第一篇：奥巴马致谢母亲和妻子米歇尔

Hi, everybody.大家好。

In our house, everybody knows that President is only the third-most important job in the family.在我们家，大家都知道总统是我在家里第三重要的工作。

So this weekend, I’m going to take a little extra time to say thank you to Michelle for the remarkable way she does the most important job: being a mom.所以这个周末，我要花一点额外的时间来谢谢米歇尔所做的最重要的一份工作：当一位母亲。

And I’m going to give extra thanks to my mother-in-law for the role model she’s always been to Michelle and the countless selfless ways in which she’s helped Michelle and me raise Malia and Sasha.此外，我还要特别地谢谢我的岳母，因为她一直都为米歇尔树立榜样以及她在帮助我和米歇尔抚养玛利亚和莎夏上所做的无数的、无私的付出。

I am incredibly lucky to have these wonderful women help me raise, love, and look after our girls.我是如此幸运，有这样一位优秀的女性来帮助我抚养、爱护、照看我们的女儿。

I hope you’ll also take a moment to say thank you to the women in your life who love you in that special way mothers do.我希望你们也能花一点时间对你们生命中对你们付出特别的爱的那位女性——母亲说出你们的感谢。

Biological moms, adoptive moms, and foster moms;single moms, grandmoms and godmothers;aunts and mentors – whomever you think of when you think of Mother’s Day.生母，养母;单身妈妈，教母;婶婶和导师——当你想起母亲节时所能想起的一切的人。

Or take a moment, like I will, to remember the moms who raised us, whose big hearts sustained us, and whom we miss every day, no matter how old we get.或者花一些时间，就像我一样，去记住抚养我们的妈妈，那些曾经用宽广的胸怀供养我们，那些我们无论长多大都会想念的妈妈。

Giving flowers is always a good idea.送花一直是一个好想法。

But I hope that on this Mother’s Day, we’ll recommit ourselves to doing more than that: Through deeds that match our words，不过我希望这个母亲节，我们不再仅仅只是送花：做一些跟我们说过的话相符的行为吧。

let’s give mothers the respect they deserve, give all women the equality they deserve, and give all parents the support they need in their most important roles.让我们给母亲应有的尊重吧，给所有女性应有的平等，给所有的父母在最重要的角色上需要的支持吧。

That includes paid maternity and paternity leave, sick leave, accommodations for workers who are pregnant, good health care, affordable child care, flexibility at work, equal pay, and a decent minimum wage.包括给所有怀孕的工人提供带薪产假、陪产假、病假以及住宿、良好的卫生保健、儿童保健、工作上的自由、同工同酬以及合适的最低工资。

We ask our mothers to do more than their fair share of just about everything.我们让我们的母亲做了她们所应做的合理份额以外的一切事。

Making sure they’re treated fairly is the least we can do.我们应该至少确保她们能被公平对待。

The idea of setting aside a Sunday in May for our mothers became an official holiday with a Congressional resolution a little more than 100 years ago.国会议决案为我们的母亲留出五月的(第二个)周日作为法定假日，100多年前就有了。

They did it on May 8 – the same day we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day this year.他们设置的日期是五月八日——跟今年的母亲节是同一天。

If Congress can make a holiday, surely they can back it up with the things that give it meaning.如果议会能够通过把母亲节设置为节假日的法案，毫无疑问他们用行动证明了所说的一切。

After all, that’s what my mother taught me.I couldn’t just say I was going to do the right thing, or say I agreed with it on principle.I had to actually do it.无论如何，那是我母亲教我的。我不能仅仅说我将要做的是正确的事，或者说我做的符合原则。事实上，我将要做这件事。

So this Mother’s Day, say thank you.Say, ―I love you.‖ And let’s make sure we show that gratitude and appreciation through acts of respect throughout the year.所以这个母亲节，说谢谢，说―我爱你‖。并且今年我们要确保一整年我们都能用行动表明我们的感谢和感激。

