美國總統布希在華盛頓舉行的共產主義受難者紀念碑落成儀式上的演講 (中英全文)
謝謝你們大家來參加今天的共產主義受難者紀念碑落成儀式。請各位就座。
愛德華茲博士，謝謝你的溢美之辭。還有蘭托斯議員，再也沒有比你更偉大的自由之友了；羅赫拉巴切爾議員，你也一樣。捷克和匈牙利議會的議員們，大使們，尊貴的來賓們，更重要的是共產黨壓迫的倖存者們，今天，在這個歷史性的日子裡，能與你們在一起，我感到萬分榮幸。（掌聲）
此時此地，在曾經抵抗邪惡和幫助推翻一個帝國的人們的陪同下，我代表美國人民自豪地接受為共產主義受難者紀念碑落成儀式揭幕。（掌聲）
20 世紀將被作為人類歷史上死亡最慘重的世紀載入史冊。這一殘暴時代的記錄被銘刻在了這座城市的紀念碑上。然而，直到現在，我們國家的首都卻沒有一座紀念極權共產主義 --- 這一意識形態奪走了估計高達1億無辜的男人、女人和孩子的生命——受難者的紀念碑。因此，我們在此集會，紀念那些消逝在共產主義的手裡的生命，並為這座將他們的苦難和犧牲銘記在全世界的良心裏的紀念碑舉行落成儀式，
建造這座紀念碑花了十多年的時間，其在我們首都的落成是兩個傑出的美國人熱情和決心的確切證明。列夫· 杜布裡亞斯基，他的女兒葆拉在這兒（掌聲），請向你的父親轉達我們最良好的祝願，還有李· 愛德華茲博士。（掌聲）他們在前進的道路上面臨挫折和挑戰，但他們從未放棄，因為在他們的心中，他們聽見了那些受難者的吶喊聲：「請記住我們」。
這些聲音對所有人呼喊，它們不計其數。那些死於共產主義名義下的冤魂的絕對數目駭人聽聞，因此在很大程度上要確切的計算死亡人數幾乎是不可能的。根據學者的研究估計，共產主義在中國和蘇聯奪走數千萬人生命，在北朝鮮、柬埔寨、非洲、阿富汗、越南、東歐和世界其他地方，也有數百萬人受難。
在這些數目字背後，隱藏著一個個家破人亡、夢想破碎的人性故事，他們的生命被那些追求極權主義權力的傢伙無情地消滅。其中一些共產主義的受難者是世人皆知的，他們當中有一個名叫勞爾· 瓦倫貝格的瑞典外交官，他從納粹分子的手裡解救出了10萬名猶太人，卻被斯大林密令逮捕，投入莫斯科盧比揚卡監獄，在那兒他人間蒸發。他們當中有一個名叫波佩盧茲科的波蘭神父，他讓華沙的教堂變成團結工會地下活動分子的避難所，但最終他慘遭秘密警察的綁架、毆打並被淹死在維蘇拉。
這些犧牲者的幽靈常徘徊在歷史當中 --- 在他們背後，還有數百萬或更多的籍籍無名的人死於共產主義的毒手。他們有在斯大林的大飢荒中活活餓死的無辜的烏克蘭人，有死於斯大林清洗的俄國人，有將全部家當裝上牛車背井離鄉被流放到北極這一蘇聯共產主義死亡集中營的立陶宛人、拉托維亞人和愛沙尼亞人。他們有在大躍進和文化大革命中死於非命的中國人，有在波爾布特的殺戮戰場中被屠殺的柬埔寨人，有為了投奔自由試圖挖掘柏林牆而被射殺的東德人，有在卡廷森林被屠殺的波蘭人，有在「紅色恐怖」中被屠殺的衣索比亞人，有在尼加拉瓜桑地諾獨裁政權中被謀殺的摩斯基多印地安人，有為逃離暴政而溺死在海上的古巴人。我們從來都不知道那些死難者的人的名字，但在這個神聖的地方，無名的共產主義受難者的名字將被祭獻於歷史，永遠被銘記。
我們為這座紀念碑舉行落成典禮，因為我們對那些死難者負有義務，去銘刻他們的生命，尊崇他們的記憶。捷克作家米蘭· 昆德拉曾經將反抗共產主義的鬥爭形容為「記憶對抗遺忘的鬥爭」。共產黨政權不僅奪走了受難者的生命，他們還企圖盜竊他們的人性，抹殺他們的記憶。隨著這個紀念碑的落成，我們要恢復受害者的人性，恢復對他們的記憶。隨著這個紀念碑的落成，我們記述了共產主義無辜的無名受難者，他們活在我們的心中，他們再也不會被遺忘！（掌聲）
我們為這座紀念碑舉行落成典禮，因為我們有義務讓未來子孫記錄下20世紀的罪行，並保證未來不再重蹈覆轍。在這個神聖的地方，我們回顧冷戰的重大教訓，那就是：自由是寶貴的，不可隨意被剝奪；邪惡是真實的，必須被反抗；如果再有機會，那些在冷酷和憎恨驅使下的傢伙還會犯下磬竹難書的罪行，奪走成千上萬人的生命。
我們回顧這些歷史教訓極其重要，因為給20世紀帶來生靈塗炭的邪惡和憎恨今天依然存在於這個世界上。我們在2001年911事件中看到了這張面孔。同共產黨一樣，那些襲擊我們國家的恐怖份子和激進份子都是冷血的意識形態的追隨者，他們鄙視自由，壓制異己，野心勃勃，謀求建立極權統治。同共產黨一樣，我們新的敵人相信，可以通過濫殺無辜來實現他們激進的目標。同共產黨一樣，我們新的敵人對自由人民不屑一顧，聲稱我們這些享有自由的人是懦弱的，聲稱我們缺乏捍衛自由生活方式的決心。同共產黨一樣，那些暴力的伊斯蘭激進主義的追隨者注定要滅亡！（掌聲）
我們將堅定不移地推進自由的事業，我們將確保，未來的美國總統再也不會站立在今天這個地方，為21世紀被激進份子和極端分子謀殺的上百萬人舉行紀念碑落成典禮。
我們相信自由的力量，因為我們已經看見自由戰勝了歷史上的專制、暴政和恐懼。愛德華茲博士說里根總統去過柏林。他清楚記得里根總統的演講。他說：「推倒這堵牆吧」，兩年後，柏林牆倒了。中東歐的人民終於從令人窒息的壓迫中解放出來。恰逢里根總統演講20週年紀念之際，我們為紀念碑舉行落成儀式，這座紀念碑反映了我們對自由力量的信心。
設計這個紀念碑塑像的人們完全可以為這個場地選擇一個描述鎮壓的形象，比如曾隔離東西柏林的柏林牆複製品，或者冷冰冰的前蘇聯古拉格集中營，或者白骨堆砌的紅色高棉殺人場。然而，設計者選擇了一個希望的形象 --- 一位女神手持自由的火炬。她讓我們想起了共產主義的受難者，也讓我們想起了戰勝共產主義的力量。
正如同我們的自由女神像一樣，她提醒我們，自由之火在每個人的心中燃燒，她是一盞再也不能被暴虐的恐怖主義分子或專制暴君扑滅的明燈。她提醒我們，只要屠殺上千萬人的意識形態仍然存在，只要其仍在苟延殘喘，那麼與這股比死亡強大的力量作鬥爭將繼續進行。（掌聲）
她提醒我們，自由是我們創世主的禮物，自由是所有人類天賦的權利，自由將最終取得最後的勝利！（掌聲）
我感謝你們每一個人為這座紀念碑，為自由事業作出的貢獻；我感謝你們為保存死於共產主義恐怖統治的受難者的記憶作出的貢獻。願共產主義受難者的靈魂安息吧，願那些繼續遭受共產主義苦難的人們尋找到他們的自由，願給予我們自由的上帝保佑這座偉大的紀念碑吧，保佑來參觀她的所有人。
