第一篇：美国总统奥巴马在全美年度教师颁奖典礼上的讲话 718
美国总统奥巴马在全美年度教师颁奖典礼上的讲话
2009年4月30日，新上任的美国总统奥巴马在白宫的玫瑰园举行了全美年度教师颁奖典礼，在这个典礼上，新任总统与新任年度教师的两段致词感动了许多人。
总统先生说：“我和米歇尔都没有令人羡慕的家庭背景，我们能够来到这里的唯一原因，就是在人生的关键时刻，有像托尼，马伦这样的老师将我们引入了正确的方向”。而托尼老师说在得知自己获奖的消息之后，很多记者都问他一个问题，那就是他心目中的好教师究竟是什么样的？
托尼想了三个词汇，激情，专业和毅力。激情是夺目的光芒，无法让人视而不见，专业是技术保障，毅力是个性品质。但除了这些，托尼认为一定还有一些更重要的东西，所以才有了那段著名的颁奖感言：“真正优秀的教师具有一个重要的品质，那就是能够读懂故事，他知道每一个来到自己跟前的孩子，都有一个独一无二的故事。好老师不仅能够读懂故事，还能够把信心和成功写入孩子的故事，他帮助孩子编辑错误，和孩子一起创作更美的故事”。以下是原文:
奥巴马总统在文中提到：
You know, we've got a lot of teachers here today and I'm a big fan of teachers because every single day in classrooms all across America, you are making a difference.You don't always get the recognition that you deserve.We don't always value the teaching profession like we should.But every once in a while, I think people start to understand not just in their own lives but in the lives of the nation how important the teaching profession is and how we've got to do a better job of lifting it up.In a global economy where the greatest job qualification isn't what you can do but what you know, our teachers are the key to our nation's success;to whether America will lead the world in the discoveries and the innovations and economic prosperity of this new century.And that's why as President I'm committed to doing everything I can to support the work of teachers.That's why we're working to create better standards and assessments that teachers can use in their classroom.That's why we're promoting innovation in teaching and learning, making critical investments in early childhood education, and helping more Americans walk through the door of higher education.And it's why we're taking ground-breaking steps to recruit, prepare, support and reward outstanding teachers--to encourage our best and brightest young people to follow in the footsteps of folks just like you.This is especially critical right now, as so many teachers from the baby boom generation are preparing to retire--although they all look pretty young back here--(laughter)--we're not worried about that.And recent evaluations of student performance show that while we're making progress, we still have a long way to go.I know personally, Michelle knows that what teachers do is not easy.My sister, Maya, is a teacher;Jill Biden, a teacher.We know how hard teachers work.And I know what all of you do by staying past that last bell;staying up late grading those papers;putting together lesson plans;spending your own money on books and supplies;and going beyond the call of duty.You do it because you know that's what will make a difference, because you believe that there's no such thing as a child that can't learn;that every child has their own gifts, and it's up to us to discover them--and it's up to us to see in our children what they can't yet see in themselves.（看来总统还是清楚教师这一职业并给与认可和高度评价的！）
And for you, those teachers who are in attendance today and for so many of your colleagues across this country, teaching is not just about a paycheck--it's a passion and it's a calling.下面是托尼老师的部分获奖感言：
When I was named Connecticut State Teacher of the Year, a local reporter approached me and asked me what makes a good teacher.I told him that passion, professionalism, and perseverance are three main traits a good teacher must display in the classroom--and they are.But as I drove home that day, the reporter's question began to nag at me because I knew good teachers possess some other special quality that make them able to connect to students, to make students feel important and wanted.I pondered the question because, although he may not have realized at the time--the reporter got a 10-second sound bite and I was handed a Rubik's Cube--the question did not seem to have an easy answer, because good teachers use a variety of teaching techniques to help children learn well.But the investigator in me was looking for a common thread that linked all good teachers.And I finally came to realize that the very best teachers have one common quality: They know how to read a story.They know that each and every child arrives at their classroom door with a unique and intriguing, yet incomplete story.The really good teachers are able to read a child's story, and recognize the remarkable opportunity to help author that story.The really good teachers know how to script confidence and success onto the blank pages.They know how to edit the mistakes.And they want to help write a happy ending.Really good teachers know they have the ability to make a child happy or sad, to make a child feel confident or unsure, to make a child feel wanted or discarded.And students know when we care, when we care enough to read their stories.（此话很有道理，为人师者应从之！）
第二篇：美国总统奥巴马在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼上的讲话
美国总统奥巴马在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼上的讲话
美国总统奥巴马12月10日美国总统奥巴马在挪威首都奥斯陆市政厅发表获得诺贝尔和平奖感言，他指出，这个奖表达出人类的最高理想，并战争有时无可避免，但人类应让历史朝着正义的方向前进，以下是讲话全文：
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Oslo City Hall, Oslo, Norway
December 10, 2009 奥巴马总统在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼上的讲话 挪威奥斯陆市政大厅 2009年12月10日
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses，distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:
国王和王后陛下，各位殿下，杰出的挪威诺贝尔委员会（Norwegian Nobel Committee）委员，美国公民及全世界公民们：
