第一篇:奥巴马励志演讲
奥巴马励志演讲
导读:我根据大家的需要整理了一份关于《奥巴马励志演讲》的内容,具体内容:学生是国家的新一批生产队的主力军,是国家未来的主人,关于奥巴马是如何励志学生的?我分享了稿,一起来和我看看吧。稿时间:XX年 9 月 8 日地点:弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市...学生是国家的新一批生产队的主力军,是国家未来的主人,关于奥巴马是如何励志学生的?我分享了稿,一起来和我看看吧。
稿
时间:XX 年 9 月 8 日
地点:弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市
嗨,大家好!你们今天过得怎么样?我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起,全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里,我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。
我知道,对你们中的许多人来说,今天是开学的第一天,你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中,对你们来说,这是在新学校的第一天,因此,假如你们感到有些紧张,那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过,我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级,许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。我可以理解这份心情。
小时候,我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年,而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书,因此她决定自己给我上课——时间是每周一到
周五的凌晨 4 点半。显然,我不怎么喜欢那么早就爬起来,很多时候,我就这么在厨房的桌子前睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候,我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说:“小鬼,你以为教你我就很轻松?” 所以,我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应,但今天我站在这里,是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育,以及在新的学年里,你们应当做些什么。
知名人士 11 我做过许多关于教育的讲话,也常常用到“责任”这个词。我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们,督促你们学习。我谈到过家长们有责任看管你们认真学习、完成作业,不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。
我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准严要求、协助老师和校长们的工作,改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。但哪怕这一切都达到最好,哪怕我们有最尽职的教师、最好的家长、和最优秀的学校,假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话,那么这一切努力都会白费。——除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否则这一切都会失去意义。而这就是我今天讲话的主题:对于自己的教育,你们中每一个人的责任。
首先,我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。
你们中的每一个人都会有自己擅长的东西,每一个人都是有用之材,而发现自己的才能是什么,就是你们要对自己担起的责任。教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作,你不会发现自己有这样的天赋;
或许你能成为一个发明家、创造家——甚至设计出像今天的 iphone 一样流行的产品,或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课程上做上几次实验,你不会知道自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一名议员或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么学生会或参加几次辩论赛,你也不会发现自己的才能。而且,我可以向你保证,不管你将来想要做什么,你都需要相应的教育。
知名人士 11——你想当名医生、当名教师或当名警官?你想成为护士、成为建筑设计师、律师或军人?无论你选择哪一种职业,良好的教育都必不可少,这世上不存在不把书念完就能拿到好工作的美梦,任何工作,都需要你的汗水、训练与学习。不仅仅对于你们个人的未来有重要意义,你们的教育如何也会对这个国家、乃至世界的未来产生重要影响。今天你们在学校中学习的内容,将会决定我们整个国家在未来迎接重大挑战时的表现。
你们需要在数理科学课程上学习的知识和技能,去治疗癌症、艾滋那样的疾病,和解决我们面临的能源问题与环境问题;你们需要在历史社科课程上培养出的观察力与判断力,来减轻和消除无家可归与贫困、犯罪问题和各种歧视,让这个国家变得更加公平和自由;你们需要在各类课程中逐渐累积和发展出来的创新意识和思维,去创业和建立新的公司与企业,来制造就业机会和推动经济的增长。我们需要你们中的每一个人都培养和发展自己的天赋、技能和才智,来解决我们所面对的最困难的问题。
假如你不这么做——假如你放弃学习——那么你不仅是放弃了自己,也是放弃了你的国家。当然,我明白,读好书并不总是件容易的事。我知道
你们中的许多人在生活中面临着各种各样的问题,很难把精力集中在专心读书之上。我知道你们的感受。我父亲在我两岁时就离开了家庭,是母亲一人将我们拉扯大,有时她付不起帐单,有时我们得不到其他孩子们都有的东西,有时我会想,假如父亲在该多好,有时我会感到孤独无助,与周围的环境格格不入。因此我并不总是能专心学习,我做过许多自己觉得丢脸的事情,也惹出过许多不该惹的麻烦,我的生活岌岌可危,随时可能急转直下。但我很幸运。我在许多事上都得到了重来的机会,我得到了去大学读法学院、实现自己梦想的机会。
知名人士 11 我的妻子——现在得叫她第一夫人米歇尔奥巴马了——也有着相似的人生故事,她的父母都没读过大学,也没有什么财产,但他们和她都辛勤工作,好让她有机会去这个国家最优秀的学校读书。
你们中有些人可能没有这些有利条件,或许你的生活中没有能为你提供帮助和支持的长辈,或许你的某个家长没有工作、经济拮据,或许你住的社区不那么安全,或许你认识一些会对你产生不良影响的朋友,等等。但归根结底,你的生活状况——你的长相、出身、经济条件、家庭氛围——都不是疏忽学业和态度恶劣的借口,这些不是你去跟老师顶嘴、逃课、或是辍学的借口,这些不是你不好好读书的借口。
你的未来,并不取决于你现在的生活有多好或多坏。没有人为你编排好你的命运,在美国,你的命运由你自己书写,你的未来由你自己掌握。而在这片土地上的每个地方,千千万万和你一样的年轻人正是这样在书写着自己的命运。
例如德克萨斯州罗马市的贾斯敏佩雷兹。刚进学校时,她根本不会说英
语,她住的地方几乎没人上过大学,她的父母也没有受过高等教育,但她努力学习,取得了优异的成绩,靠奖学金进入了布朗大学,如今正在攻读公共卫生专业的博士学位。
我还想起了加利福尼亚州洛斯拉图斯市的安多尼舒尔兹,他从三岁起就开始与脑癌病魔做斗争,他熬过了一次次治疗与手术——其中一次影响了他的记忆,因此他得花出比常人多几百个小时的时间来完成学业,但他从不曾落下自己的功课。这个秋天,他要开始在大学读书了。
又比如在我的家乡,伊利诺斯州芝加哥市,身为孤儿的香特尔史蒂夫换过多次收养家庭,从小在治安很差的地区长大,但她努力争取到了在当地保健站工作的机会、发起了一个让青少年远离犯罪团伙的项目,很快,她也将以优异的成绩从中学毕业,去大学深造。贾斯敏、安多尼和香特尔与你们并没有什么不同。
和你们一样,他们也在生活中遭遇各种各样的困难与问题,但他们拒绝放弃,他们选择为自己的教育担起责任、给自己定下奋斗的目标。我希望你们中的每一个人,都能做得到这些。因此,在今天,我号召你们每一个人都为自己的教育定下一个目标——并在之后,尽自己的一切努力去实现它。