No one deserves that more than our moms.没有人能比母亲能值得更好的。

Happy Mother’s Day, and have a great weekend.母亲节快乐，周末愉快。

第二篇：米歇尔奥巴马essay

To be Successful as a Woman

According to Forbes list of most influential women in the world in 2013, Michelle Obama, the First Lady from America, ranked third.As we all know, she is one of the most successful women living in an enviable life not only because of her husband, but also for her personality, attitudes, and influence.However, being successful may be more difficult for women since the weight of family and the limit of body.Now, she gives us revelations about how to be a successful woman by actions.First of all, you should have the encourage to be independent, self-motivating and hardworking.We can see all of these important elements involved in the former life of Michelle Obama.In her school days, she always was one of the best students in high school.After that, she graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1985, and then continued to study at Harvard Law School.After her studying, she also did well in the big company she worked for.She was always getting up early and paying full attention to be efficient, which she is continuing now.Actually, she was born into a poor family and that may be the reason why she strives to be excellent and has to earning everything by herself.What’s more, as a woman, you also should have a good balance for you and your family.It is more important for the First Lady because of her sensitive status.So, as a green hand, Michelle was struggled to learn from other former First Ladies such as Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.She changed a lot to be more gentle rather than the strong personality showing during the campaign to avoid criticism for her husband.She considers the two daughters as her center.Also, she is not totally a housewife.For example, she serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as a part-time job now.More than that, she represented America to visit China at Chinese First Lady’s invitation in 2014.Personally, she also has her own fashion taste, which is always focused on her dress.Last but not the least, women should know what makes their value of life.For Michelle, it is important to be involved in social responsibilities for the special status.From my opinion, social activities must mean more than the status for everyone.It is the way to increase your value by influencing others and even changing their life.Focusing on obese children, advocating for poor veterans, and doing social donations makes Michelle Obama have her own influence.As a woman, she doesn’t have a wonderful look like stars, an honorable birth like nobles, and an inborn advantage like a man, she is just like every ordinary woman.All she has is a good personality, balance, and goodwill, which you must also have to be successful.

第三篇：米歇尔奥巴马演讲

This is my first trip, my first foreign trip as a first lady.Can you believe that? And while this is not my first visit to the U.K., I have to say that I am glad that this is my first official visit.Please remember that.If you want to know the reason why I'm standing here, it's because of education.I never cut class.Sorry, I don't know if anybody is cutting class.I never did it.I loved getting As.I liked being smart.I liked being on time.I liked getting my work done.I thought being smart was cooler than anything in the world.And you too, with these same values, can control your own destiny.You too can pave the way.You too can realize your dreams, and then your job is to reach back and to help someone just like you do the same thing.History proves that it doesn't matter whether you come from a council estate or a country estate.Your success will be determined by your own fortitude, your own confidence, your own inpidual hard work.That is true.That is the reality of the world that we live in.You now have control over your own destiny.And it won't be easy--that's for sure.But you have everything you need.Everything you need to succeed, you already have, right here.My husband works in this big office.They call it the Oval Office.In the White House, there's the desk that he sits at--it's called the Resolute desk.It was built by the timber of Her Majesty's Ship Resolute and given by Queen Victoria.It's an enduring symbol of the friendship between our two nations.And its name, Resolute, is a reminder of the strength of character that's required not only to lead a country, but to live a life of purpose, as well.And I hope in pursuing your dreams, you all remain resolute, that you go forward without limits, and that you use your talents--because there are many;we've seen them;it's there--that you use them to create the world as it should be.Because we are counting on you.We are counting on every single one of you to be the very best that you can be.Because the world is big.And it's full of challenges.And we need strong, smart, confident young women to stand up and take the reins.We know you can do it.We love you.Thank you so much.MRS.OBAMA:(Applause.)Thank you.Well, ni-hao.(Laughter.)It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me.谢谢。你好。很高兴也很荣幸来到这里，在这所伟大的大学和你们共聚一堂。非常感谢你们邀请我。Now, before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.As my husband has said, the United States is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search.And please know that we are keeping all of the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.在我今天开始之前，代表我自己和我的丈夫，我想就马来西亚航空公司的MH370航班简短说两句。如我丈夫所说，美国正提供尽可能多的资源协助搜寻工作。请相信，在这个非常艰难的时刻，我们的心和航班上人员的家属和亲人在一起，我们为他们祈祷。Now with that, I want to start by recognizing our new Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baucus.President Wang;Chairman Zhu;Vice President Li;Director Cueller;Professor Oi, and the Stanford Center;President Sexton from New York University, which is an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai;and John Thornton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University.Thank you all for joining us.现在，我们首先来认识一下美国新任驻华大使——博卡斯大使。王校长、朱主席、李副校长、Cuelluer主任、Jean Oi教授和斯坦福中心，纽约大学的塞克顿斯校长（该校在上海开设了一个优秀的海外留学项目），以及清华大学全球领袖项目主任约翰·桑顿，由衷地感谢大家的到来。But most of all, I want to thank all of the students who are here today.And I particularly want to thank Eric Schaefer and Zhu Xuanhao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction.That was a powerful symbol of everything that I want to talk with you about today.最重要的是，我要感谢今天所有到场的学生们......我要特别感谢埃里克·谢弗和朱宣皓的精彩英文和中文介绍。这绝佳地诠释了我今天要和大家聊的全部话题。