I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility.It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations--that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate.Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.获此殊荣，我深怀感激并深表谦恭。这个奖表达出我们的最高理想——尽管这个世界存在种种凶残困苦，但我们并不任命运摆布。我们的行动是有作用的，能够推动历史向正义方向发展。
And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated.(Laughter.)In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.Compared to some of the giants of history who‟ve received this prize--Schweitzer and King;Marshall and Mandela--my accomplishments are slight.And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice;those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering;the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.I cannot argue with those who find these men and women--some known, some obscure to all but those they help--to be far more deserving of this honor than I.不过，如果不坦承你们这项厚爱有加的决定所引起的相当激烈的争议，那我就有失疏忽了。（笑声）其中部分原因是，我在世界舞台上的奋斗才刚刚开始，而不是接近尾声。与曾经获此殊荣的一些历史巨人相比——史怀哲（Schweitzer）和马丁·路德·金(King)；马歇尔(Marshall)和曼德拉(Mandela)——我的成就微不足道。还有全世界为追求正义而遭到监禁和欧打的男女志士；那些为减轻苦难而在人道组织中艰辛工作的人；那千百万默默无闻地以充满勇气和关爱的无声行动让最悲观的愤世嫉俗者也受到感召的人们。我绝不反驳那些认为这样的男女志士——有些知名，有些只为他们所帮助的对象所知 ——远比我有资格获此殊荣的看法。
But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.One of these wars is winding down.The other is a conflict that America did not seek;one in which we are joined by 42 other countries--including Norway--in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.但与我获奖有关的最深层的问题可能在于我是一个正打着两场战争的国家的三军统帅。其中一场战争已接近尾声。另一场并非是美国挑起的冲突；有包括挪威在内的42个国家在与我们共同努力，为的是保护我们及其他所有国家不再遭受攻击。
Still, we are at war, and I‟m responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land.Some will kill, and some will be killed.And so I come here with an acute sense of the costs of armed conflict--filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.然而，我们仍处在战争时期，是我派遣成千上万名美国年轻人远赴战场。有些人要杀射，有些人要被杀射。因此，我是带着对武装冲突的代价的敏锐感觉来到这里的——心中充满有关战争与和平的关系以及我们为用和平取代战争而努力的难题。
Now these questions are not new.War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man.At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned;it was simply a fact, like drought or disease--the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.而这些问题并不新鲜。战争，以这样或那样的形式，随着人类的诞生而出现。在历史初期，战争的道义性无人质疑；它是如同干旱或疾病一样的现实——是各个部落以及后来的各种文明谋求权力和解决分歧的方式。
And over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers and clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war.The concept of a “just war” emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when certain conditions were met: if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense;if the force used is proportional;and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence.后来，随着旨在控制群体内部暴力的规范的出现，哲学家、宗教领袖和政治家也纷纷致力于用条文限制战争的破坏力。“正义战争”的概念由此形成，亦即认为，在符合以下几个具体条件时，战争是正义的：如果战争是最后手段或是为自我防御；如果武力程度适当；以及在一切可能的情况下不对平民使用暴力。
Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of “just war” was rarely observed.The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God.Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations--total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred.In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent.And while it‟s hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.当然，我们都知道，在人类历史的大部分时间内，这种“正义战争”的概念鲜被理会。人类显然有无穷的能力不断想出新的方式相互残杀，同样也有无穷的能力毫不怜惜那些外貌不同或信仰不同的人。军队之间的战争变成国家间的战争——模糊了战斗人员与平民界线的全面战争。这种战争大屠杀曾在30年内两度侵吞这块大陆。虽然难以设想还有什么比击败第三帝国（Third Reich）和轴心国（Axis powers）更正义的事业，但在第二次世界大战中死亡的平民总数超过了战死疆场的军人。
In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to
victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another world war.And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations--an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this prize--America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, restrict the most dangerous weapons.在这种毁灭之后，并且随着核时代的到来，战胜者与战败者同样清楚地认识到，这个世界需要有防止另一次世界大战的机制。为此，在美国参议院拒绝接受国际联盟（League of Nations）的四分之一世纪后——而伍德罗·威尔逊（Woodrow Wilson）正因为提出成立国联的设想而荣获诺贝尔和平奖，美国带动世界建起维护和平的体制：马歇尔计划(Marshall Plan)和联合国，对发动战争的规范，以及保护人权、防止种族灭绝大屠杀和限制最危险武器的各项条约。
In many ways, these efforts succeeded.Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed.But there has been no Third World War.The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall.Commerce has stitched much of the world together.Billions have been lifted from poverty.The ideals of liberty and self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced.We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.这些努力在很多方面获得了成功。不错，可怕的战争仍然发生，种种暴行依然出现，但第三次世界大战没有爆发。冷战以兴高采烈的人群推倒一堵墙而告结束；商贸将世界大片地区紧密连在了一起；数十亿人口摆脱了贫困；自由、自决、平等和法治的理想断断续续地向前推进。我们是先辈们的坚韧精神和远大目光的继承人，这是我自己的国家有理由为之感到骄傲的业绩。
And yet, a decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats.The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe.Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.然而，在进入新世纪已10年之际，这一旧有的架构正在越来越难撑新生威胁的重压。世界或许不再为两个超级核大国之间可能发生战争而颤栗，但核扩散可能会增加发生巨大灾难的危险。恐怖主义一贯是一种手段，但现代技术会使少数怒火超量的小人以可怕的规模残杀无辜。
Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations.The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts;the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states--all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos.In today‟s wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers;the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred.而且，国与国的战争正在日益被国家内部的战争所取代。民族和宗派冲突的重新抬头、分离主义运动、叛乱活动和失控国家的增加，都越来越将平民困于无休止的**中。在今天的战争中，平民的死亡大大超过军人；埋下未来冲突的种子；破坏经济；摧毁公民社会；形成大批难民；使儿童遭受创伤。
