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第一讲：美国总统就职演讲特质
一国总统的识见、魄力、智慧与心智成熟
在就职演说中,新任总统宣布自己的施政纲领,表明自
己的政见和立场,激起听众的热情,劝说听众接受其政
治主张并采取相应的行动。
Like other great communicators
including Winston Churchill before him an
d Reagan since then
and Barack Obama now---he was someone
who took word-craft very seriously
indeed.
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1、约翰-肯尼迪 就职演讲如何开启？
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1961
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 forebears
prescribed nearly a century and three
quarters ago.
chief justice 审判长，首席法官
Clergy/clergyman 可以统指神职人员 ,
其中 clergyman 在英国国教里又指牧师；
Reverend 是对教士的尊称。
renewal 英 [rɪ'njuɪəl] 美 [rɪ'nuɪəl]
n.更新；恢复；革新；复苏；复活 We are all
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delighted at the renewal of negotiation.
God Almighty/Almighty God 全能上帝.
forebear 祖先，祖宗
星期五,1961 年 1 月 20 日
首席法官先生、艾森豪威尔总统、尼克松副总统、
杜鲁门总统、尊敬的牧师、各位公民：
今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的胜利。这象征着一个结束，
也象征着一个开端，表示了一种更新，也表示了一种变革。因为我已在你们和全
能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在 170 多年前拟定的庄严誓言。
2、手按《圣经》宣誓就职
1961 年 1 月 20 日,肯尼迪总统按照惯例,手按《圣经》
宣誓就职。誓词出自美国宪法第一章第二条:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
faithfully execute（执行；实行；处决） the
Office of President of the United States, and
will to the best of my ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States.”
仅从总统宣誓就职的誓词本身,美国总统对于宪法的
重视可见一斑。
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3、世界为何不同了？
The world is very different now. For
man holds in his mortal（致命的；终有
一死的）hands the power to abolish（废
除） 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（在争论、在争论中） around the
globe，the belief that the rights of man
come not from the generosity（慷慨，大方;
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宽容或慷慨的行为; 丰富）of the state, but
from the hand of God.
现在的世界已大不相同了，人类的巨手掌握着既能消
灭人间的各种贫困，又能毁灭人间的各种生活的力量。
但我们的先辈为之奋斗的那些革命信念，在世界各地
仍然有着争论。这个信念就是：人的权利井非来自国
家的慷慨，而是来自上帝恩赐。
“自由”、“人权”、“民主”这几个字眼,美国人一向偏
爱。美国人相信“天赋人权”,自由是人权的一种体现。
在《独立宣言》中就有这样一段有关人权的论述:
“We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by（被
赋 予 ） their Creator with certain
unalienable （ 不 可 剥 夺 的 ） Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness.”
4、薪火相传
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We dare not forget today that we are
the heirs（继承人; 后嗣，嗣子）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（受过锻炼） war,
disciplined by（训练有素的）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（ 忠诚的，坚定的，把…
托付给）, and to which we are committed
today at home and around the world.
今天，我们不敢忘记我们是第一次革命的继承者。让我们
的朋友和敌人同样听见我此时此地的讲话：火炬已经传给新
一代美国人。这一代人在本世纪诞生，在战争中受过锻炼，
在艰难困苦的和平时期受过陶冶，他们为我国悠久的传统感
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到自豪——他们不愿目睹或听任我国一向保证的、今天仍在
国内外作出保证的人权渐趋毁灭。
Imagery: "The torch has been passed to
a new generation of Americans"
意象：“火炬已经传给了新一代的美国人”
Imagery is
vivid descriptive language that appeals
to one or more of the senses (sight,
hearing, touch, smell, and taste).
以维护天下的人权为己任
肯尼迪在其就职演说中指出,
”a new generation of
Americans, ……unwilling to witness or
permit the slow undoing of these human
rights to which the nation has always been
committed, and to which we are committed
today at home and around the world.“
这里,肯尼迪的政治主张非常明确,在外交政
策上延续了国际主义的走向――自诩为自
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由世界的维护者和领导者的美国要以维护
天下的人权为己任。
5、美国人一向的偏爱
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 （幸存，生
存; 幸存者; 遗物; 遗风）and the success of
liberty.
This much we pledge（保证; 典当，
抵押），and more.
