第一篇:王霄推薦奧巴馬開學(xué)講話
王霄推薦:奧巴馬開學(xué)講話
王霄按:前不久“胡爺爺”很罕見地在中南海的紅墻內(nèi)接見了一批美國(guó)的中學(xué)生,其時(shí)和其后的際遇讓美國(guó)小朋友們很困惑和驚訝(見選網(wǎng)《見胡爺爺?shù)睦Щ蠛腕@訝》)。我想到前不久看到的一個(gè)美國(guó)奧巴馬總統(tǒng)兩年前在一個(gè)美國(guó)中學(xué)開學(xué)典禮上的講話的視頻,想將它介紹給朋友。好在網(wǎng)上已經(jīng)有這個(gè)講話的文字記錄。另,奧巴馬是每年秋季開學(xué)都要去一個(gè)中學(xué)發(fā)表演說的。對(duì)于他這個(gè)舉動(dòng)竟然引起了許多美國(guó)學(xué)生家長(zhǎng)的不滿,認(rèn)為他可能會(huì)給學(xué)生灌輸政治。好在經(jīng)過投票,去年奧巴馬要去的那個(gè)中學(xué)的大多數(shù)學(xué)生家長(zhǎng)還是歡迎總統(tǒng)來為自己的孩子以及全國(guó)學(xué)生講話的。去年奧巴馬的那個(gè)講話也很有名,他提出了中國(guó)和印度的學(xué)生的學(xué)習(xí)精神和成績(jī)超過了美國(guó),要求美國(guó)的中學(xué)生們更加努力。
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嗨,大家好!你們今天過得怎么樣?我現(xiàn)在和弗吉尼亞州阿林頓郡韋克菲爾德高中的學(xué)生們?cè)谝黄?,全?guó)各地也有從幼兒園到高三的眾多學(xué)生們通過電視關(guān)注這里,我很高興你們能共同分享這一時(shí)刻。
我知道,對(duì)你們中的許多人來說,今天是開學(xué)的第一天,你們中的有一些剛剛進(jìn)入幼兒園或升上初高中,對(duì)你們來說,這是在新學(xué)校的第一天,因此,假如你們感到有些緊張,那也是很正常的。我想也會(huì)有許多畢業(yè)班的學(xué)生們正自信滿滿地準(zhǔn)備最后一年的沖刺。不過,我想無論你有多大、在讀哪個(gè)年級(jí),許多人都打心底里希望現(xiàn)在還在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。
我可以理解這份心情。小時(shí)候,我們家在印度尼西亞住過幾年,而我媽媽沒錢送我去其他美國(guó)孩子們上學(xué)的地方去讀書,因此她決定自己給我上課——時(shí)間是每周一到周五的凌晨4點(diǎn)半。
顯然,我不怎么喜歡那么早就爬起來,很多時(shí)候,我就這么在廚房的桌子前睡著了。每當(dāng)我埋怨的時(shí)候,我媽總會(huì)用同一副表情看著我說:“小鬼,你以為教你我就很輕松?”所以,我可以理解你們中的許多人對(duì)于開學(xué)還需要時(shí)間來調(diào)整和適應(yīng),但今天我站在這里,是為了和你們談一些重要的事情。我要和你們談一談你們每個(gè)人的教育,以及在新的學(xué)年里,你們應(yīng)當(dāng)做些什么。
我做過許多關(guān)于教育的講話,也常常用到“責(zé)任”這個(gè)詞。
我談到過教師們有責(zé)任激勵(lì)和啟迪你們,督促你們學(xué)習(xí)。
我談到過家長(zhǎng)們有責(zé)任看管你們認(rèn)真學(xué)習(xí)、完成作業(yè),不要成天只會(huì)看電視或打游戲機(jī)。我也很多次談到過政府有責(zé)任設(shè)定高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)嚴(yán)要求、協(xié)助老師和校長(zhǎng)們的工作,改變?cè)谟行W(xué)校里學(xué)生得不到應(yīng)有的學(xué)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì)的現(xiàn)狀。
但哪怕這一切都達(dá)到最好,哪怕我們有最盡職的教師、最好的家長(zhǎng)和最優(yōu)秀的學(xué)校,假如你們不去履行自己的責(zé)任的話,那么這一切努力都會(huì)白費(fèi)——除非你每天準(zhǔn)時(shí)去上學(xué),除非你認(rèn)真地聽老師講課,除非你把父母、長(zhǎng)輩和其他大人們說的話放在心上,除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否則這一切都會(huì)失去意義。
而這就是我今天講話的主題:對(duì)于自己的教育——你們中每一個(gè)人的責(zé)任。首先,我想談?wù)勀銈儗?duì)于自己有什么責(zé)任。
你們中的每一個(gè)人都會(huì)有自己擅長(zhǎng)的東西,每一個(gè)人都是有用之材,而發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能是什么,就是你們要對(duì)自己擔(dān)起的責(zé)任。教育給你們提供了發(fā)現(xiàn)自己才能的機(jī)會(huì)。
或許你能寫出優(yōu)美的文字——甚至有一天能讓那些文字出現(xiàn)在書籍和報(bào)刊上——但假如不在英語(yǔ)課上經(jīng)常練習(xí)寫作,你不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一個(gè)發(fā)明家、創(chuàng)造家——甚至設(shè)計(jì)出像今天的iPhone一樣流行的產(chǎn)品,或研制出新的藥物與疫苗——但假如不在自然科學(xué)課程上做上幾次實(shí)驗(yàn),你不會(huì)知道自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一名議員或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么學(xué)生會(huì)或參加幾次辯論賽,你也不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能。
而且,我可以向你保證,不管你將來想要做什么,你都需要相應(yīng)的教育。你想當(dāng)名醫(yī)生,當(dāng)名教師或當(dāng)名警官?你想成為護(hù)士,成為建筑設(shè)計(jì)師、律師或軍人?無論你選擇哪一種職業(yè),良好的教育都必不可少,這世上不存在不把書念完就能拿到好工作的美夢(mèng),任何工作,都需要你的汗水、訓(xùn)練與學(xué)習(xí)。
不僅僅對(duì)于你們個(gè)人的未來有重要意義,你們的教育如何也會(huì)對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家、乃至世界的未來產(chǎn)生重要影響。今天你們?cè)趯W(xué)校中學(xué)習(xí)的內(nèi)容,將會(huì)決定我們整個(gè)國(guó)家在未來迎接重大挑戰(zhàn)時(shí)的表現(xiàn)。
你們需要在數(shù)理科學(xué)課程上學(xué)習(xí)的知識(shí)和技能,去治療癌癥、艾滋那樣的疾病,和解決我們面臨的能源問題與環(huán)境問題;你們需要在歷史社科課程上培養(yǎng)出的觀察力與判斷力,來減輕和消除無家可歸與貧困、犯罪問題和各種歧視,讓這個(gè)國(guó)家變得更加公平和自由;你們需要在各類課程中逐漸累積和發(fā)展出來的創(chuàng)新意識(shí)和思維,去創(chuàng)業(yè)和建立新的公司與企業(yè),來制造就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì)和推動(dòng)經(jīng)濟(jì)的增長(zhǎng)。
我們需要你們中的每一個(gè)人都培養(yǎng)和發(fā)展自己的天賦、技能和才智,來解決我們所面對(duì)的最困難的問題。假如你不這么做——假如你放棄學(xué)習(xí)——那么你不僅是放棄了自己,也是放棄了你的國(guó)家。
當(dāng)然,我明白,讀好書并不總是件容易的事。我知道你們中的許多人在生活中面臨著各種各樣的問題,很難把精力集中在專心讀書之上。
我知道你們的感受。我父親在我兩歲時(shí)就離開了家庭,是母親一人將我們拉扯大,有時(shí)她付不起帳單,有時(shí)我們得不到其他孩子們都有的東西,有時(shí)我會(huì)想,假如父親在該多好,有時(shí)我會(huì)感到孤獨(dú)無助,與周圍的環(huán)境格格不入。
因此我并不總是能專心學(xué)習(xí),我做過許多自己覺得丟臉的事情,也惹出過許多不該惹的麻煩。我的生活岌岌可危,隨時(shí)可能急轉(zhuǎn)直下。
但我很幸運(yùn)。我在許多事上都得到了重來的機(jī)會(huì),我得到了去大學(xué)讀法學(xué)院、實(shí)現(xiàn)自己夢(mèng)想的機(jī)會(huì)。我的妻子——現(xiàn)在得叫她第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬了——也有著相似的人生故事,她的父母都沒讀過大學(xué),也沒有什么財(cái)產(chǎn),但他們和她都辛勤工作,好讓她有機(jī)會(huì)去這個(gè)國(guó)家最優(yōu)秀的學(xué)校讀書。
你們中有些人可能沒有這些有利條件,或許你的生活中沒有能為你提供幫助和支持的長(zhǎng)輩,或許你的某個(gè)家長(zhǎng)沒有工作、經(jīng)濟(jì)拮據(jù),或許你住的社區(qū)不那么安全,或許你認(rèn)識(shí)一些會(huì)對(duì)你產(chǎn)生不良影響的朋友,等等。