上帝保佑大家。（掌聲）
President Bush Attends Dedication of Victims of Communism Memorial
Washington, D.C.
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10:35 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Dr. Edwards, thanks for your kind words. Congressman Lantos -- no better friend to freedom, by the way; Congressman Rohrabacher, the same. Members of the Czech and Hungarian parliaments; ambassadors; distinguished guests; and more importantly, the survivors of Communist oppression, I'm honored to join you on this historic day. (Applause.)
President George W. Bush addresses his remarks Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at the dedication ceremony for the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C. President Bush, in recalling the lessons of the Cold War said, 「 that freedom is precious and cannot be taken for granted; that evil is real and must be confronted.」 White House photo by Joyce Boghosian And here in the company of men and women who resisted evil and helped bring down an empire, I proudly accept the Victims of Communism Memorial on behalf of the American people. (Applause.)
The 20th century will be remembered as the deadliest century in human history. And the record of this brutal era is commemorated in memorials across this city. Yet, until now, our Nation's Capital had no monument to the victims of imperial Communism, an ideology that took the lives of an estimated 100 million innocent men, women and children. So it's fitting that we gather to remember those who perished at Communism's hands, and dedicate this memorial that will enshrine their suffering and sacrifice in the conscience of the world.
Building this memorial took more than a decade of effort, and its presence in our capital is a testament to the passion and determination of two distinguished Americans: Lev Dobriansky, whose daughter Paula is here -- (applause) -- give your dad our best. And Dr. Lee Edwards. (Applause.) They faced setbacks and challenges along the way, yet they never gave up, because in their hearts, they heard the voices of the fallen crying out: "Remember us."
These voices cry out to all, and they're legion. The sheer numbers of those killed in Communism's name are staggering, so large that a precise count is impossible. According to the best scholarly estimate, Communism took the lives of tens of millions of people in China and the Soviet Union, and millions more in North Korea, Cambodia, Africa, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Eastern Europe, and other parts of the globe.
