第一篇：奧巴馬演講 美國(guó)的最高能源計(jì)劃

奧巴馬演講 美國(guó)的最高能源計(jì)劃

Hello, everybody.In the State of the Union, I laid out three areas we need to focus on if we're going to build an economy that lasts: new American manufacturing, new skills and education for American workers, and new sources of American-made energy.These days, we're getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future.Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb.Only this time, it's happening earlier.And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car;everyone who owns a business.It means you have to stretch your paycheck（薪水）even further.Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.Now, some politicians always see this as a political opportunity.And since it's an election year, they're already dusting off（抹去灰塵）their three-point plans for $2 gas.I'll save you the suspense: Step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.We hear the same thing every year.Well the American people aren't stupid.You know that's not a plan – especially since we're already drilling.It's a bumper sticker（車(chē)尾貼）.It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge.It's a strategy to get politicians through an election.You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.If we're going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more.We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks;in our buildings and plants.That's the strategy we're pursuing, and that's the only real solution to this challenge.Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America.That's why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade.And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I've directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what's going on in the oil markets.But over the long term, an all-of-the-above energy strategy means we have to do more.It means we have to make some choices.Here's one example.Right now, four billion of your tax dollars subsidize the oil industry every year.Four billion dollars.Imagine that.Maybe some of you are listening to this in your car right now, pulling into a gas station to fill up.As you watch those numbers rise, know that oil company profits have never been higher.Yet somehow, Congress is still giving those same companies another four billion dollars of your money.That's outrageous（粗暴的）.It's inexcusable（不可原諒的）.And it has to stop.A century of subsidies to the oil companies is long enough.It's time to end taxpayer giveaways to an industry that's never been more profitable, and use that money to reduce our deficit and double-down on a clean energy industry that's never been more promising.Because of the investments we've already made, the use of wind and solar energy in this country has nearly doubled – and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.And because we put in place the toughest fuel economy standards in history, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.Now Congress needs to keep that momentum going by renewing the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil.Look, we know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight.But what we can do is get our priorities straight, and make a sustained, serious effort to tackle this problem.That's the commitment we need right now.And with your help, it's a commitment we can make.Thanks.

第二篇：美國(guó)大選奧巴馬演講全文

美國(guó)大選奧巴馬演講全文：我們需要的變革（中英對(duì)照）

奧巴馬：我們需要的變革 obama: the change we need 現(xiàn)在是美國(guó)歷史的關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻。我們面臨著大蕭條以來(lái)最為嚴(yán)重的一場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)：今年以來(lái)已經(jīng)有76萬(wàn)人失業(yè)；企業(yè)和家庭無(wú)法獲得信貸；房?jī)r(jià)不斷下滑，養(yǎng)老金日益縮水；工資降到了十年來(lái)的最低水平，同時(shí)醫(yī)療和教育成本卻漲到了有史以來(lái)的最高點(diǎn)。this is a defining moment in our history.we face the worst economic crisis since the great depression--760,000 workers have lost their jobs this year.businesses and families can’t get credit.home values are falling, and pensions are disappearing.wages are lower than they’ve been in a decade, at a time when the costs of health care and college have never been higher.在眼下這樣的危急時(shí)刻，我們承受不起又一個(gè)四年的支出增長(zhǎng)、千瘡百孔的減稅措施、或是監(jiān)管全無(wú)──即使是美國(guó)聯(lián)邦儲(chǔ)備委員會(huì)(fed)前主席格林斯潘(alan greenspan)現(xiàn)在也承認(rèn)那是個(gè)錯(cuò)誤。美國(guó)需要一個(gè)新的方向。這也正是我競(jìng)選美國(guó)總統(tǒng)的原因所在。

at a moment like this, we can’t afford four more years of spending increases, poorly designed tax cuts, or the complete lack of regulatory oversight that even former federal reserve chairman alan greenspan now believes was a mistake.america needs a new direction.that’s why i’m running for president of the united states.明天，也就是周二，你們將有能力賦予這個(gè)國(guó)家我們所需要的變革。tomorrow, you can give this country the change we need.我的競(jìng)選對(duì)手麥凱恩參議員為美國(guó)作出的貢獻(xiàn)令人尊敬。他甚至可以指出他過(guò)去曾有幾次與自己的黨派分道揚(yáng)鑣。然而，在過(guò)去八年中，他十之八九都贊同布什總統(tǒng)的主張。而在經(jīng)濟(jì)問(wèn)題上，他仍然無(wú)法向美國(guó)民眾說(shuō)明，他與布什的做法會(huì)有什么太大區(qū)別。

