蒂勒森遭川普解职后告别演说：这可是一座恶意满满的城市啊
近日，美国国务卿蒂勒森(Rex W. Tillerson)被撤职，他在短暂的告别演说中，只字未提特朗普总统，蒂勒森还悲叹“华盛顿，这可是一座恶意满满的城市啊。”
原话为「This can be a very mean-spirited town.」，也有译为：“华盛顿是个刻薄的地方/这(华盛顿特区)可能是个心胸狭窄的城市。”
所谓“恶意”，涉及蒂勒森从商界转入政界，过去14个月在首都华盛顿与总统唐纳德·特朗普失和、时而承受国会压力、舆论抨击以及国务院内部资深外交官们对他外交能力和行事方式的责难，再加其他国家对美国政府以至他本人不信任……最要紧的是与白宫观点和立场有差异。
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=m0618zodaex&width=500&height=375&auto=0
尽管只有短短5分钟左右的演讲，
最后现场响起的掌声竟持续了四分多种!
▲感受现场▼
Farewell Remarks to the Department
(Applause.) Thank you.
Well, for those of you gathered here today, I truly appreciate the opportunity to bid you a proper farewell. First, I must thank each and every one of you for the role you play in enabling the State Department to lead our foreign policy efforts and conduct the steady diplomacy and – that is the work of the department on behalf of the American people. None of this is possible without your daily contributions, from the mail room to the seventh floor and all points in between.
And all of our missions abroad – our locally employed staff, our EFMs, eligible family members, to our ambassadors and chief of mission – everyone is important to the delivery of the mission of the State Department.
In preparing for the transition to the secretary-designate, I compiled all of the policy decks that were developed by you and your colleagues that were first the basis for discussions at the National Security Council and ultimately with the President. These decks, of which I counted 13 since February the 1st of 2017, provide not only the policy basis but the strategies and tactics which guide the department’s execution against those policies. I also provided the secretary-designate recent decks which were under development to provide updates of how tactics may need to adjust to current circumstances. Because while the policies and the strategies should never change, we must constantly review how the tactics are delivering on the objectives.
The country faces many challenges – in some instances perplexing[1] foreign affairs relationships, and in other instances serious national security threats. In these times, your continued diligence and devotion to the State Department’s mission has never been more necessary. As you go about your duties, each of you carrying out your individual responsibilities as well as your collective duty, it is my hope that you will be guided by and test your actions each day against the values that we have spoken about over this past year: first, to value the safety and security of yourselves, your loved ones, and your colleagues; second, to maintain a commitment to accountability by first holding yourselves accountable so that you’re able to hold others accountable, and that the positive environment of accountability is underpinned[2] by honesty and integrity in all that you do.
[1]perplex: if something perplexes you, it makes you feel confused and worried because it is difficult to understand 使困惑，使茫然，使费解
Shea’s symptoms perplexed the doctors.
谢伊的症状令医生们困惑。
[2]underpin&undermine
1)underpin: to give strength or support to something and to help it succeed 巩固，支持
the theories that underpin his teaching method
支持他的教学方法的理论
2)undermine: to gradually make someone or something less strong or effective 逐渐削弱[损害]
economic policies that threaten to undermine the health care system
可能会损害医疗保健制度的经济政策
undermine sb’s confidence/authority/position/credibility etc
The constant criticism was beginning to undermine her confidence.
不断的批评开始削弱她的信心了。
Never lose sight of your most valuable asset, the most valuable asset you possess: your personal integrity. Not one of you was gifted it; you were born with it. It belongs to you, and always has and will belong to you and you alone. Only you can relinquish[3] it or allow it to be compromised. Once you’ve done so, it is very, very hard to regain it. So guard it as the most precious thing you possess.
[3]relinquish: to let someone else have your position, power, or rights, especially unwillingly 〔尤指不情愿地〕放弃，交出〔职位、权力、权利〕
No one wants to relinquish power once they have it.
人一旦有了权就不想放弃。
relinquish sth to sb
Stultz relinquished control to his subordinate.
斯塔尔茨把控制权交给了他的下属。
And finally, I hope you will continue to treat each other with respect. Regardless of the job title, the station in life, or your role, everyone is important to the State Department. We’re all just human beings trying to do our part.
In closing[最后，在结束前], I’d like to ask that each of you undertake[4] to ensure one act of kindness each day towards another person. This can be a very mean-spirited[心胸狭窄的] town. (Laughter and applause.) But you don’t have to choose to participate in that. (Applause.) Each of us get to choose the person we want to be, and the way we want to be treated, and the way we will treat others.
[4]undertake:
1)to accept that you are responsible for a piece of work, and start to do it 承担；着手做〔某事〕
undertake a task/a project/research/a study etc
Dr Johnson undertook the task of writing a comprehensive English dictionary.
约翰逊博士担负起编写一本综合性英语词典的工作。
2)undertake to do sth: to promise or agree to do something 承诺做某事，答应做某事
He undertook to pay the money back in six months.
他保证在六个月之内还钱。
God bless you all, your loved ones; God bless America. (Applause.)