美國民衆開始國慶慶祝活動
America’s independence holiday, July 4th, is a chance for Americans to take the day off, have a picnic, go to the beach or take advantage of sales at the shopping mall.
美國的獨立紀念日7月4號這一天，美國民衆休假一天，很多人到戶外野餐，或在海灘享受大自然。這一天也是商家大減價的日子。
But for many Americans, it is also a time to reflect on the historic meaning of July 4th.
但是，7月4號在美國更是一個充滿歷史意義的日子。
Music and barbeque
Street musician Raycurt Johnson treats passersby to patriotic music as they head into downtown Washington on the subway.
Music, whether it’s played by street musicians or members of the National Symphony Orchestra, has traditionally been part of the annual Fourth of July celebration, along with barbeques and fireworks.
除了烤肉和施放煙火，像雷克特.約翰遜這樣的街頭藝人或是國家交響樂團所演奏的愛國樂曲，也是每年7月4號國慶日歡慶活動的重要組成部分。
And, for many Americans, the holiday weekend is also a time to think about history and reflect on what it means to be an American.
對許多美國人來說，這個假日也是他們回顧歷史，反省作爲一個美國人意義何在的時候。
For some families, that means coming to Washington, D.C., to visit the city’s historic Monuments and museums.
有些家庭來說，利用這一天前來首都華盛頓特區，參觀這裏的歷史性紀念碑和各個博物館。
John Carothers, from Santa Cruz, California, says the nation’s capital is especially meaningful to him at this time of the year.
來自加州聖塔克魯茲的約翰.卡羅斯表示，每年這個時候，首都華盛頓特區對他都有特別的意義。
“It’s really wonderful to come here and see the bed of the government that we now live within.”
他說：“來到這裏的感覺真是太好了，可以親眼目睹現在治理我們這個國家的政府所在地。”
Reflecting on America’s past
The Carothers family visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, where one of the highlights is the almost 200-year-old Star-Spangled Banner. The hand-sewn flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the U.S. national anthem.
卡羅斯一家人蔘觀了美國曆史博物館，這裏展示了一面有將近兩百年曆史的美國星條旗。這面手工縫製的國旗鼓舞了史卡特.基寫下了現在已經成爲美國國歌的詩篇。
Seeing it was one of the highlights of the trip for 14-year-old Milena Carothers.
對現年14歲的米雷娜.卡羅斯來說，目睹這面國旗更是她此行的高潮之一。
“It was much larger than I thought it would be,” she says. “And it’s amazing how it’s pretty much well-preserved after so long. You can still tell what it is, not much damage to it. Really amazing.”
她說：“這面國旗比我想象的要大很多。而且更神奇的是，他們怎麼能夠把它保存得這麼久還這麼好。你可以看得出來，都沒有什麼損壞，這真是神奇。”
The American History Museum expects to welcome more than 100,000 visitors over the holiday weekend.
預期在今年這個國慶日長週末假期，前來美國曆史博物館參觀的人數會超過10萬人。
“I think July 4th is the time that people come and they really want to connect with American history and with their stories," says Andrea Lowther, director of visitor services for the museum. “And so, of course, they do come to see those icons.”
美國曆史博物館的導覽部主任羅澤爾說：“我想7月4號這一天是人們想來到這裏，真的想借此和美國曆史以及先民故事聯繫起來的時候。因此之故，他們當然想來這裏參觀這些東西。”In addition to the Star-Spangled Banner, those historic icons include the hat worn by Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated.
羅澤爾說：“我們還展出林肯總統遭到刺殺前一晚所戴的帽子。”
And the writing box Thomas Jefferson used while drafting the Declaration of Independence.
“還有傑弗遜總統起草獨立宣言時的用品。”
“I mean, how much more perfect for July 4th can it be?” says Lowther.
“我的意思是，對於7月4日來說，還有什麼比這更有意義的參觀遊覽呢？”
Civil liberty
For other Americans, July 4th is about principles that can’t be displayed in a museum. Christine Coombs of Gaithersburg, Maryland, says Independence Day symbolizes the right to choose her own religion and to practice her Mormon faith without persecution.
對其他美國人來說，7月4日也意味着一些無法在博物館裏展出的原則和理念。來自馬里蘭州蓋特斯堡的克莉斯汀.庫姆斯表示，獨立紀念日這一天象徵着她的摩門教信仰權利不再受到迫害。
“Freedom is everything in our country,” she says. “I think it’s what our country means. It’s what we stand for - the ability to choose. I really love my religion and it was important for me to be able to choose.”
她說：“在我們國家，自由是最重要的。我想這就是我們國家的意義所在。這也是我們所要捍衛的 -- 選擇的能力。我真的熱愛我的宗教，對我來說，能夠自由選擇我的宗教是非常重要的。”
Separation of church and state
Martin Hochhauser of Poughkeepsie, New York, also believes in freedom of religion, but he believes Americans must continue to be careful about separating religion from government - a tension reflected in current political debates.
來自紐約普吉普西的馬丁.霍克豪瑟則表示，宗教自由固然重要，但是美國人民也必須注意美國政壇目前有關政教分離原則的辯論。
“In New York, they just voted to let gay people get married and not to treat them as second class citizens,” he says. "But some religious groups are trying to say ‘It’s our country and the heck with every other religion and every other opinion but ours.’ That’s not right.”
他說：“在紐約，他們剛剛投票通過了同性戀婚姻合法化，不再以二等公民對待他們。但是有些宗教團體卻試圖表示，‘這是我們的國家，除了我們的觀點，其他人的觀點和宗教等等統統一邊去。’這是不對的。”
Ronnie Stephens of Jacksonville, Florida thinks Americans take many of their freedoms for granted.
來自佛羅里達州傑克森維爾的羅尼.史蒂芬斯說：“我想我們美國人對於我們所享有的自由已經視爲理所當然了。”
“I think it’s time that we need to just step back and reflect on how good we do have it no matter what your political affiliation is,” he says. “We can all come together and enjoy what we have here.”
他說：“我想，現在應該是我們好好回想一下，我們是如何的幸運，可以不論我們的政治立場都享有同樣的自由和權利。”
Milena Carothers, 14, expresses a sentiment shared by many Americans visiting the nation’s capital in the week leading up to the Fourth of July.
“I hope that the countries that are having troubles right now will be able to celebrate their own Fourth of July in the future and their own independence.”
觀光客米雷娜.卡羅斯說：“我希望那些現在仍不自由的國家的人民也能夠在將來有一天能夠慶祝他們自己的7月4號，慶祝他們自己的獨立紀念日。”