my opponent, senator mccain, has served his country honorably.he can even point to a few moments in the past where he has broken from his party.but over the past eight years, he’s voted with president bush 90% of the time.and when it comes to the economy, he still can’t tell the american people one major thing he’d do differently from george bush.如果提出的稅收計(jì)劃沒(méi)有讓1億多美國(guó)中產(chǎn)階級(jí)獲得一分錢(qián)的稅項(xiàng)減免，這不是變革──即使是《國(guó)家評(píng)論》(national review)雜志和其他保守派組織也抱怨說(shuō)，這個(gè)計(jì)劃對(duì)造福中產(chǎn)階級(jí)貢獻(xiàn)寥寥。在近年來(lái)不斷累積的財(cái)政赤字上再添5萬(wàn)億美元，這不是變革。如果解決房市危機(jī)的計(jì)劃又將另外3,000億美元納稅人的錢(qián)置于風(fēng)險(xiǎn)之中，這不是變革──《華爾街日?qǐng)?bào)》編輯委員會(huì)稱這一計(jì)劃“產(chǎn)生的問(wèn)題比解決的問(wèn)題多”。

it’s not change to come up with a tax plan that doesn’t give a penny of relief to more than 100 million middle-class americans--a plan that even the national review and other conservative organizations complain does far too little to benefit the middle class.it’s not change to add more than $5 trillion to the deficits we’ve run up in recent years.it’s not change to come up with a plan to address our housing crisis that puts another $300 billion of taxpayer money at risk--a plan that the editorial board of this newspaper said ’raises more questions than it answers.’ 如果說(shuō)我們從此次經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)中學(xué)到了什么的話，那就是我們要患難與共。從首席執(zhí)行長(zhǎng)到公司股東，從金融家到工廠工人，我們每個(gè)人都休戚相關(guān)，因?yàn)槊绹?guó)的民眾越富足，美國(guó)才會(huì)越繁榮。

if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this economic crisis, it’s that we are all in this together.from ceos to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success BECause the more americans prosper, the more america prospers.這就是為什么我們有些企業(yè)巨頭把提高員工薪酬作為自己的一項(xiàng)使命，讓員工能買(mǎi)得起自己生產(chǎn)的產(chǎn)品，比如巴菲特(warren buffett)這樣的商界人士。我對(duì)能有他的支持感到自豪。這就是為什么美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)不僅是世界上最偉大的財(cái)富創(chuàng)造者，也是世界上最偉大的就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì)制造者。它一直托舉著有史以來(lái)規(guī)模最大的中產(chǎn)階級(jí)之舟。

that’s why we’ve had titans of industry who’ve made it their mission to pay well enough that their employees could afford the products they made--businessmen like warren buffett, whose support i’m proud to have.that’s why our economy hasn’t just been the world’s greatest wealth creator--it’s been the world’s greatest job generator.it’s been the tide that has lifted the boats of the largest middle class in history.為了重塑美國(guó)中產(chǎn)階級(jí)，我將給予95%的工人及其家庭稅收減免待遇。如果你工作，就交稅；如果年收入不足20萬(wàn)美元，你會(huì)獲得減稅；即使你的年收入超過(guò)了25萬(wàn)美元，你所負(fù)擔(dān)的稅率也比上世紀(jì)九十年代要低──資本利得稅和股息稅要比里根總統(tǒng)時(shí)期低三分之一。

to rebuild that middle class, i’ll give a tax break to 95% of workers and their families.if you work, pay taxes, and make less than $200,000, you’ll get a tax cut.if you make more than $250,000, you’ll still pay taxes at a lower rate than in the 1990s--and capital gains and dividend taxes one-third lower than they were under president reagan.通過(guò)重建日益破敗的基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施、在美國(guó)的各個(gè)角落接通寬帶，我們將創(chuàng)造200萬(wàn)個(gè)就業(yè)崗位。未來(lái)的十年中，我將每年在可再生能源領(lǐng)域投資150億美元，進(jìn)而新增500萬(wàn)個(gè)崗位；這些工作環(huán)保、薪酬豐厚、不能外包，而且能幫助我們擺脫對(duì)中東石油的依賴。