但歸根結(jié)底,你的生活狀況——你的長(zhǎng)相、出身、經(jīng)濟(jì)條件、家庭氛圍——都不是疏忽學(xué)業(yè)和態(tài)度惡劣的借口,這些不是你去跟老師頂嘴、逃課、或是輟學(xué)的借口,這些不是你不好好讀書的借口。
你的未來,并不取決于你現(xiàn)在的生活有多好或多壞。沒有人為你編排好你的命運(yùn),在美國(guó),你的命運(yùn)由你自己書寫,你的未來由你自己掌握。
而在這片土地上的每個(gè)地方,千千萬萬和你一樣的年輕人正是這樣在書寫著自己的命運(yùn)。
例如德克薩斯州羅馬市的賈斯敏·佩雷茲(Jazmin Perez)。剛進(jìn)學(xué)校時(shí),她根本不會(huì)說英語(yǔ),她住的地方幾乎沒人上過大學(xué),她的父母也沒有受過高等教育,但她努力學(xué)習(xí),取得了優(yōu)異的成績(jī),靠獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金進(jìn)入了布朗大學(xué),如今正在攻讀公共衛(wèi)生專業(yè)的博士學(xué)位。
我還想起了加利福尼亞州洛斯拉圖斯市的安多尼·舒爾茲(Andoni Schultz),他從三歲起就開始與腦癌病魔做斗爭(zhēng),他熬過了一次次治療與手術(shù)——其中一次影響了他的記憶,因此他得花出比常人多幾百個(gè)小時(shí)的時(shí)間來完成學(xué)業(yè),但他從不曾落下自己的功課。這個(gè)秋天,他要開始在大學(xué)讀書了。
又比如在我的家鄉(xiāng),伊利諾斯州芝加哥市,身為孤兒的香特爾·史蒂夫(Shantell Steve)換過多次收養(yǎng)家庭,從小在治安很差的地區(qū)長(zhǎng)大,但她努力爭(zhēng)取到了在當(dāng)?shù)乇=≌竟ぷ鞯臋C(jī)會(huì)、發(fā)起了一個(gè)讓青少年遠(yuǎn)離犯罪團(tuán)伙的項(xiàng)目。很快,她也將以優(yōu)異的成績(jī)從中學(xué)畢業(yè),去大學(xué)深造。
賈斯敏、安多尼和香特爾與你們并沒有什么不同。和你們一樣,他們也在生活中遭遇各種各樣的困難與問題,但他們拒絕放棄,他們選擇為自己的教育擔(dān)起責(zé)任、給自己定下奮斗的目標(biāo)。我希望你們中的每一個(gè)人,都能做得到這些。
因此,在今天,我號(hào)召你們每一個(gè)人都為自己的教育定下一個(gè)目標(biāo)——并在之后,盡自己的一切努力去實(shí)現(xiàn)它。你的目標(biāo)可以很簡(jiǎn)單,像是完成作業(yè)、認(rèn)真聽講或每天閱讀。或許你打算參加一些課外活動(dòng),或在社區(qū)做些志愿工作;或許你決定為那些因?yàn)殚L(zhǎng)相或出身等等原因而受嘲弄或欺負(fù)的孩子做主、維護(hù)他們的權(quán)益,因?yàn)槟愫臀乙粯?,認(rèn)為每個(gè)孩子都應(yīng)該能有一個(gè)安全的學(xué)習(xí)環(huán)境;或許你認(rèn)為該學(xué)著更好的照顧自己,來為將來的學(xué)習(xí)做準(zhǔn)備??當(dāng)然,除此之外,我希望你們都多多洗手、感到身體不舒服的時(shí)候要多在家休息,免得大家在秋冬感冒高發(fā)季節(jié)都得流感。
不管你決定做什么,我都希望你能堅(jiān)持到底,希望你能真的下定決心。
我知道有些時(shí)候,電視上播放的節(jié)目會(huì)讓你產(chǎn)生這樣那樣的錯(cuò)覺,似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰纏萬貫、功成名就——你會(huì)認(rèn)為只要會(huì)唱rap、會(huì)打籃球或參加個(gè)什么真人秀節(jié)目就能坐享其成,但現(xiàn)實(shí)是,你幾乎沒有可能走上其中任何一條道路。
因?yàn)?,成功是件難事。你不可能對(duì)要讀的每門課程都興趣盎然,你不可能和每名帶課教師都相處順利,你也不可能每次都遇上看起來和現(xiàn)實(shí)生活有關(guān)的作業(yè)。而且,并不是每件事,你都能在頭一次嘗試時(shí)獲得成功。
但那沒有關(guān)系。因?yàn)樵谶@個(gè)世界上,最最成功的人們往往也經(jīng)歷過最多的失敗。J.K.羅琳的第一本《哈利·波特》被出版商拒絕了十二次才最終出版;邁克爾·喬丹上高中時(shí)被學(xué)校的籃球隊(duì)刷了下來,在他的職業(yè)生涯里,他輸了幾百場(chǎng)比賽、投失過幾千次射籃,知道他是怎么說的嗎?“我一生不停地失敗、失敗再失敗,這就是我現(xiàn)在成功的原因?!?/p>
他們的成功,源于他們明白人不能讓失敗左右自己,而是要從中吸取經(jīng)驗(yàn)。從失敗中,你可以明白下一次自己可以做出怎樣的改變;假如你惹了什么麻煩,那并不說明你就是個(gè)搗蛋鬼,而是在提醒你,在將來要對(duì)自己有更嚴(yán)格的要求;假如你考了個(gè)低分,那并不說明你就比別人笨,而是在告訴你,自己得在學(xué)習(xí)上花更多的時(shí)間。
沒有哪一個(gè)人一生出來就擅長(zhǎng)做什么事情的,只有努力才能培養(yǎng)出技能。任何人都不是在第一次接觸一項(xiàng)體育運(yùn)動(dòng)時(shí)就成為校隊(duì)的代表,任何人都不是在第一次唱一首歌時(shí)就找準(zhǔn)每一個(gè)音,一切都需要熟能生巧。對(duì)于學(xué)業(yè)也是一樣,你或許要反復(fù)運(yùn)算才能解出一道數(shù)學(xué)題的正確答案,你或許需要讀一段文字好幾遍才能理解它的意思,你或許得把論文改上好幾次才能符合提交的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。這都是很正常的。
不要害怕提問。不要不敢向他人求助——我每天都在這么做。求助并不是軟弱的表現(xiàn),恰恰相反,它說明你有勇氣承認(rèn)自己的不足,并愿意去學(xué)習(xí)新的知識(shí)。所以,有不懂時(shí),就向大人們求助吧——找個(gè)你信得過的對(duì)象,例如父母、長(zhǎng)輩、老師、教練或輔導(dǎo)員——讓他們幫助你向目標(biāo)前進(jìn)。
你要記住,哪怕你表現(xiàn)不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你覺得身邊的人都已經(jīng)放棄了你——永遠(yuǎn)不要自己放棄自己。因?yàn)楫?dāng)你放棄自己的時(shí)候,你也放棄了自己的國(guó)家。
美國(guó)不是一個(gè)人們?cè)庥隼щy就輕易放棄的國(guó)度。在這個(gè)國(guó)家,人們堅(jiān)持到底,人們加倍努力,為了他們所熱愛的國(guó)度,每一個(gè)人都盡著自己最大的努力,不會(huì)給自己留任何余地。250年前,有一群和你們一樣的學(xué)生,他們之后奮起努力,用一場(chǎng)革命最終造就了這個(gè)國(guó)家;75年前,有一群和你們一樣的學(xué)生,他們之后戰(zhàn)勝了大蕭條、贏得了二戰(zhàn);就在20年前,和你們一樣的學(xué)生們,他們后來創(chuàng)立了Google、Twitter和Facebook,改變了我們?nèi)伺c人之間溝通的方式。
因此,今天我想要問你們,你們會(huì)做出什么樣的貢獻(xiàn)?你們將解決什么樣的難題?你們能發(fā)現(xiàn)什么樣的事物?
二十、五十或百年之后,假如那時(shí)的美國(guó)總統(tǒng)也來做一次開學(xué)演講的話,他會(huì)怎樣描述你們對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家所做的一切?
你們的家長(zhǎng)、你們的老師和我,每一個(gè)人都在盡最大的努力,確保你們都能得到應(yīng)有的教育來回答這些問題。例如我正在努力為你們提供更安全的教室、更多的書籍、更先進(jìn)的設(shè)施與計(jì)算機(jī)。但你們也要擔(dān)起自己的責(zé)任。因此我要求你們?cè)诮衲昴軌蛘J(rèn)真起來,我要求你們盡心地去做自己著手的每一件事,我要求你們每一個(gè)人都有所成就。請(qǐng)不要讓我們失望——不要讓你的家人、你的國(guó)家和你自己失望。你們要成為我們驕傲,我知道,你們一定可以做到。
謝謝大家。上帝保佑你們,上帝保佑美國(guó)。
第二篇:奧巴馬講話
核安全峰會(huì)(Nuclear Security Summit)于4月13日上午在華盛頓舉行全體會(huì)議,美國(guó)總統(tǒng)奧巴馬在開幕式上致辭。
Remarks by President Obama at the Opening Plenary Session of the
Nuclear Security Summit Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.April 13, 2010 總統(tǒng)在核安全峰會(huì)全體會(huì)議開幕式上的講話 華盛頓哥倫比亞特區(qū) 華盛頓會(huì)議中心
2010年4月13日
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody.I'd like to get started.Let me begin by thanking all of you for your participation last night.I thought it was a very important discussion.總統(tǒng):各位早上好?,F(xiàn)在會(huì)議開始。首先感謝諸位參加昨晚的活動(dòng),我認(rèn)為我們進(jìn)行了非常重要的討論。
