名人演讲：国会大厦告别演讲

名人演讲：国会大厦辞别演讲

道格拉斯·麦克阿瑟(douglasmacarthur)，美国陆军五星上将。出生于阿肯色州小石城的军人世家。1899年中学毕业后考入西点军校，1903年以名列第一的优异成绩毕业，到工程兵部队任职，并赴菲律宾执勤。麦克阿瑟有过50年的军事理论经历，被美国国民称之为“一代老兵〞，而其自身的又曾是“美国最年轻的准将、西点军校最年轻的校长、美国陆军历史上最年轻的陆军参谋长〞，凭借精妙的军事谋略和敢战敢胜的胆略，麦克阿瑟堪称美国战争史上的奇才。

提起这句话：“老兵永远不死，只会渐渐凋零〞〔oldsoldiersneverdie,theyjustfadeaway〕，就不由得想起那个叼着玉米棒子烟斗的麦克阿瑟，和他在1951年4月19日被解职后在国会大厦发表的题为?老兵不死?著名演讲。

我即将完毕五十二年的军旅生涯。我参军是在本世纪开场之前，而这是我童年的希望与梦想的实现。自从我在西点军校的教练场上宣誓以来，这个世界已经过屡次变化，而我的希望与梦想早已消逝，但我仍记着当时最流行的一首军歌词，极为自豪地宣示“老兵永远不死，只会渐渐凋零〞。

iamclosingmy52yearsofmilitaryservice.whenijoinedthearmy,evenbeforetheturnofthecentury,itwasthefulfillmentofallofmyboyishhopesanddreams.theworldhasturnedovermanytimessinceitooktheoathontheplainatwestpoint,andthehopesanddreamshavelongsincevanished,butistillremembertherefrainofoneofthemostpopularbarrackballadsofthatdaywhichproclaimedmostproudlythat"oldsoldiersneverdie;theyjustfadeaway."

就像这首歌中的老兵，一位想尽一已之责的老兵，而上帝也赐予光辉使他能看清这一项责任，而我如今完毕了军旅生涯，而逐渐凋谢。

andliketheoldsoldierofthatballad,inowclosemymilitarycareerandjustfadeaway,anoldsoldierwhotriedtodohisdutyasgodgavehimthelighttoseethatduty.

演讲全文：macarthur:farewelladdresstocongress

mr.president,mr.speaker,anddistinguishedmembersofthecongress:

istandonthisrostrumwithasenseofdeephumilityandgreatpride--humilityintheweightofthosegreatamericanarchitectsofourhistorywhohavestoodherebeforeme;prideinthereflectionthatthishomeoflegislativedebaterepresentshumanlibertyinthepurestformyetdevised.herearecenteredthehopesandaspirationsandfaithoftheentirehumanrace.idonotstandhereasadvocateforanypartisancause,fortheissuesarefundamentalandreachquitebeyondtherealmofpartisanconsideration.theymustberesolvedonthehighestplaneofnationalinterestifourcourseistoprovesoundandourfutureprotected.itrust,therefore,thatyouwilldomethejusticeofreceivingthatwhichihavetosayassolelyexpressingtheconsideredviewpointofafellowamerican.

iaddressyouwithneitherrancornorbitternessinthefadingtwilightoflife,withbutonepurposeinmind:toservemycountry.theissuesareglobalandsointerlockedthattoconsidertheproblemsofonesector,oblivioustothoseofanother,isbuttocourtdisasterforthewhole.whileasiaismonlyreferredtoasthegatewaytoeurope,itisnolesstruethateuropeisthegatewaytoasia,andthebroadinfluenceoftheonecannotfailtohaveitsimpactupontheother.therearethosewhoclaimourstrengthisinadequatetoprotectonbothfronts,thatwecannotdivideoureffort.icanthinkofnogreaterexpressionofdefeatism.ifapotentialenemycandividehisstrengthontwofronts,itisforustocounterhiseffort.themunistthreatisaglobalone.itssuccessfuladvanceinonesectorthreatensthedestructionofeveryothersector.youcannotappeaseorotherwisesurrendertomunisminasiawithoutsimultaneouslyunderminingoureffortstohaltitsadvanceineurope.

musteringhalfoftheearth'spopulation,and60percentofitsnaturalresourcesthesepeoplesarerapidlyconsolidatinganewforce,bothmoralandmaterial,withwhichtoraisethelivingstandardanderectadaptationsofthedesignofmodernprogresstotheirowndistinctculturalenvironments.whetheroneadherestotheconceptofcolonizationornot,thisisthedirectionofasianprogressanditmaynotbestopped.itisacorollarytotheshiftoftheworldeconomicfrontiersasthewholeepicenterofworldaffairsrotatesbacktowardtheareawhenceitstarted.

