奥巴马夫人演讲稿(中英文修改)

第一篇：奥巴马夫人演讲稿(中英文修改)

2012年9月4日奥巴马夫人演讲稿(中英文)Transcript: Michelle Obama's Convention Speech PBS NewsHour/YouTube

First lady Michelle Obama addresses the DNC after being introduced by military mom Elaine Brye, from PBS NewsHour.September 4,2012 9月4日，在美国北卡罗来纳州夏洛特举行的民主党全国代表大会上，美国第一夫人米歇尔激情演讲，为丈夫竞选助阵。以下是演讲全文中文翻译：

Thank you—Thank you so much—Thank you—Thank you so much.谢谢你们，太感谢你们了，谢谢你们，太感谢你们了。With your help,Let me start.有你们的帮助。。让我开始吧。

I want to start by thanking Elaine.Elaine, Thank you so much...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.我先要感谢依琳，太感谢你了。依琳，非常感谢，……我们感激你和你家人的服务和奉献，我们永远支持你。

Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.过去几年里作为第一夫人，我有了不寻常的特权，去过这个国家的各处。

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.我所去之处，在我遇到的人中，在我听到的故事里。我看到了美国精神的精华。

I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.我看到了它体现在真诚和温暖，人们给我和我的家人，特别是我们的女儿的真诚和温暖。I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.我在几乎要倒闭的学区的老师身上看到它，他们决心还是要教书，没工资也教。

I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...我也在关键时刻成为英雄的人们身上看到它，奋不顾身地去救别人，飞往远处去扑火……

driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.驱车数小时去帮助被水淹了的城镇。

And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families...我也在军人和让我们自豪的军人家庭身上看到了它……

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...受伤的勇士们告诉我他们就是要努力重新行走，他们要能跑，他们要参加马拉松…… 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.” 在阿富汗因爆炸受伤失明的年轻人就有一句话说，―……我愿意再给100次我的眼睛，要是有这个机会，再做我已经做的，做我能做的。”

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.每天我遇到的人们都鼓舞着我……每天他们都让我感到骄傲……每天他们让我感到我们多么幸运，生活在地球上最伟大的国家。

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.作为你们的第一夫人是荣誉和特权……但是当我们四年前刚刚走到一起时，我还对我们开始的这个征途感到忧虑。

While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country...and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President...我对我丈夫对这个国家的愿景深信不疑……我确信他能成为一位不平凡的总统…… like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.像任何母亲一样，我担心如果他到得了那个机会，对我们的女儿会怎样。How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? 我们怎么才能让她们在全国的注视下脚踏实地呢？

How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known? 她们要离开她们的学校和朋友，离开她们唯一的家会有什么感觉呢？

See our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys...Saturdays at soccer

games, Sundays at grandma's house...我们在搬到华盛顿去之前，过的是充满了朴实乐趣的生活……星期六有足球赛，星期天在祖母家过……

and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, 我和巴拉克每周有个约会，外出吃晚饭，或是看电影，because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.因为累得喘不过气来的母亲，我难以两头都顾到。（笑声）

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.说实话，我喜爱我们为我们的女儿建立起来的生活……还有，我深深地爱着和我一起建立起这样生活的男人……我不想改变这些，即使他当上总统。

I loved Barack just the way he was.我爱那时的本色的巴拉克。

You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...那时，巴拉克是个参议员兼总统竞选人……

to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, 对我来说，他依然是开着上了锈的车来接我约会的那个男人，I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door...我真能从乘客边的车门上的锈洞里看到开过的路面……

he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, 当时的他，最骄傲的财产是他在垃圾堆里找到的一张咖啡桌，and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.他的唯一的一双像样的鞋还是小了半码。

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.然而，在巴拉克开始对我谈起他的家人时——你知道，那时我就了解到我找到了一个有爱心的人，他的观念和教养和我呢，那么想像。

You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions，如你们所知，巴拉克和我都是由没有什么钱和物质财富的家庭教养出来的，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.但是我们的家庭给了我们一些更宝贵的东西——他们无条件的爱，他们无畏的奉献，还有他们自己都不敢想象的上进的机会。

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.我的父亲是城市水厂的水泵操作员，他被确诊为患有多种神经麻痹症，那时我的哥哥和我还小。

And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...即使还是个孩子，我也知道他常常在病痛中……

I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.我还知道，许多早上，即使起床对他来说都是一场痛苦挣扎。

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.但是每天早上，我看到我父亲笑着起来，抓住他的助步器，扶着卫生间的澡盆站立起来，然后慢慢地刮脸，扣上制服的扣子。

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...在他长长的一天工作后回家时，我哥哥和我都要站在我们寓所的楼梯上头，耐心地等着迎接他……

watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.看着他弯下身来先抬起一条腿，再抬起另一条腿，慢慢地爬上楼琮，和我们拥抱。But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work...尽管有这些困难，我父亲几乎从来没有缺过一天勤……

he and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.他和我妈妈决心要给我和我哥得到他们自己只能梦想的教育。

And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from

student loans and grants.在我哥哥和我终于上了大学的候，我们的学费一半几乎都是学生贷款和赞助。But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.但我父亲自己依然要付学费的一小部分。

And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.每学期，他都决意要按时付清，即便钱不够时去借贷。He was so proud to be sending his kids to college...他是如此地骄傲，他能送他的孩子上大学，……

and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.他保证我们不会因为他的支票迟到，而使我们不能按时注册。You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.你看，对我父亲来说，那样做意味着是一个男人。

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.和我们许多人一样，那是他一生成功的标准，——能够有一个体面的工作，并使他能够养家。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.当我认识了巴拉克，我意识到，尽管他在美国的另一头长大，他和我的成长经历相似。Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.巴拉克的养育来自一个经常入不敷出的单亲妈妈和经常接济他的外祖父母。

Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank...and she moved quickly up the ranks...巴拉克的外祖母最初在一个社区银行做秘书……她迅速升职…… but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.但是像许多妇女一样，她的升职最终还是受到了性别限制。

And for years, men no more qualified than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her，许多年来，资格不如她的男人们——被她培训出来的男人们，比她先提职——

earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.比她赚钱多，而巴拉克的家庭继续勉强维持。

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.但是日复一日，她凌晨即起，为了赶上巴士……比所有人都早到……尽力做到她的最好，无怨无悔。

And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”

她常常告诉巴拉克：―只要你们孩子们好，巴儿，那才是最重要的。‖ Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.像许多美国家庭一样，每个家庭的要求并不多。

They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.他们绝不嫉妒任何人的成功，或在乎其他人拥有和比他们多……实际上，他们有的是敬佩。They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much，他们只是相信最基本的美国梦，即是你出身卑微，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.如果你努力工作，做你该做的，你应该能够过上体面的生活，为你们子孙创造一个更好的明天。

That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.他们就是那样养育了我们……那就是我们从他们的榜样学到的。

We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...我们学到了尊严和得体——学到了努力工作比收入重要…… that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.学到了帮助他人比超过他人更有意义。

We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...我们学到了诚实和正直—学到了真理很重要……

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.不要抄近道，或不要自行其是……成功无意义，如果不是公平地得到的话。

We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, 我们学到了感恩和谦虚——正是许多人的帮助我们才能成功，from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean...从激励我们的教师们，到我们的学校打扫卫生的清洁工……

and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.我们学到了欣赏每个人的贡献，尊重每一个人。

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.所以这些价值观，巴拉克和我——以及你们——正试图传递给我们自己的孩子们。

我们就是这样的人。

And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.我们就是这样的人，四年前站在你们面前，我知道我不想那时的生活，即使巴拉克成为总统。Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined，今天，经过这么多的挣扎、胜利和事件，以许多我无法想象的方式考验了我的丈夫，I have seen first hand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are.我第一手经验看到，成为总统并不会改变一个人——相反，这会透视一个人。