Before I begin, I want to take this moment once again to acknowledge the terrible tragedy that struck the Polish people this weekend.We are joined today by a distinguished delegation from Poland, led by Ambassador Kupiecki.Mr.Ambassador, all of us were shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of President Kaczynski, the First Lady, and so many distinguished civilian and military leaders from your country.This was a loss, not just for Poland, but for the world.在進(jìn)入會(huì)議程序之前,我想利用這一時(shí)刻再次就上個(gè)周末發(fā)生的悲慘事件向波蘭人民表示慰問。今天,由庫(kù)比?;↘upiecki)大使率領(lǐng)的尊貴的波蘭代表團(tuán)在此參加會(huì)議。大使先生,我們大家都為痛失卡欽斯基(Kaczynski)總統(tǒng)、第一夫人和貴國(guó)如此眾多的軍政領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人而深感震驚和哀傷。這不僅是波蘭的損失,也是世界的損失。
As a close friend and ally, the United States stands with Poland and Poles everywhere in these very difficult days.As an international community, I know that we will all rally around the Polish people, who have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout their history.So our
hearts go out to your people.Our thoughts and prayers are with them.We join them in this time of mourning.And so, if everybody is agreeable, I would like to ask for a moment of silence to show that solidarity and to honor those who were lost.在這些困難的日子里,美國(guó)作為親密的盟友與波蘭和全世界的波蘭人站在一起。作為國(guó)際大家庭,我知道我們大家都會(huì)團(tuán)結(jié)在波蘭人民的周圍,波蘭人民在其整個(gè)歷史中始終顯示出非凡的力量和堅(jiān)毅的精神。我們對(duì)貴國(guó)人民深表同情。我們與他們一道思念和祈禱。我們?cè)谶@一時(shí)刻與他們共同哀悼。為此,如果大家同意,我提議大家默哀片刻,以表示我們心心相連,并向遇難者表示敬意。(Pause for moment of silence.)(默哀)
Thank you.It is my privilege to welcome you to Washington and to formally convene this historic summit.We represent 47 nations from every region of the world, and I thank each of you for being here.This is an unprecedented gathering to address an unprecedented threat.謝謝。能夠在此歡迎你們來到華盛頓,正式舉行這個(gè)歷史性峰會(huì),我深感榮幸。我們代表了來自全世界各地區(qū)的47個(gè)國(guó)家,我感謝你們每一個(gè)人的光臨。這是一次為應(yīng)對(duì)前所未有的威脅而舉行的史無前例的會(huì)議。
Two decades after the end of the Cold War, we face a cruel irony of history--the risk of a nuclear confrontation between nations has gone down, but the risk of nuclear attack has gone up.在冷戰(zhàn)結(jié)束20年后,我們面對(duì)歷史的無情諷刺——國(guó)家之間發(fā)生核對(duì)抗的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)下降了,但核攻擊的危險(xiǎn)卻上升了。
Nuclear materials that could be sold or stolen and fashioned into a nuclear weapon exist in dozens of nations.Just the smallest amount of plutonium--about the size of an apple--could kill and injure hundreds of thousands of innocent people.Terrorist networks such as al Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon, and if they ever succeeded, they would surely use it.Were they to do so, it would be a catastrophe for the world--causing extraordinary loss of life, and striking a major blow to global peace and stability.可能被出售、盜竊和制成核武器的核材料存在于數(shù)十個(gè)國(guó)家。哪怕是最少量的钚——蘋果般大小的钚——都有可能造成數(shù)十萬無辜者的傷亡?!盎亍苯M織之類的恐怖網(wǎng)絡(luò)企圖獲取制造核武器的材料,他們一旦得逞,毫無疑問會(huì)使用這種武器。如果他們這么做,將給世界帶來巨大的災(zāi)難,造成生命的巨大損失,使世界和平與穩(wěn)定遭受重大的打擊。
In short, it is increasingly clear that the danger of nuclear terrorism is one of the greatest threats to global security--to our collective security.簡(jiǎn)言之,人們?cè)絹碓角宄乜吹?,核恐怖主義危險(xiǎn)構(gòu)成對(duì)全球安全,對(duì)我們的共同安全最重大的威脅之一。
And that's why, one year ago today in--one year ago in Prague, I called for a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years.This is one part of a broader, comprehensive agenda that the United States is pursuing--including reducing our nuclear arsenal and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons--an agenda that will bring us closer to our ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons.正是因?yàn)檫@個(gè)原因,一年前的今天——一年前我在布拉格呼吁國(guó)際社會(huì)作出新的努力,用四年時(shí)間確保世界各地所有易散失的核材料得到安全保障。這是美國(guó)正在尋求的、包括削減我們的核庫(kù)存和制止核擴(kuò)散在內(nèi)的、更廣泛更全面的議程的一個(gè)組成部分。該議程將使我們更接近一個(gè)沒有核武器的世界這一最終目標(biāo)。Over the past year, we've made progress.At the United Nations Security Council last fall, we unanimously passed Resolution 1887 endorsing this comprehensive agenda, including the goal of securing all nuclear materials.Last night, in closed session, I believe we made further progress, pursuing a shared understanding of the grave threat to our people.在過去一年中,我們已經(jīng)取得了進(jìn)展。去年秋季,在聯(lián)合國(guó)安理會(huì)的會(huì)議上,我們一致通過了第1887號(hào)決議,支持此一綜合性議程,包括保障全部核材料安全的目標(biāo)。我認(rèn)為,在昨晚的非公開會(huì)議中,我們努力嘗試就各國(guó)人民面臨的這一嚴(yán)重威脅達(dá)成共識(shí),取得了進(jìn)一步的進(jìn)展。