inthissituation,itbeesvitalthatourowncountryorientitspoliciesinconsonancewiththisbasicevolutionaryconditionratherthanpursueacourseblindtotherealitythatthecolonialeraisnowpastandtheasianpeoplescovettherighttoshapetheirownfreedestiny.whattheyseeknowisfriendlyguidance,understanding,andsupport--notimperiousdirection--thedignityofequalityandnottheshameofsubjugation.theirpre-warstandardoflife,pitifullylow,isinfinitelylowernowinthedevastationleftinwar'swake.worldideologiesplaylittlepartinasianthinkingandarelittleunderstood.whatthepeoplesstriveforistheopportunityforalittlemorefoodintheirstomachs,alittlebetterclothingontheirbacks,alittlefirmerroofovertheirheads,andtherealizationofthenormalnationalisturgeforpoliticalfreedom.thesepolitical-socialconditionshavebutanindirectbearinguponourownnationalsecurity,butdoformabackdroptocontemporaryplanningwhichmustbethoughtfullyconsideredifwearetoavoidthepitfallsofunrealism.

ofmoredirectandimmediatelybearinguponournationalsecurityarethechangeswroughtinthestrategicpotentialofthepacificoceaninthecourseofthepastwar.priortheretothewesternstrategicfrontieroftheunitedstateslayontheliterallineoftheamericas,withanexposedislandsalientextendingoutthroughhawaii,midway,andguamtothephilippines.thatsalientprovednotanoutpostofstrengthbutanavenueofweaknessalongwhichtheenemycouldanddidattack.

thepacificwasapotentialareaofadvanceforanypredatoryforceintentuponstrikingattheborderinglandareas.allthiswaschangedbyourpacificvictory.ourstrategicfrontierthenshiftedtoembracetheentirepacificocean,whichbecameavastmoattoprotectusaslongasweheldit.indeed,itactsasaprotectiveshieldforalloftheamericasandallfreelandsofthepacificoceanarea.wecontrolittotheshoresofasiabyachainofislandsextendinginanarcfromthealeutianstothemariannasheldbyusandourfreeallies.fromthisislandchainwecandominatewithseaandairpowereveryasiaticportfromvladivostoktosingapore--withseaandairpowereveryport,asisaid,fromvladivostoktosingapore--andpreventanyhostilemovementintothepacific.

anypredatoryattackfromasiamustbeanamphibiouseffort.*noamphibiousforcecanbesuccessfulwithoutcontrolofthesealanesandtheairoverthoselanesinitsavenueofadvance.withnavalandairsupremacyandmodestgroundelementstodefendbases,anymajorattackfromcontinentalasiatowardusorourfriendsinthepacificwouldbedoomedtofailure.

undersuchconditions,thepacificnolongerrepresentsmenacingavenuesofapproachforaprospectiveinvader.itassumes,instead,thefriendlyaspectofapeacefullake.ourlineofdefenseisanaturaloneandcanbemaintainedwithaminimumofmilitaryeffortandexpense.itenvisionsnoattackagainstanyone,nordoesitprovidethebastionsessentialforoffensiveoperations,butproperlymaintained,wouldbeaninvincibledefenseagainstaggression.theholdingofthisliteraldefenselineinthewesternpacificisentirelydependentuponholdingallsegmentsthereof;foranymajorbreachofthatlinebyanunfriendlypowerwouldrendervulnerabletodeterminedattackeveryothermajorsegment.

thisisamilitaryestimateastowhichihaveyettofindamilitaryleaderwhowilltakeexception.forthatreason,ihavestronglyremendedinthepast,asamatterofmilitaryurgency,thatundernocircumstancesmustformosafallundermunistcontrol.suchaneventualitywouldatoncethreatenthefreedomofthephilippinesandthelossofjapanandmightwellforceourwesternfrontierbacktothecoastofcalifornia,oregonandwashington.

tounderstandthechangeswhichnowappearuponthechinesemainland,onemustunderstandthechangesinchinesecharacterandcultureoverthepast50years.china,upto50yearsago,waspletelynon-homogenous,beingpartmentedintogroupsdividedagainsteachother.thewar-makingtendencywasalmostnon-existent,astheystillfollowedthetenetsoftheconfucianidealofpacifistculture.attheturnofthecentury,undertheregimeofchangtsolin,effortstowardgreaterhomogeneityproducedthestartofanationalisturge.thiswasfurtherandmoresuccessfullydevelopedundertheleadershipofchiangkai-shek,buthasbeenbroughttoitsgreatestfruitionunderthepresentregimetothepointthatithasnowtakenonthecharacterofaunitednationalismofincreasinglydominant,aggressivetendencies.