we’ll create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and laying broadband lines that reach every corner of the country.i’ll invest $15 billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating five million new, green jobs that pay well, can’t be outsourced, and can help end our dependence on middle east oil.在醫(yī)療問(wèn)題上，我們不必在政府運(yùn)營(yíng)的體系和目前這種我們難以負(fù)擔(dān)的體系之間進(jìn)行選擇。我的競(jìng)選對(duì)手提出的方案會(huì)令美國(guó)人有史以來(lái)首次為自己獲得的醫(yī)療福利納稅。我的計(jì)劃則會(huì)讓醫(yī)療保健成為每個(gè)美國(guó)人都負(fù)擔(dān)得起、享受得到的服務(wù)。根據(jù)我的計(jì)劃，如果你已經(jīng)有了醫(yī)療保險(xiǎn)，你將看到的唯一一個(gè)變化是保費(fèi)降低；如果你還沒(méi)有醫(yī)療保險(xiǎn)，你將能與國(guó)會(huì)議員們享受到同樣的醫(yī)療福利。when it comes to health care, we don’t have to choose between a government-run system and the unaffordable one we have now.my opponent’s plan would make you pay taxes on your health-care benefits for the first time in history.my plan will make health care affordable and accessible for every american.if you already have health insurance, the only change you’ll see under my plan is lower premiums.if you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of plan that members of congress get for themselves.為了讓每個(gè)孩子享受到世界級(jí)的教育，讓他們能在全球經(jīng)濟(jì)中競(jìng)爭(zhēng)21世紀(jì)的工作崗位，我將投資早期教育，并且增加師資力量。不過(guò)，我同時(shí)也會(huì)要求更高的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和更多的責(zé)任。我們向每個(gè)美國(guó)年輕人作出承諾：如果你致力于服務(wù)你的社區(qū)或是你的國(guó)家，我們將確保你能負(fù)擔(dān)得起自己的學(xué)費(fèi)。

to give every child a world-class education so they can compete in this global economy for the jobs of the 21st century, i’ll invest in early childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers.but i’ll also demand higher standards and more accountability.and we’ll make a deal with every young american: if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition.在國(guó)防安全問(wèn)題上，我將負(fù)責(zé)任地結(jié)束伊拉克戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，這樣我們就不必在這個(gè)國(guó)家享有巨額財(cái)政盈余的情況下每月卻要在那里花費(fèi)100億美元。為了美國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)、美國(guó)的軍隊(duì)和伊拉克的長(zhǎng)期穩(wěn)定，現(xiàn)在是伊拉克人站出來(lái)的時(shí)候了。我將最終完成對(duì)本·拉登(bin laden)和基地組織恐怖分子的打擊，正是這些人制造了9/11恐怖襲擊，同時(shí)我還會(huì)建立新的合作關(guān)系、擊退21世紀(jì)出現(xiàn)的威脅，恢復(fù)我們的道德威望，讓美國(guó)仍然是地球上最后也是最好的希望。