And today, we have the opportunity to take the next steps.今天,我們有機(jī)會(huì)來采取以后的步驟。
We have the opportunity, as individual nations, to take specific and concrete actions to secure the nuclear materials in our countries and to prevent illicit trafficking and smuggling.That will be our focus this morning.世界各國(guó)都有機(jī)會(huì)采取具體、切實(shí)的步驟來保障其國(guó)內(nèi)核材料的安全,防止非法販運(yùn)和走私,這將是我們今天上午討論的重點(diǎn)。
We have the opportunity to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, with the resources and authorities it needs to meet its responsibilities.That will be our focus at our working lunch.我們有機(jī)會(huì)給予國(guó)際原子能機(jī)構(gòu)(IAEA)履行其職責(zé)所需的更多資源和權(quán)力,以增強(qiáng)其功能,這將是我們工作午餐的主題。
We have the opportunity, as an international community, to deepen our cooperation and to strengthen the institutions and partnerships that help prevent nuclear materials from ever falling into the hands of terrorists.And that will be our focus this afternoon.國(guó)際社會(huì)有機(jī)會(huì)深化我們之間的合作并強(qiáng)化各種機(jī)制和伙伴關(guān)系,確保核材料永遠(yuǎn)不致落入恐怖分子之手,這將是我們今天下午討論的重點(diǎn)。
And we have the opportunity, as partners, to ensure that our progress is not a fleeting moment, but part of a serious and sustained effort.And that’s why I am so pleased to announce that President Lee has agreed to host the next Nuclear Security Summit in the Republic of Korea in two years.This reflects South Korea’s leadership, regionally and globally, and I thank President Lee and the South Korean people for their willingness to accept this responsibility.作為合作伙伴,我們都有機(jī)會(huì)參與,以保證我們所取得的進(jìn)展不是曇花一現(xiàn),而是一項(xiàng)認(rèn)真、持久的努力的一部分。因此,我很高興地在此宣布,李總統(tǒng)同意兩年后在大韓民國(guó)(Republic of Korea)主持下一屆核安全峰會(huì)。這項(xiàng)承諾體現(xiàn)了韓國(guó)在地區(qū)和全球事務(wù)中所發(fā)揮的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)作用。我感謝李總統(tǒng)和韓國(guó)人民樂于承擔(dān)這項(xiàng)責(zé)任。
I'd ask President Lee just to say a few words.
第三篇:奧巴馬開學(xué)演講稿
奧巴馬開學(xué)演講稿
首先,我想談?wù)勀銈儗?duì)于自己有什么責(zé)任。
你們中的每一個(gè)人都會(huì)有自己擅長(zhǎng)的東西,每一個(gè)人都是有用之材,而發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能是什么,就是你們要對(duì)自己擔(dān)起的責(zé)任。教育給你們提供了發(fā)現(xiàn)自己才能的機(jī)會(huì)?;蛟S你能寫出優(yōu)美的文字——甚至有一天能讓那些文字出現(xiàn)在書籍和報(bào)刊上——但假如不在英語(yǔ)課上經(jīng)常練習(xí)寫作,你不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一個(gè)發(fā)明家、創(chuàng)造家——甚至設(shè)計(jì)出像今天的iPhone一樣流行的產(chǎn)品,或研制出新的藥物與疫苗——但假如不在自然科學(xué)課程上做上幾次實(shí)驗(yàn),你不會(huì)知道自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一名議員或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么學(xué)生會(huì)或參加幾次辯論賽,你也不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能。
而且,我可以向你保證,不管你將來想要做什么,你都需要相應(yīng)的教育?!阆氘?dāng)名醫(yī)生、當(dāng)名教師或當(dāng)名警官?你想成為護(hù)士、成為建筑設(shè)計(jì)師、律師或軍人?無論你選擇哪一種職業(yè),良好的教育都必不可少,這世上不存在不把書念完就能拿到好工作的美夢(mèng),任何工作,都需要你的汗水、訓(xùn)練與學(xué)習(xí)。
第四篇:奧巴馬開學(xué)演講
2010年9月14日,奧巴馬來到位于賓州費(fèi)城的一所中學(xué)進(jìn)行了他第二次的中學(xué)演講。
他告訴學(xué)生,在政府做好本職工作,幫助學(xué)生獲得接受優(yōu)質(zhì)教育的機(jī)會(huì)的同時(shí),學(xué)生仍然應(yīng)該努力學(xué)習(xí),為自己的未來?yè)?dān)起責(zé)任。
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you!Hello!(Applause.)Thank you.Thank you.Well, hello, Philadelphia!(Applause.)And hello, Masterman.It is wonderful to see all of you.What a terrific introduction by Kelly.Give Kelly a big round of applause.(Applause.)I was saying backstage that when I was in high school, I could not have done that.(Laughter.)I would have muffed it up somehow.So we are so proud of you and everything that you’ve done.And to all the students here, I’m thrilled to be here.We’ve got a couple introductions I want to make.First of all, you’ve got the outstanding governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, in the house.(Applause.)The mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, is here.(Applause.)Congressman Chaka Fattah is here.(Applause.)Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is here.(Applause.)Your own principal, Marge Neff, is here.(Applause.)The school superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, is here and doing a great job.(Applause.)And the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is here.(Applause.)