知名人士 11 你的目标可以很简单,像是完成作业、认真听讲或每天阅读——或许你打算参加一些课外活动,或在社区做些志愿工作;或许你决定为那些因为长相或出身等等原因而受嘲弄或欺负的孩子做主、维护他们的权益,因为你和我一样,认为每个孩子都应该能有一个安全的学习环境;或许你认为该学着更好的照顾自己,来为将来的学习做准备......当然,除此之外,我希望你们都多多洗手、感到身体不舒服的时候要多在家休息,免得大家在秋冬感冒高发季节都得流感。不管你决定做什么,我都希望你能坚持到底,希望你能真的下定决心。我知道有些时候,电视上播放的节目会让你产生这样那样的错觉,似乎你不需要付出多大的努力就能腰缠万贯、功成名就——你会认为只要会唱 rap、会打篮球或参加个什么真人秀节目就能坐享其成,但现实是,你几乎没有可能走上其中任何一条道路。因为,成功是件难事。
你不可能对要读的每门课程都兴趣盎然,你不可能和每名带课教师都相处顺利,你也不可能每次都遇上看起来和现实生活有关的作业。而且,并不是每件事,你都能在头一次尝试时获得成功。但那没有关系。因为在这个世界上,最最成功的人们往往也经历过最多的失败。
j.k.罗琳的第一本《哈利波特》被出版商拒绝了十二次才最终出版;迈克尔乔丹上高中时被学校的篮球队刷了下来,在他的职业生涯里,他输了几百场比赛、投失过几千次射篮,知道他是怎么说的吗?“我一生不停地失败、失败再失败,这就是我现在成功的原因。”
他们的成功,源于他们明白人不能让失败左右自己——而是要从中吸取经验。从失败中,你可以明白下一次自己可以做出怎样的改变;假如你惹了什么麻烦,那并不说明你就是个捣蛋贵,而是在提醒你,在将来要对自己有更严格的要求;假如你考了个低分,那并不说明你就比别人笨,而是在告诉你,自己得在学习上花更多的时间。没有哪一个人一生出来就擅长做什么事情的,只有努力才能培养出技能。
任何人都不是在第一次接触一项体育运动时就成为校队的代表,任何人
都不是在第一次唱一首歌时就找准每一个音,一切都需要熟能生巧。对于学业也是一样,你或许要反复运算才能解出一道数学题的正确答案,你或许需要读一段文字好几遍才能理解它的意思,你或许得把论文改上好几次才能符合提交的标准。这都是很正常的。不要害怕提问。不要不敢向他人求助。——我每天都在这么做。求助并不是软弱的表现,恰恰相反,它说明你有勇气承认自己的不足、并愿意去学习新的知识。所以,有不懂时,就向大人们求助吧——找个你信得过的对象,例如父母、长辈、老师、教练或辅导员——让他们帮助你向目标前进。
知名人士 11 你要记住,哪怕你表现不好、哪怕你失去信心、哪怕你觉得身边的人都已经放弃了你——永远不要自己放弃自己。因为当你放弃自己的时候,你也放弃了自己的国家。
美国不是一个人们遭遇困难就轻易放弃的国度,在这个国家,人们坚持到底、人们加倍努力,为了他们所热爱的国度,每一个人都尽着自己最大的努力,不会给自己留任何余地。
250 年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后奋起努力、用一场革命最终造就了这个国家;75 年前,有一群和你们一样的学生,他们之后战胜了大萧条、赢得了二战;就在 20 年前,和你们一样的学生们,他们后来创立了 google、twitter 和 facebook,改变了我们人与人之间沟通的方式。因此,今天我想要问你们,你们会做出什么样的贡献?你们将解决什么样的难题?你们能发现什么样的事物?二十、五十或百年之后,假如那时的美国总统也来做一次开学演讲的话,他会怎样描述你们对这个国家所做的一切?你们的家长、你们的老师和我,每一个人都在尽最大的努力,确保你
们都能得到应有的教育来回答这些问题。
例如我正在努力为你们提供更安全的教室、更多的书籍、更先进的设施与计算机。但你们也要担起自己的责任。因此我要求你们在今年能够认真起来,我要求你们尽心地去做自己着手的每一件事,我要求你们每一个人都有所成就。请不要让我们失望——不要让你的家人、你的国家和你自己失望。你们要成为我们骄傲,我知道,你们一定可以做到。谢谢大家,上帝保佑你们,上帝保佑美国。
奥巴马经典语录
对于那些在世界各个地方挑起冲突或一味批评西方不良影响的领导者:你的人民评判你的依据是你建立了什么,而不是破坏了什么。
我们共同终结那些虚假的承诺、陈腐的教条、以及指摘与怨言。
我们要延续代代相传的宝贵礼物,延续神圣的理想,那就是上帝赐予我们的承诺--人人平等,人人自由,人人都有机会去追求最大程度的幸福。
我们对能源的使用,日益让对手强大,与此同时又威胁着我们的星球。
伟大不是凭空而来的,而是赢得的。在我们的历程中,从来没有走捷径或是退而求其次。——努力
一次又一次,这些男男女女,他们奋斗和牺牲;他们将双手磨破为了给我们带来更好的生活。在他们眼中,美国超越了我们每个人雄心的总和,超越了个人、财富和派系的差别。——力量
这些愤世嫉俗的人无法理解这个国家所发生的转变——那些陈腐的政治已经缠绕了我们太久太长。——障碍
六十年前,一位父亲走入餐厅甚至无人理睬,而今天他的儿子可以站在这里,在你们面前许下最庄严的誓言。——自豪
我今天站在这里,因面前的任务感到谦卑,因你们的信任而感激,同时缅怀我们的前人所做出的牺牲。——感激
政府所扮演的角色——应该帮助家庭获得体面的收入,购买他们的所需,有尊严地退休。——公平
市场的力量将如野马一样脱缰——一个仅有财富的国家不可能持续繁荣。——警惕
告诉未来的世界......当一切陷入寒冬,万物俱灭,只有希望和勇气可以长存......这座城市和这个国家,在共同的危机下团结起来,共同面对前方的艰难。——信心
当我们面对挑战时,我们没有怯懦、没有退缩,更没有踟蹰不前。我们在上帝的关爱下眺望远方,我们在自由的道路上继续前进,我们的精神将永远闪耀着光芒。——希望
伟大不是凭空而来的,而是赢得的。
还有难以度量但同样深远的问题,那就是整个国家信心的缺失。但美国人民,请记住这一点:这些挑战会被解决。
我们今日遇到挑战前所未有,所有的情况完全陌生。但是,我们赖以走向成功的价值观从未改变——诚实、勤勉、勇敢、公正、宽容、好学、忠贞和爱国。——信念
如今,我们面对的是一个全新的责任时代——人人都需重视,对我们自己,我们的国家乃至整个世界,都有一份责任。我们会欣然接受这份责任,人生也正因此而充实。——责任
他们太健忘了,他们忘记了这个国家曾经取得的成就。
我们现在面临的问题不是政府太大还是太小,而是政府所扮演的角色——应该帮助家庭获得体面的收入,购买他们的所需,有尊严地退休。
这是我们信心的源泉——上帝赐予我们知识以应对无常的命运。
第二篇:2010奥巴马开学励志演讲President_Obama
President Obama's 2010 Back to School Speech
谢谢!你们好!(掌声。)谢谢。谢谢。你好,费
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 Kellya big round of applause.(Applause.)I was saying
backstagethat when I was in high school, I could not have done that.(Laughter.)I would have muffedit up somehow.So we are so proud of you and everything that you’ve done.And to all the students here, I’m thrilledto be here.城!(掌声。)你好,马斯特曼。见到你们真是太好了。Kelly的介绍真是太棒了。让我们对Kelly报以热烈的掌声。在后台的时候我说,我上高中的时候我就做不这么好,我可能会弄的一团糟。所以让我们为你和你做的一切自豪吧。站在这里我很激动。
kelly在奥巴马总统演讲前,一名叫Kelly的学生做了演讲。backstagen.后台
muffv.笨拙地处理,将事情弄糟 thrilleda.激动的 We’ve got a couple introductions I want to make.First of all, you’ve
我想介绍几个人。首got the outstandinggovernor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, in the house.(Applause.)The mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, is here.(Applause.)CongressmanChaka 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.)