I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war.What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those
men and women who acted so boldly decades ago.And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.我今天没有带来对战争问题的决定性解决办法。但我确知，应对这些挑战要求具有几十年前那些英勇无畏的前辈所具有的远见、勤劳和坚韧不拔。这需要我们从新的角度思考正义战争的含义和正义和平的必备条件。
We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth: We will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes.There will be times when nations--acting individually or in concert--will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.我们必须首先承认这个严峻的现实：在我们的有生之年，我们不会根除暴力冲突。会有一些时候，国家——不论是单独或共同行动——发现使用武力不仅必要，而且为道义所需。
I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr.said in this same ceremony years ago: “Violence never brings permanent peace.It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones.” As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr.King‟s life work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence.I know there‟s nothing weak--nothing passive--nothing na?ve--in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.我说这番话时并没有忘记马丁·路德·金（Martin Luther King Jr.）多年前在这同一仪式上说过的话：“暴力永远不会带来持久和平。它解决不了社会问题：只会制造新的、更复杂的问题”。我站在这里，作为金博士毕生奋斗的直接受益者，就是对非暴力的道义力量的活见证。我知道在甘地（Gandhi）和马丁·路德·金的信念与人生中，绝无软弱——绝无消极——绝无天真。
But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone.I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people.For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world.A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler‟s armies.Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda‟s leaders to lay down their arms.To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism--it is a recognition of history;the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.但是，作为宣誓保卫自己国家的一国元首，我不能只以他们的榜样为指南。我面对的世界是现实的世界，我不能面对美国人民遭到的威胁无动于衷。因为，切莫误会：邪恶在世界上确实存在。一场非暴力运动不可能阻止希特勒的军队。谈判不能说服基地（al Qaeda）组织的头目放下武器。说武力有时是必要的并不是让大家变得愤世嫉俗——这是承认历史；是人类的不完美和情理的限度。
I raise this point, I begin with this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter what the cause.And at times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world‟s sole military superpower.我说起这一点，我以这一点开头，因为今天在许多国家，对军事行动，不管出于什么理由，都存在一种深深的矛盾心理。有时候，这种矛盾又掺杂着对美国，这个世界上惟一的超级大国的一种反射性的不信任。
But the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions--not just treaties and declarations--that brought stability to a post-World War II world.Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans.We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will.We have done so out of enlightened self-interest--because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if others‟ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.但世人必须记住，不简单地是因为国际体制——不只是条约和宣言——才给二战后的世界带来稳定。不管我们犯了多少错误，一个明白的事实是：美利坚合众国在60 多年里，以自己公民的鲜血和军力，帮助维护和保证了世界的安全。我们的男女军人的贡献与牺牲促进了从德国到韩国的和平与繁荣，使民主能在像巴尔干这样的地方扎根。我们承受这些重负并不是因为我们谋求强加我们的意志。我们这样做是出于开化的自身利益——因为我们为我们的子子孙孙追求更美好的未来。我们相信如果别人的子子孙孙能生活在自由和繁荣中，他们的生活会更好。
So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace.And yet this truth must coexist with another--that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.The soldier‟s courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause, to comrades in arms.But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.所以，是的，战争的手段确实在保卫和平中具有作用。但这个事实必须同另一个事实共存——不管理由多么正当，战争导致人间悲剧。军人的勇敢和牺牲无比光荣，表达了对国家、事业、战友的忠诚。但战争本身决不光荣，我们决不能如此宣扬。
So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly inreconcilable truths--that war is sometimes necessary, and war at some level is an expression of human folly.Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago.“Let us focus,” he said, “on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions.” A gradual evolution of human institutions.因此，我们面对的挑战部分来自于调和这两个看似不可调和的事实——战争有时必要，战争在某种程度上是人类愚蠢的表现。具体说，我们必须把我们的努力放在肯尼迪总统（Kennedy）很久以前所指出的使命上。他说：“让我们把注意力，集中在更实际，更能取得的和平上，这种和平不是基于人类本性的突发革命，而是基于人类体制的逐渐演进。”
What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?
这种演进可能具有何种形式？哪些可能是切实可行的步骤？
To begin with, I believe that all nations--strong and weak alike--must adhere to standards that govern the use of force.I--like any head of state--reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation.Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards, international standards, strengthens those who do, and isolates and weakens those who don‟t.首先，我认为所有国家，无论强弱，都必须遵循对使用武力的规范。与任何国家元首一样，我保留在必要时采取单边行动保卫自己国家的权利。然而，我确信遵循标准——国际标准——的国家更有力量，而那些不遵循标准的国家会陷于孤立，并且被削弱。
The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in
Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense.Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait--a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.“9.11” 之后，全世界团结一致，与美国站在一起，并在今天继续支持我们在阿富汗的努力，这是滥杀无辜的残忍与公认的自卫原则使然。同样，当萨达姆·侯赛因（Saddam Hussein）入侵科威特时，世界也认识到必须与其抗衡。这一共识发出的清晰信息是：侵略必须付出代价。
Furthermore, America--in fact, no nation--can insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves.For when we don‟t, our actions appear arbitrary and undercut the legitimacy of future interventions, no matter how justified.另外，美国──以及任何国家──都不能在自己拒绝遵守规则时要求别人遵守规则。如果我们不以身作则，我们的行动就会表现为专横武断，使未来进行干预的合理性受到影响，无论理由多么充足。
And this becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor.More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.当军事行动的目的超越了自卫或帮助某一国抵抗侵略者的防卫行动时，这一点变得尤其重要。我们大家都越来越多地面对棘手的问题：如何防止一国政府屠杀本国的平民？如何制止一场其暴行和所导致的痛苦会殃及整个地区的内战?