See, by learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr.Schafer and Ms.Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more.And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe.你们看，通过学习彼此的语言，通过展现对彼此文化的好奇心和尊重，谢弗先生、朱女士以及你们大家正在搭建理解的桥梁，这些桥梁带来更多的丰硕成果。我今天来到你们这里是因为我知道，我们的未来取决于全球像你们这样年轻人间的这样的联系。That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state.We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or

leaders--they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people.So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.这也是为什么我们夫妇在国外访问时，不只参观宫殿、议会和会晤国家元首。我们也来到学校，与像你们一样的学生见面。因为我们相信，国与国之间的关系不只是政府或领导人之间的关系，它们是人民间―特别是年轻人之间的关系。因此，我们认为海外留学项目不只是为学生提供的教育机会，还是美国外交政策至关重要的组成部分。Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button.Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe.And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent.通过现代技术奇迹，我们的世界比以往任何时候都更多地联系在一起。思想可以通过点击按钮跨越海洋。全球各地的公司可以进行业务往来和相互竟争。我们可以与各大洲的人们通过短信、电子邮件和Skype进行沟通。So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester;it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy.Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important.It’s also about having real experience with the world

beyond your borders –-experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.Or, as the Chinese saying goes: ―It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.‖

因此，出国留学不只是以开心的方式度过一个学期——它正迅速成为全球化经济中取得成功的关键。因为要走在当今职场的前沿，只在学校里取得好成绩是不够的，还应拥有国境外的真实体验：体验完全不同的语言、文化和社会。正如中国的一句古话所说：―读万卷书，不如行万里路。‖ But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future.It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time-– whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear

weapons--these are shared challenges.And no one country can confront them alone.The only way forward is together.我想要说的是，出国留学绝不仅是改善你们自己的未来，它也关乎塑造你们的国家、关乎我们共有的世界的未来。因为我们这个时代的决定性挑战一一无论是气侯变化、经济机遇，还是核武器扩散一一这些都是我们共同的挑战。没有任何一个国家能够单独应对它们……唯一的出路就是共同携手。

That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation.You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often pide us.这就是为什么年轻人到彼此国家学习和生活是如此重要。因为这是你们培养合作习惯的途径一一你们通过融入不同的文化，通过了解彼此的故事，通过跨越常常隔膜我们的成见和误解，来做到这一点。That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success--that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.这是你们了解到我们共享多少东西的途径。这是你们认识到我们的成功惠及彼此的途径。在北京发现的治序方法可以挽救在美国的生命，来自加州硅谷的清洁能源技术可以改善中国的环境，西安一座古老寺庙的架构可激发达拉斯或者底特律新建筑设计的灵感。

