The American Ideal of a Great Leader
美国人心目中的理想伟大领袖
Of all figures from America's past, Abraham Lincoln is dearest to the hearts of the American people. In fact, the admiration they have for him borders on worship. Writers note that the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is not unlike the temples that ancient Greeks built in honor of their gods, and that annual ceremonies of celebrating Lincoln's birthday in schools and public places have sometimes had characteristics of religious services (仪式). Certainly Lincoln is America's ideal of a great leader. He had many of the qualities of leadership that Americans admire.
美国历史上所有重要人物中,当推亚伯拉罕·林肯最受美国人民爱戴。人们对他敬佩之深,实际上已近乎顶礼膜拜。作家们指出,华盛顿特区的林肯纪念堂,与古希腊人为纪念他们的神祇而建造的神殿不无相似之处;而每年在学校和公共场所举行的纪念林肯诞辰的庆典仪式有时也带有宗教仪式的特点。毫无疑问,林肯是美国人心目中的理想伟大领袖。他具有美国人民所崇尚的领袖人物的诸多品质。
First of all, Lincoln's career fits a popular American belief that every child can dream of becoming President. Americans admire the self-made person — the one who, with neither money nor family influence, fights his or her way to the top. Lincoln was born of poor parents. His mother died when he was young. He had little opportunity for schooling. His early study was done alone at night by the light of a fireplace. He did hard manual labor through the day — splitting rails for fences, taking care of livestock (牲畜), working on a riverboat or in a store. But as he grew older he studied law in his spare time and became a lawyer. He was a good speaker and student of political philosophy. His ability finally made a name for him and eventually he became President of the United States.
首先,林肯的人生经历符合美国民众的这样一种信念:每一个孩子都能梦想当上总统。美国人民钦佩靠自己奋斗成功的人——那种既没有钱,也没有家族权势,全靠自我拼搏而出人头地的人。林肯出身于贫寒之家,年轻时母亲便过世了。他没有机会上学。早年的学习是靠夜晚独自一人就着壁炉的火光苦读完成的。白天他干的是繁重的体力活——劈栅栏木板条,照料牲口,在内河船上或商店里打工。但是,随着年岁的增长,他开始利用业余时间自学法律,后来当上了一名律师。他很有口才,精通政治哲学。他的才能终于为他赢得了声誉,他最终当上了合众国的总统。
来源:可可英语 //m.moreplr.com/daxue/201610/471353.shtml