I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war.Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later.That‟s why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.我认为，基于人道理由的武力是正当的，例如在巴尔干地区或饱经战乱的其他地区。不采取行动不仅折磨我们的良心，还会导致未来以更高的代价进行干预。因此，所有负责任的国家都必须相信使命明确的军事行动所能够发挥的维护和平作用。（音频至此）
America‟s commitment to global security will never waver.But in a world in which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act alone.America alone cannot secure the peace.This is true in Afghanistan.This is true in failed states like Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering.And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.美国将矢志不渝地致力于确保全球安全。然而，在这个威胁日益蔓延、使命日趋复杂的世界里，美国不能独自行动。美国独自行动不能带来和平。在阿富汗如此，在恐怖主义和海盗伴随饥荒肆虐、人民受苦受难的索马里等政府失控的国家也是如此。不幸的是，这种状况在今后岁月里会继续存在于动荡地区。
The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries, and other friends and allies, demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they‟ve shown in Afghanistan.But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public.I understand why war is not popular, but I also know this: The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it.Peace requires responsibility.Peace entails sacrifice.That‟s why NATO continues to be indispensable.That‟s why we must strengthen U.N.and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries.That‟s why we honor those who return home from peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome;to Ottawa and Sydney;to Dhaka and Kigali--we honor them not as makers of war, but of wagers--but as wagers of peace.在阿富汗，北约国家以及其他友邦和盟国的领导人和军人以自身能力和勇气证实了上述论断。可是，在许多国家中，奉献者作出的努力与公众的矛盾心理之间存在脱节。我理解战争不受欢迎的原因，但我也知道：单凭向往和平的美好意愿很少能够带来和平。和平需要承担责任。和平需要作出牺牲。这是继续不能没有北约的原因。这是我们必须加强联合国及地区维和行动，不能将此重任推卸给少数几个国家的原因。因此，无论是在奥斯陆或罗马、渥太华或悉尼、达卡或基加利，我们都对那些完成维和行动与海外培训任务归来的军人给予极大的荣誉，因为他们不是战争制造者，而是和平缔造者。
Let me make one final point about the use of force.Even as we make difficult decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight it.The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for peace to Henry Dunant--the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force behind the Geneva Conventions.请允许我对使用武力的问题最后再说明一点。即使我们对出兵参战一事作出了艰难的决定，我们还必须认真考虑我们如何参加作战。诺贝尔委员会在向亨利·杜南（Henry Dunant）颁发第一个和平奖时认识到这一点。亨利·杜南是红十字会（Red Cross）创始人、《日内瓦公约》（Geneva Conventions）的幕后推动力量。
Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct.And even as we confront a vicious adversary that abides by no rules, I believe the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war.That is what makes us different from those whom we fight.That is a source of our strength.That is why I prohibited torture.That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed.And that is why I have reaffirmed America‟s commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions.We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend.(Applause.)And we honor--we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it‟s easy, but when it is hard.凡有必要使用武力的地方，我们出于道义与战略上的考虑，需要受某些行为准则的制约。即使我们遇到不遵守任何规则的邪恶对手，我认为美利坚合众国也必须一如既往成为遵守战争规范的楷模。这就是我们区别于作战对手的地方。这就是我们力量的源泉。这就是我禁止酷刑的原因。这就是我下令关闭关塔那摩湾监狱的原因。这就是我重申美国坚决遵守《日内瓦公约》的原因。我们为保卫自己的理想而战，如果我们放弃这些理想，我们就会自取其咎。（掌声）我们维护——我们维护这些理想，不论如何顺利，也不论如何艰难，都对这些理想恪守不渝。
I have spoken at some length to the question that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as we choose to wage war.But let me now turn to our effort to avoid such tragic choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.我刚才比较详细地谈到我们在选择出兵参战之际，必须深思熟虑的问题。现在让我转而谈一谈我们为避免这类悲剧性的选择进行的努力，谈一谈我们维护正义和缔造持久和平的三个途径。
First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to actually change behavior--for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something.Those
regimes that break the rules must be held accountable.Sanctions must exact a real price.Intransigence must be met with increased pressure--and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.首先，对于那些不遵守规则和法律的国家，我认为我们必须采取一些除武力之外的其他方式，但需要有足以改变其行为方式的强硬措施——因为如果我们希望实现持久和平，那么国际社会说的话必须算数。不遵守规则的国家必须承担责任。各种制裁必须迫使对方付出实际的代价。如果拒不悔改，则必须施加更大的压力借以抗衡 ——全世界只有通力合作才有可能施加这样的压力。
One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a world without them.In the middle of the last century, nations agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear: All will have access to peaceful nuclear power;those without nuclear weapons will forsake them;and those with nuclear weapons will work towards disarmament.I am committed to upholding this treaty.It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy.And I‟m working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russia‟s nuclear stockpiles.举例来说，努力防止核武器扩散，争取一个没有核武器的世界是一项迫在眉睫的工作。上世纪中叶，各国同意受一项条约的约束，其内容十分明确：各国都可以和平使用核能；没有核武器的国家将不谋求核武器；拥有核武器的国家将努力裁减核军备。我坚决支持这项条约。这是我采取的外交政策的核心。我正与梅德韦杰夫（Medvedev）总统为削减美国和俄罗斯的核军备进行合作。
But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system.Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted.Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia.Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war.但我们大家也都有责任坚决不允许伊朗和北韩等国家玩弄这个制度。声称尊重国际法的人不能在这些法律遭到践踏时视而不见。关心自己安全的人无法忽视中东或东亚地区军备竞赛的危险。希望和平的人不可在一些国家为发动核战争建立军备时袖手旁观。
The same principle applies to those who violate international laws by brutalizing their own people.When there is genocide in Darfur, systematic rape in Congo, repression in Burma--there must be consequences.Yes, there will be engagement;yes, there will be diplomacy--but there must be consequences when those things fail.And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.同样的原则也适用于那些违反国际法，残酷压榨本国人民的人。当达尔富尔地区出现种族大屠杀，当刚果发生层出不穷的强奸事件，当缅甸采取镇压行动的时候——必然会产生后果。是的，会进行接触，也会有外交行动——但当这些做法无法奏效时，必然会产生后果。我们如果更密切地合作，就很少有必要在武装干预和纵容专制压迫之间进行选择。