and when it comes to keeping this country safe, i’ll end the iraq war responsibly so we stop spending $10 billion a month in iraq while it sits on a huge surplus.for the sake of our economy, our military and the long-term stability of iraq, it’s time for the iraqis to step up.i’ll finally finish the fight against bin laden and the al qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11, build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century, and restore our moral standing so that america remains the last, best hope of earth.這些事情沒(méi)有一件是輕而易舉能辦到的，也不是一朝一夕能完成的。但是，我堅(jiān)信我們能成功，因?yàn)槲覍?duì)美國(guó)深信不疑。是美國(guó)使我們的父輩相信，即使他們自己無(wú)法上大學(xué)，也可以每周積攢下一些錢(qián)來(lái)，讓他們的孩子接受好的教育；即使他們不能擁有自己的企業(yè)，也可以通過(guò)努力工作讓自己的孩子創(chuàng)辦企業(yè)。在美國(guó)歷史的每個(gè)時(shí)刻，我們都勇敢地站起來(lái)面對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)，因?yàn)槲覀儚膩?lái)沒(méi)有忘記過(guò)這樣一個(gè)基本真理：在美國(guó)，我們的命運(yùn)并非天定，而是掌握在我們自己的手中。none of this will be easy.it won’t happen overnight.but i believe we can do this because i believe in america.this is the country that allowed our parents and grandparents to believe that even if they couldn’t go to college, they could save a little bit each week so their child could;that even if they couldn’t have their own business, they could work hard enough so their child could open one of their own.and at every moment in our history, we’ve risen to meet our challenges because we’ve never forgotten the fundamental truth that in america, our destiny is not written for us, but by us.所以，明天，我懇請(qǐng)你們書(shū)寫(xiě)美國(guó)下一個(gè)偉大的篇章。我懇請(qǐng)你們不只相信我?guī)?lái)變革的能力，還有你們自己的能力。明天，你們可以選擇這樣一種政策──向美國(guó)中產(chǎn)階級(jí)進(jìn)行投入、創(chuàng)造新的就業(yè)崗位、實(shí)現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)讓人人都有成功的機(jī)會(huì)。你們可以選擇希望而非恐懼、選擇團(tuán)結(jié)而非分裂、選擇變革的希望而非墨守成規(guī)。如果你們投我的票，我們將不僅贏得此次競(jìng)選，還將一起改變這個(gè)國(guó)家、改變這個(gè)世界。

so tomorrow, i ask you to write our nation’s next great chapter.i ask you to believe--not just in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.tomorrow, you can choose policies that invest in our middle class, create new jobs, and grow this economy so that everyone has a chance to succeed.you can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo.if you give me your vote, we won’t just win this election--together, we will change this country and change the world.

第三篇：奧巴馬演講 掌控未來(lái)的能源

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House November 16, 2013 巴拉克.奧巴馬總統(tǒng)講話 每周演講 白宮

2013年11月16日

Hi, everybody.On Thursday, I visited a steel plant in Cleveland, Ohio to talk about what we’re doing to rebuild our economy on a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth.大家好！周四，我參觀了俄亥俄州克利夫蘭的一家鋼鐵廠，談?wù)撐覀優(yōu)榱嗽谛碌幕A(chǔ)上重建我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)，實(shí)現(xiàn)更為強(qiáng)勁、更加持久經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)而正在做的事情。One area where we’ve made great progress is American energy.After years of talk about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we are actually poised to control our own energy future.我們已取得巨大進(jìn)步的一個(gè)領(lǐng)域是美國(guó)能源。經(jīng)過(guò)多年談?wù)摐p少我們對(duì)國(guó)外石油的依賴，我們實(shí)際上已經(jīng)開(kāi)始控制我們自己的能源未來(lái)。

Shortly after I took office, we invested in new American technologies to reverse our dependence on foreign oil and double our wind and solar power.And today, we generate more renewable energy than ever – with tens of thousands of good, American jobs to show for it.We produce more natural gas than anyone – and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it.And just this week, we learned that for the first time in nearly two decades, the United States of America now produces more of our own oil here at home than we buy from other countries.我就職后不久，我們就投資新的美國(guó)技術(shù)，扭轉(zhuǎn)我們對(duì)外國(guó)石油的依賴，把我們風(fēng)能和太陽(yáng)能發(fā)電量增加一倍。今天，我們生產(chǎn)了比以前更多的可再生能源——上萬(wàn)個(gè)好的美國(guó)工作崗位因此而出現(xiàn)。我們生產(chǎn)的天然氣超過(guò)其他任意一個(gè)國(guó)家——因?yàn)樗瑤缀趺總€(gè)人的能源賬單的費(fèi)用都更低了。就在本周，近二十年來(lái)第一次，我們知道美利堅(jiān)共和國(guó)現(xiàn)在在本國(guó)生產(chǎn)的石油量，超過(guò)了我們從其他國(guó)家購(gòu)買(mǎi)的石油量。