先,来到这儿的有,杰出的宾夕法尼亚州州长,Ed Rendell。(掌声。)费城市长,Michael Nutter。国会议员Fattah和Allyson Schwartz(掌声)。你们的校长Marge Neff(掌声)。学校管理人Arlene Ackerman是这个学校的,并且为学校做了很大的贡献。(掌声)。还有教育部秘书长Arne Duncan。(掌声)
outstandinga.杰出的 Congressmann.国会议员 principaln.校长 superintendentn.院长
还有我。(掌声),我感
And I am here.(Applause.)And I am thrilled to be here.I am just
到非常的激动。我耳闻了你so excited.I’ve heard such great
things about what all of you are doing,们做的那些伟大的事,这里both the students and the teachers and the staff here.面有在校的学生,老师和工
作人员。
今天欢迎你们,欢迎每一个美国学生回校上课,当
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.然你们在学校已经呆了一段时间了。我想不出除了在Masterman外,还有哪个地方更适合做这件事。(掌声)因为你们是费城最好的学校之一。你们在教育方面是领头军。就在上周,由于你们的卓越贡献,被授为国家蓝丝带勋章。这是对每个人的见证,对学生,家长,老师还有学校领导人。我希望全美的社会团体都能欣然接受这个杰出代表的例子。
embracevt.拥抱;接受
Over the past few weeks, Michelle
几周前,我和Michelleand I have been getting Sasha and
Malia ready for school.And they’re
为Sasha和Malia上学的事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 friendshipsand 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.做准备。她们两个对这非常的期待。我敢打赌她们和你们一样,有着相同的感觉。你们为夏天的逝去而神伤,但是你们更应该期待新的一年。如你们可以结交新的朋友,加深同老朋友的感情,加入学校俱乐部,参加各种团队的选拔赛。成长为一个更优秀的学生和个人,不仅仅让你的家人自豪,同样让你们自己也很有成就感。
build friendships结交新朋友
But I know some of you may also
我知道,你们中有些人be a little nervous about starting a new school year.Maybe you’re making
在新学年会有些紧张。或许the jump from elementaryto middle school, or from middle school to high
你刚从小学升到初中,从初school, and you’re worried about what that’s going to be like.Maybe you’re
中升到高中,会担心,新的starting a new school.You’re not sure how you’ll like it, trying to figure
学年将会是什么样的呢。也outhow you’re going to fit in.Or maybe you’re a senior, and you’re
许你进入一所新的学校,不anxious about the whole college process;about where to apply and
知道是否会喜欢这个学校,whether you can afford to go to college.想着怎么来融入这个学校。或许你到了高三年级,对整个的大学入学程序感到不安,比如申请那里的学校,能不能支付上大学的费用等等。
elementary schooln.小学 figure out想明白,弄清楚 fit in融入,适应 afford to do承担得起
除此之外,我知道你们还有来自困难时期的压力。
And beyond all those concerns, I know a lot of you are also feeling the strainof 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.你们知道新闻内容,知道你们一些家庭中发发生的事情。你们读过有关阿富汗战争的信息,听说过我们经历过的经济不景气。有时你们还看到了双亲脸上挂着的忧虑,或从他们的声音中感受到了这些。
strainn.压力
所以,因为我们国家面
So a lot of you as a consequence, because we’re going through a tough timea 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 siblingswhile 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.临困难时期,你们许多人的行为看上去比实际年龄要大。姐姐哥哥在海外工作,你们会表现得坚强,或许妈妈去值第二班,你们就要照顾年幼的弟弟妹妹。或许你们有些人年长一点的,父亲失了业,你们还要做兼职。
as a consequence结果,所以
tough time困难时期【tough a.艰难的】 siblingn.兄弟姐妹,同胞 shiftn.轮班
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 backyour dreams.有太多事情要做了,很多是你们不应该做的。这让你们迷茫,不知道自己的未来会是什么样,在学校能不
能取得好成绩,是不是应该把目光降低些,把理想放低些。
handlev.处理,应对 scale back缩减
但是,我来到马斯特曼,告诉你们一句话。我想
But I came to Masterman to
这句话你们的校长、院长、tell all of you what I think you’re hearing from your principal and your
父母以及老师都曾告诉过你superintendent, and from your parents and your teachers: Nobody gets to
们,那就是,没有人,只有write your destinybut you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is
你才能书写你自己的命运。what you make of it.And nothing--
absolutely nothing--is beyond your
未来在你自己手中,生活由reach, so long as you’re willing to dream big, so long as you’re willing to
自己缔造。只要志向远大,work hard.So long as you’re willing to stay focused on your education,并努力为之奋斗,没有什么there is not a single thing that any of you cannot accomplish, not a single
是不能得到的。只要你专注thing.I believe that.于学业,没有什么事不能实现的。我确信。
destinyn.命运 accomplishv.完成
最后这一点,在学校
And that last part is absolutelyessential, 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 crammingfor 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.)