This brings me to a second point--the nature of the peace that we seek.For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict.Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting.这就关系到我要讲的第二点——我们所寻求的和平的性质。和平并不仅仅意味着没有可见的冲突，只有基于每个人与
生俱来的权利和尊严正义的和平才是真正的持久和平。
It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War.In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.在第二次世界大战以后，正是这种真知灼见给了《世界人权宣言》（Universal Declaration of Human Rights）的起草者们以动力。在巨大的灾难之后，他们意识到，如果人权得不到保护，那么和平只是空洞的承诺。
And yet too often, these words are ignored.For some countries, the failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these are somehow Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nation‟s development.And within America, there has long been a tension between those who describe themselves as realists or idealists--a tension that suggests a stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign to impose our values around the world.但是，人权宣言被漠视的状况屡见不鲜。某些国家将人权原则是西方原则、与当地文化格格不入、不符合国家发展阶段等作为不维护人权的不实借口。在美国，那些自称为现实主义者或理想主义者的人之间，长期以来也存在矛盾——它代表着在狭隘地谋求利益与无休止地在全世界推行我们的价值观之间的僵化选择。
I reject these choices.I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please;choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.Pent-up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence.We also know that the opposite is true.Only when Europe became free did it finally find peace.America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens.No matter how callously defined, neither America‟s interests--nor the world‟s--are served by the denial of human aspirations.我拒绝这些选择。我认为，在那些公民无权自由发表意见或按照自己的意愿信教、不能选择自己的领导人或自由集会的地方，和平是不稳定的。被压抑的不满情绪会激起怨恨，压制部族和宗教的认同可能引发暴力反抗。我们也知道其实相反的情况。欧洲在赢得自由之后才最终享有和平。美国从来没有同民主国家交战，我们最亲密的友邦也都是保护其公民权利的政府。不管多么苛刻地界定，压制人的理想不会有利于美国的利益，也不会有利于世界的利益。
So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal.We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi;to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings;to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran.It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation.And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear that these movements--these movements of hope and history--they have us on their side.因此，即使在我们尊重不同国家的独特文化和传统的同时，美国仍将一如既往地为这些全人类共同的理想而大声疾呼。我们将为昂山素季（Aung Sang Suu Kyi）那样具有沉静尊严的改革者见证；为不惧殴打而参加投票的津巴布韦人的勇气见证；为成千上万名在伊朗街头默默游行的人见证。这些都说明，那些政府的领导人对本国人民的理想的畏惧甚于任何其他国家的力量。全世界所有自由的人民和自由的国家都有责任明确宣告，我们站在这些行动——希望和历史的行动——的一边。
Let me also say this: The promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone.At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy.I know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation.But I also know that sanctions without outreach--condemnation without discussion--can carry forward only a crippling status quo.No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.我还要这样说：促进人权不能仅限于规劝告诫。有时还必须辅以艰苦的外交努力。我知道，与压制性政权接触没有义愤填膺来得畅快。我也知道，如果一味制裁而没有主动接触，如果一味谴责而没有对话，只能保持一个有害的现状。任何压制性政权都不可能改弦易辙，除非它们有可以选择的出路。
In light of the Cultural Revolution‟s horrors, Nixon‟s meeting with Mao appeared inexcusable--and yet it surely helped set China on a path where millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty and connected to open societies.Pope John Paul‟s engagement with Poland created space not just for the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa.Ronald Reagan‟s efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe.There‟s no simple formula here.But we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement, pressure and incentives, so that human rights and dignity are advanced over time.鉴于文化大革命的种种恐怖，尼克松与毛泽东的会晤似乎不可饶恕——但是，这确实帮助中国走上了另一条道路，千百万中国人摆脱了贫困并与开放社会建立了联系。教皇约翰·保罗（Pope John Paul）与波兰的接触不仅为天主教教会，也为列赫·瓦文萨（Lech Walesa）等工会领袖拓宽了空间。罗纳德·里根（Ronald Reagan）为武器控制所作的努力以及对苏联改革的欢迎不仅与苏联改善了关系，也给整个东欧的持不同政见者增添了力量。这里并没有一个简单的公式，但我们必须尽可能在孤立与接触、施压与鼓励之间找到平衡，以使人权和尊严能够与时俱进。
Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights--it must encompass economic security and opportunity.For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.第三，正义的和平不仅包括公民和政治权利——它还必须包括经济安全保障与机会。因为真正的和平不仅摆脱恐惧，而且无乏匮之虞。
It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security;it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine and shelter they need to survive.It does not exist where children can‟t aspire to a decent education or a job that supports a family.The absence of hope can rot a society from within.无可置疑，如果没有安全保障，发展难以扎根；同样肯定的是，在人们缺少生存所需的衣食，净水、医药和住所的地方，不会有安全。在孩子没有希望受到良好教育或人们没有可能得到工作养家的地方，不会有安全。无望会使社会从内部恶化。
And that‟s why helping farmers feed their own people--or nations educate their children and care for the sick--is not mere charity.It‟s also why the world must come together to confront climate change.There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, more famine, more mass displacement--all of which will fuel more conflict for decades.For this reason, it is not merely scientists and environmental activists who call for swift and
forceful action--it‟s military leaders in my own country and others who understand our common security hangs in the balance.因此，帮助农民养活本国人民——或帮助一个国家教育本国儿童并照顾病患——不仅仅是慈善之举。这也是全世界必须共同应对气候变化的原因。几乎毫无争议的科学事实是，如果我们无所行动，我们将面临更多的干旱、更多的饥荒、更大规模的流离失所——所有这一切都将在未来几十年引发更大冲突。为此，不仅是科学家和环保人士呼吁采取迅速和有力的行动——我国和其他国家的军事领袖也都知道，我们的共同安全处在紧要关头。
