雙語達人:美國人最驕傲的25件事
"I am an American ... and go at things as I have taught myself, free-style, and will make the record in my own way...." Saul Bellow's Augie March was speaking on behalf of the millions of Americans who have insisted on dictating the terms of engagement for their own lives. These hardy Americans -- both natives and newcomers -- have not relented to the powerful winds of history; they have fashioned their own destinies. These are the Americans that bounce back and bound forward. Indeed, they know the power of a comeback, which is the first item onFortune's fourth annual list of 100 great things about America. (We, meanwhile, are still going full speed toward our goal of compiling 1,000 marvelous things about the U.S. of A.) As we prepare for our July 4 holiday, we highlight those wonderful, unique people, places, products, and ideas that give American life its special spirit, or its moxie (No. 3). Feel free to add your own in the comments section.
“我是個美國人……我做事都是靠自學，風格自由，也將以我自己的方式做唱片……”這是索爾?貝婁筆下的奧吉?馬奇的臺詞，這也是數百萬美國人的心聲，他們堅持自己設定生活的條件。這些勇敢的美國人——包括土著和新移民——沒有向歷史的潮流屈服，而是自己塑造了自己的命運。他們在經歷挫折後重新振作、奮勇向前。他們懂得捲土重來的力量，這是《財富》（Fortune）第四年年度美國人最驕傲的100件事排行榜上的第一樁。（同時，我們仍全速朝着編纂美國人最驕傲的1000件事排行榜這個目標前進。）7月4日美國獨立日假期前夕，我們爲讀者呈現那些獨特且美好的人物、地點、產品以及創意，正是它們給了美國生活特有的精神，或者說活力（第3位）。歡迎大家在評論區寫下你心中的美國美事。This year's rules were the same as the previous years': only the living can make the cut, and no repeats from past installments. Many thanks go to this year's crop of Fortune interns for their help: Lily Cohen, Preston Cooper, Craig Giammona, Varun Nayar, Sameepa Shetty, Brandon Southward, and Andres Vaamonde.
今年的規則同往年一樣：只能提名在世者，而且不能與往年的榜單重複。非常感謝《財富》今年實習生的幫忙，他們是：莉莉?科恩、普雷斯頓?庫珀、克雷格?賈莫納、瓦倫?納亞、薩米帕?謝蒂、布蘭登?薩沃斯沃德以及安德烈斯?瓦芒德。Without further ado, and in no particular order, we give you this year's 100 great things about America.
言歸正傳，以下就是今年的美國人最驕傲的100件事排行榜，排名不分先後。
--Scott Olster, editor
——斯科特?歐斯勒，編輯1. Comebacks
1. 東山再起Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, Kobe Bryant, Arrested Development... Ours is a nation of second chances.
比爾?克林頓、泰格?伍茲、唐納德?特朗普、科比?布萊恩特、情景喜劇《發展受阻》（Arrested Development）……美利堅向來給人第二次機會。2. Wayfarer sunglasses
2. Wayfarer系列太陽鏡Immortalized by none other than James Dean, one of America's coolest rebels.
美國最酷的壞男孩詹姆斯?迪恩（50年代好萊塢演員，曾主演《伊甸之東》等電影——譯註）使Wayfarer系列太陽鏡成爲永恆的經典。3. Moxie
3. 活力Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Kaufman, Kanye West, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Don King, the list of American originals -- mavericks who have refused to entertain anything remotely close to the status quo -- goes on and on.
梅?韋斯特、瑪麗蓮?夢露、安迪?考夫曼、坎耶?韋斯特、麥當娜、蕾蒂嘎嘎、唐?金……美國具有原創精神的人物還有很多很多，他們特立獨行，致力於打破常規和現狀。4. Reality TV
4.電視真人秀From "This is Your Life" to "The Real World," "The Jersey Shore," and "Duck Dynasty," the genre displays Americans at their most heroic, narcisisstic, and human.
從《這就是你的生活》（This is Your Life）到《現實世界》（The Real World）、《澤西海岸》（The Jersey Shore）再到《鴨子王朝》（Duck Dynasty），真人秀節目展示了美國人最具英雄主義、個人主義和人文主義的一面。5. Annual presidential turkey pardon
5.每年的總統府火雞放生儀式Though many more end up on the end of a fork, at least one bird goes free every year.