throughthesepast50yearsthechinesepeoplehavethusbeemilitarizedintheirconceptsandintheirideals.theynowconstituteexcellentsoldiers,withpetentstaffsandmanders.thishasproducedanewanddominantpowerinasia,which,foritsownpurposes,isalliedwithsovietrussiabutwhichinitsownconceptsandmethodshasbeeaggressivelyimperialistic,withalustforexpansionandincreasedpowernormaltothistypeofimperialism.

thereislittleoftheideologicalconcepteitheronewayoranotherinthechinesemake-up.thestandardoflivingissolowandthecapitalaccumulationhasbeensothoroughlydissipatedbywarthatthemassesaredesperateandeagertofollowanyleadershipwhichseemstopromisethealleviationoflocalstringencies.

ihavefromthebeginningbelievedthatthechinesemunists'supportofthenorthkoreanswasthedominantone.theirinterestsare,atpresent,parallelwiththoseofthesoviet.butibelievethattheaggressivenessrecentlydisplayednotonlyinkoreabutalsoinindo-chinaandtibetandpointingpotentiallytowardthesouthreflectspredominantlythesamelustfortheexpansionofpowerwhichhasanimatedeverywould-beconquerorsincethebeginningoftime.

thejapanesepeople,sincethewar,haveundergonethegreatestreformationrecordedinmodernhistory.withamendablewill,eagernesstolearn,andmarkedcapacitytounderstand,theyhave,fromtheashesleftinwar'swake,erectedinjapananedificededicatedtothesupremacyofindividuallibertyandpersonaldignity;andintheensuingprocesstherehasbeencreatedatrulyrepresentativegovernmentmittedtotheadvanceofpoliticalmorality,freedomofeconomicenterprise,andsocialjustice.

politically,economically,andsociallyjapanisnowabreastofmanyfreenationsoftheearthandwillnotagainfailtheuniversaltrust.thatitmaybecountedupontowieldaprofoundlybeneficialinfluenceoverthecourseofeventsinasiaisattestedbythemagnificentmannerinwhichthejapanesepeoplehavemettherecentchallengeofwar,unrest,andconfusionsurroundingthemfromtheoutsideandcheckedmunismwithintheirownfrontierswithouttheslightestslackeningintheirforwardprogress.isentallfourofouroccupationdivisionstothekoreanbattlefrontwithouttheslightestqualmsastotheeffectoftheresultingpowervacuumuponjapan.theresultsfullyjustifiedmyfaith.iknowofnonationmoreserene,orderly,andindustrious,norinwhichhigherhopescanbeentertainedforfutureconstructiveserviceintheadvanceofthehumanrace.

ofourformerward,thephilippines,wecanlookforwardinconfidencethattheexistingunrestwillbecorrectedandastrongandhealthynationwillgrowinthelongeraftermathofwar'sterribledestructiveness.wemustbepatientandunderstandingandneverfailthem--asinourhourofneed,theydidnotfailus.achristiannation,thephilippinesstandasamightybulwarkofchristianityinthefareast,anditscapacityforhighmoralleadershipinasiaisunlimited.

withthisbriefinsightintothesurroundingareas,inowturntothekoreanconflict.whileiwasnotconsultedpriortothepresident'sdecisiontointerveneinsupportoftherepublicofkorea,thatdecisionfromamilitarystandpoint,provedasoundone,aswehurledbacktheinvaderanddecimatedhisforces.ourvictorywasplete,andourobjectiveswithinreach,whenredchinaintervenedwithnumericallysuperiorgroundforces.

thiscreatedanearandanentirelynewsituation,asituationnotcontemplatedwhenourforcesweremittedagainstthenorthkoreaninvaders;asituationwhichcalledfornewdecisionsinthediplomaticspheretopermittherealisticadjustmentofmilitarystrategy.

suchdecisionshavenotbeenforthing.

whilenomaninhisrightmindwouldadvocatesendingourgroundforcesintocontinentalchina,andsuchwasnevergivenathought,thenewsituationdidurgentlydemandadrasticrevisionofstrategicplanningifourpoliticalaimwastodefeatthisnewenemyaswehaddefeatedtheold.