Agreements among nations.Strong institutions.Support for human rights.Investments in development.All these are vital ingredients in bringing about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about.And yet, I do not believe that we will have the will, the determination, the staying power, to complete this work without something more--and that‟s the continued expansion of our moral imagination;an insistence that there‟s something irreducible that we all share.各国间的协议。强有力的机制。对人权的支持。投资于发展。所有这一切都是实现肯尼迪总统所说的逐渐演进的至关重要的要素。然而，我认为，如果没有另一个要素，我们就不会有意志、决心、持久力去完成这项工作——而这便是我们不断扩展的道德想象力；一个对我们共同享有某种无法削弱的东西的坚定信念。
As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human beings to recognize how similar we are;to understand that we‟re all basically seeking the same things;that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our families.随着世界越来越小，人们可能认为，人类会更容易认识到我们是多么相似；懂得我们基本上都在追求同样的东西；我们都希望在我们一生中，给我们自己和我们的家人带来某种程度的幸福感和满足感。
And yet somehow, given the dizzying pace of globalization, the cultural leveling of modernity, it perhaps comes as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish in their particular identities--their race, their tribe, and perhaps most powerfully their religion.In some places, this fear has led to conflict.At times, it even feels like we‟re moving backwards.We see it in the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden.We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.但是，由于全球化令人眩目的进程以及现代化带来的文化趋同，人们担心丧失他们所珍视的自身特征——他们的种族、部族，以及也许最强有力的，他们的宗教。在有些地方，这种担心导致冲突。有时，我们甚至好像在倒退。在中东，随着阿拉伯人与犹太人之间的冲突似乎深化，我们看到了这种情形。我们在因部族间的冲突而四分五裂的国家看到这种情形。
And most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan.These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God;the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded.But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war.For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint--no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one‟s own faith.Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but I believe it‟s incompatible with the very purpose of
faith--for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.最危险的是，我们看到，宗教是怎样被那些歪曲并玷污伟大的伊斯兰教，以及那些从阿富汗向我国发动攻击的人当作谋杀无辜的借口。这些极端分子不是第一批以上帝名义进行屠杀的人；对十字军（Crusades）的暴行有大量记录。但是这些提醒我们，圣战绝不会是正义的战争。因为如果当人真的认为自己是在替天行道时，就根本不必有所收敛——不必对孕妇、对医务人员、对红十字会工作者、甚或有自身宗教信仰的人留情。这样一种扭曲的宗教观不仅与和平的理念不相容，而且我认为它与信仰的目的本身不相容——因为每一个主要宗教的核心教义都是，己所不欲，勿施于人。
Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature.For we are fallible.We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil.Even those of us with the best of intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us.坚持爱的法则常常是人性挣扎的主要内容。人难免要犯错误，我们会做错事，我们会受自负、权力、有时甚至邪念所诱。即使是我们中那些最怀善意的人们有时也未能改斜纠偏。
But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected.We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place.The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached--their fundamental faith in human progress--that must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.然而，即使我们知道人性不是完美的，我们仍然可以相信，人类的状态是可以改善的；即使我们生活其中的世界不是个理想世界，我们仍然能够追求让它变得更美好的理想。甘地与马丁·路德·金等人所实践的非暴力也许不是在所有情形下都切合实际或者可行，但他们所宣扬的爱——即他们对于人类进步的基本信念——必须永远是指引我们前行的北斗星。
For if we lose that faith--if we dismiss it as silly or na?ve;if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace--then we lose what‟s best about humanity.We lose our sense of possibility.We lose our moral compass.因为，如果我们丧失了那个信念——如果我们觉得它愚蠢或过于天真而不屑一顾；如果我们在就战争与和平问题决策时抛开了它——那么我们就丧失了人性中最美好的东西，我们就失去了能为的信念，我们就失去了道德指南针。
Like generations have before us, we must reject that future.As Dr.King said at this occasion so many years ago, “I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history.I refuse to accept the idea that the „isness‟ of man‟s present condition makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal „oughtness‟ that forever confronts him.”
和以往世世代代的人们一样，我们必须拒绝接受这样的未来。多年前，金博士在同样的场合曾经说道：“我拒绝接受以绝望作为对历史含糊性的最后反应。我拒绝接受所谓反映人类现实状况的‘实然’(isness)使其无法从道义上达到永远需要面对的终极‘应然’（oughtness）。”
Let us reach for the world that ought to be--that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls.(Applause.)
让我们努力达到世界应该达到的境界——神圣的火花仍然在我们每一个人的灵魂中激荡。（掌声）
Somewhere today, in the here and now, in the world as it is, a soldier sees he‟s outgunned, but stands firm to keep the peace.Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on.Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, scrapes together what few coins she has to send that child to school--because she believes that a cruel world still has a place for that child‟s dreams.今天，在某一个地方，此时此刻，在现实的世界上，一名士兵知道自己势薄力单，但仍然坚定地维护和平。今天，在某一个地方，在这个世界上，一位年轻的示威者知道将受到政府的残酷镇压，但她仍然有勇气大步前进。今天，在某一个地方，一位母亲受尽贫困的折磨，但仍然不惜花时间教育自己的孩子，凑集仅有的一些零钱送孩子上学——因为她相信，在这个残酷的世界上，仍然有一线空间可以实现孩子的梦想。
Let us live by their example.We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice.We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity.Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace.We can do that--for that is the story of human progress;that‟s the hope of all the world;and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.让我们以他们为榜样生活。我们可以承认，压迫将经常伴随着我们，但我们仍奋力争取正义。我们可以认为，腐化难以消除，但我们仍积极要求获得尊严。保持清醒的头脑，我们可以知道，战争将会爆发，但我们仍努力争取和平。我们可以做到——因为这是人类进步的历程；这是全世界的希望；在当前面临挑战的时刻，这必须是我们在全球从事的工作。
Thank you very much.(Applause.)