You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.我能够亲自见证，作为总统是什么。

And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones

我看见出现在总统办公桌上的问题总是最困难的—

– the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer...这些问题，无论多少数据都无法告诉你正确的答案……

the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.需要判断的利害关系之大，没有任何出错的余地。

And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.作为总统，你将收到来自各种人的各种建议。

But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, 最终，当总统需要做决定时，all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.所有能够指导你的，是你的价值观，你的愿景，以及随你成长的生活经历。

So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.当涉及重建我们的经济，巴拉克总是为类似我的父亲和他外祖母那样的人们着想。He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.他想着来自努力工作一天后的骄傲。

That's why he signed 《the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 》to help women get equal pay for equal work.那就是为什么他签署了莉莉莱德百特公平报酬法案，帮助妇女为同等工作获得同等报酬。That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.那就是为什么他为工薪家庭和型企业减税，和奋力让汽车工业重新站起来。

That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again –

那就为何他将经济带离崩溃的边缘，并重新创造工作机会—

jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.那些使你养家的工作，那些在美国的好工作。

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.关于我们每个家庭的健康，巴拉克拒绝听取所有那些让他推迟医疗改革的人，那些建议推迟一天，推迟到下任总统的人。

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.他不在意是否这是政治上容易做的事——不，他不是那样被养大的——他只在乎这样做是否

正确。

He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine...他这样做，因为他相信在美国，我们的祖父母们能够负担他们的医药…… our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick...我们的孩子能够在生病时去看医生……

and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.并且没有一个人在这个国家，由于事故或疾病而破产。

And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care...他相信妇女有能力为我们自己的身体和医疗做出自己的选择…… that's what my husband stands for.那就是我的丈夫所维护的信念。

When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, 孩子们应该受到很好的教育，巴拉克和我懂得这个道理，就像你们一样，he never could've attended college without financial aid.没有助学金他就也不可能上大学。

And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.你们相信吗，在我和他新婚之时，我们的助学贷款的还款压力甚至远大于按揭。We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.当时我们那么年轻，那么相爱，和那多债务。

That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down，因此，巴拉克竭尽全力提高助学金额度，同时压低利息，because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.他希望让每一个年轻人都能大展宏图，不必为了求学债台高筑。

So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political – they're personal.归根结底，这些对他来说与政治无关——推己及人而已。Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.他深深得知道一个家庭的处境。

He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.他懂得希望子孙过上好日子是这样种感受。

Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it...and he wants everyone in this country, everyone to have that same opportunity，他知道什么是美国梦，因为他曾亲身经历……他希望每一个人都能拥有同等的机会，no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.无论是谁，无论来自哪里，无论种族，无论信仰和情感。

And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...他相信当每一个人努力奋斗，出人头地，在通过机遇的大门之后…… you do not slam it shut behind you...不会自私地关上大门……

No, you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.而会转向伸出援手，给予人们共同的机会一起成功。

So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, 如果，你要问我，白宫是否改变了我的丈夫，I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, 我可以坦诚相告，无论是看他的品格，信仰，还是内心，Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.他还是多年前我爱的同一个人。

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，他还是那个选择职业时，拒绝了高薪工作，而是深入社区基层，去帮助濒临倒闭的钢厂的邻里，fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work...去重建那样的社区，帮助人们再度就业……

because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the

difference you make in people's lives.因为对他来讲，成功的标准并不是收入，而是你对他人生的积极影响。

He's the same man, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing，他还是那个女儿刚刚降生时的父亲，会分分钟钟就跑到婴儿床边，查看女儿是否还在呼吸，proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.会抱着女儿去所有的熟人显摆。

That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, 他至今仍每晚和我跟女儿一起吃晚餐，patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.耐心地回答她们关于新闻和时事的问题，为她们在学校交朋友的事儿出谋划策。

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.每天深夜我都见到他在办公室沉默着，翻着一封封寄给他的信。The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...有的信来自艰难谋生维持家用的父亲……

from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...有的来自被保险公司弃之不管的病入膏肓女性……

from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.有的信来自徒有大志却怀才不遇的年轻人。

I see the concern in his eyes...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, 我能看到他为此忧心不已……他坚定地对我说，“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.” ―你无法想象他们过着什么样的日子，米歇尔……这是不对的。我们必须继续努力工作改变这些，我们做的还远远不够。‖

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.我看到那些故事——那些艰难困苦和那些希望梦想——正是那一切让奥巴马每日为之努力。

And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago...从来的我绝想不到，让我告诉你，今天的我反而比四年前更爱我的丈夫了…… even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.Let me tell you why: 甚至远胜23年前我们刚刚相遇时。让我告诉你为什么： I love that he's never forgotten how he started.因为他没有忘本。

I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, 我爱他，因为他会去履行承诺，even when it's hard – especially when it's hard.困难归头他只会越挫越勇。

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...我爱他，因为他对人们一视同仁，从不管你是民主党，还是共和党，或者都不是…… he knows that we all love our country...他知道我们都深爱这个国家……

and he's always ready to listen to good ideas...他愿意倾听，从善如流……

he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.他愿意去挖掘每个人身上的闪光点。

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it –

我爱他，即使在艰难无比，揪心不已的时刻—

when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost –

在法案可能无法通过，一切都可能失去的时候——

Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.他从不会被四面的楚歌所动摇。

Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...就像他的外祖母一样，他重新振作，再度前进…… with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.用他的耐心、智慧、勇气和风度。

And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...他总会提醒我们任重道远…

and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.变革往往艰难而缓慢，根本无法一步到位。

But eventually we get there, we always do.但总有一天，我们会成功，就如既往的那些胜利。

We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...我们会最终到彼岸，因为像我的父亲……他的外祖母……

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.”

还有所有像我们一样的人都自己承诺，说：―我没能实现自己的梦想，但或许我的孩子们可以……或许我们的孙辈可以……‖

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love...我们今天能站在这里，就归功于他们的奉献、渴望和毫不动摇的爱……

because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.归功于他们一次又一次压在自己的恐惧和疑虑，艰苦奋斗。

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...所以当今我们面对的挑战似乎艰巨的难以克服，——甚至不可能克服——请别忘记开创不可能的奇迹，正是我们国家的历史……

it's who we are as Americans...it's how this country was built.美国人就是这样……我们的国家就是这样建立起来的。

And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us...如果我们的父母先辈可以为了我们而艰苦奋斗……

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...如果他们可以建起摩天大楼，把人类送上月球，如果他们可以用一根按钮就把世界连接…… then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.我们当然，我们也可以为我们的后代而牺牲自我，努力建设。

And if so many brave men and women could wear our country's uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights...如果那么多英勇敢的军人可以穿起戎装上阵，为捍卫我们的基本利益牺牲生命……

then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights...那么当然作为这人民主之国的一份子，我们也来行使那些权利……

surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.当然我们可以去投票站，让我们的呼声响彻大选之日。

If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...如果农民和铁匠能可以从一个帝国中赢得独立……

if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores...如果移民们可以放下从前的一切来到这里寻求更好的生活…… if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote...如果妇女们冒着牢狱之灾也要投票……

if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time...如果一代人可以打败大萧条，成就一番事业……

if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream...如果一位年轻的牧师可以用他的正义理想把我们送上平等之巅（注1）……

and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love...如果美国人民为他们的身份而自豪，为他们所爱的人而勇敢地站在讲台上……

then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.那么当然，当然我们可以给人们平等的机会去实现自己的美国梦。

Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.因为当尘埃落定，胜过一切的是这个国家的故事—— 一个希望不死，斗志永存的励志传说。That is what has made my story, and Barack's story, and so many other American stories possible.它成就了我的故事，巴拉克的故事，和千千万万美国人的故事。

And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady...and not just as a wife.今天，我不仅是第一夫人，也不仅是代表一个妻子。

