She pressed forward confidently.

 

Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. Once-in-a-century virus, it silently stalks the country. It has taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

 

*defer + N: If you defer an event or action, you arrange for it to happen at a later date, rather than immediately or at the previously planned time.

EX) I need to defer payment of this TV.

 

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate, or any more clear. And now, a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. To overcome these challenges to restore the soul and secure the future America requires so much more than words, it requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, unity.

 

*Political extremism: 정치적 과격주의(극단주의)

EX) Sodical media can lead to political extremism