That’s a big deal.That’s a tremendous step towards American energy independence.這是重要的事情。這是邁向美國(guó)能源獨(dú)立的巨大一步。But this is important, too: we reached this milestone in part not only because we’re producing more energy, but because we’re wasting less energy.We set new fuel standards for our cars and trucks so that they’ll go twice as far on a gallon of gas by the middle of the next decade.That’s going to save an average driver more than $8,000 at the pump over the life of a new car.We also launched initiatives to put people to work upgrading our homes, businesses, and factories so that they waste less energy.That’s going to save our businesses money on their energy bills – that's money they can use to hire more workers.這也很重要：我們達(dá)到這一轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)，部分不僅因?yàn)槲覀冊(cè)谏a(chǎn)更多的能源，還因?yàn)槲覀冋速M(fèi)更少的能源。我們?yōu)槠?chē)和卡車(chē)設(shè)定新的燃料標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，這樣，到2025年前，一加侖的汽油可以使汽車(chē)的行駛里程增加一倍。在一臺(tái)新車(chē)的整個(gè)生命周期里，這將節(jié)約普通車(chē)主超過(guò)8,000美元的燃料花銷(xiāo)。我們還啟動(dòng)了讓人們工作改造我們的住房、企業(yè)和工廠的舉措，這樣，它們可以浪費(fèi)更少的能源。這將節(jié)約我們的企業(yè)在能源上的花銷(xiāo)——這些錢(qián)他們可以用來(lái)雇傭更多的工人。Here’s another thing.Between more clean energy, and less wasted energy, our emissions of dangerous carbon pollution are actually falling.That’s good news for anyone who cares about the world we leave to our kids.這是另一件事情。一邊產(chǎn)生更多的清潔能源 一邊浪費(fèi)的能源更少，我們危險(xiǎn)的碳污染排放實(shí)際上正在下降。這對(duì)關(guān)心我們留給孩子的這個(gè)世界的每個(gè)人來(lái)說(shuō)，都是好消息。

And while our carbon emissions have been dropping, our economy has been growing.Our businesses have created 7.8 million new jobs in the past 44 months.It proves that the old argument that we can’t strengthen the economy and be good stewards of our planet at the same time is a false choice.We can do both.And we have to do both.在我們的碳排放一直在下降的同時(shí)，我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)卻還一直在增長(zhǎng)。過(guò)去44個(gè)月，我們的企業(yè)創(chuàng)造了780萬(wàn)新工作。它證明我們不能同時(shí)增強(qiáng)經(jīng)濟(jì)和很好地照顧好我們的星球這個(gè)老觀點(diǎn)是錯(cuò)誤的選擇。我們可以兩者兼得。我們也需要同時(shí)做好這兩件事。

More good jobs.Cheaper and cleaner sources of energy.A secure energy future.Thanks to the grit and resilience of American businesses and the American people, that’s where we’re heading.And as long as I’m President, that’s where we’re going to keep heading – to leave our children a stronger economy, and a safer planet.更多的好工作。更便宜和更清潔能源來(lái)源。一個(gè)可靠的能源未來(lái)。感謝美國(guó)企業(yè)和美國(guó)人民的堅(jiān)毅和適應(yīng)能力，這是我們前進(jìn)的方向。只要我是總統(tǒng)，這就是我們要繼續(xù)前進(jìn)的方向——留給我們的孩子一個(gè)更強(qiáng)大的經(jīng)濟(jì)，一個(gè)更安全的星球。