努力奋斗是必要的。因为教育从未像现在这样重要。我确信,几个月后会有一段时间,你们会完善熬夜写作业,为考试临时抱佛脚,或者在一个雨天的早晨把自己从被窝里拖出来,想,哦天,怎么不是下雪天?!(笑)
absolutelyad.绝对地 cramv.临时抱佛脚;吃得过饱
但是让我告诉你,你所
But let me tell you, what you’re 做的一切都是值得的。你们doing is worth it.There is nothing more important than what you’re doing 现在要做的事情无比重要。right now.Nothing is going to have
没有什么比你的受教育程度as great an impact on your success in life as your education, how you’re
以及你在学校的所做之事更doing in school.能决定你的成功。
More and more, the kinds of
能否能抓住机遇,越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.来越取决于你们在学校的努力。你们在学校的表现越好,生活中就能走得越远。当今,其他国家正与我们竞争,而且比以往任何时候都激烈。在中国北京或者印度邦加罗尔的学生比以前更加努力,而且比以前表现更好。你们在学校的成功并不只决定了自己一人的成功,还决定了美国在21世界是否能够成功。
所以,你们要承担起
So you’ve got an obligationto 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.这样的责任和义务。同时国家也向你们承担责任和义务,那就是为你们提供最好的教育,为此我们要努力,共同奋斗。
obligationn.责任,义务
所有政府工作人员,从州长到市长,到院长,到总统,所有人都要履行职责
It takes all of us in government--from the governor to the mayor to 为我们的学生做好准备,帮the superintendent to the President--all of us doing our part to prepare our 助他们在教室、在大学、在students, all of them, for success in the classroom and in college and in a 事业上取得成功。这就需要career.It’s going to take an outstanding principal, like Principal
我们有一个杰出的校长,像Neff, and outstanding teachers like the
校长Neff,和优秀的老师,ones you have here at Masterman--teachers who are going above and
正如你们的马斯特曼的老师beyond the call of duty for their students.And it’s going to take
们。老师们要履行好对学生parents who are committed to your education.所应担负起的责任。我也希
望家长负起责任。
佳句欣赏
Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.没有人,只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中,生活由自己缔造。
背景知识
这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称,奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地,也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议,一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”,今年的总统开学演讲,白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”,而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。
第三篇:美国总统奥巴马开学励志演讲
美国总统奥巴马2010年开学励志演讲
美国总统奥巴马开学演讲英语演讲稿。这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称,奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地,也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议,一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”,今年的总统开学演讲,白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”,而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。
转自[英美者]-英语专业网站:http:///Listening_Speaking/Oral_English/214752572.html
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.谢谢!你们好!(掌声。)谢谢。谢谢。你好,费城!(掌声。)你好,马斯特曼。见到你们真是太好了。Kelly的介绍真是太棒了。让我们对Kelly报以热烈的掌声。在后台的时候我说,我上高中的时候我就做不这么好,我可能会弄的一团糟。所以让我们为你和你做的一切自豪吧。站在这里我很激动。
kelly 在奥巴马总统演讲前,一名叫Kelly的学生做了演讲。backstage n.后台
muff v.笨拙地处理,将事情弄糟 thrilled a.激动的 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.)
我想介绍几个人。首先,来到这儿的有,杰出的宾夕法尼亚州州长,Ed Rendell。(掌声。)费城市长,Michael Nutter。国会议员Fattah和Allyson Schwartz(掌声)。你们的校长Marge Neff(掌声)。学校管理人Arlene Ackerman是这个学校的,并且为学校做了很大的贡献。(掌声)。还有教育部秘书长Arne Duncan。(掌声)
outstanding a.杰出的 Congressman n.国会议员 principal n.校长 superintendent n.院长
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.还有我。(掌声),我感到非常的激动。我耳闻了你们做的那些伟大的事,这里面有在校的学生,老师和工作人员。
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.今天欢迎你们,欢迎每一个美国学生回校上课,当然你们在学校已经呆了一段时间了。我想不出除了在Masterman外,还有哪个地方更适合做这件事。(掌声)因为你们是费城最好的学校之一。你们在教育方面是领头军。就在上周,由于你们的卓越贡献,被授为国家蓝丝带勋章。这是对每个人的见证,对学生,家长,老师还有学校领导人。我希望全美的社会团体都能欣然接受这个杰出代表的例子。
embrace vt.拥抱;接受
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.几周前,我和Michelle为Sasha和Malia上学的事做准备。她们两个对这非常的期待。我敢打赌她们和你们一样,有着相同的感觉。你们为夏天的逝去而神伤,但是你们更应该期待新的一年。如你们可以结交新的朋友,加深同老朋友的感情,加入学校俱乐部,参加各种团队的选拔赛。成长为一个更优秀的学生和个人,不仅仅让你的家人自豪,同样让你们自己也很有成就感。
build friendships 结交新朋友
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.我知道,你们中有些人在新学年会有些紧张。或许你刚从小学升到初中,从初中升到高中,会担心,新的学年将会是什么样的呢。也许你进入一所新的学校,不知道是否会喜欢这个学校,想着怎么来融入这个学校。或许你到了高三年级,对整个的大学入学程序感到不安,比如申请那里的学校,能不能支付上大学的费用等等。
elementary school n.小学 figure out 想明白,弄清楚 fit in 融入,适应 afford to do 承担得起
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.除此之外,我知道你们还有来自困难时期的压力。你们知道新闻内容,知道你们一些家庭中发发生的事情。你们读过有关阿富汗战争的信息,听说过我们经历过的经济不景气。有时你们还看到了双亲脸上挂着的忧虑,或从他们的声音中感受到了这些。
strain n.压力
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.所以,因为我们国家面临困难时期,你们许多人的行为看上去比实际年龄要大。姐姐哥哥在海外工作,你们会表现得坚强,或许妈妈去值第二班,你们就要照顾年幼的弟弟妹妹。或许你们有些人年长一点的,父亲失了业,你们还要做兼职。
as a consequence 结果,所以
tough time 困难时期【tough a.艰难的】 sibling n.兄弟姐妹,同胞 shift n.轮班
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.有太多事情要做了,很多是你们不应该做的。这让你们迷茫,不知道自己的未来会是什么样,在学校能不能取得好成绩,是不是应该把目光降低些,把理想放低些。
handle v.处理,应对 scale back 缩减
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.但是,我来到马斯特曼,告诉你们一句话。我想这句话你们的校长、院长、父母以及老师都曾告诉过你们,那就是,没有人,只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中,生活由自己缔造。只要志向远大,并努力为之奋斗,没有什么是不能得到的。只要你专注于学业,没有什么事不能实现的。我确信。
destiny n.命运 accomplish v.完成
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.)