You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.” 当一天的工作结束，我的身份就只是一个操心的妈妈。

My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.我的女儿们仍是我的心头肉，是我世界的中心。

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.但今天，我不再像四年前般顾虑重重，不再担心我和他怎么做才是对孩子们最好的。Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters，亲身经历告诉我，如果要想创造一个美好的世界给我的女儿，and all our sons and daughters...给全天下的孩子……

if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise...如果我们想给他们一个梦想的基础和一展抱负的机遇……

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...如果我们想让他们相信一切皆有可能——让他们相信在美国，只要努力就一定能有回报…… then we must work like never before...那么我们比任何时候，任何人都更加努力……

and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward...我们必须再度团结一致，去一起支持那个肩负着你我的信任，并领导我们前进的男人…… my husband, our President, Barack Obama.我的丈夫，我们的总统，巴拉克·奥巴马。

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.感谢你，上帝保佑你们，上帝保佑美国。

注1：《圣经》以色列人出埃及的典故，摩西带领以色列人摆脱埃及法老的奴役，他被上帝带

到山顶上，看到了―应许之地‖。马丁路德金被暗

杀之前的最后一场演讲即名为《I've been to the mountaintop》。

第二篇：奥巴马夫人米歇尔演讲稿中英文

奥巴马夫人米歇尔演讲稿中英文

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.”

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.Let me tell you why.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 on Election Day and make our voices heard.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.孩子们应该受到很好的教育，说道这个问题，Barack懂得，就像我们中很多人一样，没有助学金他就也不可能上大学。你们相信吗？在我和他新婚之时，我们的助学贷款的压力甚至远大于房贷。当时我们那么年轻，还负债累累。因此，Barack 竭尽全力提高助学金额度，同时压低利息，他希望让每一个年轻人都能大展宏图，不必为了求学债台高筑。归根到底，这些对他来说根本无关政治，推己及人而已。他深深得知道家庭的处境。他懂得希望子孙过上好日子是这样一种感受。他知道什么是美国梦，因为他曾亲身经历。他希望每一个人都能有相同的机会。无论身份，无论家乡，无论种族，无论信仰和情感。他相信当每一个人努力奋斗，出人头地，在通过机遇的大门之后，不会自私地关上大门，而会转身伸出援手。给予人们共同的机会一起成功！

如果你要问我白宫这四年是否改变我的丈夫？我可以坦诚相告，不论是看他的品格，信仰，还是内心，此时此刻的他仍是彼时彼地我爱上的那个人！如今的他还会像那时一样，拒绝高薪工作，而深入社区基层，去帮助濒临倒闭的钢厂的职工和家属。去重建那样的社区，帮助人们再度就业。因为对他来讲，成功的标准并不是收入，而是你对他人生活的积极影响，他还是那个当女儿刚降生时，会分分钟钟就跑到婴儿床边查看女儿是否还在呼吸的那个父亲。会抱着女儿去找所有的熟人显摆。他至今仍每晚和我跟女儿一起吃晚餐。耐心地回答她们关于新闻和时事的问题，为她们在学校交朋友的事儿出谋划策。每天深夜我都见到他在办公室沉默着，翻着一封封寄给他的信。有的信来自艰难谋生维持家用的父亲，有的来自被保险公司弃之不管的病入膏肓的女性，有的信来自徒有大志却怀才不遇的年轻人，我看到他为此忧心不已，他无比坚定地对我说：你无法想象他们过着什么样的日子，米歇尔，这是不对的！我们必须再接再厉去改变这些，我们做的还远远不够！

我看到那些故事，那些艰难困苦和那些梦想希望，正是那一切让奥巴马每日为之努力，从前的我绝想不到今天的我反而比四年前更爱我的丈夫了，甚至远胜23年前我们相爱时，我爱他，因为他不忘本！我爱他，因为他会去履行承诺，困难当头他只会越挫越勇，我爱他，因为他对人们一视同仁！从不管你是哪个党派，又或是有无党派。他知道我们都深爱这个国家，他愿意倾听，从善如流，他愿意去挖掘每个人身上的闪光点！我爱他，因为在艰难无比，揪心不已的时刻，在法案可能无法通过，一切都可能重头再来的时候。他从不会被四面的楚歌所动摇，就像他的祖母一样，他会重新振作，再度前进，用他的耐心，智慧，勇气和气度！他总会提醒我们任重道远，变革往往艰难而缓慢，根本无法一蹴而就，但总有一天我们会成功，就如既往的那些胜利，我们会最终达到彼岸，因为像我的父母，他的祖母，还有所有像他们一样的人都对自己承诺，我没能实现自己的梦想，但或许我的孩子们可以，或许的们的孙辈可以，我们今天能站在这里，就归功于他们的奉献，渴望和从不动摇的爱，归功于他们一次又一次压住自己的恐惧和疑惑，艰苦奋斗。

所以当今我们面对的挑战似乎艰巨得难以克服，请别忘记开创不可能的奇迹，正是我们国家的历史，美国人就是这样，我们的国家就是这么建立起来的。如果我们的父母先辈可以为了我们而艰苦奋斗，如果他们可以建起摩天大楼，把人类送上月球，如果他们可以用一根按钮就把世界连接，那是当然，我们也可以我们的后代而牺牲自我，努力建设。如果那么多英勇的军人可以穿起戎装上阵，为捍卫我们的根本利益牺牲生命！那么当然作为这个民主之国的一份子我们也可以发挥自己的作用！当然我们也可以通过投票，让我们的呼声响彻大选之日；如果农民和铁匠都可以从一个帝国中谋求独立，如果移民们可以放下从前的一切来到这里寻求美好的生活；如果妇女们冒着牢狱之灾也要投票；如果一代人可以打败大萧条，成就一番事业；如果一位年轻的牧师可以用他的正义理想把我们送上平等之巅；如果美国人民为他们的身份而自豪，为他们所爱的人而勇敢的站在讲台上。那么当然，当然我们可以给人们平等的机会，去实现自己的美国梦！因为当尘埃落定，胜过一切的是这个国家的故事，一个希望不死，斗志永存的励志传说，我的故事，Barack的故事，和千千万万美国人的故事，也因此成真，今天我不仅是第一夫人，也不仅是代表一个妻子，每当一天的工作结束，我的身份就只是一个操心的妈妈，我的女儿仍是我的心头肉，我世界的中心但今天我不再像四年前般顾虑重重，不再担心我和他怎么做才是对孩子们最好的。亲身经历告诉我，如果要想给我的女儿和全天下的孩子创造一个美好的世界，如果我们想给他们一个梦想的基础和一展抱负的机遇，如果我们想让他们相信一切皆有可能，让他们相信在美国，只要努力就一定能有回报，那么我们比任何时候，任何人都更加努力。我们必须再度团结一致，去一起支持肩负着你我信任，去领导美国前进的那个男人，我的丈夫，我们的总统——贝克拉奥巴马！

谢谢！

希望不死，永存斗志

非常感谢，伊莲„„我们非常感谢来自你家庭的服务和牺牲，我们永远支持你。

过去的几年来，借由作为第一夫人的非凡殊荣，我几乎游遍了整个美国。

而无论我去到哪里，从我所见到的人们，所听到的故事中，我都看到了最真切的美国精神。

在人们对我和我的家庭，特别是我的女儿们那难以置信的友善和热情中，我看到了它。

在一个濒临破产的学区的教师们不收分文、坚持执教的誓言中，我看到了它。

在人们在突如其来的紧急召唤下化身英雄，纵身扑向灾害去拯救他人„„飞过整个国家去扑灭大火„„驱车数小时去援助被淹没的城镇时，我看到了它。在我们身着军装的男女军人和自豪的军属身上„„在受伤的战士们告诉我他们不仅会再次站立行走，而是会奔跑，甚至参加马拉松时„„在一位于阿富汗因炸弹而失明的年轻人“„„为了我所做的和我还将要做的，我宁愿失去我的眼睛一百次。”这样轻描淡写的话语中，我看到了它。