Thanks, and have a great weekend.謝謝！祝周末愉快！

第四篇：奧巴馬演講

奧巴馬演講

Hello, everybody.In the State of the Union, I laid out three areas we need to focus on if we're going to build an economy that lasts: new American manufacturing, new skills and education for American workers, and new sources of American-made energy.These days, we're getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future.Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb.Only this time, it's happening earlier.And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car;everyone who owns a business.It means you have to stretch your paycheck even further.Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.Now, some politicians always see this as a political opportunity.And since it's an election year, they're already dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas.I'll save you the suspense: Step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.We hear the same thing every year.Well the American people aren't stupid.You know that's not a plan – especially since we're already drilling.It's a bumper sticker.It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge.It's a strategy to get politicians through an election.You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.If we're going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more.We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks;in our buildings and plants.That's the strategy we're pursuing, and that's the only real solution to this challenge.Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America.That's why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade.And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I've directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what's going on in the oil markets.But over the long term, an all-of-the-above energy strategy means we have to do more.It means we have to make some choices.Here's one example.Right now, four billion of your tax dollars subsidize the oil industry every year.Four billion dollars.Imagine that.Maybe some of you are listening to this in your car right now, pulling into a gas station to fill up.As you watch those numbers rise, know that oil company profits have never been higher.Yet somehow, Congress is still giving those same companies another four billion dollars of your money.That's outrageous.It's inexcusable.And it has to stop.A century of subsidies to the oil companies is long enough.It's time to end taxpayer giveaways to an industry that's never been more profitable, and use that money to reduce our deficit and double-down on a clean energy industry that's never been more promising.Because of the investments we've already made, the use of wind and solar energy in this country has nearly doubled – and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.And because we put in place the toughest fuel economy standards in history, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.Now Congress needs to keep that momentum going by renewing the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil.Look, we know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight.But what we can do is get our priorities straight, and make a sustained, serious effort to tackle this problem.That's the commitment we need right now.And with your help, it's a commitment we can make.Thank you.

第五篇：奧巴馬演講

Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you very much.Everybody, please have a seat.Well, Madam President, that was an outstanding introduction.(Laughter.)We are so proud of Donae for representing this school so well.And in addition, I also want to acknowledge your outstanding principal, who has been here for 20 years--first as a teacher, now as an outstanding principal--Anita Berger.Please give her a big round of applause.(Applause.)I want to acknowledge, as well, Mayor Gray is here--the mayor of Washington, D.C.is here.Please give him a big round of applause.(Applause.)And I also want to thank somebody who is going to go down in history as one of the finest Secretaries of Education that we’ve ever had--Arne Duncan is here.(Applause.)

Now, it is great to be here at Benjamin Banneker High School, one of the best high schools not only in Washington, D.C., but one of the best high schools in the country.(Applause.)But we’ve also got students tuning in from all across America.And so I want to welcome you all to the new school year, although I know that many of you already have been in school for a while.I know that here at Banneker, you’ve been back at school for a few weeks now.So everything is starting to settle in, just like for all your peers all across the country.The fall sports season is underway.Musicals and marching band routines are starting to shape up, I believe.And your first big tests and projects are probably just around the corner.I know that you’ve also got a great deal going on outside of school.Your circle of friends might be changing a little bit.Issues that used to stay confined to hallways or locker rooms are now finding their way onto Facebook and Twitter.(Laughter.)Some of your families might also be feeling the strain of the economy.As many of you know, we’re going through one of the toughest economic times that we’ve gone through in our lifetime--in my lifetime.Your lifetime hasn’t been that long.And so, as a consequence, you might have to pick up an after-school job to help out your family, or maybe you’re babysitting for a younger sibling because mom or dad is working an extra shift.So all of you have a lot on your plates.You guys are growing up faster and interacting with a wider world in a way that old folks like me, frankly, just didn’t have to.So today, I don’t want to be just another adult who stands up and lectures you like you’re just kids--because you’re not just kids.You’re this country’s future.You’re young leaders.And whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation is going to depend in large part on you.So I want to talk to you a little bit about meeting that responsibility.It starts, obviously, with being the best student that you can be.Now, that doesn’t always mean that you have to have a perfect score on every assignment.It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to get straight As all the time--although that’s not a bad goal to have.It means that you have to stay at it.You have to be determined and you have to persevere.It means you’ve got to work as hard as you know how to work.And it means that you’ve got to take some risks once in a while.You can’t avoid the class that you think might be hard because you’re worried about getting the best grade if that’s a subject that you think you need to prepare you for your future.You’ve got to wonder.You’ve got to question.You’ve got to explore.And every once in a while, you need to color outside of the lines.That’s what school is for: discovering new passions, acquiring new skills, making use of this incredible time that you have to prepare yourself and give yourself the skills that you’re going to need to pursue the kind of careers that you want.And that’s why when you’re still a student you can explore a wide range of possibilities.One hour you can be an artist;the next, an author;the next, a scientist, or a historian, or a carpenter.This is the time where you can try out new interests and test new ideas.And the more you do, the sooner you’ll figure out what makes you come alive, what stirs you, what makes you excited--the career that you want to pursue.Now, if you promise not to tell anybody, I will let you in on a little secret: I was not always the very best student that I could be when I was in high school, and certainly not when I was in middle school.I did not love every class I took.I wasn’t always paying attention the way I should have.I remember when I was in 8th grade I had to take a class called ethics.Now, ethics is about right and wrong, but if you’d ask me what my favorite subject was back in 8th grade, it was basketball.I don’t think ethics would have made it on the list.But here’s the interesting thing.I still remember that ethics class, all these years later.I remember the way it made me think.I remember being asked questions like: What matters in life? Or, what does it mean to treat other people with dignity and respect? What does it mean to live in a diverse nation, where not everybody looks like you do, or thinks like you do, or comes from the same neighborhood as you do? How do we figure out how to get along?

