奧巴馬的演講-我們?yōu)槭裁匆蠈W(xué)
奧巴馬的演講-我們?yōu)槭裁匆蠈W(xué)
我們都知道,奧巴馬是前任美國(guó)總統(tǒng),發(fā)表了許多精彩的演講,現(xiàn)在小編將給大家分享奧巴馬的精彩演講
奧巴馬:我們?yōu)槭裁匆蠈W(xué)
嗨,大家好!你們今天過(guò)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(guò)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(lái)說(shuō),今天是開(kāi)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(lái)說(shuō),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(guò),我想無(wú)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(guò)幾年,而我媽媽沒(méi)錢(qián)送我去其他美國(guó)孩子們上學(xué)的地方去讀書(shū),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(lái),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(shuō):"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(kāi)學(xué)還需要時(shí)間來(lái)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(guò)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(guò)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(guò)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(guò)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(tīng)老師講課、除非你把父母、長(zhǎng)輩和其他大人們說(shuō)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(xiě)出優(yōu)美的文字——甚至有一天能讓那些文字出現(xiàn)在書(shū)籍和報(bào)刊上——但假如不在英語(yǔ)課上經(jīng)常練習(xí)寫(xiě)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(lái)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(wú)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(shū)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(lái)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(lái)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(lái)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(wèn)題與環(huán)境問(wèn)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(lái)減輕和消除無(wú)家可歸與貧困、犯罪問(wèn)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(lèi)課程中逐漸累積和發(fā)展出來(lái)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(lái)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(lái)解決我們所面對(duì)的最困難的問(wèn)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(shū)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(wèn)題,很難把精力集中在專心讀書(shū)之上。
我知道你們的感受。我父親在我兩歲時(shí)就離開(kāi)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(wú)助,與周?chē)沫h(huán)境格格不入。 因此我并不總是能專心學(xué)習(xí),我做過(guò)許多自己覺(jué)得丟臉的事情,也惹出過(guò)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(lái)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(méi)讀過(guò)大學(xué),也沒(méi)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(shū)。
你們中有些人可能沒(méi)有這些有利條件,或許你的生活中沒(méi)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(méi)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(shū)的借口。你的未來(lái),并不取決于你現(xiàn)在的生活有多好或多壞。沒(méi)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(shū)寫(xiě),你的未來(lái)由你自己掌握。
而在這片土地上的每個(gè)地方,千千萬(wàn)萬(wàn)和你一樣的年輕人正是這樣在書(shū)寫(xiě)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(shuō)英語(yǔ),她住的地方幾乎沒(méi)人上過(guò)大學(xué),她的父母也沒(méi)有受過(guò)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(kāi)始與腦癌病魔做斗爭(zhēng),他熬過(guò)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(lái)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(kāi)始在大學(xué)讀書(shū)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(guò)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(méi)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(wèn)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(tīng)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(lái)為將來(lái)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,絕不輕易放棄。
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(jué),似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰纏萬(wàn)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(méi)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(mén)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(lái)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(méi)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(guò)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(lái),在他的職業(yè)生涯里,他輸了幾百場(chǎng)比賽、投失過(guò)幾千次射籃,知道他是怎么說(shuō)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。"
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(shuō)明你就是個(gè)搗蛋貴,而是在提醒你,在將來(lái)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(shuō)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(méi)有哪一個(gè)人一生出來(lái)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(wèn)。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(shuō)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(guò)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(jué)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(ài)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(lái)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(wèn)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(lái)做一次開(kāi)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(lái)回答這些問(wèn)題。
例如我正在努力為你們提供更安全的教室、更多的書(shū)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(lái),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。
奧巴馬北京演講稿
英文:Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.
We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.
Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.
To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give and and to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
This is your victory.
And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.
There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.
I promise you, we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.
This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.
Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.
And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.
And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
中文:
芝加哥的公民們,大家好!