Behind these numbers are human stories of individuals with families and dreams whose lives were cut short by men in pursuit of totalitarian power. Some of Communism's victims are well-known. They include a Swedish diplomat named Raoul Wallenberg, who saved 100,000 Jews from the Nazis, only to be arrested on Stalin's orders and sent to Moscow's Lubyanka Prison, where he disappeared without a trace. They include a Polish priest named Father Popieluszko, who made his Warsaw church a sanctuary for the Solidarity underground, and was kidnaped, and beaten, and drowned in the Vitsula by the secret police.
The sacrifices of these individuals haunt history -- and behind them are millions more who were killed in anonymity by Communism's brutal hand. They include innocent Ukrainians starved to death in Stalin's Great Famine; or Russians killed in Stalin's purges; Lithuanians and Latvians and Estonians loaded onto cattle cars and deported to Arctic death camps of Soviet Communism. They include Chinese killed in the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution; Cambodians slain in Pol Pot's Killing Fields; East Germans shot attempting to scale the Berlin Wall in order to make it to freedom; Poles massacred in the Katyn Forest; and Ethiopians slaughtered in the "Red Terror"; Miskito Indians murdered by Nicaragua's Sandinista dictatorship; and Cuban balseros who drowned escaping tyranny. We'll never know the names of all who perished, but at this sacred place, Communism's unknown victims will be consecrated to history and remembered forever.
President George W. Bush addresses his remarks Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at the dedication ceremony for the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C. President Bush, speaking on the anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech, said 「 It’s appropriate that on the anniversary of that speech, that we dedicate a monument that reflects our confidence in freedom’s power.」 White House photo by Joyce Boghosian We dedicate this memorial because we have an obligation to those who died, to acknowledge their lives and honor their memory. The Czech writer Milan Kundera once described the struggle against Communism as "the struggle of memory against forgetting." Communist regimes did more than take their victims' lives; they sought to steal their humanity and erase their memory. With this memorial, we restore their humanity and we reclaim their memory. With this memorial, we say of Communism's innocent and anonymous victims, these men and women lived and they shall not be forgotten. (Applause.)
We dedicate this memorial because we have an obligation to future generations to record the crimes of the 20th century and ensure they're never repeated. In this hallowed place we recall the great lessons of the Cold War: that freedom is precious and cannot be taken for granted; that evil is real and must be confronted; and that given the chance, men commanded by harsh and hateful ideologies will commit unspeakable crimes and take the lives of millions.
It's important that we recall these lessons because the evil and hatred that inspired the death of tens of millions of people in the 20th century is still at work in the world. We saw its face on September the 11th, 2001. Like the Communists, the terrorists and radicals who attacked our nation are followers of a murderous ideology that despises freedom, crushes all dissent, has expansionist ambitions and pursues totalitarian aims. Like the Communists, our new enemies believe the innocent can be murdered to serve a radical vision. Like the Communists, our new enemies are dismissive of free peoples, claiming that those of us who live in liberty are weak and lack the resolve to defend our free way of life. And like the Communists, the followers of violent Islamic radicalism are doomed to fail. (Applause.) By remaining steadfast in freedom's cause, we will ensure that a future American President does not have to stand in a place like this and dedicate a memorial to the millions killed by the radicals and extremists of the 21st century.
We can have confidence in the power of freedom because we've seen freedom overcome tyranny and terror before. Dr. Edwards said President Reagan went to Berlin. He was clear in his statement. He said, "tear down the wall," and two years later the wall fell. And millions across Central and Eastern Europe were liberated from unspeakable oppression. It's appropriate that on the anniversary of that speech, that we dedicate a monument that reflects our confidence in freedom's power.
The men and women who designed this memorial could have chosen an image of repression for this space, a replica of the wall that once divided Berlin, or the frozen barracks of the Gulag, or a killing field littered with skulls. Instead, they chose an image of hope -- a woman holding a lamp of liberty. She reminds us of the victims of Communism, and also of the power that overcame Communism.
Like our Statue of Liberty, she reminds us that the flame for freedom burns in every human heart, and that it is a light that cannot be extinguished by the brutality of terrorists or tyrants. And she reminds us that when an ideology kills tens of millions of people, and still ends up being vanquished, it is contending with a power greater than death. (Applause.) She reminds us that freedom is the gift of our Creator, freedom is the birthright of all humanity, and in the end, freedom will prevail. (Applause.)
I thank each of you who made this memorial possible for your service in freedom's cause. I thank you for your devotion to the memory of those who lost their lives to Communist terror. May the victims of Communism rest in peace. May those who continue to suffer under Communism find their freedom. And may the God who gave us liberty bless this great memorial and all who come to visit her.
God bless. (Applause.)
END 10:47 A.M. EDT
From: http://www.whitehouse.gov
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