每一天，我所见到的人们都鼓舞着我„„每一天，他们都令我骄傲„„每一天，他们都在提醒我，能够生活在这地球上最伟大的国度中是多么的幸福。

成为诸位的第一夫人，是我的荣耀和幸运„„但当我们四年前首次聚在一起的时候，我仍对我们即将展开的旅程心怀疑虑。

对我丈夫心中的祖国愿景，我满怀信心„„对他将成为一位出色的总统，我也深信不疑„„但是就像所有的母亲一样，我也曾担心如果他当选，这对我们的女儿们意味着什么。

身处万众瞩目的聚光灯下，我们要如何让他们保持脚踏实地？ 当他们被迫离开从小熟悉的家、学校、和朋友时，会有什么感受？

在搬到华盛顿之前，我们的生活充满简单的快乐„„周六参加足球赛，周日则在祖母家„„还有巴拉克和我的约会之夜，我们要么出去晚餐，要么去看场电影，因为作为一个筋疲力尽的老妈，我实在没法同时去晚餐和电影还不打瞌睡。

说真话，我爱我们为女儿们所创造的生活„„我深爱和我一起创造这生活的男人„„而且我不愿意让这一切因为他当了总统而发生变化。

我爱的就是巴拉克原来的样子。

你们瞧，即便当时巴拉克已经是一名参议员兼总统候选人了„„对我而言，他仍是那个开着辆锈迹斑斑的破车来接我去约会的男子，我几乎都能透过乘客这侧车门上的破洞看到飞逝而过的路面„„他仍是那个把一张从垃圾箱里翻出来的咖啡桌当做自己最了不起的财产的男子，那个仅有的一双体面的鞋子比自己的脚还小了半号的男子。

然而，当巴拉克开始向我讲述他的家庭时——就在那一刻，我明白我遇到了一个志同道合的灵魂，他的价值观和成长经历与我惊人地相似。

如你们所知，养育巴拉克和我的两个家庭都没有太多金钱或物质财富，但是，他们却给予了我们更为珍贵的东西——无条件的爱，大无畏的牺牲，以及到达他们自己从未想象过的目标的机会。我的父亲是城市水厂的一名泵浦操作员，在我和哥哥很小的时候就被诊断出患有多发性硬化症。

即使当时还小，我也知道他常常被病痛折磨„„我知道有许多清晨，仅仅连起床对他来说都是一场痛苦挣扎。

然而每天早晨，我都看到父亲面带微笑地醒来，抓紧他的助步器，用浴室的洗脸池支撑着自己的身体，缓慢地刮好胡须，扣好制服。

然后，当他在漫长的一天工作后，我和哥哥会站在通往我家小公寓的楼梯顶上，耐心地等着迎接他回家„„我们注视着他弯下腰，举起一条腿，然后是另一条腿，慢慢地爬上楼梯，迎向我们的怀抱。然而无论多么艰难，我父亲从未请过一天假„„他和我母亲决心要让我和哥哥受到他们梦寐以求的教育。

当哥哥和我终于升上大学的时候，我们几乎所有的学费都来源于学生贷款和补助金。

但是我父亲仍不得不自己掏腰包来支付我们学费中的一小部分。

每个学期，他都坚持按时支付学费账单，在他捉襟见肘的时候，他甚至宁可去贷款。能送自己的子女去上大学，他是如此地骄傲„„他从未让我们因为父亲姗姗来迟的支票而错过任何一个报到截止日期。

你们瞧，对我的父亲来说，这是身为一个男人的责任。就和我们中的很多人一样，这就是他衡量生命成功与否的方式——能否靠工作让自己的家庭过上体面的生活。

当我逐渐开始了解巴拉克之后，我发现虽然他在美国的另一头长大，他的成长经历却和我惊人地相似。

巴拉克成长在一个单亲家庭里，他的母亲依靠努力工作来维持家庭生活，在她实在无力支持的时候，祖父母也会伸出援手。

巴拉克的祖母最初在社区银行当秘书„„她升职很快„„但就和其他许多女性一样，她的升职最终还是受到了性别限制。

数年间，那些不如她有能力的男性员工——事实上，还是她亲手培训的男性员工——都被提升到了比她高的职位，挣的钱越来越多，而与此同时，巴拉克一家只能勉强度日。

但一天又一天，她仍然早起去赶公车„„比其他任何人都早到公司„„她总是做到最好，从不抱怨，从不懊悔。

而且，她常常这样告诉巴拉克：“只要你的孩子过得好，巴，其他什么都不重要。”

就和许许多多美国家庭一样，我们俩的家庭都知足常乐。他们并不嫉妒其他人的成功，也不在意其他人是否比他们拥有更多„„事实上，他们为此心存感激。

他们就是心怀着最根本的美国希望，即是说，哪怕你出身贫寒，只要你努力工作，做好本职，那么你就能让自己过上体面的生活，而你的子女和他们的孩子也会过得越来越好。

他们就是这样把我们养育成人„„并且成为了我们的学习榜样。

我们学会了做自尊正派的人——努力工作远比挣钱多少重要„„帮助别人比自己争先更有意义。我们学会了做诚实守信的人——要讲究真相„„不能妄图走捷径或耍小伎俩„„以及公平争取来的成功才算数。

我们学会了感激和谦卑——我们的成功依靠许多人的帮助，从启迪我们的老师到保持学校整洁的校工„„我们学会珍惜每个人的贡献，并以尊重待人。

这些是巴拉克和我——以及在场的众多人士——都试图传递给子女的价值观。

我们就是这样的人。

四年前，站在你们面前的我知道，如果巴拉克成为总统，我不愿意这些价值观产生任何改变。那么，今天，在那么多的艰苦奋斗和胜利，以及我的丈夫所经历过的那么多我从未想象过的考验之后，我亲眼认识到，当总统并不会改变一个人——它只会揭示一个人。

你们瞧，我有幸能近距离亲眼观察当总统是怎么一回事。我发现放到总统桌上的问题总是难题——那些无论多少数据或数字都无法得出正确答案的难题„„那些风险如此之高的选择，根本容不得一星半点的差错。

还有，作为总统，你会收到各种各样的人向你发出的各种各样的建议。

但是到最后，需要做出决定的时刻，作为总统，你所拥有的全部指引就是你的价值观，判断力，以及那些对你影响深远的成长经历。

因此，当说到重建经济的时候，巴拉克想到的是像我的父亲和他的祖母一样的人们。

他想到的是一天辛勤工作所带来的自豪感。

这就是为什么他签署了《莉莉?列得贝塔同工同酬法案》，以帮助女性得到同工同酬的公平权利。

这就是为什么他为工作家庭和小型企业削减了税负，并努力让汽车工业重新起步。这就是他如何将我们的经济从崩溃的边缘拉回并使其重新开始创造工作机会——让人们能够养家糊口的工作，这些好工作就在这里，在美利坚合众国。

至于我们的家庭健康问题，巴拉克拒绝听从所有那些要他暂缓医疗改革，把问题留给下一任总统的人。

他不在乎这在政治上是不是一件容易的事——这不是他所受到的教育——他在乎的是：做正确的事。

他这样做，是因为他坚信在美国，我们的祖父母们应该能够负担自己的医药费用„„我们的孩子生病时必须能够去看医生„„而且，在这个国家里，没有人应该因为一场意外或疾病而破产。

他还相信，女性完全有能力对自己的身体和医疗做出选择„„这就是我丈夫的立场。

关于给予我们的孩子应有的教育，巴拉克知道，就像我和你们中的许多人一样，如果没有助学金，他永远也不可能完成大学学业。

而且，不管你们信不信，我们刚结婚的时候，我们的学生贷款账单合起来比我们的房贷还要高。

我们是那么年轻，那么相爱，又是那样的负债累累。这就是为什么巴拉克努力增加助学金，并保持低贷款利率的原因，因为他想让每个年轻人都能达成所愿，而不需要为了进入大学而背负山一样沉重的债务。