如果現(xiàn)在仍然有人懷疑在美國(guó)是不是真的任何事情都可能發(fā)生,懷疑我們開(kāi)國(guó)之父?jìng)兊膲?mèng)想是否還留存在這片土地上,懷疑美國(guó)民主的力量,今夜,就是你的答案。
在這個(gè)國(guó)家的學(xué)校和教堂中人們?cè)辜钡氐却鸢?,一些人甚至從未像今天一?mdash;—等待了3~4個(gè)小時(shí),但是他們知道這一時(shí)刻非同一般,他們的聲音也同樣非同一般。
在美國(guó)的土地上,無(wú)論是年輕人還是老人;窮人還是富人;無(wú)論是共和黨人還是民主黨人;無(wú)論是黑人、白人、西班牙裔、亞裔、美國(guó)原住民、同性戀、異性戀、殘疾人還是非殘疾人都發(fā)出同一種信息,我并非孤身一人。
我們是,而且永遠(yuǎn)都是美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)!
這一天我們等得太久了,但是今晚,因?yàn)槲覀冊(cè)谶@場(chǎng)競(jìng)選中、在這個(gè)地點(diǎn)、在此時(shí)此刻所做的一切,改變已經(jīng)降臨美國(guó)。
在今天晚上,我很榮幸地接到了麥凱恩參議員打來(lái)的電話。麥凱恩參議員在這場(chǎng)競(jìng)選中進(jìn)行了長(zhǎng)久、艱難的努力。而且,為這個(gè)他熱愛(ài)的國(guó)家,他奮斗了更久、付出了更多的努力。他為美國(guó)做出了超乎我們大多數(shù)人想象的犧牲,因?yàn)檫@個(gè)無(wú)畏無(wú)私的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人所付出的努力,我們才有了更好的生活。我對(duì)他表示祝賀,也對(duì)佩林州長(zhǎng)所取得的成果表示祝賀。同時(shí),我也期待著能在接下來(lái)的幾個(gè)月內(nèi),和他們共同努力履行對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家的諾言。
我想感謝我在這個(gè)旅程中的搭檔,一個(gè)全心全意參加競(jìng)選的男人,一個(gè)為同他一起在斯克藍(lán)頓(賓夕法尼亞?wèn)|北部城市)街道長(zhǎng)大、一起坐火車(chē)到特拉華州的人們發(fā)言的男人,美國(guó)未來(lái)的副總統(tǒng),喬.拜登。
在過(guò)去的16年里如果沒(méi)有朋友們的支持和鼓勵(lì),那么我今晚將不會(huì)站在這里……我的家庭的支持、關(guān)愛(ài),美國(guó)的下一位第一夫人米歇爾.奧巴馬,還有薩沙和瑪麗雅,我對(duì)你們的愛(ài)甚至超出你們的想象,你們將得到新的小狗,和你們一起到新的白宮。
我卻再也不能陪伴我的外祖母了,但我知道她一直在守望著我們。我也十分想念我的家人和親戚,我知道自己虧欠他們太多,太多。我要感謝馬婭,阿爾瑪,以及我所有的兄弟姐妹,感謝你們對(duì)我無(wú)私的支持,對(duì)此我深表感激。還有,感謝我的競(jìng)選經(jīng)理大衛(wèi).普勞夫。還有那些在競(jìng)選活動(dòng)中的無(wú)名英雄們,他們表現(xiàn)的很棒,是他們給美國(guó)帶來(lái)了一場(chǎng)最完美的大選,我想,這在美國(guó)歷史上是絕無(wú)僅有的。還有我的首席戰(zhàn)略師大衛(wèi).阿克塞爾羅德。他是我的伙伴,在我競(jìng)選的每個(gè)階段都給我極大的幫助,為我打造了美國(guó)大選史上最棒的競(jìng)選團(tuán)隊(duì)。是你讓這一切發(fā)生了,我將永遠(yuǎn)對(duì)你為這一切做出的犧牲心存感激。但是最重要的,我將永遠(yuǎn)無(wú)法忘記這場(chǎng)勝利真正的主人,這屬于你們,這屬于你們。
