「譯者按」2016年達拉斯市區警察遭槍擊案，是指在美國得克薩斯州達拉斯一場抗議美國警察濫殺黑人的和平示威活動結束後，一名黑人埋伏狙擊維護活動秩序的警察，並試圖槍擊12名警察和兩名平民以致五名警察遇害的事件。以下是喬治·W·布什（小布什）前總統在遇害警察追悼會上的講話。當時聽到這個演講就特別感動，就將演講詞下載保存。前幾天讀到再次感動，就動手將它翻譯成中文。小布什的語言樸實無華，句子簡短有力，但它透出的同理心和宗教情懷悠遠深邃。特別是他關於美國精神和種族分歧的表述，成熟睿智。原文可以作為英語背誦的範文。

今天，整個國家都在哀傷，但我們這些熱愛達拉斯並以此為家的人感到我們家庭里有五人陣亡。(夫人)勞拉和我每天都會見到執法人員。我們把他們當作朋友。像其他所有美國人一樣，我們知道執法人員的勇氣是我們的保護和盾牌。

這些被殺的警官是我們當中最好的。洛恩·阿倫斯 （Lorne Ahrens），是偵探卡特里娜·阿倫斯 （Katrina Ahrens）心愛的丈夫，也是兩個孩子的父親。邁克·克羅爾 （Michael Krol），是位有愛心的兒子、兄弟、叔叔、侄子和朋友。邁克·史密斯（Michael Smith），是美國陸軍退伍兵，忠誠的丈夫和兩個孩子的父親。布倫特·湯普森 （Brent Thompson），是海軍陸戰隊退伍軍人，最近才結婚。帕特里克·扎馬里帕 （Patrick Zamarippa），是美國海軍預備役退伍軍人、自豪的父親和德克薩斯遊騎兵隊的忠實球迷。

他們的死亡讓我們失去了許多。我們悲痛欲絕，徹底心碎，但永遠感激不盡。每位警官都接受了（上帝的）召喚而使他們與眾不同。

我們大多數人都想過，如果需要，我們會冒着生命危險保護配偶或孩子。但那些穿制服的人冒着生命危險保護陌生人。他們和他們的家人都知道，每一天都會有新危險。

但我們誰都沒有，也不可能準備好面對（如此）仇恨和惡意的伏擊。這種邪惡帶來的衝擊至今都未消退。有時，分裂我們的力量似乎比團結的力量更大。爭論太容易變成敵意。分歧太快就升級為非人化。

很多時候，我們以最壞的例子來評判其他群體，而以我們最好的意圖來評判自己。這是......，這使我們相互理解和共同目標的紐帶變得緊繃。但我認為，美國人有一個很大的優勢，那就是為了恢復我們的團結，我們只需要記住我們的價值觀。

我們從來不是因為血緣或共同背景聚在一起。將我們綁在一起的是精神的東西，是對理想的共同承諾。

在最好的情況下，我們心懷同理，設身處地着想他人。這是跨越我們國家最深分歧的橋梁。這不僅是為了寬容，而是從他人的掙扎和故事中學習，並在此過程中找到更好的自己。

在最好的情況下，我們尊重在彼此身上看到的上帝形象。我們認識到，我們是兄弟姐妹，在地球上共享同樣短暫的時刻，並具有同樣彼此共通的人性。

在最好的狀態下，我們知道我們共有一個國家、一個未來、一個命運。我們不要統一悲傷，也不想要統一的恐懼。我們想要統一的希望、感情和崇高目標。

我們知道，我們想要建立一個公正、人道的國家，我們在最美好的夢想中看到，當有身着制服的男女站崗放哨，它就有可能實現。在最好的狀態下，當身穿制服的人得到培訓、信任和負責任時，他們會讓我們免於恐懼。

使徒保羅說：“因為神賜給我們的靈不是懼怕，乃是力量、愛心和節制。這些是對我們國家生活中恐懼的最佳反應，也是（身穿制服的）和平官兵的行為準則。

今天，我們所有人都感到失去，但有人失去得更甚。（所以）最後，我想替死者家屬、配偶，尤其是孩子說幾句。你所愛的人和你在一起的時間太短了。他們沒有機會好好說再見。但他們去了職責所召喚的地方。他們保護了我們，直到最後。他們完成得很好。我們不會忘記他們為我們所做的一切。

你的損失是不公平的，我們無法解釋（這種不公）。我們會站在你身邊，分擔你的悲傷，我們祈求上帝給予你希望的安慰，願這個希望比悲傷更幽深、比死亡更強烈。

願上帝保佑你

布什原文

George W. Bush’s Speech at the Dallas Shooting Memorial Service

Thank you all. Thank you, Senator. I, too, am really pleased that President Obama and Mrs. Obama have come down to Dallas. I also want to welcome vice president, Mrs. Biden, Mr. Mayor, Chief Brown, elected officials, members of the law enforcement community. 

Today, the nation grieves, but those of us who love Dallas and call it home have had five deaths in the family. Laura and I see members of law enforcement every day. We count them as our friends. And we know, like for every other American, that their courage is our protection and shield.

We’re proud [of] the men we mourn and the community that has rallied to honor them and support the wounded. Our mayor, and police chief and our police departments have been mighty inspirations for the rest of the nation.

These slain officers were the best among us. Lorne Ahrens, beloved husband to detective Katrina Ahrens and father of two. Michael Krol, caring son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend. Michael Smith, U.S. Army veteran, devoted husband and father of two. Brent Thompson, Marine Corps vet, recently married. Patrick Zamarippa, U.S. Navy Reserve combat veteran, proud father and loyal Texas Rangers fan.

With their deaths, we have lost so much. We are grief stricken, heartbroken and forever grateful. Every officer has accepted a calling that sets them apart.

Most of us imagine if the moment called for, that we would risk our lives to protect a spouse or a child. Those wearing the uniform assume that risk for the safety of strangers. They and their families share the unspoken knowledge that each new day can bring new dangers.

But none of us were prepared, or could be prepared, for an ambush by hatred and malice. The shock of this evil still has not faded. At times, it seems like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together. Argument turns too easily into animosity. Disagreement escalates too quickly into de-humanization.

Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this is…And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose. But Americans, I think, have a great advantage. To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values.

We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit, by shared commitments to common ideals. At our best, we practice empathy, imagining ourselves in the lives and circumstances of others. This is the bridge across our nation’s deepest divisions.

And it is not merely a matter of tolerance, but of learning from the struggles and stories of our fellow citizens and finding our better selves in the process.

At our best, we honor the image of God we see in one another. We recognize that we are brothers and sisters, sharing the same brief moment on Earth and owing each other the loyalty of our shared humanity.

At our best, we know we have one country, one future, one destiny. We do not want the unity of grief, nor do we want the unity of fear. We want the unity of hope, affection and high purpose.

We know that the kind of just, humane country we want to build, that we have seen in our best dreams, is made possible when men and women in uniform stand guard. At their best, when they’re trained and trusted and accountable, they free us from fear.

The Apostle Paul said, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of strength and love and self-control.” Those are the best responses to fear in the life of our country and they’re the code of the peace officer.

Today, all of us feel a sense of loss, but not equally. I’d like to conclude with the word of the families, the spouses, and especially the children of the fallen. Your loved one’s time with you was too short. They did not get a chance to properly say goodbye. But they went where duty called. They defended us, even to the end. They finished well. We will not forget what they did for us.

Your loss is unfair. We cannot explain it. We can stand beside you and share your grief. And we can pray that God will comfort you with a hope deeper than sorrow and stronger than death.

May God bless you.