apartfromthemilitaryneed,asisawit,toneutralizethesanctuaryprotectiongiventheenemynorthoftheyalu,ifeltthatmilitarynecessityintheconductofthewarmadenecessary:firsttheintensificationofoureconomicblockadeagainstchina;twotheimpositionofanavalblockadeagainstthechinacoast;threeremovalofrestrictionsonairreconnaissanceofchina'scoastalareasandofmanchuria;fourremovalofrestrictionsontheforcesoftherepublicofchinaonformosa,withlogisticalsupporttocontributetotheireffectiveoperationsagainstthemonenemy.

forentertainingtheseviews,allprofessionallydesignedtosupportourforcesmittedtokoreaandbringhostilitiestoanendwiththeleastpossibledelayandatasavingofcountlessamericanandalliedlives,ihavebeenseverelycriticizedinlaycircles,principallyabroad,despitemyunderstandingthatfromamilitarystandpointtheaboveviewshavebeenfullysharedinthepastbypracticallyeverymilitaryleaderconcernedwiththekoreancampaign,includingourownjointchiefsofstaff.

icalledforreinforcementsbutwasinformedthatreinforcementswerenotavailable.imadeclearthatifnotpermittedtodestroytheenemybuilt-upbasesnorthoftheyalu,ifnotpermittedtoutilizethefriendlychineseforceofsome600,000menonformosa,ifnotpermittedtoblockadethechinacoasttopreventthechineseredsfromgettingsuccorfromwithout,andifthereweretobenohopeofmajorreinforcements,thepositionofthemandfromthemilitarystandpointforbadevictory.

wecouldholdinkoreabyconstantmaneuverandinanapproximateareawhereoursupplylineadvantageswereinbalancewiththesupplylinedisadvantagesoftheenemy,butwecouldhopeatbestforonlyanindecisivecampaignwithitsterribleandconstantattritionuponourforcesiftheenemyutilizeditsfullmilitarypotential.ihaveconstantlycalledforthenewpoliticaldecisionsessentialtoasolution.

effortshavebeenmadetodistortmyposition.ithasbeensaid,ineffect,thatiwasawarmonger.nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.iknoarasfewothermennowlivingknowit,andnothingtomeismorerevolting.ihavelongadvocateditspleteabolition,asitsverydestructivenessonbothfriendandfoehasrenderedituselessasameansofsettlinginternationaldisputes.indeed,ontheseconddayofseptember,nineteenhundredandforty-five,justfollowingthesurrenderofthejapanesenationonthebattleshipmissouri,iformallycautionedasfollows:

"mensincethebeginningoftimehave

soughtpeace.variousmethodsthroughthe

ageshavebeenattemptedtodevisean

internationalprocesstopreventorsettle

disputesbetweennations.fromthevery

startworkablemethodswerefoundinso

farasindividualcitizenswereconcerned,

butthemechanicsofaninstrumentalityof

largerinternationalscopehavenever

itaryalliances,

balancesofpower,leaguesofnations,

allinturnfailed,leavingtheonlypathto

bebywayofthecrucibleofwar.the

utterdestructivenessofwarnowblocks

outthisalternative.wehavehadourlast

chance.ifwewillnotdevisesome

greaterandmoreequitablesystem,

armageddonwillbeatourdoor.the

problembasicallyistheologicaland

involvesaspiritualrecrudescenceand

improvementofhumancharacterthatwill

synchronizewithouralmostmatchless

advancesinscience,art,literature,andall

materialandculturaldevelopmentsof

thepast2000years.itmustbeofthespirit

ifwearetosavetheflesh."

butoncewarisforceduponus,thereisnootheralternativethantoapplyeveryavailablemeanstobringittoaswiftend.

war'sveryobjectisvictory,notprolongedindecision.

inwarthereisnosubstituteforvictory.

therearesomewho,forvaryingreasons,wouldappeaseredchina.theyareblindtohistory'sclearlesson,forhistoryteacheswithunmistakableemphasisthatappeasementbutbegetsnewandbloodierwar.itpointstonosingleinstancewherethisendhasjustifiedthatmeans,whereappeasementhasledtomorethanashampeace.likeblackmail,itlaysthebasisfornewandsuccessivelygreaterdemandsuntil,asinblackmail,violencebeestheonlyotheralternative.

"why,"mysoldiersaskedofme,"surrendermilitaryadvantagestoanenemyinthefield?"icouldnotanswer.

somemaysay:toavoidspreadoftheconflictintoanall-outwarwithchina;others,toavoidsovietintervention.neitherexplanationseemsvalid,forchinaisalreadyengagingwiththemaximumpoweritcanmit,andthesovietwillnotnecessarilymeshi