多谢诸位。（掌声）
第三篇：美国总统奥巴马对全美中小学生的讲话
Hello, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, everybody.All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat.How is everybody doing today?(Applause.)How about Tim Spicer?(Applause.)I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade.And I am just so glad that all could join us today.And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host.Give yourselves a big round of applause.(Applause.)
大家好！谢谢你们。谢谢你们。谢谢你们大家。好，大家请就坐。你们今天都好吗？（掌声）蒂姆.斯派塞（Tim Spicer）好吗？（掌声）我现在与弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起。美国各地从小学预备班到中学12年级的学生正在收听收看。我很高兴大家今天都能参与。我还要感谢韦克菲尔德高中出色的组织安排。请为你们自己热烈鼓掌。（掌声）
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school.And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now--(applause)--with just one more year to go.And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.1 / 36
我知道，今天是你们很多人开学的日子。对于进入小学预备班、初中或高中的学生，今天是你们来到新学校的第一天，心里可能有点紧张，这是可以理解的。我能想象 有些毕业班学生现在感觉很不错——（掌声）——还有一年就毕业了。不论在哪个年级，你们有些人可能希望暑假更长一点，今天早上还能多睡一小会儿。
I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived overseas.I lived in Indonesia for a few years.And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.我了解这种感觉。我小时候，我们家生活在海外。我在印度尼西亚住了几年。我妈妈没有钱送我上其他美国孩子上的学校，但她认为必须让我接受美式教育。因此，她决定从周一到周五自己给我补课。不过她还要上班，所以只能在清晨四点半给我上课。
Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early.And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”(Laughter.)
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你们可以想见，我不太情愿那么早起床。有很多次，我趴在餐桌上就睡着了。但每当我抱怨的时候，我妈妈都会那样地看我一眼，然后说：“小子，这对我也并不轻松。”（笑声）
So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.我知道你们有些人还在适应开学后的生活。但我今天来到这里是因为有重要的事情要和你们说。我来这里是要和你们谈谈你们的教育问题，以及在这个新学年对你们所有人的期望。
Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education.And I've talked about responsibility a lot.我做过很多次有关教育问题的演讲。我多次谈到过责任问题。
I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.3 / 36
我谈到过教师激励学生并督促他们学习的责任。
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.我谈到过家长的责任，要确保你们走正路，完成家庭作业，不要整天坐在电视前或玩Xbox游戏。
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.我多次谈到过政府的责任，要制定高标准，支持教师和校长的工作，彻底改善不能为学生提供应有机会的、教育质量差的学校。
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the
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responsibility each of you has for your education.然而，即使我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长和全世界最好的学校——如果你们大家不履行你们的责任，不到校上课，不专心听讲，不听家长、祖父祖母和其他大 人的话，不付出取得成功所必须的勤奋努力，那么这一切都毫无用处，都无关紧要。这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。
I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每个人都有自己的长处。你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会。
Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you
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do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.你或许能成为一名出色的作家——甚至可能写书或在报纸上发表文章——但你可能要在完成那篇英文课的作文后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名创新者或发明家——甚至可能设计出新一代iPhone或研制出新型药物或疫苗——但你可能要在完成科学课的实验后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名市长或参议员或最高法院的大法官——但你可能要在参加学生会的工作或辩论队后才会发现自己的才华。
And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.不论你的生活志向是什么，我敢肯定你必须上学读书才能实现它。你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你想当护士、建筑师、律师或军人吗？你必须接受良好的教育，才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后能碰上个好工作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。
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And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。可以毫不夸大地说，教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。美国的未来取决于你们。你们今日在校学习的知识将决定我们作为一个国家是否能够迎接我们未来所面临的最严峻挑战。
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.你们将需要利用你们通过自然科学和数学课程所学到的知识和解决问题的能力来治愈癌症、艾滋病及其他疾病，开发新的能源技术和保护我们的环境。你们将需要利用 你们在历史学和社会学课堂上所获得的知识和独立思考能力来抗击贫困和解决无家可归问题，打击犯罪和消除歧视，使我们的国家
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更公平、更自由。你们将需要利用 你们在所有课堂上培养的创造力和智慧来创办新公司，增加就业机会，振兴我们的经济。
We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.我们需要你们每个人发挥你们的聪明才智和技能，以便帮助老一辈人解决我们面临的最棘手问题。如果你们不这样做，如果你们辍学，你们不仅仅是自暴自弃，也是抛弃自己的国家。
Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.我自然知道要做到学业优秀并非总是易事。我知道你们许多人在生活中面临挑战，难以集中精力从事学业。