所以归根结底，对巴拉克来说，这些并非政治问题——而是个人问题。

因为巴拉克知道一个家庭挣扎度日意味着什么。

他知道想要让下一代和下下一代过上更好的生活意味着什么。巴拉克懂得什么是美国梦，因为他正用一生去实践它„„而他想让生活在这个国度里的每一个人都拥有同样的机会，无论我们是谁，无论我们从哪里来，无论我们肤貌如何，无论我们爱的对象。

而且他认为，当你努力工作，获得成功，并且跨越了那扇机遇的大门之后„„你不应该砰地一声关上身后的大门„„你应该伸出援助之手，将成功的机会同样给予后来之人。

因此，当人们问我，入主白宫是否改变了我的丈夫的时候，我可以诚实地说，无论是从他的性格，他的信念，他的心灵来看，巴拉克-奥巴马都仍是许多年前我所爱上的那个男人。

他仍是那样一个人，会在自己的事业起步期拒绝高薪工作，而走入一个因钢铁厂的倒闭而陷入困境的社区，为社区的重建和人们重获工作而奋斗„„因为对巴拉克来说，成功并不等于你挣的钱，而是你给人们的生活带来的改变。

他仍是那样一个人，当我们的女儿刚出生的时候，隔不了几分钟就急匆匆地查看摇篮，确认她们仍在好好呼吸，并骄傲地向我们认识的每个人展示自己的宝贝女儿。

他还是那个几乎每晚都会坐下来陪我和女儿们吃晚餐，耐心地回答她们关于新闻事件的问题，并为中学生间的友谊问题出谋划策的人。

他还是那个，我常常看到在万籁俱寂的深夜里，仍趴在书桌上钻研人们寄来的信件的人。

写信来的有努力工作支付账单的父亲„„有保险公司拒绝赔付医疗费用而命在旦夕的癌症女病人„„有具有无限天赋潜力却得不到机会的年轻人。

我能看到他眼里的忧虑„„我也能听出他声音中的决心，他说：“你不会相信这些人们在经历些什么，米歇尔„„这不对。我们必须继续工作，直到解决这些问题。我们还有更多事情要做。”

我看到人们的这些生活故事——我们所收集的这些奋斗、希望和梦想——我看到这些都是推动巴拉克-奥巴马每一天工作的动力。我曾以为我不能爱他更多，然而今天，我比四年前更爱我的丈夫了„„甚至比23年前我们初见的时候更爱。

我爱他从未忘记自己奋斗的开端。

我爱他值得信任，言行一致，哪怕面临的困难重重——或者说，特别是在困难重重的时刻。

我爱他不在主观上划分敌我——他才不在意你是民主党人，共和党人，或是别的什么党派„„他知道我们都爱我们的国家„„而他总是乐意聆听好的建议„„他总是乐意在遇见的每个人身上发现优点。

我爱他即使在最艰难的时候，当我们都焦虑不安的时候——当我们担心法案不被通过，而看上去已经全局皆输了的时候——巴拉克从不让自己被非议和噪音干扰。

就像他的祖母一样，他只是坚持起床，继续前进„„带着耐心和智慧，以及勇气和风度。

他也提醒我，我们在打一场漫长的比赛„„改变是艰难的，是缓慢的，它不会一夜来临。

但最终，我们会获得胜利，我们一向如此。

我们的胜利，来源于像我父亲那样的人们„„像巴拉克的祖母那样的人们„„那些对自己说：“我也许没有机会实现梦想，但也许我的孩子们会有„„也许我的孙子孙女们会有„„”的男人和女人们。

在场这么多人今天站在这里，是因为牺牲，渴望，以及坚定的爱„„因为一次又一次，他们咽下自己的恐惧和疑虑，去战胜困难。

因此，今天，当我们面对的挑战显得铺天盖地——甚至无法战胜的时候——让我们永远不要忘记，行不可能之事正是这个国家的历史„„这是我们美国人的根性„„这是我们的立国之本。

如果我们的父母和祖父母能为我们艰苦奋斗„„如果他们能树立起高耸入云的钢筋大厦，能将人类送上月球，还能轻轻一触按键就连接整个世界„„那么，我们当然能继续忘我牺牲，为我们的子女和孙辈建设世界。

如果这么多勇敢的男人和女人能穿上祖国的军装，为我们最基本的权利献出生命„„那么，我们作为这个伟大民主国家的公民，当然也能承担我们的责任，来实践这些权利„„我们当然能够在选举日拿起选票，发出自己的声音。

如果农民和铁匠们能从一个帝国手中赢得独立„„如果移民能放弃他们所熟知的一切，登上我们的海岸，来寻求更好的生活„„如果女性们会为争取选举的权利锒铛入狱„„如果一代人可以战胜经济衰退，赋予伟大一个永垂不朽的定义„„如果一位年轻的牧师能用他正义的理想将我们引导至山顶（注1）„„而且如果骄傲的美国人敢于做真正的自己，与自己的所爱之人一起站到神的面前„„那么当然，我们当然能够为此国度中的每一个人都提供一个实现伟大的美国梦的公平机会。

因为归根结底，最重要的是，这就是这个国家的历史故事—— 为了植根于毫不退缩的斗争中的毫不动摇的梦想。

这也是造就了我的故事，巴拉克的故事，以及其他众多美国人的故事的来源。

今天，我所说的一切，不仅是出于第一夫人的立场，也不仅是出于一个妻子的立场。

最终，你们会发现，我最重要的头衔仍然是“老妈总司令”。我的女儿们仍是我的心头肉，我世界的中心。

但是今天，我四年前关于我和巴拉克是否在为女儿们做最正确的事情的疑虑已经烟消云散。

因为今天，我的经历告诉我，如果我真的想要为自己的女儿们，以及我们所有人的儿子和女儿们留下一个更好的世界„„如果我们想要给予我们所有的孩子们实现梦想的基础和与他们的潜力相称的机遇„„如果我们想要让他们感觉到无限的可能性——相信在这里，在美国，只要你愿意为之努力，就一定会比现在更好„„那么，我们就必须比从前更加努力地工作„„我们必须再次团结起来，支持这个值得我们信任，会推动着这个国家继续进步的人„„我的丈夫，我们的总统，巴拉克·奥巴马总统。

感谢大家，上帝保佑你们，上帝保佑美国。

注1：《圣经》以色列人出埃及的典故，摩西带领以色列人摆脱埃及法老的奴役，他被上帝带到山顶上，看到了“应许之地”。马丁路德金被暗杀之前的最后一场演讲即名为《I've been to the mountaintop》。

英文全文：

米歇尔•奥巴马演讲稿英文全文-华尔街日报

国第一夫人米歇尔•奥巴马在9月4日民主党全国代表大会上发表演讲，以下是演讲稿的英文全文。

First Lady Michelle Obama: 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, diving 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? 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 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.

