这是李显龙总理今年的国庆献辞（中英对照），有兴趣的朋友，可以到 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ndp07/message.htm 这里观看四种官方语言（英语、中文、马来语、坦米尔语）版本的视频。
我最欣赏新加坡政府的一点，就是他们的发言与政策，总是实事求是，这篇演讲辞可谓最佳范本。除了鼓舞的话语，并不避讳论及政府与社会所面临的问题，实在太符合我这个典型天秤座的胃口了 -- 公平、正义。
这是我的第二个国庆日，在蜜雪家吃的火锅。
前一晚，我发神经跟莎莉猫说要庆祝，不如大伙儿来穿红衣好了。当天，出门前被熊猫大老爷气一个给忘了；走在路上收到莎莉猫的简讯，才记起来自己的这个馊主意 
蜜雪黑心肝地酸莎莉猫：你们干吗穿红衣？！他们新加坡人都不穿了 ~~~ 我看着喜气洋洋的莎莉猫和罗小杰，自己在一旁糗糗地大笑着。
跟娘报告这件糗事，娘说为什么红色？我们的红杉军吗？
说到红杉军，讲实在话，不提别的，就为了那点虚荣心，我真希望马英九能当选，因为台湾已经很久没有上得了台面的政治人物了，尽是一堆拐瓜劣枣，十分地伤眼。
听说今年陈水阿扁要庆祝外来政权（就是那个奸杀主人女儿、抢劫主人财产的可耻管家）的国庆日，来个所谓的国防表演，我很好奇结尾是不是依惯例呼口号（十分勉强、委屈地，毕竟是为了外来政权庆祝 ~）：blah blah blah 万岁！。。。这些在政坛打滚了那么久的人渣，什么时候才愿意拿出良心正视这个事实 --- 治理国家不是靠口号！
Very happy 42th birthday, my beloved Singapore！
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My fellow Singaporeans,
We celebrate National Day in a happy mood. It has been another good year for Singapore. Altogether now, we have had four good years of growth.
We have many things to cheer about:
a. Our athletes are winning medals
b. Our chefs are winning culinary contests
c. Our entrepreneurs are launching new businesses
d. Our students are excelling at all kinds of international events – robotic championships, choir festivals, debates, creative problem solving contests, and mathematics and science Olympiads
e. We are gearing up for new and exciting projects, like the Formula One Grand Prix and the Integrated Resorts
Economic growth in the first half of this year was 7.6%, higher than we had expected. For the whole year, MTI has raised its growth forecast to between 7 and 8%. The good news is that we have added 111,000 jobs in the first half – the highest number ever. Unemployment is very low, at 2.4%. Workers are enjoying good wage increases and higher bonuses because businesses are doing well.
Singapore is growing not just because of more investments or more workers. Our people are adapting and working smarter. We are organising ourselves more efficiently, and making better use of our resources. In short, we have increased our productivity. Our efforts to transform our economy are paying off. The global economy is continuing to change. If we keep on adapting and readapting to it, we can keep growing strongly for many more years.
Favourable Conditions Ahead
It has been ten years since the Asian financial crisis. Asia has progressed, and become more developed and dynamic. China and India are powering ahead, and Japan’s economy has revived. Southeast Asia is not without problems, but on the whole, it has regained its balance. High energy prices are benefiting energy-exporters like Malaysia and Indonesia, and the region is moving forward again. While the global financial markets have been choppy the last few days, the medium term fundamentals for Asia remain strong.
Singapore is at the heart of this rising Asia. We have many strengths to draw on:
a. A clean and corruption-free society;
b. Disciplined and well-educated workers;
c. A cohesive, multi-racial community;
d. A capable and vigilant SAF and Home Team.
Looking ahead, we are poised to take off. Many projects are already underway. In Marina South, we are building the integrated resort, the banking and financial centre, and soon the new botanic gardens. There is buzz and excitement in the air, as our city changes before our eyes day by day. Even the National Day Parade this year is different and exciting. For the first time, it will be held on water at Marina Bay. It will be on the largest floating stage in the world, with the new city skyline taking shape around us.
We are not just creating a new downtown, but building a first-class living environment for all Singaporeans. We are rejuvenating HDB estates where our people live, and linking the estates to parks and waterways. We are connecting the whole island with high-quality public transport, and every home with high-speed internet. All this will enhance the value of your homes, and draw our community closer together.
Within a decade, our city and our whole country will be completely transformed. The world is taking notice. It will be a new Singapore, but with our own unique identity, and the can-do and never-say-die spirit of the Lion City.