第四篇：写给母亲和妻子的一封信

写给母亲和妻子的一封信

自从公司安排要写一封家书，我就开始矛盾，到底写还是不写，要写给谁？说实话之前我一直没有这种意识，一直徘徊到今天我才决定写给我一生中最重要的两个女人，母亲和妻子。

母亲，是伟大的，生我养我。从我内心而言，作为儿子，一直想用一种无形的力量来表达我的感激之情。我不善表达，因为再多的话都让我无法完全表达清楚我内心的情感。母亲，这段时间孙子的降临又为您增添了许多劳累。总想对您说声：妈，辛苦了，可话到嘴边又说不出口。因为我知道您是一个不甘落后的人，我知道您对儿子的期望。儿子心中无限的感激、歉意都化作工作的一种动力，我会努力不让您失望。

老婆，是可亲可爱的，同样是伟大的。自结婚到现在已经整整一年多时间，同样，我和别人一样幸福，5月份，我们的宝宝降临了。此时做为孩子的母亲，你也是骄傲的。临产入院开始陪护那天，到直到我在妇产科看到的那一幕……也许你自己看了之后也会感慨万千。不知不觉我的眼睛湿润了，我情不自禁地告诉自己：要好好的去爱你，去珍惜你。生儿育女是女人的义务，但不是每个母亲都有勇气去做这件事。听到你撕心裂肺的喊声，当时我脑子一片混乱，潜意识告诉我不仅是在迎接一个新生命的到来，也是在等待你的第二次生命。相信我一定会给你想要的幸福，也请天下所有男人们疼爱你的妻子。人生好像一场戏，因为有缘才会相聚。婆婆与媳妇走在一块，这都是上帝的安排，曾有言，相见容易相处难，婆媳相处更难，但目前在我眼里看来也绝非如此。我要感谢母亲对儿媳妇的体贴、照顾，也感谢妻子对婆婆的包容和尊敬，更要感谢你们相互之间的理解和包容，你们的和睦相处也是我一生中最大的幸福。

祝愿母亲健康、妻子永远美丽，幸福！（刘炜）

第五篇：米歇尔奥巴马演讲全文 speech

Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, ping into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families...in wounded warriors who tell me they're not just going to walk again, they're going to run, and they're going to run marathons...in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, “...I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.”

Every day, the people I meet inspire me...every day, they make me proud...every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege...but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we'd begun.While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country...and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President...like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? PBS NewsHour/YouTube

First lady Michelle Obama addresses the DNC after being introduced by military mom Elaine Brye, from PBS NewsHour.How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known?

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys...Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house...and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...I deeply loved the man I had built that life with...and I didn't want that to change if he became President.I loved Barack just the way he was.You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door...he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family – that's when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable – their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.And when he returned home after a long day's work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him...watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work...he and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.He was so proud to be sending his kids to college...and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life – being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank...and she moved quickly up the ranks...but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.And for years, men no more qualified than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus...arriving at work before anyone else...giving her best without complaint or regret.And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”

Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules...and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean...and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are.You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer...the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.That's why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again – jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine...our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick...and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care...that's what my husband stands for.When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could've attended college without financial aid.And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political – they're personal.Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it...and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.He's the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work...because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.He's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, “You won't believe what these folks are going through, Michelle...it's not right.We've got to keep working to fix this.We've got so much more to do.”

I see how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago...even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard – especially when it's hard.I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as “us” and “them” – he doesn't care whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above...he knows that we all love our country...and he's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will.”

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love...because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming – or even impossible – let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation...it's who we are as Americans...it's how this country was built.And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us...if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button...then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.And if so many brave men and women could wear our country's uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights...then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights...surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores...if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote...if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time...if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream...and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love...then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.That is what has made my story, and Barack's story, and so many other American stories possible.And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady...and not just as a wife.You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.”

My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what's best for our girls.Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters...if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise...if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility – that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it...then we must work like never before...and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward...my husband, our President, President Barack Obama.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.