奥巴马对曼德拉的悼文

　　To the people of South Africa – people of every race and walk of life – the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph.

　　南非人民们，不管你是什么种族、从事何种职业，全世界感谢你们与我们分享纳尔逊 曼德拉。他的挣扎就是你们的挣扎，他的胜利也是你们的胜利。

　　Born during World War I， far from the corridors of power， a boy raised herding cattle and tutored by elders of his Thembu tribe – Madiba would emerge as the last great liberator of the 20th century.

　　这位在第一次世界大战时生于普通家庭、从小放牛、由部落长者教育的男孩，成为了20世纪倒计时一位伟大的解放者。

　　He was not a bust made of marble； he was a man of flesh and blood – a son and husband， a father and a friend.

　　他不是一尊大理石雕像，而是一个有血有肉的人，是一个儿子、一个丈夫、一个父亲以及一个朋友。

　　Mandela showed us the power of action； of taking risks on behalf of our ideals.

　　曼德拉展示出了行动的力量、为了理想甘愿冒险的力量。

　　It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner， but the gaoler as well； to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you； to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past， but a means of confronting it with inclusion， generosity and truth. He changed laws， but also hearts.

　　曼德拉这样一个人不仅解放了监狱里的囚犯，也解放了监狱的看守。他的行为表明你必须先信任别人，别人才会信任你。他告诉我们和谐并不是忽略残酷的过去，而是以包容、宽容和相信来面对过去。他改变了法律，也改变了人们的心。

　　We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa， and young people around the world – you can make his life‘s work your own. Over thirty years ago， while still a student， I learned of Mandela and the struggles in this land. It stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities – to others， and to myself – and set me on an improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short of Madiba’s example， he makes me want to be better.

　　我们再也看不到像曼德拉一样的人了。但我想对非洲的年轻人和全球的年轻人说，你们可以把曼德拉毕生的事业当成自己的事业。30多年前，在我还是学生的时候，我知道了曼德拉和这片土地上的斗争。这些在我心中掀起了波澜，唤醒了我对别人、对自己的责任感，使我踏上了不可思议的征程，然后才有了今天的我。尽管我永远也达不到曼德拉的高度，但他让我想要变得更好。