最后这一点,在学校努力奋斗是必要的。因为教育从未像现在这样重要。我确信,几个月后会有一段时间,你们会完善熬夜写作业,为考试临时抱佛脚,或者在一个雨天的早晨把自己从被窝里拖出来,想,哦天,怎么不是下雪天?!(笑)
absolutely ad.绝对地
cram v.临时抱佛脚;吃得过饱
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.但是让我告诉你,你所做的一切都是值得的。你们现在要做的事情无比重要。没有什么比你的受教育程度以及你在学校的所做之事更能决定你的成功。
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.能否能抓住机遇,越来越取决于你们在学校的努力。你们在学校的表现越好,生活中就能走得越远。当今,其他国家正与我们竞争,而且比以往任何时候都激烈。在中国北京或者印度邦加罗尔的学生比以前更加努力,而且比以前表现更好。你们在学校的成功并不只决定了自己一人的成功,还决定了美国在21世界是否能够成功。
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.所以,你们要承担起这样的责任和义务。同时国家也向你们承担责任和义务,那就是为你们提供最好的教育,为此我们要努力,共同奋斗。
obligation n.责任,义务
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.所有政府工作人员,从州长到市长,到院长,到总统,所有人都要履行职责为我们的学生做好准备,帮助他们在教室、在大学、在事业上取得成功。这就需要我们有一个杰出的校长,像校长Neff,和优秀的老师,正如你们的马斯特曼的老师们。老师们要履行好对学生所应担负起的责任。我也希望家长负起责任。
佳句欣赏
Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.没有人,只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中,生活由自己缔造。背景知识
这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称,奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地,也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议,一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”,今年的总统开学演讲,白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”,而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。
弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市,2009年9月8日 嗨,大家好!你们今天过得怎么样?我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起,全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里,我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。
我知道,对你们中的许多人来说,今天是开学的第一天,你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中,对你们来说,这是在新学校的第一天,因此,假如你们感到有些紧张,那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过,我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级,许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。
我可以理解这份心情。小时候,我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年,而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书,因此她决定自己给我上课——时间是每周一到周五的凌晨4点半。显然,我不怎么喜欢那么早就爬起来,很多时候,我就这么在厨房的桌子前睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候,我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说:“小鬼,你以为教你我就很轻松?” 所以,我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应,但今天我站在这里,是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育,以及在新的学年里,你们应当做些什么。
我做过许多关于教育的讲话,也常常用到“责任”这个词。我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们,督促你们学习。我谈到过家长们有责任看管你们认真学习、完成作业,不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。
我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准严要求、协助老师和校长们的工作,改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。
但哪怕这一切都达到最好,哪怕我们有最尽职的教师、最好的家长、和最优秀的学校,假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话,那么这一切努力都会白费。——除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否则这一切都会失去意义。而这就是我今天讲话的主题:对于自己的教育,你们中每一个人的责任。首先,我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。
你们中的每一个人都会有自己擅长的东西,每一个人都是有用之材,而发现自己的才能是什么,就是你们要对自己担起的责任。教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。
或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作,你不会发现自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一个发明家、创造家——甚至设计出像今天的iPhone一样流行的产品,或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课程上做上几次实验,你不会知道自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一名议员或最高法院法官,但假如你不去加入什么学生会或参加几次辩论赛,你也不会发现自己的才能。
而且,我可以向你保证,不管你将来想要做什么,你都需要相应的教育。——你想当名医生、当名教师或当名警官?你想成为护士、成为建筑设计师、律师或军人?无论你选择哪一种职业,良好的教育都必不可少,这世上不存在不把书念完就能拿到好工作的美梦,任何工作,都需要你的汗水、训练与学习。
不仅仅对于你们个人的未来有重要意义,你们的教育如何也会对这个国家、乃至世界的未来产生重要影响。今天你们在学校中学习的内容,将会决定我们整个国家在未来迎接重大挑战时的表现。
你们需要在数理科学课程上学习的知识和技能,去治疗癌症、艾滋那样的疾病,和解决我们面临的能源问题与环境问题;你们需要在历史社科课程上培养出的观察力与判断力,来减轻和消除无家可归与贫困、犯罪问题和各种歧视,让这个国家变得更加公平和自由;你们需要在各类课程中逐渐累积和发展出来的创新意识和思维,去创业和建立新的公司与企业,来制造就业机会和推动经济的增长。我们需要你们中的每一个人都培养和发展自己的天赋、技能和才智,来解决我们所面对的最困难的问题。假如你不这么做——假如你放弃学习——那么你不仅是放弃了自己,也是放弃了你的国家。当然,我明白,读好书并不总是件容易的事。我知道你们中的许多人在生活中面临着各种各样的问题,很难把精力集中在专心读书之上。我知道你们的感受。我父亲在我两岁时就离开了家庭,是母亲一人将我们拉扯大,有时她付不起帐单,有时我们得不到其他孩子们都有的东西,有时我会想,假如父亲在该多好,有时我会感到孤独无助,与周围的环境格格不入。因此我并不总是能专心学习,我做过许多自己觉得丢脸的事情,也惹出过许多不该惹的麻烦,我的生活岌岌可危,随时可能急转直下。
但我很幸运。我在许多事上都得到了重来的机会,我得到了去大学读法学院、实现自己梦想的机会。我的妻子——现在得叫她第一夫人米歇尔·奥巴马了——也有着相似的人生故事,她的父母都没读过大学,也没有什么财产,但他们和她都辛勤工作,好让她[本_文_来_源_于_我_的_学_习_网
http://www.teniu.ccic for me either, buster.“(Laughter.)So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education.And I've talked about responsibility a lot.I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.That's okay.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.But he once said, ”I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed." These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country? Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.(Applause.)END
12:22 P.M.EDT
第四篇:奥巴马2010年开学励志演讲 原稿.doc
Thank you!Hello!(Applause.)Thank you.Thank you.Well, hello, Philadelphia!(Applause.)And hello, Master man.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 super intendent, 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 youdo--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 frome lementary to middle school, or from middle school to high school, and you’re worried about what that’s going to belike.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.Yo u 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 apart-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 t o 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 yourteachers: Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in yourhands.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’rewilling 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 asnow 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 21stcentury.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 super intendent 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 out standing teachers like the ones you have here at Master man--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 ourjob.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 parent shave 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 youthrough.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, youremember 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 a sa 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 everybodye lse.That’s not really the secret to success.It’s about working harder than everybodye lse.So don’t avoid new challenges--seek the mout, step out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to ask fo r help.Your teachers and family are there to guide you.They want to know if you’re not catching onto 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 friend s 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 o fe xcellence 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.And in some places, the problem is even more serious.There are neighborhoods in my hometown of Chicago, and there ar eneighborhoods right here in Philadelphia where kids are doing each other serious harm.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’refocused on your education, you keep fighting for your dreams and then you help each other reach each other’s dreams, then you’re no tonly 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, what I want to say t o every kid, every young person--what I want all of you--if youtake 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 persity, that all of us are different.And we shouldn’t be embarrassed by thethings 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.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 oft hat 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.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.END 1:23 P.M.EDT 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’rewrestling 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.Thank you.God bless you, and God bless the United States ofAmerica.Thank you.(Applause.)
Sometimes kids can be mean to other kids.Let’s face it.Wedon’t always treat each other with respect and kindness.That’s true for adults as well, by theway.And I agree with Tamerria.That’s how the world shouldwork.But it’s only going to work that way if allof you get in good habits while you’re in school.So, yes, each of us need to work hard.We allhave to take responsibilities for our owneducation.We need to take responsibility for ourown lives.But what makes us who we are is thathere, in this country, in the United States of America, we don’tjust reach for our own dreams, we try to help others do thesame.This is a country that gives all itsdaughters and all of its sons a fair chance, a chance to make themost of their lives and fulfill their God-givenpotential.That’s one of the reasons whyI’m announcing our second Commencement Challenge.Some of you may have heard of this.If yourschool is the winner, if you show us how teachers and students andparents are all working together to prepare your kids and yourschool for college and a career, if you show us how you’re givingback to your community and your country, then I will congratulateyou in person by speaking at your commencement.So my main message to all ofyou here today: I couldn’t be prouder ofyou.Keep it up.All of you Iknow are going to do great things in the future.And maybe some time in the 21st century, it’s going to be one ofyou that’s standing up here speaking to a group of kids asPresident of the United States.