And I am here.(Applause.)And I am thrilled to be here.I am just so excited.I’ve heard such great things about what all of you are doing, both the students and the teachers and the staff here.Today is about welcoming all of you, and all of America’s students, back to school, even though I know you’ve been in school for a little bit now.And I can’t think of a better place to do it than at Masterman.(Applause.)Because you are one of the best schools in Philadelphia.You are a leader in helping students succeed in the classroom.Just last week, you were recognized by a National Blue Ribbon--as a National Blue Ribbon School because of your record of achievement.And that is a testament to everybody here –-to the students, to the parents, to the teachers, to the school leaders.It’s an example of excellence that I hope communities across America can embrace.Over the past few weeks, Michelle and I have been getting Sasha and Malia ready for school.And they’re excited about it.I’ll bet they had the same feelings that you do--you’re a little sad to see the summer go, but you’re also excited about the possibilities of a new year.The possibilities of building new friendships and strengthening old ones, of joining a school club, or trying out for a team.The possibilities of growing into a better student and a better person and making not just your family proud but making yourself proud.But I know some of you may also be a little nervous about starting a new school year.Maybe you’re making the jump from elementary to middle school, or from middle school to high school, and you’re worried about what that’s going to be like.Maybe you’re starting a new school.You’re not sure how you’ll like it, trying to figure out how you’re going to fit in.Or maybe you’re a senior, and you’re anxious about the whole college process;about where to apply and whether you can afford to go to college.And beyond all those concerns, I know a lot of you are also feeling the strain of some difficult times.You know what’s going on in the news and you also know what’s going on in some of your own families.You’ve read about the war in Afghanistan.You hear about the recession that we’ve been through.And sometimes maybe you’re seeing the worries in your parents’ faces or sense it in their voice.So a lot of you as a consequence, because we’re going through a tough time a country, are having to act a lot older than you are.You got to be strong for your family while your brother or sister is serving overseas, or you’ve got to look after younger siblings while your mom is working that second shift.Or maybe some of you who are little bit older, you’re taking on a part-time job while your dad’s out of work.And that’s a lot to handle.It’s more than you should have to handle.And it may make you wonder at times what your own future will look like, whether you’re going to be able to succeed in school, whether you should maybe set your sights a little lower, scale back your dreams.But I came to Masterman to tell all of you what I think you’re hearing from your principal and your superintendent, and from your parents and your teachers: Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.And nothing--absolutely nothing--is beyond your reach, so long as you’re willing to dream big, so long as you’re willing to work hard.So long as you’re willing to stay focused on your education, there is not a single thing that any of you cannot accomplish, not a single thing.I believe that.And that last part is absolutely essential, that part about really working hard in school, because an education has never been more important than it is today.I’m sure there are going to be times in the months ahead when you’re staying up late doing your homework or cramming for a test, or you’re dragging yourself out of bed on a rainy morning and you’re thinking, oh, boy, I wish maybe it was a snow day.(Laughter.)
But let me tell you, what you’re doing is worth it.There is nothing more important than what you’re doing right now.Nothing is going to have as great an impact on your success in life as your education, how you’re doing in school.More and more, the kinds of opportunities that are open to you are going to be determined by how far you go in school.The farther you go in school, the farther you’re going to go in life.And at a time when other countries are competing with us like never before, when students around the world in Beijing, China, or Bangalore, India, are working harder than ever, and doing better than ever, your success in school is not just going to determine your success, it’s going to determine America’s success in the 21st century.So you’ve got an obligation to yourselves, and America has an obligation to you, to make sure you’re getting the best education possible.And making sure you get that kind of education is going to take all of us working hard and all of us working hand in hand.It takes all of us in government--from the governor to the mayor to the superintendent to the President--all of us doing our part to prepare our students, all of them, for success in the classroom and in college and in a career.It’s going to take an outstanding principal, like Principal Neff, and outstanding teachers like the ones you have here at Masterman--teachers who are going above and beyond the call of duty for their students.And it’s going to take parents who are committed to your education.Now, that’s what we have to do for you.That’s our responsibility.That’s our job.But you’ve got a job, too.You’ve got to show up to school on time.You’ve got to pay attention in your class.You’ve got to do your homework.You’ve got to study for exams.You’ve got to stay out of trouble.You’ve got to instill a sense of excellence in everything that you do.That kind of discipline, that kind of drive, that kind of hard work, is absolutely essential for success.And I can speak from experience here because unlike Kelly, I can’t say I always had this discipline.See, I can tell she was always disciplined.I wasn’t always disciplined.I wasn’t always the best student when I was younger.I made my share of mistakes.I still remember a conversation I had with my mother in high school.I was kind of a goof-off.And I was about the age of some of the folks here.And my grades were slipping.I hadn’t started my college applications.I was acting, as my mother put it, sort of casual about my future.I was doing good enough.I was smart enough that I could kind of get by.But I wasn’t really applying myself.And so I suspect this is a conversation that will sound familiar to some students and some parents here today.She decided to sit me down and said I had to change my attitude.My attitude was what I imagine every teenager’s attitude is when your parents have a conversation with you like that.I was like, you know, I don’t need to hear all this.I’m doing okay, I’m not flunking out.So I started to say that, and she just cut me right off.She said, you can’t just sit around waiting for luck to see you through.She said, you can get into any school you want in the country if you just put in a little bit of effort.She gave me a hard look and she said, you remember what that’s like? Effort?(Laughter.)Some of you have had that conversation.(Laughter.)And it was pretty jolting hearing my mother say that.But eventually her words had the intended effect, because I got serious about my studies.And I started to make an effort in everything that I did.And I began to see my grades and my prospects improve.And I know that if hard work could make the difference for me, then it can make a difference for all of you.And I know that there may be some people who are skeptical about that.Sometimes you may wonder if some people just aren’t better at certain things.You know, well, I’m not good at math or I’m just not really interested in my science classes.And it is true that we each have our own gifts, we each have our own talents that we have to discover and nurture.Not everybody is going to catch on in certain subjects as easily as others.But just because you’re not the best at something today doesn’t mean you can’t be tomorrow.Even if you don’t think of yourself as a math person or a science person, you can still excel in those subjects if you’re willing to make the effort.And you may find out you have talents you never dreamed of.Because one of the things I’ve discovered is excelling--whether it’s in school or in life--isn’t mainly about being smarter than everybody else.That’s not really the secret to success.It’s about working harder than everybody else.So don’t avoid new challenges--seek them out, step out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to ask for help.Your teachers and family are there to guide you.They want to know if you’re not catching on to something because they know that if you keep on working at it, you’re going to catch on.Don’t feel discouraged;don’t give up if you don’t succeed at something the first time.Try again, and learn from your mistakes.Don’t feel threatened if your friends are doing well;be proud of them, and see what lessons you can draw from what they’re doing right.Now, I’m sort of preaching to the choir here because I know that’s the kind of culture of excellence that you promote at Masterman.But I’m not just speaking to all of you, I’m speaking to kids all across the country.And I want them to all here that same message: That’s the kind of excellence we’ve got to promote in all of America’s schools.That’s one of the reasons why I’m announcing our second Commencement Challenge.Some of you may have heard of this.If your school is the winner, if you show us how teachers and students and parents are all working together to prepare your kids and your school for college and a career, if you show us how you’re giving back to your community and your country, then I will congratulate you in person by speaking at your commencement.Last year I was in Michigan at Kalamazoo and had just a wonderful time.Although I got to admit, their graduating class was about 700 kids and my hands were really sore at the end of it because I was shaking all of them.(Laughter.)