Widening Income Gap
Yet, as we build this nation together, we face one major challenge to our social harmony and national cohesion. Income gaps are widening – here, and all over the world. With globalisation, hundreds of millions of unskilled workers are joining the global economy. They are pushing down wages at the lower end. Rapidly changing technology is also making jobs more complex. People with skills and high ability are in growing demand, and being paid more.
We cannot stop or reverse this global trend. But we can do a lot to help Singaporeans cope with it. We want everybody to benefit from Singapore’s success.
Our basic approach is to grow the economic pie. When companies expand, there will be more and better jobs for everyone. We will have the resources to maximise opportunities for all. We can give every child many chances to do the best for himself in life. We can also help every household to own a home of their own – in fact, our HDB home ownership programme is the best form of social welfare for Singaporeans.
We are strengthening our social safety nets. Programmes like ComCare and Workfare help the lower-income families. More importantly, we are helping them and their children to break out of poverty, through education and training. So we are creating excellent learning environments in every neighbourhood school, and not just a few top schools. And we are helping low-wage workers to learn new skills, become more employable, and do better.
One reason our income gap is widening is our ageing population. Singaporeans are living longer than ever. We must help our elderly live comfortably by keeping medical care affordable, making our city barrier-free, and our public transport wheelchair friendly. Those with enough savings will feel secure about their future. But workers who retire too early may not have enough savings for their old age. I know many older Singaporeans worry about whether they can make ends meet. We are making changes to help you to work longer, earn more and build up your retirement savings. We will enhance the value of your HDB homes, which are a nest-egg for old age. We will improve the CPF scheme, so that you can enjoy a steady income and peace of mind in your golden years.
The Government cannot solve all these problems alone. Everyone must play a part. We each must take responsibility for ourselves, make the effort to do well, and provide for our families and our old age. At the same time, the more successful Singaporeans must pitch in to help the weaker ones. The more you have gained from society, the greater your obligation to give back something to your fellow citizens. Let your giving come from the heart. Many Singaporeans have done so quietly. To grow as a nation, we need to be compassionate as well as competitive. As we spur one another on to perform and excel, we must also work together and care for those in need.
Confident about the Future