第三篇：奥巴马中英文演讲稿

Good afternoon.It is a great honor for me to be here in Shanghai, and to have this opportunity to speak with all of you.I'd like to thank Fudan University's President Yang for his hospitality and his gracious welcome.I'd also like to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who exemplifies the deep ties and respect between our nations.I don't know what he said, but I hope it was good.下午好。能够有机会在上海跟你们大家交谈，我深感荣幸。我要感谢复旦大学的杨校长，感谢他的款待和热情的欢迎。我还要感谢我们出色的大使Jon Huntsman，他代表了我们两国之间的深远联系和相互尊重。我不知道他刚才说什么，但是希望他说的是好的。

What I'd like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what I'm really looking forward to doing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also we've received questions online, which will be asked by some of the students who are here in the audience, as well as by Ambassador Huntsman.And I am very sorry that my Chinese is not as good as your English, but I am looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.我今天准备先做一个开场白，但我真正希望做的是回答问题，不但回答在座的学生提出的问题，同时也回答从网上提出的一些问题，这些问题由在座的一些学生和洪博培大使代为提出。很抱歉，我的中文不如你们的英文，但我期待着这个和你们对话的机会。

This is my first time traveling to China, and I'm excited to see this majestic country.Here, in Shanghai, we see the growth that has caught the attention of the world--the soaring skyscrapers, the bustling streets and entrepreneurial activity.And just as I'm impressed by these signs of China's journey to the 21st century, I'm eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from China's distant past.Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when I'm in Beijing to see the majesty of the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.Truly, this is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.这是我首次访问中国，看到你们壮丽的国家，我感到很兴奋。在上海，我们看到了全球瞩目的发展——高耸的大厦、繁忙的街道、创业的动态。这些都是中国步入 21世纪的迹象，让我感到赞叹。同时，我也期盼看到向我们展现中国悠久历史的古迹。明天和后天我会在北京，希望有机会看到壮观的故宫和奇迹般的长城。的确，这是一个既有丰富的历史，又对未来的希望充满信心的国家。

The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries.Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China.It was here, 37 years ago, that the Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter of engagement between our governments and among our people.However, America's ties to this city--and to this country--stretch back further, to the earliest days of America's independence.我们两国的关系也是如此。毫无疑问，上海在美中关系史上是一个具有重大意义的城市。正是在这里，37年前发布的《上海公报》（Shanghai Communique）开启了我们两国政府和两国人民接触交往的新篇章。然而，美国与这个城市以及这个国家的纽带可以追溯到更久远的过去，直至美国独立初期。

In 1784, our founding father, George Washington, commissioned the Empress of China, a ship that set sail for these shores so that it could pursue trade with the Qing Dynasty.Washington wanted to see the ship carry the flag around the globe, and to forge new ties with nations like China.This is a common American impulse--the desire to reach for new horizons, and to forge new partnerships that are mutually beneficial.1784年，我们的建国之父乔治·华盛顿主持了“中国女皇号”（Empress of China）的下水仪式。这条船前往中国海岸，寻求与清朝通商。华盛顿希望看到这条悬挂美国国旗的船前往世界各地，与像中国这样的国家缔结新的纽带。这是通常的美国人的愿望——希望达到新的地平线，建立新的、互利的伙伴关系。

Over the two centuries that have followed, the currents of history have steered the relationship between our countries in many directions.And even in the midst of tumultuous winds, our people had opportunities to forge deep and even dramatic ties.For instance, Americans will never forget the hospitality shown to our pilots who were shot down over your soil during World War II, and cared for by Chinese civilians who risked all that they had by doing so.And Chinese veterans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.在此后的两个世纪中，历史洪流使我们两国关系向许多不同的方向发展，但即使在动荡的岁月中，两国人民也抓住机会发展了深入的、甚至极不平凡的关系。例如，美国人民永远不会忘记，二战期间，美国飞行员在中国上空被击落后，中国公民冒着失去一切的危险护理他们。参加过二战的中国老兵仍然热情欢迎故地重游的美国老兵，他们曾经在那里作战，帮助中国从占领下获得解放。

A different kind of connection was made nearly 40 years ago when the frost between our countries began to thaw through the simple game of table tennis.The very unlikely nature of this engagement contributed to its success--because for all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed.As one American player described his visit to China--“[The]people are just like us…The country is very similar to America, but still very different.”近40年前，简单的乒乓球比赛带来了两国关系的解冻，使我们两国建立起另一种联系。这种接触令人意外，但却恰恰促成了其成功，因为尽管我们之间存在许多分歧，但是我们共同的人性和共同的好奇心得以从中显现。正如一位美国乒乓球队员在回忆对中国的访问时所说：“那里的人民和我们一样„„这个国家和美国有许多相似之处，也有很大区别。” Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of the Shanghai Communique, and the eventual establishment of formal relations between the United States and China in 1979.And in three decades, just look at how far we have come.无须赘言，这个小小的契机带来了《上海公报》的问世，并最终促使美中两国在1979年建立正式外交关系。请看在此后的30年，我们取得了多么长足的进展。

In 1979, trade between the United States and China stood at roughly $5 billion--today it tops over $400 billion each year.The commerce affects our people's lives in so many ways.America imports from China many of the computer parts we use, the clothes we wear;and we export to China machinery that helps power your industry.This trade could create even more jobs on both sides of the Pacific, while allowing our people to enjoy a better quality of life.And as demand becomes more balanced, it can lead to even broader prosperity.1979年，美中贸易额约为50亿美元，今天，贸易额已经超过4000亿美元。贸易在许多方面影响着两国人民的生活，美国电脑中的许多元件以及我们身穿的服装都是从中国进口的，我们向中国出口你们的工业需要的机器。这种贸易可以在太平洋两岸创造更多的就业机会，让我们的人民过上质量更高的生活。随着需求趋于平衡，繁荣的范围将进一步扩大。In 1979, the political cooperation between the United States and China was rooted largely in our shared rivalry with the Soviet Union.Today, we have a positive, constructive and comprehensive relationship that opens the door to partnership on the key global issues of our time--economic recovery and the development of clean energy;stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and the scourge of climate change;the promotion of peace and security in Asia and around the globe.All of these issues will be on the agenda tomorrow when I meet with President Hu.1979年，美中之间的政治合作主要立足于双方共同面对的竞争对手苏联。如今我们享有积极的、建设性的、全面的关系，为我们在当今时代的关键性全球问题上建立伙伴关系打开了大门，这些问题包括：经济复苏和清洁能源开发、制止核武器扩散和气候变化的影响、在亚洲及全球各地促进和平与安全。所有这些问题都是我明天与胡主席会谈的内容。

And in 1979, the connections among our people were limited.Today, we see the curiosity of those ping-pong players manifested in the ties that are being forged across many sectors.The second highest number of foreign students in the United States come from China, and we've seen a 50 percent increase in the study of Chinese among our own students.There are nearly 200 “friendship cities” drawing our communities together.American and Chinese scientists cooperate on new research and discovery.And of course, Yao Ming is just one signal of our shared love of basketball--I'm only sorry that I won't be able to see a Shanghai Sharks game while I'm visiting.1979年，我们两国人民的联系十分有限。今天，我们看到当年乒乓球队员的好奇心已经化为许多领域的纽带，中国留学生在美国的人数名列第二，而在美国学生中，学中文的人数增加了50%。我们两国有近200个友好城市，把我们的社区连接在一起。美中科学家合作进行新的研究与发现。而姚明是我们两国人民都热爱篮球的仅仅一个标志而已——令我遗憾的是，此行中我不能观看上海大鲨鱼队的比赛。

It is no coincidence that the relationship between our countries has accompanied a period of positive change.China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty--an accomplishment unparalleled in human history--while playing a larger role in global events.And the United States has seen our economy grow along with the standard of living enjoyed by our people, while bringing the Cold War to a successful conclusion.我们两国之间的关系相伴着一个积极变化的时期，这不是偶然的。中国实现了亿万人民脱贫，这一成就史无前例，同时，中国在全球问题中也在发挥更大的作用。美国在促使冷战顺利结束的同时，经济也取得了增长，人民的生活水平提高。

There is a Chinese proverb: “Consider the past, and you shall know the future.” Surely, we have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years.Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty.But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined--not when we consider the past.Indeed, because of our cooperation, both the United States and China are more prosperous and more secure.We have seen what is possible when we build upon our mutual interests, and engage on the basis of mutual respect.中国有句名言：“温故而知新。”当然，过去30年中我们也曾遇到挫折和挑战，我们的关系不是没有分歧和困难。但是，“我们必然是对手”的概念并非是注定不变的——回顾过去不会是这样。由于我们的合作，美中两国都更加繁荣、更加安全。我们已经看到我们本着共同的利益和相互的尊重去努力所能取得的成果。