But the truth is, an education is about more than getting into a good college.It’s about more than getting a good job when you graduate.It’s about giving each and every one of us the chance to fulfill our promise, and to be the best version of ourselves we can be.And part of that means treating others the way we want to be treated--with kindness and respect.So that’s something else that I want to communicate to students not just here at Masterman but all across the country.Sometimes kids can be mean to other kids.Let’s face it.We don’t always treat each other with respect and kindness.That’s true for adults as well, by the way.And sometimes that’s especially true in middle school or high school, because being a teenager isn’t easy.It’s a time when you’re wrestling with a lot of things.When I was in my teens, I was wrestling with all sorts of questions about who I was.I had a white mother and a black father, and my father wasn’t around;he had left when I was two.And so there were all kinds of issues that I was dealing with.Some of you may be working through your own questions right now and coming to terms with what makes you different.And I know that figuring out all of that can be even more difficult when you’ve got bullies in a class who try to use those differences to pick on you or poke fun at you, to make you feel bad about yourself.And in some places, the problem is even more serious.There are neighborhoods in my hometown of Chicago, and there are neighborhoods right here in Philadelphia where kids are doing each other serious harm.So, what I want to say to every kid, every young person--what I want all of you--if you take away one thing from my speech, I want you to take away the notion that life is precious, and part of what makes it so wonderful is its diversity, that all of us are different.And we shouldn’t be embarrassed by the things that make us different.We should be proud of them, because it’s the thing that makes us different that makes us who we are, that makes us unique.And the strength and character of this country has always come from our ability to recognize--no matter who we are, no matter where we come from, no matter what we look like, no matter what abilities we have--to recognize ourselves in each other.I was reminded of that idea the other day when I read a letter from Tamerria Robinson.She’s a 12-year-old girl in Georgia.And she told me about how hard she works and about all the community service she does with her brother.And she wrote, “I try to achieve my dreams and help others do the same.” “That,” she said, “is how the world should work.” That’s a pretty good motto.I work hard to achieve my goals and then I try to help others to achieve their goals.And I agree with Tamerria.That’s how the world should work.But it’s only going to work that way if all of you get in good habits while you’re in school.So, yes, each of us need to work hard.We all have to take responsibilities for our own education.We need to take responsibility for our own lives.But what makes us who we are is that here, in this country, in the United States of America, we don’t just reach for our own dreams, we try to help others do the same.This is a country that gives all its daughters and all of its sons a fair chance, a chance to make the most of their lives and fulfill their God-given potential.And I’m absolutely confident that if all of our students--here at Masterman and across this country--keep doing their part, if you guys work hard and you’re focused on your education, you keep fighting for your dreams and then you help each other reach each other’s dreams, then you’re not only going to succeed this year, you’re going to succeed for the rest of your lives.And that means America will succeed in the 21st century.So my main message to all of you here today: I couldn’t be prouder of you.Keep it up.All of you I know are going to do great things in the future.And maybe some time in the 21st century, it’s going to be one of you that’s standing up here speaking to a group of kids as President of the United States.Thank you.God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.Thank you.(Applause.)