Each of these questions led to new questions.And I didn’t always know the right answers, but those discussions and that process of discovery--those things have lasted.Those things are still with me today.Every day, I’m thinking about those same issues as I try to lead this nation.I’m asking the same kinds of questions about, how do we as a diverse nation come together to achieve what we need to achieve? How do we make sure that every single person is treated with dignity and respect? What responsibilities do we have to people who are less fortunate than we are? How do we make sure that everybody is included in this family of Americans?

Those are all questions that date back to this class that I took back in 8th grade.And here’s the thing: I still don’t always know the answers to all these questions.But if I’d have just tuned out because the class sounded boring, I might have missed out on something that not only did I turn out enjoying, but has ended up serving me in good stead for the rest of my life.So that’s a big part of your responsibility, is to test things out.Take risks.Try new things.Work hard.Don’t be embarrassed if you’re not good at something right away.You’re not supposed to be good at everything right away.That’s why you’re in school.The idea, though, is, is that you keep on expanding your horizons and your sense of possibility.Now is the time for you to do that.And those are also, by the way, the things that will make school more fun.Down the road, those will be the traits that will help you succeed, as well--the traits that will lead you to invent a device that makes an iPad look like a stone tablet.Or what will help you figure out a way to use the sun and the wind to power a city and give us new energy sources that are less polluting.Or maybe you’ll write the next great American novel.Now, to do almost any of those things, you have to not only graduate from high school,--and I know I’m just--I’m in the “amen” corner with Principal Berger here--not only do you have to graduate from high school, but you’re going to have to continue education after you leave.You have to not only graduate, but you’ve got to keep going after you graduate.That might mean, for many of you, a four-year university.I was just talking to Donae, and she wants to be an architect, and she’s interning with a architectural firm, and she’s already got her sights set on what school she wants to go to.But it might, for some other folks, be a community college, or professional credentialing or training.But the fact of the matter is, is that more than 60 percent of the jobs in the next decade will require more than a high school diploma--more than 60 percent.That’s the world you’re walking into.So I want all of you to set a goal to continue your education after you graduate.And if that means college for you, just getting into college is not enough.You also have to graduate.One of the biggest challenges we have right now is that too many of our young people enroll in college but don’t actually end up getting their degree, and as a consequence--our country used to have the world’s highest proportion of young people with a college degree;we now rank 16th.I don't like being 16th.I like being number one.That’s not good enough.So we’ve got to use--we’ve got to make sure your generation gets us back to the top of having the most college graduates relative to the population of any country on Earth.If we do that, you guys will have a brighter future.And so will America.We’ll be able to make sure the newest inventions and the latest breakthroughs happen right here in the United States of America.It will mean better jobs, and more fulfilling lives, and greater opportunities not only for you, but also for your kids.So I don’t want anybody who’s listening here today to think that you’re done once you finish high school.You are not done learning.In fact, what’s happening in today’s economy is--it’s all about lifelong learning.You have to constantly upgrade your skills and find new ways of doing things.Even if college isn't for you, even if a four-year college isn't for you, you’re still going to have to get more education after you get out of high school.You’ve got to start expecting big things from yourself right now.I know that may sound a little intimidating.And some of you may be wondering how you can pay for college, or you might not know what you want to do with your life yet.And that’s okay.Nobody expects you to have your entire future mapped out at this point.And we don't expect you to have to make it on your own.First of all, you’ve got wonderful parents who love you to death and want you to have a lot more opportunity than they ever had--which, by the way, means don’t give them a hard time when they ask you to turn off the video games, turn off the TV and do some homework.You need to be listening to them.I speak from experience because that’s what I’ve been telling Malia and Sasha.Don’t be mad about it, because we’re thinking about your future.You’ve also got people all across this country--including myself and Arne and people at every level of government--who are working on your behalf.We’re taking every step we can to ensure that you’re getting an educational system that is worthy of your potential.We’re working to make sure that you have the most up-to-date schools with the latest tools of learning.We’re making sure that this country’s colleges and universities are affordable and accessible to you.We’re working to get the best class--teachers into the classroom as well, so they can help you prepare for college and a future career.Let me say something about teachers, by the way.Teachers are the men and women who might be working harder than just about anybody these days.