第五篇:奥巴马2009、2013演讲
奥巴马就职演说(2009)
各位同胞:
今天我站在这里,为眼前的重责大任感到谦卑,对各位的信任心怀感激,对先贤的牺牲铭记在心。我要谢谢布什总统为这个国家的服务,也感谢他在政权转移期间的宽厚和配合。
四十四位美国人发表过总统就职誓言,这些誓词或是在繁荣富强及和平宁静之际发表,或是在乌云密布,时局动荡之时。在艰困的时候,美国能箕裘相继,不仅因为居高位者有能力或愿景,也因为人民持续对先人的抱负有信心,也忠于创建我国的法统。
因此,美国才能承继下来。因此,这一代美国人必须承继下去。
现在大家都知道我们正置身危机核心,我国正处于对抗深远暴力和憎恨的战争。我们的经济元气大伤,是某些人贪婪且不负责任的后果,也是大众未能做出艰难的选择,为国家进入新时代做淮备所致。许多人失去房子,丢了工作,生意垮了。我们的医疗照护太昂贵,学校教育辜负了许多人。每天都有更多证据显示,我们利用能源的方式壮大我们的对敌,威胁我们的星球。
这些都是得自资料和统计数据的危机指标。比较无法测量但同样深沉的,是举国信心尽失─持续担心美国将无可避免地衰退,也害怕下一代一定会眼界变低。
今天我要告诉各位,我们面临的挑战是真的,挑战非常严重,且不在少数。它们不是可以轻易,或在短时间内解决。但是,美国要了解,这些挑战会被解决。
在这一天,我们聚在一起,因为我们选择希望而非恐惧,有意义的团结而非纷争和不合。
在这一天,我们来此宣示,那些无用的抱怨和虚伪的承诺已终结,那些扭曲我们政治已久的相互指控和陈旧教条已终结。
我们仍是个年轻的国家,但借用圣经的话,摆脱幼稚事物的时刻到来了,重申我们坚忍精神的时刻到来了,选择我们更好的历史,实践那种代代传承的珍贵权利,那种高贵的理念:就是上帝的应许,我们每个人都是平等的,每个人都是自由的,每个人都应该有机会追求全然的幸福。
再次肯定我们国家的伟大,我们了解伟大绝非赐予而来,必须努力达成。我们的旅程从来就不是抄捷径或很容易就满足。这条路一直都不是给不勇敢的人走的,那些偏好逸乐胜过工作,或者只想追求名利就满足的人。恰恰相反,走这条路的始终是勇于冒险的人,做事的人,成事的人,其中有些人很出名,但更常见的是在各自岗位上的男男女女无名英雄,在这条漫长崎区的道路上支撑我们,迈向繁荣与自由。
为了我们,他们携带很少的家当,远渡重洋,追寻新生活。
为了我们,他们胼手胝足,在西部安顿下来;忍受风吹雨打,筚路蓝缕。
为了我们,他们奋斗不懈,在康科特和盖茨堡,诺曼地和溪山等地葬身。
前人不断的奋斗与牺牲,直到双手皮开肉绽,我们才能享有比较好的生活。他们将美国视为大于所有个人企图心总和的整体,超越出身、财富或小圈圈的差异。
这是我们今天继续前进的旅程。我们仍旧是全球最繁荣强盛的国家。这场危机爆发时,我们的劳工生产力并未减弱。我们的心智一样创新,我们的产品和劳务和上周或上个月或去年相比,一样是必需品。我们的能力并未减损。但是我们墨守成规、维护狭小利益、推迟引人不悦的决定,这段时期肯定已经过去。从今天起,我们必须重新出发、再次展开再造美国的工程。
我们无论朝何处望去,都有工作必须完成。经济情势需要大胆、迅速的行动,我们将有所行动,不光是创造新工作,更要奠定成长的新基础。我们将造桥铺路,为企业兴建电力网格与数位线路,将我们联系在一起。我们将让科学回归合适的用途,运用科技的奇蹟来提高医疗品质并降低费用。我们将利用太阳能、风力和土壤作为汽车的燃料和工厂的能源。我们将让中小学及大专院校转型,因应新时代的需要。这些我们可以作到。我们也将会作到。
现在,有人质疑我们的企图心规模,暗示说我们的体系无法承受太多的大计画。这些人的记性不好。因为他们忘记了这个国家已经完成的成就,当创造力朝同一个目标发展,不受约束的男男女女可以完成何等成就,必要的是勇气。
怀疑者无法理解的是他们的主张已经站不住脚,长期以来折磨我们的陈腐政治争议已经行不通。我们今天的问题不是政府太大或太小,而是有无功效,是否能帮助家庭找到薪水不错的工作,支付得起照顾费用,有尊严的退休。哪个方向能够提供肯定的答案,我们就往那里走。答案是否定的地方,计画就会停止。所有我们这些管理大众金钱的人都将负起责任,花钱要精明,改掉恶习,正大光明作事情,只有这样我们才能重建政府与人民间最重要的信任。
我们眼前的问题也不是说市场的力量是善或恶。嗜前的世代力抗法西斯主义和共产主义,靠的除了飞弹和战车之外,还有强固的联盟和持久的信念。他们知道单单力量本身不足以让我们自保,也不能让我们为所欲为。相反地,他们知道我们的力量因为谨慎使用而增强,我们的安全源自我们理想的正当性,我们所树立楷模的力量,以及谦逊和克制所具有的调和特质。
我们是这些遗产的保存者。在这些原则的再次指引下,我们可以面对那些新的威胁,这些威胁有赖国与国间更大的合作与谅解方能因应。我们将开始以负责任的方式把伊拉克还给它的人民,并在阿富汗建立赢来不易的和平。我们会努力不懈地与老朋友和昔日的对手合作,以减轻核子威胁,和地球的暖化。我们不会为我们的生活方式而道歉,也会毫不动摇地保护它,对那些想要藉由带来恐怖与杀害无辜以遂其目的者,我们现在告诉你,我们的精神强过你们,无法摧折,你们不可能比我们长久,我们必定打败你们。
因为我们知道,我们拼凑组合而成的遗产是我们的强处,而非弱点。我们是由基督徒和穆斯林,犹太教徒和印度教徒,以及非信徒组成的国家。我们由取自世界四面八方的各种语文和文化所形塑。而且由於我们曾尝过内战和种族隔离的苦果,并且在走出那黑暗时期之後变得更坚强和团结,这让我们不得不相信旧日的仇恨终究会过去,部族之间的界线很快就会泯灭。随着世界越来越小,我们共通的人性也会彰显,而美国必须扮演引进新和平时代的角色。
对穆斯林世界,我们寻求一种新的前进方式,以共同的利益和尊重为基础。那些想播植并把自己社会的问题怪罪於西方的领袖,须知你的国民藉以判断你的,是你能建立什麽,而非你能毁坏什麽。那些靠着贪腐欺骗和箝制异己保住权势的人,须知你门站在历史错误的一边,而只要你愿意松手,我们就会帮忙。