END 1:23 P.M.EDT
第五篇:奧巴馬開學(xué)演講稿
奧巴馬開學(xué)演講稿(中英對(duì)照)——我們?yōu)槭裁匆蠈W(xué)?
阿文弗吉尼亞州,阿林頓市,2009年9月8日
嗨,大家好!你們今天過得怎么樣?我現(xiàn)在和弗吉尼亞州阿林頓郡韋克菲爾德高中的學(xué)生們?cè)谝黄?,全?guó)各地也有從幼兒園到高三的眾多學(xué)生們通過電視關(guān)注這里,我很高興你們能共同分享這一時(shí)刻。我知道,對(duì)你們中的許多人來說,今天是開學(xué)的第一天,你們中的有一些剛剛進(jìn)入幼兒園或升上初高中,對(duì)你們來說,這是在新學(xué)校的第一天,因此,假如你們感到有些緊張,那也是很正常的。我想也會(huì)有許多畢業(yè)班的學(xué)生們正自信滿滿地準(zhǔn)備最后一年的沖刺。不過,我想無論你有多大、在讀哪個(gè)年級(jí),許多人都打心底里希望現(xiàn)在還在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。我可以理解這份心情。
小時(shí)候,我們家在印度尼西亞住過幾年,而我媽媽沒錢送我去其他美國(guó)孩子們上學(xué)的地方去讀書,因此她決定自己給我上課——時(shí)間是每周一到周五的凌晨4點(diǎn)半。顯然,我不怎么喜歡那么早就爬起來,很多時(shí)候,我就這么在廚房的桌子前睡著了。每當(dāng)我埋怨的時(shí)候,我媽總會(huì)用同一副表情看著我說:“小鬼,你以為教你我就很輕松?”所以,我可以理解你們中的許多人對(duì)于開學(xué)還需要時(shí)間來調(diào)整和適應(yīng),但今天我站在這里,是為了和你們談一些重要的事情。我要和你們談一談你們每個(gè)人的教育,以及在新的學(xué)年里,你們應(yīng)當(dāng)做些什么。我做過許多關(guān)于教育的講話,也常常用到“責(zé)任”這個(gè)詞。我談到過教師們有責(zé)任激勵(lì)和啟迪你們,督促你們學(xué)習(xí)。我談到過家長(zhǎng)們有責(zé)任看管你們認(rèn)真學(xué)習(xí)、完成作業(yè),不要成天只會(huì)看電視或打游戲機(jī)。我也很多次談到過政府有責(zé)任設(shè)定高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)嚴(yán)要求、協(xié)助老師和校長(zhǎng)們的工作,改變?cè)谟行W(xué)校里學(xué)生得不到應(yīng)有的學(xué)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì)的現(xiàn)狀。但哪怕這一切都達(dá)到最好,哪怕我們有最盡職的教師、最好的家長(zhǎng)、和最優(yōu)秀的學(xué)校,假如你們不去履行自己的責(zé)任的話,那么這一切努力都會(huì)白費(fèi)。——除非你每天準(zhǔn)時(shí)去上學(xué)、除非你認(rèn)真地聽老師講課、除非你把父母、長(zhǎng)輩和其他大人們說的話放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否則這一切都會(huì)失去意義。而這就是我今天講話的主題:對(duì)于自己的教育,你們中每一個(gè)人的責(zé)任。首先,我想談?wù)勀銈儗?duì)于自己有什么責(zé)任。你們中的每一個(gè)人都會(huì)有自己擅長(zhǎng)的東西,每一個(gè)人都是有用之材,而發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能是什么,就是你們要對(duì)自己擔(dān)起的責(zé)任。教育給你們提供了發(fā)現(xiàn)自己才能的機(jī)會(huì)?;蛟S你能寫出優(yōu)美的文字——甚至有一天能讓那些文字出現(xiàn)在書籍和報(bào)刊上——但假如不在英語(yǔ)課上經(jīng)常練習(xí)寫作,你不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一個(gè)發(fā)明家、創(chuàng)造家——甚至設(shè)計(jì)出像今天的iPhone一樣流行的產(chǎn)品,或研制出新的藥物與疫苗——但假如不在自然科學(xué)課程上做上幾次實(shí)驗(yàn),你不 1
會(huì)知道自己有這樣的天賦;或許你能成為一名議員或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么學(xué)生會(huì)或參加幾次辯論賽,你也不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的才能。而且,我可以向你保證,不管你將來想要做什么,你都需要相應(yīng)的教育?!阆氘?dāng)名醫(yī)生、當(dāng)名教師或當(dāng)名警官?你想成為護(hù)士、成為建筑設(shè)計(jì)師、律師或軍人?無論你選擇哪一種職業(yè),良好的教育都必不可少,這世上不存在不把書念完就能拿到好工作的美夢(mèng),任何工作,都需要你的汗水、訓(xùn)練與學(xué)習(xí)。不僅僅對(duì)于你們個(gè)人的未來有重要意義,你們的教育如何也會(huì)對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家、乃至世界的未來產(chǎn)生重要影響。今天你們?cè)趯W(xué)校中學(xué)習(xí)的內(nèi)容,將會(huì)決定我們整個(gè)國(guó)家在未來迎接重大挑戰(zhàn)時(shí)的表現(xiàn)。你們需要在數(shù)理科學(xué)課程上學(xué)習(xí)的知識(shí)和技能,去治療癌癥、艾滋那樣的疾病,和解決我們面臨的能源問題與環(huán)境問題;你們需要在歷史社科課程上培養(yǎng)出的觀察力與判斷力,來減輕和消除無家可歸與貧困、犯罪問題和各種歧視,讓這個(gè)國(guó)家變得更加公平和自由;你們需要在各類課程中逐漸累積和發(fā)展出來的創(chuàng)新意識(shí)和思維,去創(chuàng)業(yè)和建立新的公司與企業(yè),來制造就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì)和推動(dòng)經(jīng)濟(jì)的增長(zhǎng)。我們需要你們中的每一個(gè)人都培養(yǎng)和發(fā)展自己的天賦、技能和才智,來解決我們所面對(duì)的最困難的問題。假如你不這么做——假如你放棄學(xué)習(xí)——那么你不僅是放棄了自己,也是放棄了你的國(guó)家。
當(dāng)然,我明白,讀好書并不總是件容易的事。我知道你們中的許多人在生活中面臨著各種各樣的問題,很難把精力集中在專心讀書之上。我知道你們的感受。我父親在我兩歲時(shí)就離開了家庭,是母親一人將我們拉扯大,有時(shí)她付不起帳單,有時(shí)我們得不到其他孩子們都有的東西,有時(shí)我會(huì)想,假如父親在該多好,有時(shí)我會(huì)感到孤獨(dú)無助,與周圍的環(huán)境格格不入。因此我并不總是能專心學(xué)習(xí),我做過許多自己覺得丟臉的事情,也惹出過許多不該惹的麻煩,我的生活岌岌可危,隨時(shí)可能急轉(zhuǎn)直下。但我很幸運(yùn)。我在許多事上都得到了重來的機(jī)會(huì),我得到了去大學(xué)讀法學(xué)院、實(shí)現(xiàn)自己夢(mèng)想的機(jī)會(huì)。我的妻子——現(xiàn)在得叫她第一夫人米歇爾?奧巴馬了——也有著相似的人生故事,她的父母都沒讀過大學(xué),也沒有什么財(cái)產(chǎn),但他們和她都辛勤工作,好讓她有機(jī)會(huì)去這個(gè)國(guó)家最優(yōu)秀的學(xué)校讀書。你們中有些人可能沒有這些有利條件,或許你的生活中沒有能為你提供幫助和支持的長(zhǎng)輩,或許你的某個(gè)家長(zhǎng)沒有工作、經(jīng)濟(jì)拮據(jù),或許你住的社區(qū)不那么安全,或許你認(rèn)識(shí)一些會(huì)對(duì)你產(chǎn)生不良影響的朋友,等等。但歸根結(jié)底,你的生活狀況——你的長(zhǎng)相、出身、經(jīng)濟(jì)條件、家庭氛圍——都不是疏忽學(xué)業(yè)和態(tài)度惡劣的借口,這些不是你去跟老師頂嘴、逃課、或是輟學(xué)的借口,這些不是你不好好讀書的借口。