(Applause.)Whether you go to a big school or a small one, whether you attend a public or a private or charter school –-your teachers are giving up their weekends;they’re waking up at dawn;they’re cramming their days full of classes and extra-curricular activities.And then they’re going home, eating some dinner, and then they’ve got to stay up sometimes past midnight, grading your papers and correcting your grammar, and making sure you got that algebra formula properly.And they don’t do it for a fancy office.They don’t--they sure don’t do it for the big salary.They do it for you.They do it because nothing gives them more satisfaction than seeing you learn.They live for those moments when something clicks;when you amaze them with your intellect or your vocabulary, or they see what kind of person you’re becoming.And they’re proud of you.And they say, I had something to do with that, that wonderful young person who is going to succeed.They have confidence in you that you will be citizens and leaders who take us into tomorrow.They know you’re our future.So your teachers are pouring everything they got into you, and they’re not alone.But I also want to emphasize this: With all the challenges that our country is facing right now, we don’t just need you for the future;we actually need you now.America needs young people’s passion and their ideas.We need your energy right now.I know you’re up to it because I’ve seen it.Nothing inspires me more than knowing that young people all across the country are already making their marks.They’re not waiting.They’re making a difference now.There are students like Will Kim from Fremont, California, who launched a nonprofit that gives loans to students from low-income schools who want to start their own business.Think about that.So he’s giving loans to other students.He set up a non-for-profit.He’s raising the money doing what he loves--through dodgeball tournaments and capture-the-flag games.But he’s creative.He took initiative.And now he’s helping other young people be able to afford the schooling that they need.There is a young man, Jake Bernstein, 17 years old, from a military family in St.Louis, worked with his sister to launch a website devoted to community service for young people.And they’ve held volunteer fairs and put up an online database, and helped thousands of families to find volunteer opportunities ranging from maintaining nature trails to serving at local hospitals.And then last year, I met a young woman named Amy Chyao from Richardson, Texas.She’s 16 years old, so she’s the age of some of you here.During the summer, I think because somebody in her family had an illness, she decided that she was interested in cancer research.She hadn’t taken chemistry yet, so she taught herself chemistry during the summer.And then she applied what she had learned and discovered a breakthrough process that uses light to kill cancer cells.Sixteen years old.It’s incredible.And she's been approached by some doctors and researchers who want to work with her to help her with her discovery.The point is you don’t have to wait to make a difference.You’re first obligation is to do well in school.You’re first obligation is to make sure that you’re preparing yourself for college and career.But you can also start making your mark right now.A lot of times young people may have better ideas than us old people do anyway.We just need those ideas out in the open, in and out of the classroom.When I meet young people like yourselves, when I sat and talk to Donae, I have no doubt that America’s best days are still ahead of us, because I know the potential that lies in each of you.Soon enough, you will be the ones leading our businesses and leading our government.You will be the one who are making sure that the next generation gets what they need to succeed.You will be the ones that are charting the course of our unwritten history.And all that starts right now--starts this year.So I want all of you who are listening, as well as everybody here at Banneker, I want you to make the most of the year that’s ahead of you.I want you to think of this time as one in which you are just loading up with information and skills, and you’re trying new things and you’re practicing, and you’re honing--all those things that you’re going to need to do great things when you get out of school.Your country is depending on you.So set your sights high.Have a great school year.Let’s get to work.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless the United States of America.(Applause.)