那些穷国的人民,我们保证会和你们合作,让们的农场丰收,让清流涌入,滋补饿坏的身体,喂养饥饿的心灵。而对那些和我们一样比较富裕的国家,我要说,我们不能再对国界以外的苦痛视而不见,也不能再消耗世上的资源而不计後果。因为世界已经变了,我们也要跟着改变。
在我们思索眼前道路的此际,我们以谦虚感激的心想到,有些勇敢的美国同胞正在遥远的沙漠和山岭上巡逻。今天他们有话要对我们说,就和躺在阿灵顿(公墓)的英雄们世世代代轻声诉说的一样。我们尊荣他们,不只因为他们扞卫我们的自由,更因为他们代表着服务的精神;愿意在比自己更大的事物上找寻意义。而在此刻,能够界定一个世代的此刻,必须常驻你我心中的,正是这种精神。
即使政府能做和必须做,这个国家最终仍得靠美国人民的信念与决心。在堤防决堤时,是人们的善心,让他们招待陌生人。是工作人员的无私,让他们宁可减工时,也不愿看到朋友失业,陪伴我们度过最黑暗时期。是消防员的勇气,让他们冲进满是浓烟的楼梯间。是父母心甘情愿培育孩子,最终决定我们的命运。
我们的挑战也许是新的,我们迎接挑战的工具也许是新的,但我们赖以成功的价值观─辛勤工作和诚实、勇气和公平竞争、容忍和好奇心、忠实和爱国心─这些都是固有的。这些价值是真实的,是我们历史上进步的沈默力量。我们有必要找回这些真实价值。我们现在需要一个勇於负责的新时代,每一个美国人都体认到我们对自己、对国家、对世界负有责任,我们不是不情愿地接受这些责任,而是欣然接受,坚信没有什麽比全力以赴完成艰难的工作,更能得到精神上的满足,更能找到自我。
这是公民的代价和承诺。
这是我们信心的来源,体认上帝召唤我们创造不确定的命运。
这是我们的自由和信条的真谛,为什麽不同种族和信仰的男女老幼能在这个大草坪上共同庆祝,为什麽一个人的父亲在不到六十年前也许还不能进当地的餐厅用餐,现在却能站在你们面前做最神圣的宣誓。
让我们记住这一天,记住我们是谁、我们走了多远。在美国诞生这一年,在最寒冷的几个月,在结冰的河岸,一群爱国人士抱着垂死的同志。首都弃守,敌人进逼,雪沾了血。在那时,我们革命的成果受到质疑,我们的国父下令向人民宣读这段话:
「让这段话流传后世,在深冬,只剩下希望和美德,这个城市和这个国家,面临共同危险,站起来迎向它。」
美国,面对我们共同的危险,在这个艰困的冬天,让我们记得这些永恒的话语。怀着希望和美德,让我们再度冲破结冰的逆流,度过接下来可能来临的暴风雪。让我们孩子的孩子继续流传下去,说我们受到考验时,我们拒绝让旅程结束,我们不回头,也不踌躇;眼睛注视着远方,上帝的恩典降临我们,我们带着自由这个伟大的礼物,安全送达未来的世世代代。
奥巴马就职演说(2013)
谢谢大家,拜登副总统、首席大法官先生、国会议员们、尊敬的各位嘉宾、亲爱的公民们。
每一次我们集会庆祝总统就职都是在见证美国宪法的持久力量。我们都是在肯定美国民主的承诺。我们重申,将这个国家紧密联系在一起的不是我们皮肤的颜色,也不是我们信仰的教条,更不是我们族名的来源。让我们与众不同,让我们成为美国人的是我们对于一种理念的恪守。200多年前,这一理念在一篇宣言中被清晰阐述:
“我们认为下述真理是不言而喻的,人人生而平等。造物主赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利,包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。”
今天,我们继续着这一未竟的征程,来架起这些理念与我们时代现实之间的桥梁。因为历史告诉我们,即使这些真理是不言而喻的,它们也从来不会自动生效。因为虽然自由是上帝赋予的礼物,但仍然需要世间的子民去捍卫。1776年,美国的爱国先驱们不是只为了推翻国王的暴政而战,也不是为赢得少数人的特权,建立暴民的统治。先驱们留给我们一个共和国,一个民有、民治、民享的政府。他们委托每一代美国人保卫我们的建国信条。
在过去的200百多年里,我们做到了。
从奴役的血腥绳索,和刀剑的血光厮杀中我们懂得了,建立在自由与平等原则之上的联邦不能永远维持半奴隶和半自由的状态。我们赢得了新生,誓言共同前进。
我们共同努力,建立起现代的经济体系。架设铁路与高速公路,加速了旅行和商业交流。建立学校与大学,培训我们的工人。
我们一起发现,自由市场的繁荣只能建立在保障竞争与公平竞争的原则之上。
我们共同下决心让这个伟大的国家远离危险,保护她的人民不受生命威胁和不幸侵扰。一路走来,我们从未放弃对集权的质疑。我们同样不屈服于这一谎言:一切的社会弊端都能够只靠政府来解决。我们对积极向上与奋发进取的赞扬,我们对努力工作与个人责任的坚持,这些都是美国精神的基本要义。
我们也理解,时代在变化,我们同样要变革。对建国精神的忠诚,需要我们肩负起新的责任,迎接新的挑战。保护我们的个人自由,最终需要所有人的共同努力。因为美国人不能再独力迎接当今世界的挑战,正如美国士兵们不能再像先辈一样,用步枪和民兵同敌人(法西斯主义与共产主义)作战。一个人无法培训所有的数学与科学老师,我们需要他们为了未来去教育孩子们。一个人无法建设道路、铺设网络、建立实验室来为国内带来新的工作岗位和商业机会。现在,与以往任何时候相比,我们都更需要团结合作。作为一个国家,一个民族团结起来。
这一代美国人经历了危机的考验,经济危机坚定了我们的决心,证明了我们的恢复力。长达十年的战争正在结束,经济的复苏已经开始。美国的可能性是无限的,因为我们拥有当今没有边界的世界所需要的所有品质:年轻与活力,多样性与开放,无穷的冒险精神以及创造的天赋才能。我亲爱的同胞们,我们正是为此刻而生,我们更要在此刻团结一致,抓住当下的机会。
因为我们,美国人民,清楚如果只有不断萎缩的少数人获得成功,而大多数人不能成功,我们的国家就无法成功。我们相信,美国的繁荣必须建立在不断上升的中产阶级的宽阔臂膀上,我们知道美国的繁荣只有这样才能实现。只有当每个人都能找到工作中的自立与自豪时才能实现。只有当诚实劳动的薪水足够让家庭摆脱困苦的悬崖时才能实现。我们忠诚于我们的事业,保证让一个生于最贫穷环境中的小女孩都能知道,她有同其他所有人一样的成功机会。因为她是一个美国人,她是自由的、平等的。她的自由平等不仅由上帝来见证,更由我们亲手保护。
