[转帖]一封信

snowplum

1994年11月，美国前总统里根写信对外公布他患上了老年痴呆症，这封信实际上成为他给所有美国人的告别信：

我亲爱的美国同胞们：

近期获知，我和数百万美国人一样，将受老年痴呆症折磨。

得到这个消息后，南希和我必须作出决定：作为美国公民个体，我们应该保留这一隐私，还是将之公布于众？

南希曾为乳癌困扰，我也接受过癌症治疗。我们在公开这些事件过程中发现，我们能够以此提高公众(对癌症)的关注意识。我们为许多人因为我们而前往医院接受检查感到高兴.他们的病症在早期就得到治疗，重返正常和健康生活。

现在，我们觉得很有必要把它和你们共享。通过打开心扉，我们希望这样能引起人们对老年痴呆症的更多关注。这么做可能会让人们更好的了解那些备受病症煎熬的家庭和个人。

现在，我感觉良好。我想要，度过上帝在这个世上留给我的余生，做我该做的事。我会继续和我深爱的南希和家人分享生活历程。我打算走到户外尽情享受生活，保持与朋友和我的支持者联络。

不幸的是，随着老年痴呆症病情恶化，整个家庭将承受巨大负担。我只希望，能有办法把南希从这种痛苦中解救出来。我相信，当最后期限来临时，南希会在你们的帮助下，坚定勇敢地面对。

最后，请让我对你们致谢。感谢美国人民给予我极大荣誉，让我担任你们的总统。当主向我召唤时，无论那是什么，我将把对我们国家的深爱和无尽乐观留给它的未来。

现在，我开始了旅程，它将把我带向生命日落。我知道，美国永远会有一个灿烂的黎明。
谢谢你们，我的朋友们。愿上帝永远保佑你们。

谨启　罗纳德·里根

以下是英文原版:

My fellow Americans, I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.

Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way. In the past, Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result, many more people underwent testing. They were treated in early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives.

So now we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.

At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this Earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life's journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.

Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes, I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.

In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.

I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.

Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan




<font size="1" color="#000066">[这个贴子最后由snowplum在 2004/06/07 04:47:56 编辑]</font>

kikico

有面对恶运时，有如此良好的心态很好呀

新之助cc

早上我刚看的新闻.....感觉挺可怕的!

zhongyi7336

这是一个有信仰的人写出的信。

qingfeng

也是一位豁达热爱生活有社会责任感的人写的信