We will tackle these issues one by one, and deal with all the problems that are bound to come in this uncertain world. But we have every reason to be confident about our future. The global backdrop is favourable. The winds and tides are with us. Our spirit is high, and our ship is ready.
My fellow Singaporeans, let’s seize the moment to sail ahead, into the bright and exciting future that we can already see. Together, let’s transform Singapore, and make this a special home for every one of us.
I wish all Singaporeans a very Happy National Day.
中译：
我们以愉快的心情庆祝国庆日。我们又渡过了一个好年头.，我们已经一连四年取得良好的增长。
我们有很多值得庆祝的成就：
a 我们的运动员在国际比赛中夺得奖牌
b 我们的厨艺专家也赢得几个国际大奖
c 我们的企业家开发了不少新业务
d 我们的学生在各种国际比赛中脱颖而出，包括机器人比赛、合唱艺术节、辩论比赛、创意问题解答比赛，以及《科学与数学奥林匹克比赛》
e 我们也准备迎接多个令人振奋的新发展，包括一级方程式赛车和综合娱乐胜地
我国经济在今年上半年取得百分之 7.6 的增长，比预期的高。贸工部将全年的增长预测调高到百分之 7 到百分之 8 之间。令人鼓舞的是，今年上半年增添了 11 万 1000 个新的工作职位，创下全新的纪录。我们的失业率很低，只有百分之 2.4。公司的业绩蒸蒸日上，工友也享受到更高的加薪和更多的花红。
新加坡能够不断增长，不仅是因为投资或者工人越来越多，也是因为新加坡人适应得快，越来越机敏，也更有组织的效率，更善于利用资源。也就是说，我们的生产力提高了，我们重组经济的努力奏效了。世界经济推陈出新，如果我们随时应变，就能够取得长期和良好的经济增长。
亚洲摆脱了十年前的那场金融危机，展现了新的气象，也比以前更进步，更有活力。中国和印度冲劲十足，发展神速。日本经济也开始复苏，东南亚国家还面对一些问题，但是整体来说，这个区域恢复了稳定。石油价格高涨，带动了马来西亚和印尼等能源输出国的经济。东南亚正在加速增长。虽然最近国际金融市场的波动很大，但是亚洲的中期增长条件仍然良好。
亚洲正在腾飞，新加坡也一样。我们具备很多优势：
a 廉洁和讲求效率的社会
b 有纪律和受过良好教育的工人
c 团结和谐的多元种族社会
d 优秀和机警的武装部队和内政团队
展望未来，新加坡将更蓬勃。我们落实了多项改革计划，滨海南在大兴土木，正在兴建综合度假胜地、商业城，以及快要动工的濒水花园。我们的城市天天在变，变得越来越热闹和有朝气。就连今年的国庆庆典也很别致，很精彩。我们第一次在滨海湾的海面上庆祝国庆，依靠的是一个世界最大的浮动舞台，环绕着舞台的是美丽的、逐渐成型的城市风景线。
我们不仅是打造一个崭新的市中心，我们也将为所有新加坡人创造一流的生活环境。组屋区是老百姓居住的地方，我们将全面翻新组屋区，将组屋区跟全岛各处的公园和水道连贯起来。我们也正在建造贯穿全岛的高素质的公共交通系统，同时为每个家庭铺设宽频网络。这些措施将增加组屋的价值，并且鼓励人们互相往来，增进感情。
十年后，我们这座城市，我们这个国家，必将脱胎换骨，面貌一新。我们的改变已经引起世人的注意。很快的，我们拥有的将是个新的新加坡。不过，这个新加坡仍将保留自己的特色，仍将拥有狮城人民那种不怕艰辛、永不退缩的精神。
正当大家为国家的前途尽一份力的时候，我们也面对一大挑战。收入差距的扩大，影响到社会的和谐以及国家的团结。这是各国都面对的问题，全球化的趋势是其中一个原因.。近年来，国际市场增添的非熟练工人，多达几亿人，这导致全球低薪工人的收入停滞不前。除了这个原因，科技的突飞猛进，也使工作变得更复杂。结果，训练有素和才干杰出的人，供不应求，他们的收入水涨船高。
我们无法扭转世界大局。不过，我们可以向受到影响的人提供各种帮助，让人人分享到国家成功的果实。
我们的基本对策是促进经济的发展。当企业扩展业务，国人就有更多更好的就业机会，我们也将有更多资源为全体人民创造机会。我们能够为年轻一代带来许多发挥所长、提升生活的机会，也能够协助每个家庭拥有组屋。实际上，居者有其屋计划，是新加坡人享有的最好的社会福利政策。
我们将加强社会安全网。譬如说，我们成立了《社区关怀基金》，也实施了就业奖励计划，以帮助较低收入的家庭。更重要的是，我们要通过教育帮助他们的孩子脱离困境。基于此，我们将在各个邻里学校创造优良的学习环境，而不只是照顾几所顶尖学校。我们也帮助低技术工友掌握新技能，改善他们的就业机会，提高他们的收入。
新加坡人收入差距扩大，也跟人口老化有关。.政府正在处理各种跟人口老化相关的问题。包括提供人们负担得起的医药服务，使新加坡成为无行动障碍的城市，以及让坐轮椅的人也能使用公共交通。不过，老年人的经济状况，是最为关键的问题。到了退休年龄的人，如果储蓄不足，晚年的生活会有问题。我知道许多老年人担心这个问题，我们将进行一些调整，帮助你们延迟退休、提高收入，累积更多公积金，以及增加你们的组屋的价值，使组屋成为人们晚年的一种生活保障。此外，我们也将改善公积金制度，为人们带来稳定的经济来源，让乐龄人士安享晚年。
然而，政府无法解决这所有的问题。个人也应该尽一份力，发挥自力更生的精神，尽力照顾家人的生活，也为自己的晚年生活做好准备。与此同时，较成功的人应该发挥扶贫助弱的精神。你从社会中获得越多，就越有责任回报社会，帮助同胞。我希望大家发挥爱心，以助人为乐。我知道很多人在默默地行善。我们互相竞争，但是也应该互相关怀。唯有这样，我们才能保持团结。我们应该互相激励，以争取最好的表现。然而，我们也应该齐心协力，向较不幸的同胞伸出援手。
我们将逐步解决刚才提到的各种问题。国际局势充满变数，我们将随机应变，以克服预想不到的困难。尽管问题很多，我们很有理由对国家的前途充满信心。全球的环境对我们有利，可谓风调雨顺。我们士气高昂，而且随时准备扬帆出航，乘风破浪。
亲爱的同胞，让我们抓紧时机，加一把劲，以保持领先，以争取眼前灿烂美好的未来。让我们一起努力重新打造新加坡，使它成为我们独一无二的家园。
我祝全体同胞国庆日快乐！
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