And yet the success of that engagement depends upon understanding--on sustaining an open dialogue, and learning about one another and from one another.For just as that American table tennis player pointed out--we share much in common as human beings, but our countries are different in certain ways.可是，这种接触的成功取决于理解，取决于继续进行开诚布公的对话，相互了解，相互学习。正如前面提到的那位美国乒乓球队员所说——作为人，我们有着许多共同之处，但是我们两国在某些方面存在着差别。

I believe that each country must chart its own course.China is an ancient nation, with a deeply rooted culture.The United States, by comparison, is a young nation, whose culture is determined by the many different immigrants who have come to our shores, and by the founding documents that guide our democracy.我认为每个国家都必须规划自己的前进方向。中国是一个文明古国，文化深远。而美国相对而言是一个年轻的国家，它的文化由来自许多不同国家的移民以及指导我国民主制度的建国纲领所形成。

Those documents put forward a simple vision of human affairs, and they enshrine several core principles--that all men and women are created equal, and possess certain fundamental rights;that government should reflect the will of the people and respond to their wishes;that commerce should be open, information freely accessible;and that laws, and not simply men, should guarantee the administration of justice.这些纲领中提出了对人类事务的简单明了的瞩望，并包含了一些核心原则——不论男女人人生而平等，都享有某些基本权利；政府应当反映民意，并对人民的愿望作出回应；商贸应该是开放的，信息应该自由流通；司法保障应该来自法治而不是人治。

Of course, the story of our nation is not without its difficult chapters.In many ways--over many years--we have struggled to advance the promise of these principles to all of our people, and to forge a more perfect union.We fought a very painful civil war, and freed a portion of our population from slavery.It took time for women to be extended the right to vote, workers to win the right to organize, and for immigrants from different corners of the globe to be fully embraced.Even after they were freed, African Americans persevered through conditions that were separate and not equal, before winning full and equal rights.当然，我国的历史也并非没有困难的篇章。在很多方面，在很长的时间里，我们要通过斗争去实现这些原则对全体人民的承诺，缔造一个更趋完善的联邦。我们曾打过一场很痛苦的南北战争，将我国的一部分人口从奴役下解放出来。妇女获得投票权、劳工赢得组织权、来自世界各地的移民得到完全的接纳——这些都是经过了一段时间才实现的。非洲裔美国人即使在获得自由后依然生活在被隔离和不平等的条件下，他们经过不懈努力才最终赢得全面、平等的权利。

None of this was easy.But we made progress because of our belief in those core principles, which have served as our compass through the darkest of storms.That is why Lincoln could stand up in the midst of civil war and declare it a struggle to see whether any nation, conceived in liberty, and “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could long endure.That is why Dr.Martin Luther King could stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and ask that our nation live out the true meaning of its creed.That's why immigrants from China to Kenya could find a home on our shores;why opportunity is available to all who would work for it;and why someone like me, who less than 50 years ago would have had trouble voting in some parts of America, is now able to serve as its President.所有这些都不曾轻而易举。但是，由于我们对这些核心原则的坚定信念，我们取得了进步，这些原则指引我们冲过了最黑暗的风暴。这就是为什么林肯能在南北战争中挺身而出并宣布，这是一场考验一个孕育于自由之中、“忠实于人人生而平等这一原则”的国家能否永存的斗争。这也就是为什么马丁·路德·金博士能够站立在林肯纪念堂的台阶上，要求我们的国家实践自身信仰的真正含义。这也就是为什么来自从中国到肯尼亚的各国移民能够在我国的土地上安家；为什么所有努力寻求机会的人都能获得机会；为什么像我这种在不到50年前在美国的某些地方连投票都遇到困难的人，现在能够出任这个国家的总统。

And that is why America will always speak out for these core principles around the world.We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation.These freedoms of expression_r_r_r and worship--of access to information and political participation--we believe are universal rights.They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities--whether they are in the United States, China, or any nation.Indeed, it is that respect for universal rights that guides America's openness to other countries;our respect for different cultures;our commitment to international law;and our faith in the future.这就是为什么美国一直在全世界为这些核心原则而大声疾呼。我们不寻求把任何政治体制强加给任何别的国家，但是我们也不认为我们主张的这些原则是我们国家所独有的。表达自由和宗教信仰自由——获得信息和政治参与的自由——我们认为这些自由都是普世的权利，所有人都应当享有，包括少数民族和宗教少数派，不管是在美国、中国还是在任何其他国家。正是对普世权利的尊重指导着美国向其他国家开放，尊重各种不同的文化，致力于遵守国际法，并对未来抱有信念。

These are all things that you should know about America.I also know that we have much to learn about China.Looking around at this magnificent city--and looking around this room--I do believe that our nations hold something important in common, and that is a belief in the future.Neither the United States nor China is content to rest on our achievements.For while China is an ancient nation, you are also clearly looking ahead with confidence, ambition, and a commitment to see that tomorrow's generation can do better than today's.这些都是你们应当了解的美国的情况。我也知道中国有很多有待我们了解的情况。环顾一下这座伟大的城市——环顾一下这个大厅——我确信我们两个国家有一个很重要的共同点，那就是我们对未来的信念。美国和中国都不想满足于已取得的成就，止步不前。虽然中国是一个古老的国家，但你们显然也对未来满怀信心、雄心和使年轻一代能比这一代人更有作为的决心。

In addition to your growing economy, we admire China's extraordinary commitment to science and research--a commitment borne out in everything from the infrastructure you build to the technology you use.China is now the world's largest Internet user--which is why we were so pleased to include the Internet as a part of today's event.This country now has the world's largest mobile phone network, and it is investing in the new forms of energy that can both sustain growth and combat climate change--and I'm looking forward to deepening the partnership between the United States and China in this critical area tomorrow.But above all, I see China's future in you--young people whose talent and dedication and dreams will do so much to help shape the 21st century.我们不但钦佩中国日益增长的经济，还赞赏你们在科学研究方面极不平凡的努力——从你们建设的基础设施到你们使用的技术，均体现出这种努力。中国现在是世界上最大的互联网使用国——这也是我们今天很高兴能把互联网作为此次活动的一部分的原因。这个国家目前拥有世界上最大的移动电话网络，它正在投资发展既能维持可持续增长，又能应对气候变化的新型能源——我期待着明天在这个至关重要的领域中深化两国的合作关系。然而，最重要的是，我在你们身上看到了中国的未来 ——年轻一代的聪明才智、献身精神和梦想将为塑造21世纪发挥巨大作用。

I've said many times that I believe that our world is now fundamentally interconnected.The jobs we do, the prosperity we build, the environment we protect, the security that we seek--all of these things are shared.And given that interconnection, power in the 21st century is no longer a zero-sum game;one country's success need not come at the expense of another.And that is why the United States insists we do not seek to contain China's rise.On the contrary, we welcome China as a strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations--a China that draws on the rights, strengths, and creativity of individual Chinese like you.我已说过多次，我相信我们现在的世界是紧密相连的。我们所做的工作，我们所建设的繁荣，我们所保护的环境，以及我们所寻求的安全——所有这一切都是共有的。鉴于这种相互联系，在21世纪，权力不应再成为一场零和游戏；一国的成功发展不应以他国为代价。这也就是为什么美国坚决表示我们不谋求遏制中国的崛起。恰恰相反，我们欢迎中国成为国际社会中一个强大、繁荣、成功的成员——一个从你们这样的每个中国人的权利、实力和创造力中获得力量的中国。