让每个国家都知道——不论它希望我们繁荣还是
希望我们衰落——为确保自由的存在和自由的胜利，
我们将付出任何代价，承受任何负担，应付任何艰难，
支持任何朋友，反抗任何敌人。
这些就是我们的保证——而且还有更多的保证。
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肯尼迪在其就职演说一开始提到的“revolutionary
belief(革命信念)“即是《独立宣言》中关于”天赋人权
“的信念。
在肯尼迪就职演说词中,”自由(liberty,
freedom, )“一词就用了多达 9 次,而与”自由“息息相关
的”人权(human rights)“也多次出现。
这里,肯尼迪表达的是美国人对于自由、人权的一
贯追求。对自由、人权的重视是美国人的核心价值观。
6、精神渊源的老盟友
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.（在争吵下休、四分五
裂时）
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对那些和我们有着共同文化和精神渊源的老盟友，
我们保证待以诚实朋友那样的忠诚。我们如果团结一
致，就能在许多合作事业中无在而下胜；我们如果分
歧对立，就会一事无成——因为我们不敢在争吵下休、
四分五裂时迎接强大的挑战。
第二讲：一国与世界的关注
1、加入到自由行列中来的新国家
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.
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对那些我们欢迎其加入到自由行列中来的新国家，
我们格守我们的誓言：决不让一种更为残酷的暴政来
取代一种消失的殖民统治。我们并不总是指望他们会
支持我们的观点。但我们始终希望看到他们坚强地维
护自己的自由——而且要记住，在历史上，凡愚蠢地
骑在虎背上谋求权力的人，都是以葬身虎口而告终。
2、身居茅舍和乡村的人们
To those peoples in the huts and villages
across 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.
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对世界各地身居茅舍和乡村，为摆脱普遍贪困而斗争
的人们，我们保证尽量大努力帮助他们自立，不管需
要花多长时间——之所以这样做，并不是因为共产党
可能正在这样做，也不是因为我们需要他们的选票，
而是因为这样做是正确的，自由社会如果不能帮助众
多的穷人，也就无法保全少数富人。
Combinations of contrasts and lists (by
contrasting a third item with the first tw
o): "Not because the communists are doi
ng it, not because we seek their votes, bu
t because it is right"
对比与排比相结合（三句中的最后一句和前两句意义相反）
3、做自己家园的主人
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.
对我国南面的姐妹共和国，我们提出一项特殊的
保证——在争取进步的新同盟中，把我们善意的话变
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为善意的行动，帮助自由的人们和自由的政府摆脱贫
困的枷锁。
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.
但是，这种充满希望的和平革命决不可以成为敌对国
家的牺牲品。我们要让所有邻国都知道，我们将和他
们在一起，反对在美洲任何地区进行侵略和颠覆活动。
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让所有其他国家都知道，本半球的人仍然想做自己家
园的主人。
4、最后、最美的希望——对联合国的理解
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（[法] 令状； 文书）may run.
联合国是主权国家的世界性议事机构，是我们在战
争手段大大超过和平手段的时代里最后的、最美好的
希望所在。因此，我们重申予以支持；防止它仅仅成
为谩骂的场所；加强它对新生国家和弱小国家的保护；
扩大它的行使法令的管束范围。
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5、要求而不是保证
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 （ 释 放 ）
science engulf（吞没; 吞食; 包住; 狼吞
虎 咽 ） all humanity in planned or
accidental self-destruction.
最后，对那些想与我们作对的国家，我们提出一
个要求而不是一项保证：在科学释放出可怕的破坏力
量，把全人类卷人到预谋的或意外的自我毁灭的深渊
之前，让我们双方重新开始寻求和平。
肯尼迪也认识到,要与以苏联为首的社会主义阵营对抗,就得尽可能地赢得更多的支持,
尽可能地扩大美国的势力范围,不管是利诱还是威胁。这样,肯尼迪在其就职演说
中,”power(力量)“一词用了多达 7
次,”pledge(保证、承诺)“一词也用了 7
次,”help(帮助)“一词用了 4 次,在确保原有欧洲盟国的忠诚
和支持的前提下,利用”金元外交“,尽量拉拢亚洲、非洲和拉丁美洲国家,实践其扩张主义,诸如
此类的细节的出现,就是在情理之中了。另一方面,肯尼迪在就职演说中也确实需要”pledge(保
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证、承诺)“很多东西,因为他在总统大选中仅以微弱的优势获胜,被很多国内外人士认为太年
青,缺乏经验,难以领导美国对抗强大的苏联。
6、两个“毫无疑问”
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.