我曾經(jīng)是最不可能贏得白宮的候選人。在剛開(kāi)始的時(shí)候,我們沒(méi)有多少錢(qián),也沒(méi)有多少支持者,我們的競(jìng)選不是從華盛頓的大廳開(kāi)始的,而是開(kāi)始于艾奧瓦州得梅因的后院、康科德的客廳、查爾斯頓的前廳。是辛勤勞作的男人、女人捐給了我們他們微薄的積蓄,5塊錢(qián)、10塊錢(qián)、20塊錢(qián)。我們從年輕人那里得到了力量,他們拒絕服從同齡人冷漠的神話。為了工作,他們離開(kāi)了自己的家鄉(xiāng),并與親人分別,可是他們拿很少的報(bào)酬,甚至連睡覺(jué)的時(shí)間也少的可憐。
那些并不年輕的志愿者卻擁有一顆火熱的心,為了大選他們?cè)诤L(fēng)中敲開(kāi)善良的陌生人家的門(mén),這就是為什么兩個(gè)世紀(jì)以來(lái),我們?nèi)祟?lèi),我們的政府沒(méi)有從地球上消亡的原因。
我想說(shuō),這同樣也是你們的勝利!我知道,你們不僅僅是為了贏得一個(gè)大選,也不僅僅是為了我。
你們這樣做,是因?yàn)橹牢覀兠媲叭蝿?wù)的艱難。即使我們今晚在這里歡慶,我們?nèi)匀恢烂魈鞂?huì)帶來(lái)我們平生最大的挑戰(zhàn)——兩場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng),一個(gè)處于危險(xiǎn)邊緣的星球、一個(gè)世紀(jì)來(lái)最嚴(yán)重的金融危機(jī)。
在孩子們熟睡后依然醒著的父親母親在擔(dān)心,他們?cè)鯓硬拍苓€清醫(yī)生的賬單,攢夠足夠的錢(qián)供孩子的大學(xué)教育。
新的能源要去開(kāi)發(fā),新的工作崗位要去創(chuàng)造,新的學(xué)校要去建造,新的威脅要去面對(duì),新的盟友關(guān)系要去修復(fù)。
前面的路會(huì)很長(zhǎng)。我們的攀巖會(huì)很陡峭。我們甚至不會(huì)在一年、一個(gè)任期內(nèi)達(dá)到這個(gè)目標(biāo)。但是,美國(guó),我從未比今夜更加相信,我們會(huì)達(dá)到這個(gè)目標(biāo)。
我承諾,作為一個(gè)人,我們會(huì)達(dá)到這個(gè)目標(biāo)。
以后我們還會(huì)面對(duì)挫折和謊言,我成為總統(tǒng)以后,也許有人無(wú)法認(rèn)同我的每一項(xiàng)政策和方針。并且我們也知道政府并非能解決一切問(wèn)題。但是我會(huì)忠誠(chéng)地和你們并肩奮斗,共同面對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)。我依然會(huì)傾聽(tīng)你們的聲音,尤其是我們之間存在分歧的時(shí)候。最重要的是,我會(huì)真誠(chéng)地邀請(qǐng)你參與國(guó)家的重建,就像美國(guó)建國(guó)221年以來(lái)的歷史那樣——靠我們的雙手把國(guó)家建設(shè)地更為強(qiáng)大。
我們從21個(gè)月以前的冬天開(kāi)始了奮斗的征程,但是我們的努力不會(huì)在這個(gè)秋天的夜晚結(jié)束。這次勝利并不會(huì)改變我們的探索之路,這對(duì)于我們來(lái)說(shuō)是一個(gè)難得的機(jī)遇,我們決不能后退。我們不會(huì)退縮,因?yàn)槲覀儞碛型⒌木蜔o(wú)畏犧牲的精神。
讓我們重振愛(ài)國(guó)主義精神,承擔(dān)起自己的責(zé)任,我們將努力奮斗,互幫互助。
讓我們牢記金融危機(jī)給美國(guó)帶來(lái)的傷痛,我們?cè)僖膊粫?huì)讓華爾街繁榮的同時(shí),讓別的街受罪。
在這個(gè)國(guó)家里,我們與祖國(guó)的命運(yùn)緊密相連。讓我們自覺(jué)抵制黨派爭(zhēng)端和過(guò)于污穢的政治斗爭(zhēng)。
讓我們牢記在這條街道上高舉共和黨旗幟入主白宮的那個(gè)人(林肯),是他宣揚(yáng)了獨(dú)立和自主的精神,完成了國(guó)家的統(tǒng)一。