To return to the proverb--consider the past.We know that more is to be gained when great powers cooperate than when they collide.That is a lesson that human beings have learned time and again, and that is the example of the history between our nations.And I believe strongly that cooperation must go beyond our government.It must be rooted in our people--in the studies we share, the business that we do, the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports that we play.And these bridges must be built by young men and women just like you and your counterparts in America.回到前面提到的那句古语——回顾过去。我们知道，大国之间选择合作而非对抗会带来更大的惠益。这是人类不断汲取的一个教训，我们两国的关系史中也不乏其例。我深信，合作必须不止于政府间的合作。合作必须植根于我们的人民——植根于我们共同进行的研究，我们的商贸活动，我们所学到的知识，乃至我们的体育运动。这些桥梁必须由你们这样的年轻人和美国的年轻人共同构筑。

That's why I'm pleased to announce that the United States will dramatically expand the number of our students who study in China to 100,000.And these exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help determine the destiny of the 21st century.And I'm absolutelyconfident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people.For they, just like you, are filled with talent and energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.因此，我高兴地宣布，美国准备将在中国留学的美国学生人数大幅度增加到10万人。这种交流是对在我们两国人民之间建立联系的明确承诺，毫无疑问，你们将帮助决定21世纪的命运。我完全相信，对美·来说，再好的使者莫过于我们的年轻人。因为他们和你们一样，才华横溢，充满活力，对有待书写的历史篇章充满乐观。

So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation that will serve our nations, and the world.And if there's one thing that we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward.那么，就让这个举措成为我们稳步寻求合作的下一个步骤，这种合作有利于我们两国乃至整个世界。如果能从今天的对话中得到一点启示那我希望从中得到的是不断地推进。

So thank you very much.And I look forward now to taking some questions from all of you.Thank you very much.非常感谢诸位。现在我希望回答你们大家提出的一些问题。非常感谢。

第四篇：奥巴马演讲稿(中英文)

2011-04-06 15:04(分类:默认分类)

奥巴马开学演讲稿 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（Jazmin Perez）。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（Andoni Schultz），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（Shantell Steve）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。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。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。

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。-转自[英

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：http:///Listening_Speaking/Oral_English/214752572.html

第五篇：奥巴马夫人米歇尔的助选演讲稿(中英文对照)

First Lady Michelle Obama:

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.奥巴马夫人米歇尔的演讲稿

孩子们应该受到很好的教育，说道这个问题，barack 懂得，就像我们中很多 人一样，没有助学金他就也不可能上大学。你们相信吗？在我和他新婚之时，我 们的助学贷款的压力甚至远大于房贷。当时我们那么年轻，还负债累累。因此，barack竭尽全力提高助学金额度，同时压低利息，他希望让每一个年轻人都能 大展宏图，不必为了求学债台高筑。归根到底，这些对他来说根本无关政治，推己及人而已。他深深得知道家庭的处境。他懂得希望子孙过上好日子是这样一 种感受。他知道什么是美国梦，因为他曾亲身经历。他希望每一个人都能有相同 的机会。无论身份，无论家乡，无论种族，无论信仰和情感。他相信当每一个人 努力奋斗，出人头地，在通过机遇的大门之后，不会自私地关上大门，而会转身 伸出援手。给予人们共同的机会一起成功！

如果你要问我白宫这四年是否改变我的丈夫？我可以坦诚相告，不论是看他 的品格，信仰，还是内心，此时此刻的他是彼时彼地我相爱的那个人！如今的他 还会像那时一样，拒绝高薪工作，而深入社区基层，去帮助濒临倒闭的钢厂的职 工和家属。去重建那样的社区，帮助人们再度就业。因为对他来讲，成功的标准 并不是收入，而是你对他人生的积极影响，他还是那个当女儿刚降生时，会分分 钟钟就跑到婴儿床边查看女儿是否还在呼吸的那个父亲。会抱着女儿去找所有的 熟人显摆。他至今仍每晚和我跟女儿一起吃晚餐。耐心地回答她们关于新闻和时 事的问题，为她们在学校交朋友的事儿出谋划策。每天深夜我都见到他在办公室 沉默着，翻着一封封寄给他的信。有的信来自艰难谋生维持家用的父亲，有的来

自被保险公司弃之不管的病入膏肓的女性，有的信来自徒有大志却怀才不遇的年 轻人，我看到他为此忧心不已，他无比坚定地对我说：你无法想象他们过着什么 样的日子，米歇尔，这是不对的！我们必须再接再厉去改变这些，我们做的还远 远不够！

我看到那些故事，那些艰难困苦和那些梦想希望，正是那一切让奥巴马每日 为之努力，从前的我绝想不到今天的我反而比四年前更爱我的丈夫了，甚至远胜 23 年前我们相爱时，我爱他！因为他不忘本！我爱他，因为他会去履行承诺，困难当头他只会越挫越勇，我爱他，因为他对人们一视同仁！从不管你是那个党

派，又或是有无党派。他知道我们都深爱这个国家，他愿意倾听，从善如流，他 愿意去挖掘每个人身上的闪光点！我爱他，因为在艰难无比，揪心不已的时刻，在法案可能无法通过，一切都可能重头再来的时候。他从不会被四面的楚歌所动 摇，就像他的祖母一样，他会重新振作，再度前进，用他的耐心，智慧，勇气和 气度！他总会提醒我们任重道远，变革往往艰难而缓慢，根本无法一撅而起，但 总有一天，我们会成功，就如既往的那些胜利，我们会最终达到彼岸，因为像我 的父母，他的祖母，还有所有像他们一样的人都对自己承诺，我没能实现自己的梦想，但或许我的孩子们可以，或许的们的孙辈可以，我，我们今天能站在这里，就归功于他们的奉献，渴望和从不动摇的爱，归功于他们一次又一次压在自己的 恐惧和疑惑，艰苦奋斗。所以当今我们面对的挑战似乎艰巨得难以克服，请别忘 记开创不可能的奇迹，正是我们国家的历史，美国人就是这样，我们的国家就是 这么建立起来的。如果我们的父母先辈可以为了我们而艰苦奋斗，如果他们可以 建起摩天大楼，把人类送上月球，如果他们可以用一根按钮就把世界连接，那是 当然，我们也可以我们的后代而牺牲自我，努力建设。如果那么多英勇的军人可

以穿起戎装上阵，为捍卫我们的根本利益牺牲生命！那么当然作为这个民主之国 的一份子我们也可以发挥自己的作用！当然我们也可以通过投票，让我们的呼声 响彻大选之日；如果农民和铁匠都可以从一个帝国中谋求独立，如果移民们可以 放下从前的一切来到这里寻求美好的生活；如果妇女们冒着牢狱之灾也要投票； 如果一代人可以打败大萧条，成就一番事业；如果一位年轻的牧师可以用他的正 义理想把我们送上平等之巅；如果美国人民为他们的身份而自豪，为他们所爱的 人而勇敢的站在讲台上。那么当然，当然我们可以给人们平等的机会，去实现自 己的美国梦！因为当尘埃落定，胜过一切的是这个国家的故事，一个希望不死，斗志永存的励志传说，我的故事，奥巴马的故事，和千千万万美国人的故事，也 因此成真，今天我不仅是第一夫人，也不仅是代表一个妻子，每当一天的工作结 束，我的身份就只是一个操心的妈妈，我的女儿仍是我的心头肉，我世界的中心 但今天我不再像四年前般顾虑重重，不再担心我和他怎么做才是对孩子们最好 的。亲身经历告诉我，如果要想给我的女儿和全天下的孩子创造一个美好的世界，如果我们想给他们一个梦想的基础和一展抱负的机遇，如果我们想让他们相信一 切皆有可能，让他们相信在美国，只要努力就一定能有回报，那么我们比任何时 候，任何人都更加努力。我们必须再度团结一致，去一起支持肩负着你我信任，去领导我们前进的那个男人，我的丈夫，我们的总统——奥巴马！谢谢！