我们不敢以怯弱来引诱他们。因为只有当我们毫无
疑问地拥有足够的军备，我们才能毫无疑问地确信永
远下会使用这些军备。
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7、两个强大的国家集团——受累！
But neither can two great and powerful
groups of nations take comfort from
（ 从 中 得 到 安 慰 ） our present
course--both sides overburdened by the
cost of modern weapons, both rightly
alarmed by the steady（稳定的，不变的）
spread of the deadly atom, yet both
racing to alter （ 改 变 ; 更 改 ） that
uncertain balance of terror that stays
the hand of mankind's final war.
但是，这两个强大的国家集团都无法从目前所走的道
路中得到安慰——发展现代武器所需的费用使双方负
担过重，致命的原子武器的不断扩散理所当然使双方
忧心忡忡，但是，双方却在争着改变那制止人类发动
最后战争的不移定的恐怖均势。
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第三讲：政治家的智慧——如何处理争端？
1、双方重新开始
So let us begin anew--remembering on
both sides that civility（礼貌 ）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.
因此，让我们双方重新开始——双方都要牢记。礼貌
并不意味着怯弱，诚意永远有侍于验证。让我们决不
要由于畏惧而谈判。但我们决不能畏惧谈判。
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2、团结起来
Let both sides explore what problems
unite us instead of belaboring（ 唠叨；痛
击；痛斥；冗长地解释）those problems
which divide us.
让双方都来探讨使我们团结起来的问题，而不要操劳
那些使我们分裂的问题。
3、认真而又明确的提案
Let both sides, for the first time,
formulate（构想出，规划; 确切地阐述）
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.
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让双方首次为军备检查和军备控制制订认真而
又明确的提案，把毁灭他国的绝对力量置于所有国家
的绝对控制之下。
4、寻求利用科学的奇迹
Let both sides seek to invoke the
wonders（创造奇迹）of science instead
of its terrors. Together let us explore the
stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate
（摧毁; 完全根除）disease, tap（开发）
the ocean depths, and encourage the
arts and commerce.
让双方寻求利用科学的奇迹，而不是乞灵于科学造
成的恐怖。让我们一起探索星球，征服沙漠，根除疾
患，开发深梅，并鼓励艺术和商业的发展。
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5、各个角落倾听以赛亚的训令
Let both sides unite to heed（听从）in
all corners of the earth the command of
Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens ...
and to let the oppressed go free."
让双方团结起来，在全世界各个角落倾听以赛亚的训
令——“解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由。”
当选美国总统(包括肯尼迪总统)在其就职仪式上手按《圣
经》宣读誓言,然后才开始发表就职演说。肯尼迪在其就职演
说中多次提到 God(上帝),还直接援引《圣经》原文来阐述其
施政方针和政治理想,如:
“ 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'.”
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在演说词的结束部分,肯尼迪也不忘借助上帝之名来进行
最后的呼吁。肯尼迪在其就职演说中或直接引用《圣经》,把
自己的政治主张托词于上帝的意旨,或直接祈求上帝的保佑
和赐福,或模仿使用《圣经》风格语言等等,有助于使其演说
更易得到笃信上帝的听众的同情、理解和支持,使演说更具感
染力和号召力。可以说,肯尼迪就职演说从开头到结尾、从形
式到内容都充满着鲜明的宗教色彩,利用宗教的力量和影响,
来达到政治诉求的目的。这是一种独特的文化现象,是美国社
会历史渊源的反映。”政教分离“的美国事实上是政教融合。
6、双方共同作一次新的努力
And if a beachhead （ 滩 头 ） of
cooperation may push back the jungle
of suspicion, let both sides join in
creating a new endeavor（努力）, 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.
如果合作的滩头阵地的逼退猜忌的丛林，那么就让
双方共同作一次新的努力：不是建立一种新的均势，
而是创造一个新的法治世界，在这个世界中，强者公
正，弱者安全，和平将得到维护。
Three-part lists: "Where the strong are
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just, and the weak secure
and the peace preserved"
三句式排比“强国秉持公正，弱国不受威胁，和平得以维系”
7、让我们开始吧！
All this will not be finished in the first
100 days. Nor will it be finished in the
first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this
Administration, nor even perhaps in our
lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
所有这一切下可能在第一个一百天内完成，也不可能
在第一个一千天或者在本届政府任期内完成，甚至也
许不可能在我们居住在这个星球上的有生之年内完成。
但是，让我们开始吧。
8、对国家的忠诚
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more
than in 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
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testimony to its national loyalty. The
graves of young Americans who
answered the call to service surround
the globe.