雖然大部分火雞都上了人們的餐桌，但每年至少有一對火雞會獲得自由。6 Cracker Jack
6. 玉米花生糖With just one box, you won't care if you ever go back.
一盒在手，別無所求。7. Pixar
7.皮克斯Home to the world's most famous desk lamp.
世界上最著名的那盞檯燈就在這兒。8. The rule of law
8.法治Keeping us a nation of laws, not men.
我們是法治國家，不是烏合之衆。9. Tupperware
9.特百惠Path to economic opportunity for 1950s housewives. Path to longevity for millions of holiday leftovers.
上世紀50年代，特百惠（Tupperware）從家庭主婦身上抓住了商機。如今，它是大家外帶食品的首選。10. Open source/free software movement
10.開源/自有軟件運The dweebs were right: 90% of the Fortune 500 use Linux these days.
羣衆的眼睛是雪亮的：如今90%的《財富》（Fortune）500強企業在使用Linux。11. Las Vegas strip
11.拉斯維加斯之旅Because you are never too old to make bad choices.
不管你多麼老謀深算，在這裏都會栽跟頭。12. North Face fleece
h Face抓絨衣Makes camping -- and life in the Northwest -- that much more enjoyable.
讓我們外出露營、以及生活在寒冷地區更加便捷。13. Beyonce
13.碧昂絲The better half of America's favorite couple.
碧昂絲夫婦是美國人最喜歡的一對夫妻。14. The Liberty Bell
14.獨立鍾"Philadelphia freedom, shine on me."
“費城自由，照耀着我。”15. Wisconsin Cheeseheads
15.威斯康星奶酪大頭They love their team. And they love their state. And we all love their cheese.
他們熱愛家鄉的球隊，熱愛威斯康星。我們都大愛威斯康星奶酪。16. Maryland crab cakes
16.馬里蘭蟹餅Sure, you can eat crab in other coastal states -- but would you want to?
當然，在別的沿海城市你也能吃到螃蟹肉，但你願意嗎？17. Rap crews
17.說唱歌手The posse is an American tradition, from the Jesse James gang to Wu-Tang Clan.
他們無疑是美國傳統的象徵，他們的傑出代表包括傑西?詹姆斯和Wu-Tang Clan樂隊18. Garfield
18.加菲貓Sloth and gluttony in one cute calico package.
聰明的貓咪，天生懶惰與大胃王的合體。19. Niagara Falls
19. 尼亞加拉大瀑布Self-proclaimed honeymoon capital of the world. Also, an astounding natural wonder.
自詡爲全球蜜月聖地。當然，這也是自然界的一大奇蹟。20. Drive-thru
20.汽車餐廳Drive. Speak. Pay. Receive food. Laziness perfected.
停車、選餐、交錢、拿到食物。它們是懶人們的最愛。21. Betty White
21.貝蒂·懷特Blondes do have more fun.
金髮碧眼的美人的確能帶來更多快樂。22. Steve Carell as Michael Scott
22. 邁克爾·斯科特（史蒂夫·卡瑞爾所飾）He was so good, it hurt. That's what she said.
他好到讓人心痛。她曾這樣說。23. Air conditioning
23.空調Willis Carrier invented this magnificent foil to overheating. Yeah, we'd say he was a pretty cool guy.
威利斯·凱瑞發明了這種用於降溫的金屬箔片盒。我要說的是，凱瑞你真棒。24. Fast and Furious franchise
24.《速度與激情》系列Two-hour doses of half-sentences, ridiculous catchphrases, and explosions. Who could ask for anything more?
兩個半小時的緊張劇情、各種喜劇橋段，外加刺激的爆炸場面。難道這些還不夠嗎？25. Mel Brooks
25.梅爾·布魯克斯He gave us "The Producers," "Blazing Saddles," and "Young Frankenstein." Need we say more?
《發財妙計》、《神槍小子》、《新科學怪人》。還用我多說嗎？
