Fourth of July

零八年的七月四日，美國的第二百三十二週年國慶紀念。
國慶，是慶祝美國自一七七六年簽署的獨立宣言紀念日。
每年，Christine不是到市政府處看煙花，便到朋友家後園燒烤作客。

來美多年，Christine一直覺得自己骨子外表，均是實在的中國人。
但是，我也欣賞美國人的某些處事方式。
世上，沒有絕對優異無暇的民族。
各國，總有其讓人欣賞或黑暗面。

在美國的教育下，培養出另一個獨立而創造的自己。
從中國的文化內，嘗試以自身的價值觀，以柔制剛來遨遊這天地。
取其優以補己之拙，世上沒有所謂的「絕對」。
衹願，我所學到的明暸的會為Christine以嶄新的感覺看我的出生地。

想分享一首美國國歌 (Star Spangled Banner)
以及一首充滿民族愛國情緒的歌 (God bless America)
當年學懂唱God bless America是九一一以後，一字一淚唱成的。
今後，我無論身在那裏，我還是會衷心祝願美國 - 國泰民安。

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

(哦，你可看见，透过一线曙光，我们对着什么，发出欢呼的声浪？谁的阔条明星，冒着一夜炮火，依然锓风招展，在我军碉堡上？火炮闪闪发光，炸弹轰轰作响，它们都是见证，国旗安然无恙。你看星条旗不是还高高飘扬在这自由国家，勇士的家乡？)

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(透过稠密的雾，隐约望见对岸，顽敌正在酣睡，四周沉寂夜阑珊。微风断断续续，吹过峻崖之巅，你说那是什么，风中半隐又半现？现在它的身上，映着朝霞烂漫，凌空照在水面，霎时红光一片。这是星条旗，但愿它永远飘扬在这自由国家，勇士的家乡。)

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(都到哪里去了，信誓旦旦的人？他们想望的是能在战争中幸存，家乡和祖国，不要抛弃他们。他们自己用血，洗清肮脏的脚印。这些奴才、佣兵，没有地方藏身，逃脱不了失败和死亡的命运。但是星条旗却将要永远飘扬在这自由国家，勇士的家乡。)

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(玉碎还是瓦全，摆在我们面前，自由人将奋起保卫国旗长招展。祖国自有天相，胜利和平在望；建国家，保家乡，感谢上帝的力量。我们一定得胜，正义属于我方，“我们信赖上帝，”此语永矢不忘。你看星条旗将永远高高飘扬在这自由国家，勇士的家乡。)

Translation from: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=154836184

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJI_rlar68M&feature=related

God Bless America Lyrics
by Irving Berlin


God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJNqep77vBw