這些價(jià)值觀應(yīng)該得到繼承和發(fā)揚(yáng),今晚民主黨取得了勝利,我們必須保持謙虛的心態(tài),并下定決心完成后面的征程。就像很久以前,林肯對(duì)一個(gè)比現(xiàn)在分裂得更嚴(yán)重的民族所說(shuō)的那樣,我們不是敵人,是朋友。雖然熱情已經(jīng)被沖淡,我們的友愛(ài)紐帶沒(méi)有破裂。
同時(shí),對(duì)于我沒(méi)有贏得支持的民眾,我或許沒(méi)有得到你們的投票,但是我聽(tīng)到了你們的聲音。我需要你們的幫助。我也會(huì)是你們的總統(tǒng)。
對(duì)于那些在另外一個(gè)海岸,從國(guó)會(huì)到王宮、到在被世界遺忘的角落擺弄收音機(jī)、關(guān)注美國(guó)今夜的人們,我們的故事并非只有一個(gè),但是目標(biāo)是共同的,美國(guó)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力的新的黎明已經(jīng)到來(lái)。
美國(guó)應(yīng)該變化,我們的社會(huì)應(yīng)該更完美。我們已經(jīng)取得的成果給了我們明天取得更大成果的希望。
這次大選有很多首創(chuàng)和許多故事,這些故事將代代相傳。但今天晚上我腦子里能想起來(lái)的就是一個(gè)女人,她剛剛在亞特蘭大城投了票。她跟成千上萬(wàn)在這次大選中排隊(duì)發(fā)出自己聲音的人一樣,唯有一點(diǎn)例外:安.尼克松.庫(kù)珀已經(jīng)106歲高齡了。她出生在奴隸制剛剛廢除后的那一代,那時(shí)路上沒(méi)有汽車(chē),天上沒(méi)有飛機(jī)。像她那樣的人仍不能投票,這因?yàn)閮蓚€(gè)方面的原因:一是她是女性;二是因?yàn)樗哪w色。
可今晚,我想她看透了一個(gè)世紀(jì)的美國(guó)——頭疼與希望;掙扎與發(fā)展。有人告訴我們,美國(guó)不行了,可美國(guó)人的自信卻回答:不,我們行!她曾經(jīng)生活在女性發(fā)不出聲音、希望破滅的時(shí)代,可她卻活著看到女性們站起來(lái),發(fā)出自己的聲音,并且投下自己的票。是的,我們行!
當(dāng)饑餓來(lái)到,衰退發(fā)生時(shí),她看到了這個(gè)國(guó)家是如何以新政,新工作,和全新的共同目標(biāo)來(lái)戰(zhàn)勝恐懼的。當(dāng)炸彈落到我們的港口,獨(dú)裁者威脅世界的時(shí)候,她親眼見(jiàn)證了一代人的崛起和民主得以挽救。是的,我們行!她去蒙哥馬利搭乘公共汽車(chē),她去伯明翰面對(duì)水龍頭,她去塞爾瑪占橋……她聽(tīng)來(lái)自亞特蘭大的牧師告訴大家:“我們能打破種族障礙”,沒(méi)錯(cuò),我們行!
今年,在這次大選中,她投下了自己的一票。因?yàn)樵诿绹?guó)生活了106個(gè)年頭,經(jīng)歷了最好的時(shí)光與最難的歲月,所以她知道美國(guó)一定能改變。是的,我們行!
美國(guó)已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了太多,我們看夠了太多,但我們還得做更多的事。今晚,讓我們問(wèn)自己:如果我們的孩子們要活著看到新世紀(jì),如果我們的女兒們能像安.尼克松這樣活到106歲,我們應(yīng)該有哪些進(jìn)步?我們應(yīng)該回答這個(gè)問(wèn)題,這是我們的時(shí)代。
現(xiàn)在是我們一起開(kāi)始工作,為我們的孩子打開(kāi)機(jī)遇之門(mén),恢復(fù)我們的繁榮,促進(jìn)和平,重回美國(guó)夢(mèng),恢復(fù)基本信任,以及其它許多事的時(shí)候了。我們應(yīng)該團(tuán)結(jié)如一人。我們應(yīng)該堅(jiān)定地回應(yīng)那些說(shuō)我們不行的人,我們將以無(wú)窮的力量來(lái)回應(yīng)他們,然后說(shuō):是的,我們行!