你的未來,并不取決于你現(xiàn)在的生活有多好或多壞。沒有人為你編排好你的命運(yùn),在美國(guó),你的命運(yùn)由你自己書寫,你的未來由你自己掌握。而在這片土地上的每個(gè)地方,千千萬萬和你一樣的年輕人正是這樣在書寫著自己的命運(yùn)。例如德克薩斯州羅馬市的賈斯敏?佩雷茲(Jazmin Perez)。剛進(jìn)學(xué)校時(shí),她根本不會(huì)說英語(yǔ),她住的地方幾乎沒人上過大學(xué),她的父母也沒有受過高等教育,但她努力學(xué)習(xí),取得了優(yōu)異的成績(jī),靠獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金進(jìn)入了布朗大學(xué),如今正在攻讀公共衛(wèi)生專業(yè)的博士學(xué)位。我還想起了加利福尼亞州洛斯拉圖斯市的安多尼?舒爾茲(Andoni Schultz),他從三歲起就開始與腦癌病魔做斗爭(zhēng),他熬過了一次次治療與手術(shù)——其中一次影響了他的記憶,因此他得花出比常人多幾百個(gè)小時(shí)的時(shí)間來完成學(xué)業(yè),但他從不曾落下自己的功課。這個(gè)秋天,他要開始在大學(xué)讀書了。又比如在我的家鄉(xiāng),伊利諾斯州芝加哥市,身為孤兒的香特爾?史蒂夫(Shantell Steve)換過多次收養(yǎng)家庭,從小在治安很差的地區(qū)長(zhǎng)大,但她努力爭(zhēng)取到了在當(dāng)?shù)乇=≌竟ぷ鞯臋C(jī)會(huì)、發(fā)起了一個(gè)讓青少年遠(yuǎn)離犯罪團(tuán)伙的項(xiàng)目,很快,她也將以優(yōu)異的成績(jī)從中學(xué)畢業(yè),去大學(xué)深造。賈斯敏、安多尼和香特爾與你們并沒有什么不同。和你們一樣,他們也在生活中遭遇各種各樣的困難與問題,但他們拒絕放棄,他們選擇為自己的教育擔(dān)起責(zé)任、給自己定下奮斗的目標(biāo)。我希望你們中的每一個(gè)人,都能做得到這些。因此,在今天,我號(hào)召你們每一個(gè)人都為自己的教育定下一個(gè)目標(biāo)——并在之后,盡自己的一切努力去實(shí)現(xiàn)它。你的目標(biāo)可以很簡(jiǎn)單,像是完成作業(yè)、認(rèn)真聽講或每天閱讀——或許你打算參加一些課外活動(dòng),或在社區(qū)做些志愿工作;或許你決定為那些因?yàn)殚L(zhǎng)相或出身等等原因而受嘲弄或欺負(fù)的孩子做主、維護(hù)他們的權(quán)益,因?yàn)槟愫臀乙粯樱J(rèn)為每個(gè)孩子都應(yīng)該能有一個(gè)安全的學(xué)習(xí)環(huán)境;或許你認(rèn)為該學(xué)著更好的照顧自己,來為將來的學(xué)習(xí)做準(zhǔn)備 當(dāng)然,除此之外,我希望你們都多多洗手、感到身體不舒服的時(shí)候要多在家休息,免得大家在秋冬感冒高發(fā)季節(jié)都得流感。不管你決定做什么,我都希望你能堅(jiān)持到底,希望你能真的下定決心。
我知道有些時(shí)候,電視上播放的節(jié)目會(huì)讓你產(chǎn)生這樣那樣的錯(cuò)覺,似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰纏萬貫、功成名就——你會(huì)認(rèn)為只要會(huì)唱rap、會(huì)打籃球或參加個(gè)什么真人秀節(jié)目就能坐享其成,但現(xiàn)實(shí)是,你幾乎沒有可能走上其中任何一條道路。因?yàn)?,成功是件難事。你不可能對(duì)要讀的每門課程都興趣盎然,你不可能和每名帶課教師都相處順利,你也不可能每次都遇上看起來和現(xiàn)實(shí)生活有關(guān)的作業(yè)。而且,并不是每件事,你都能在頭一次嘗試時(shí)獲得成功。但那沒有關(guān)系。因?yàn)樵谶@個(gè)世界上,最最成功的人們往往也經(jīng)歷過最多的失敗。J.K.羅琳的第一本《哈利·波特》被出版商拒絕了十二次才最終出版;邁克爾·喬丹上高中時(shí)被學(xué)校的籃球隊(duì)刷了下來,在他的職業(yè)生涯里,他輸了幾百場(chǎng)比賽、投失過幾千次射籃,知道他是怎么說的嗎?“我一生不停地失敗、失敗再失敗,這就是我現(xiàn)在成功的原因?!彼麄兊某晒?,源于他們明白人不能讓失敗左右自己——而是要從中吸取經(jīng)驗(yàn)。從失
敗中,你可以明白下一次自己可以做出怎樣的改變;假如你惹了什么麻煩,那并不說明你就是個(gè)搗蛋鬼,而是在提醒你,在將來要對(duì)自己有更嚴(yán)格的要求;假如你考了個(gè)低分,那并不說明你就比別人笨,而是在告訴你,自己得在學(xué)習(xí)上花更多的時(shí)間。沒有哪一個(gè)人一生出來就擅長(zhǎng)做什么事情的,只有努力才能培養(yǎng)出技能。任何人都不是在第一次接觸一項(xiàng)體育運(yùn)動(dòng)時(shí)就成為校隊(duì)的代表,任何人都不是在第一次唱一首歌時(shí)就找準(zhǔn)每一個(gè)音,一切都需要熟能生巧。對(duì)于學(xué)業(yè)也是一樣,你或許要反復(fù)運(yùn)算才能解出一道數(shù)學(xué)題的正確答案,你或許需要讀一段文字好幾遍才能理解它的意思,你或許得把論文改上好幾次才能符合提交的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。這都是很正常的。不要害怕提問。不要不敢向他人求助?!颐刻於荚谶@么做。求助并不是軟弱的表現(xiàn),恰恰相反,它說明你有勇氣承認(rèn)自己的不足、并愿意去學(xué)習(xí)新的知識(shí)。所以,有不懂時(shí),就向大人們求助吧——找個(gè)你信得過的對(duì)象,例如父母、長(zhǎng)輩、老師、教練或輔導(dǎo)員——讓他們幫助你向目標(biāo)前進(jìn)。你要記住,哪怕你表現(xiàn)不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你覺得身邊的人都已經(jīng)放棄了你——永遠(yuǎn)不要自己放棄自己。因?yàn)楫?dāng)你放棄自己的時(shí)候,你也放棄了自己的國(guó)家。
美國(guó)不是一個(gè)人們?cè)庥隼щy就輕易放棄的國(guó)度,在這個(gè)國(guó)家,人們堅(jiān)持到底、人們加倍努力,為了他們所熱愛的國(guó)度,每一個(gè)人都盡著自己最大的努力,不會(huì)給自己留任何余地。250年前,有一群和你們一樣的學(xué)生,他們之后奮起努力、用一場(chǎng)革命最終造就了這個(gè)國(guó)家;75年前,有一群和你們一樣的學(xué)生,他們之后戰(zhàn)勝了大蕭條、贏得了二戰(zhàn);就在20年前,和你們一樣的學(xué)生們,他們后來創(chuàng)立了Google、Twitter和Face book,改變了我們?nèi)伺c人之間溝通的方式。因此,今天我想要問你們,你們會(huì)做出什么樣的貢獻(xiàn)?你們將解決什么樣的難題?你們能發(fā)現(xiàn)什么樣的事物?
二十、五十或百年之后,假如那時(shí)的美國(guó)總統(tǒng)也來做一次開學(xué)演講的話,他會(huì)怎樣描述你們對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家所做的一切?你們的家長(zhǎng)、你們的老師和我,每一個(gè)人都在盡最大的努力,確保你們都能得到應(yīng)有的教育來回答這些問題。例如我正在努力為你們提供更安全的教室、更多的書籍、更先進(jìn)的設(shè)施與計(jì)算機(jī)。但你們也要擔(dān)起自己的責(zé)任。因此我要求你們?cè)诮衲昴軌蛘J(rèn)真起來,我要求你們盡心地去做自己著手的每一件事,我要求你們每一個(gè)人都有所成就。請(qǐng)不要讓我們失望——不要讓你的家人、你的國(guó)家和你自己失望。你們要成為我們驕傲,我知道,你們一定可以做到。
謝謝大家,上帝保佑你們,上帝保佑美國(guó)。