我们知道,我们已然陈旧的程序不足以满足时代的需要。我们必须应用新理念和新技术重塑我们的政府,改进我们的税法,改革我们的学校,让我们的公民拥有他们所需要的技能,更加努力地工作,学更多的知识,向更高的地方发展。这意味着变革,我们的目标是:国家可以奖励每个美国人的努力和果断。
这是现在需要的。这将给我们的信条赋予真正的意义。
我们,人民,仍然认为,每个公民都应当获得基本的安全和尊严。我们必须做出艰难抉择,降低医疗成本,缩减赤字规模。但我们拒绝必须在照顾建设国家的这一代和投资即将建设国家的下一代间做出选择。因为我们记得过去的教训:老年人的夕阳时光在贫困中度过,家有残障儿童的父母无处求助。我们相信,在这个国家,自由不只是那些幸运儿的专属,或者说幸福只属于少数人。我们知道,不管我们是怎样负责任地生活,我们任何人在任何时候都可能面临失业、突发疾病或住房被可怕的飓风摧毁的风险。
我们通过医疗保险、联邦医疗补助计划、社会保障项目向每个人做出承诺,这些不会让我们的创造力衰竭,而是将会让我们强大。这些不会让我们成为充满不劳而获者的国度,这些让我们敢于承担风险,让国家伟大。
我们,人民,仍然相信,我们作为美国人的义务不只是对我们自己而言,还包括对子孙后代。我们将应对气候变化的威胁,认识到不采取措施应对气候变化就是对我们的孩子和后代的背叛。一些人可能仍在否定科学界压倒性的判断,但没有人能够避免火灾、严重旱灾、更强力风暴带来的灾难性打击。通向可再生能源利用的道路是漫长的,有时是困难的。但美国不能抵制这种趋势,我们必须引领这种趋势。我们不能把制造新就业机会和新行业的技术让给其他国家,我们必须声明这一承诺。这将是我们保持经济活力和国家财富(我们的森林和航道,我们的农田与雪峰)的方法。这将是我们保护我们星球的办法,上帝把它托付给我们照顾。这将为我们的建国之父们曾宣布的信条赋予意义。
我们,人民,仍然相信持久的安全与和平,不需要持续的战争。我们勇敢的男女士兵经受了战火的考验,他们的技能和勇气是无可匹敌的。我们的公民依然铭记着那些阵亡者,他们非常清楚我们为自由付出的代价。明白他们的牺牲将让我们永远对那些试图伤害我们的势力保持警惕。但我们也是那些赢得和平而不只是战争的人们的后代,他们将仇敌转变成最可靠的朋友,我们也必须把这些经验带到这个时代。
我们将通过强大的军力和法制保护我们的人民,捍卫我们的价值观。我们将展现试图和平解决与其它国家分歧的勇气,但这不是因为我们对面临的危险持幼稚的态度,而是因为接触能够更持久地化解疑虑和恐惧。美国将在全球保持强大的联盟,我们将更新这些能扩展我们应对海外危机能力的机构。因为作为世界上最强大的国家,我们在世界和平方面拥有最大的利益。我们将支持从亚洲到非洲、从美洲至中东的民主国家,因为我们的利益和良心驱使我们代表那些想获得自由的人们采取行动。我们必须成为贫困者、病患者、被边缘化的人士、异见受害者的希望来源,不仅仅是出于慈善,也是因为这个时代的和平需要不断推进我们共同信念中的原则:宽容和机遇,人类尊严与正义。
我们,人民,今天昭示的最明白的事实是我们所有人都是生而平等的,这是依然引领我们的恒星。它引领我们的先辈穿越纽约塞尼卡瀑布城(女权抗议事件)、塞尔马(黑人权力事件)和石墙骚乱(同性恋与警察发生的暴力事件),引领着所有的男性和女性,留下姓名和没留姓名的人。在伟大的征程中,一路上留下足迹的人。曾经听一位牧师说,我们不能独自前行。马丁-路德-金说,我们个人的自由与地球上每个灵魂的自由不可分割。
继续先辈开创的事业是我们这代人的任务。直到我们的妻子、母亲和女儿的付出能够与她们的努力相称,我们的征途才会结束。我们的征途不会终结,我们要让同性恋的兄弟姐妹在法律之下得到与其他人同样的待遇。如果我们真正是生而平等的,那么我们对彼此的爱也应该是平等的。我们的征途没有结束,直到没有公民需要等待数小时去行使投票权。我们的征途不会结束,直到我们找到更好的方法迎接努力、有憧憬的移民,他们依旧视美国是一块充满机会的土地。直到聪颖年轻的学生和工程师为我们所用,而不是被驱逐出美国。我们的征途不会结束,直到我们所有的儿童,从底特律的街道到阿巴拉契亚的山岭,再到康涅狄格州纽镇安静的小巷,直到他们得到关心和珍视,永远避免受到伤害。
那是我们这一代的任务让生存、自由和追求幸福的说辞、权力和价值切实体现在每个美国人的身上。我们的立国文本没有要求我们将每个人的生活一致化。这并不意味着,我们会以完全一样的方式去定义自由,沿着同样的道路通向幸福。进步不会终止几个世纪以来一直纠结的关于政府角色的争论,但这要求我们现在就采取行动。
目前是由我们角色,我们不能拖延。我们不能将绝对主义当作原则,或者以假象代替政纲,或将中伤视作理性的辩论。我们必须行动,要意识到我们的工作并不完美。我们必须行动,意识到今天的胜利是并不完全的。这些将有赖于未来4年、40年或是400年致力于这项事业的人,去推进当年在费城制宪会议大厅传承给我们的永恒精神。
我的美国同胞,我今天在你们面前宣读的誓词,如同在国会山服务的其他人曾宣读过的誓词一样,是对上帝和国家的誓词,不是对党派或是派别的,我们必须在任期内忠实地履行这些承诺。但我今天宣读的誓词与士兵报名参军或者是移民实现梦想时所宣读的誓词没有多少差别。我的誓词与我们所有的人向我们头顶飘扬的、让我们心怀自豪的国旗所表达的誓言没有多大差别。
这些是公民的誓词,代表着我们最伟大的希望。你和我,作为公民,都有为这个国家设定道路的权力。
你和我,作为公民,有义务塑造我们时代的辩题,不仅是通过我们的选票,而且要为保卫最悠久的价值观和持久的理想发声。
现在让我们互相拥抱,怀着庄严的职责和无比的快乐,这是我们永久的与生俱来的权利。有共同的努力和共同的目标,用热情与奉献,让我们回答历史的召唤,将宝贵的自由之光带入并不确定的未来。
感谢你们,上帝保佑你们,愿上帝永远保佑美利坚合众国