英语演讲原文：奥巴马演讲 Help for Vets with PTSD

奥巴马演讲 Help for Vets with PTSD
Remarks of President Barack Obama As Prepared for Delivery Weekly Address July 10, 2010
Last weekend, on the Fourth of July, Michelle and I welcomed some of our extraordinary military men and women and their families to the White House. They were just like the thousands of active duty personnel and veterans I’ve met across this country and around the
globe. Proud. Strong. Determined 1 . Men and women with the courage to answer their country’s call, and the character to serve the United States of America. Because of that service; because of the honor and heroism 2 of our troops around the world; our people are safer, our nation is more secure, and we are poised 3 to（信誓旦旦，准备就绪）end our combat mission in Iraq by the end of August, completing a drawdown of more than 90,000 troops since last January. Still, we are a nation at war. For the better part of a decade, our men and women in uniform have endured tour after tour in distant and dangerous places. Many have risked their lives. Many have given their lives. And as a grateful nation, humbled 4 by their service, we can never honor these American heroes or their families enough. Just as we have a solemn responsibility to train and equip our
troops before we send them into harm’s way, we have a solemn responsibility to provide our veterans and wounded warriors 6 with the car e and benefits they’ve earned when they come home. That is our sacred trust with all who serve –and it doesn’t end when their tour of duty does. To keep that trust, we’re building a 21st century VA, increasing its budget, and ensuring the steady stream of funding it needs to support medical care for our veterans. To help our veterans and their families pursue a college education, we’re funding and implementing 7 the post-9/11 GI Bill. To deliver better care in more places, we’re expanding and increasing VA health care, building new wounded warrior 5 facilities, and adapting care to better meet the needs of female veterans. To stand with those who sacrifice, we’ve dedicated 8 new support for wounded warriors and the caregivers who put their l ives on hold for a loved one’s long recovery. And to do right by our vets 9 （审查，诊疗）, we’re working to prevent and end veteran homelessness – because in the United States of America, no one who served in our uniform should sleep on our streets. We al so know that for many of today’s troops and their families, the war doesn’t end when they come home. Too many suffer from the signature injuries of today’s wars: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 11 and Traumatic Brain Injury. And too few receive the screening
and treatment they need. Now, in past wars, this wasn’t something America always talked about. And as a result, our troops and their families often felt stigmatized 12 （受非难的）or embarrassed when it came to seeking help. Today,
we’ve made it c lear up and down the chain of command
that folks should seek help if they need it. In fact, we’ve expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. But for years, many veterans with PTSD who have tried to seek benefits –veterans of today’s w ars and earlier wars
– have often found themselves stymied 13 （完全妨碍，从中
作乱） . They’ve been required to produce evidence proving that a specific event caused their PTSD. And that practice has kept the vast majority of those with PTSD who served in non-combat roles, but who still waged war, from getting the care they need. Well, I don’t think our troops
on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application. And I’ve met enough veterans to know that you don’t have to engage in a fi refight to endure the trauma 10 （创伤） of war. So we’re changing the way things are done. On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Ric Shinseki, will begin making it easier for a veteran with PTSD to get the benefits he or she needs. This is a long-overdue step that will help veterans
not just of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, but generations of their brave predecessors 14 （前任） who proudly served
and sacrificed in all our wars. It’s a step that proves America will always be here for our veterans, just as they’ve been there for us. We won’t let them down. We take care of our own. And as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, that’s what we’re going to keep doing. Thank you.
■文章重点单词注释：
1
determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。

He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2
heroism
n.大无畏精神，英勇
参考例句：
He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。

Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。

3
poised
a.摆好姿势不动的
参考例句：
The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。

Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬
在电话机上。

4
humbled
adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的
vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低
参考例句：
The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。

I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

5
warrior
n.勇士，武士，斗士
参考例句：
The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。

A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

6
warriors
武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )
参考例句：
I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。

The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

7
implementing
v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效
参考例句：
-- Implementing a compre hensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。

来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。

来自辞典例句
8
dedicated
adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
参考例句：
He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。

His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

9
vets
abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗
参考例句：
I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。

来自互联网
In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。

来自互联网10
trauma
n.外伤，精神创伤
参考例句：
Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。

The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

11
disorder
n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
参考例句：
When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。

It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

12
stigmatized
v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He was stigmatized as an ex-convict. 他遭人污辱，说他给判过刑。

来自辞典例句
Such a view has been stigmatized as mechanical jurisprudence. 蔑称这种观点为机械法学。

来自辞典例句
13
stymied
n.被侵袭的v.妨碍，阻挠( stymie的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen. 最近几周的救援工作一直受到武装分子的阻挠。

来自辞典例句
I was completely stymied by her refusal to help. 由于她拒不相助，我完全陷入了困境。

来自互联网
14
predecessors
n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身
参考例句：
The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。

来自《简明英汉词典》Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？来自《简明英汉词典》。