公民们，我们方针的最终成败与其说掌握在我手
中，不如说掌握在你们手中。自从合众国建立以来，
每一代美国人都曾受到召唤去证明他们对国家的忠诚。
响应召唤而献身的美国青年的坟墓遍及全球。
9、反对人类共同的敌人
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
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tribulation"--a struggle against the
common enemies of man: tyranny,
poverty, disease, and war itself.
现在，号角已再次吹响——不是召唤我们拿起武器，
虽然我们需要武器，不是召唤我们去作战，虽然我们
严阵以待。它召唤我们为迎接黎明而肩负起漫长斗争
的重任，年复一年，“从希望中得到欢乐，在苦难中保
持坚韧”，去反对人类共同的敌人——专制、贫困、疾
病和战争本身。
10、愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗？
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?
为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能
够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗？你们
愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗？
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赋予保卫自由的责任
In the long history of the world, only a
few generations have been granted the
role of defending freedom in its hour of
maximum danger.
I do not shank 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.
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在漫长的世界历史中，只有少数几代人在自由处于
最危急的时刻被赋予保卫自由的责任。我不会推卸这
一责任，我欢迎这一责任。我不相信我们中间有人想
同其他人或其他时代的人交换位置。我们为这一努力
所奉献的精力、信念和忠诚，将照亮我们的国家和所
有力国效劳的人，而这火焰发出的光芒定能照亮全世
界。
最牛的格言
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not
what your country can do for you--ask
what you can do for your country.
因此，美国同胞们，不要问国家能力你们做些什么，
而要问你们能为国家做些什么。
Contrast:
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.
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全世界的公民们，不要间美国将为你们做些什么，
而要问我们共同能为人类的自中做些什么。
让我们走向前去！
Finally, whether you are citizens of
America or citizens of the world, ask of
us 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.
29
最后，不论你们是美国公民还是其他国家的公民，
你们应该要求我们现出我们同样要求于你们地高度力
量和牺牲。问心无愧是我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史是
我们行动的最终裁判，让我们走向前去，引导我们所
珍爱的国家。我们祈求上帝的福佑和帮助，但我们知
道，确切的说，上帝在尘世的工作必定是我们自己的
工作。
Alliteration: "Let us go forth to lead the
land we love"
押前韵（译者注：靠近的两个单词的第一个单词相同，比如例句中的“land”和
“love”，都是“l”打头）
Impressive though the rhetoric and
imagery may have been, what really
made the speech memorable was that it
was the first inaugural address by a US
30
president to follow the first rule of
speech-preparation: analyse your
audience - or, to be more precise at a
time when mass access to television was
in its infancy, analyse your audiences.
虽然这些修辞和意象给听众留下了很深的印象，这篇演
讲的最可贵之处还在它对听众的分析，这是美国总统在就职
演讲时第一次这么做。当电视开始进入千家万户时，话题有
针对性，作为演讲准备的第一要素，就变得尤为重要。
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in
Alabama, with its vicious racists, with
its governor having his lips dripping
with the words of "interposition" and
"nullification" -- one day right there in
Alabama little black boys and black
31
girls will be able to join hands with little
white boys and white girls as sisters and
brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley
shall be exalted, and every hill and
mountain shall be made low, the rough
places will be made plain, and the
crooked places will be made straight;
"and the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed and all flesh shall see it
together."?
This is our hope, and this is the faith
that I go back to the South
this faith, we will be able to hew out of
the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
With this faith, we will be able to
transform the jarring discords of our
nation into a beautiful symphony of
brotherhood. With this faith, we will be
able to work together, to pray together,
to struggle together, to go to jail
32
together, to stand up for freedom
together, knowing that we will be free
one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be
the day when all of God's children will
be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of
liberty, of thee I where my
fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's
pride,From every mountainside, let
freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation,
this must become so let
freedom ring from the prodigious
hilltops of New freedom
ring from the mighty mountains of New
York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening
Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped
Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring
from the curvaceous slopes of California.
33
But not only that. Let freedom ring
from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let
freedom ring from Lookout Mountain
of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from
every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom
ring.
And when this happens, when we allow
freedom ring, when we let it ring from
every village and every hamlet, from
every state and every city, we will be
able to speed up that day when all of
God's children, black men and white
men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and
Catholics, will be able to join hands and
sing in the words of the old Negro
spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God
Almighty, we are free at last!