I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.8 / 36
There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.我明白这一点。我有亲身感受。两岁时，我父亲离家而去，我是由一位单亲母亲抚养成人的，母亲不得不工作，并时常为支付生活费用而苦苦挣扎，但有时仍无法为我们提供其他孩子享有的东西。有时，我渴望生活中能有一位父亲。有时我感到孤独，感到自己不适应社会。
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.我并非总是像我应该做到的那样专心学习，我也曾做过我如今不能引以为豪的一些事情，我曾惹过不应该惹的麻烦。我的人生原本会轻易陷入更糟糕的境地。
But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.9 / 36
但是，我当年际遇不错。我有过许多第二次机会，我有幸能上大学，上法学院，追求自己的理想。我的妻子，我们的第一夫人米歇尔.奥巴马，也有着类似的经历。她的父母都未曾上过大学，家里很穷。但他们非常勤奋，她也是如此，因此她得以进入一些美国最好的学校。
Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.你们中有一些人可能没有那些有利条件。或许你们生活中没有成年人为你们提供你们所需要的支持。或许你们家中有人失业，经济非常拮据。或许你们生活在使你们感觉不安全的社区，或有朋友逼迫你们去做你们知道不对的事情。
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.10 / 36
然而说到底，你们生活的环境、你们的肤色、你们的原籍、你们的经济收入、你们家中的境况等等，这一切都不能成为你们不用功或不努力的理由。你们没有理由不服从你们的老师、逃学、或辍学。没有理由不付出努力。
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.你们目前的状况并不决定着你们的未来。没有人决定你们的命运，在美国，你们决定自己的命运。你们掌握自己的未来。
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.这就是像你们这样的年轻人每天都在做的事情，全美各地都是如此。
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.来自得州罗马城的贾兹敏.佩雷斯（Jazmin Perez）就是一个例证，她刚开
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始上学时并不会说英文。她的父母都没有上过大学。然而，她非常勤奋，成绩优秀，获得了布朗大学的奖学金，她如今正在读研究生，攻读公共卫生专业，不久将成为贾兹敏.佩雷斯博士。
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.我想起了加州洛斯阿尔托斯城的安多尼.舒尔茨（Andoni Schultz），他从三岁开始就一直与脑癌进行抗争，他不得不忍受各类治疗和手术带来的痛苦，其中一项手术曾影响了他的记忆，因此他花在功课上的时间比一般人长得多，要多出数百个小时。然而，他从未落后。他今年秋季将迈进大学。
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.我还想起家乡伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的尚特尔.史蒂夫（Shantell Steve）。她
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曾在芝加哥最困难的社区生活，寄养于多个不同的家庭，但她最终在一家地方医疗中心找到工作，并开始了一项帮助年轻人远离流氓团伙的计划，她即将以优异成绩从中学毕业，紧接着将上大学。
And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.贾兹敏、安多尼和尚特尔与你们中间的每个人没什么两样。跟你们一样，他们在生活中面临种种挑战。在某些情况下，他们的处境比起你们许多人更差。但他们拒绝放弃。他们决定要为自己的一生、自己的教育负起责任，为自己设定各项奋斗目标。我期待你们大家都会这样做。
That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe
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environment to study and learn.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.因此，我今天呼吁你们每一个人为自己的教育设定目标，并尽自己的最大努力来实现这些目标。你的目标可以是一件十分简单的事情，例如完成家庭作业、上课专心听 讲、或每天花一点时间读一本书。也许你会决定要参加课外活动或在你的社区提供志愿服务。也许你会决定挺身而出保护那些因为身份或长相而受人戏弄或欺负的孩子，原因是你和我一样认为所有的年轻人都应该享有一个适合读书和学习的安全环境。也许你会决定更好地照料自己，以便有更充沛的精力来学习。顺便提一下，除 了这些事情外，我希望大家要勤洗手，身体感到不舒服的时候要呆在家里不去上学，这样我们能防止人们在今年秋冬季节染上流感。
But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.但无论你决定做什么，我希望你保证去做。我希望你脚踏实地地去做。I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of
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those things.我知道有时候你会从电视上得到这样的印象：你不用做任何艰苦的工作就能发财致富并取得成功，唱小调、打篮球或成为真人秀明星是走向成功的途径。但实际情况是：你可能不会成为其中的一员。
The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.事实上，取得成功不是轻而易举的事情。你不会喜欢你学习的每一门课目。你不会与你的每一位老师都很投契。不是所有的家庭作业似乎都与你眼前的生活完全有关。你第一次尝试做每件事的时候，不一定成功。
That's okay.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed.”
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这些都没关系。世界上最成功的人士中有一些是遭遇失败最多的人。作者J.K.罗琳（J.K.Rowling）所写的系列小说《哈利.波特》（Harry Potter）第一部在获得出版之前被退稿12次。迈克尔.乔丹（Michael Jordan）曾被他的高中篮球队除名。在乔丹的篮球生涯中，他输过数百场比赛，有成千上万个球没有投中。但他曾说过：“在我的一生中，我失败了一次又一次、一次又一次。这就是我成功的原因。”
These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.这些人士获得成功，因为他们懂得：你不能让失败来限制你，而必须让失败来开导你。你必须让失败向你展示下次如何以不同的方式去做这件事情。因此，如果你遇到 麻烦，那并不表示你是麻烦的制造者，而意味着你需要更加努力去把它做对。如果你有一门课分数低，那不表示你比别人笨，而只表示你需要花更多的时间学习。
No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You
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don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.没有一个人天生擅长做各种事情。你通过勤奋而变得擅长于各种事情。第一次从事新的体育项目时，你不可能是一位主力队员。第一次唱一首歌曲时，你不可能唱准每 个音。你必须练习。同样的道理适用于你的学业。你可能要把一道数学题做几次才把它做对。你可能要把一些材料阅读几遍才能理解。在交出一篇优美的作文之前，你肯定需要打几遍草稿。
Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.不要害怕提问。不要在需要帮助时害怕请求别人帮助。我天天请求别人的帮助。请求帮助不是软弱的表现，它是力量的标志，因为它表明你有勇气承认自己对某些事情 不懂，这样做会使你学到新的东西。因此，请确定一位
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你信任的成年人，例如家长、祖父母或老师、教练或辅导员，请他们帮助你遵循既定计划实现你的目标。
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.即使当你苦苦挣扎、灰心丧气、感到其他人对你不抱希望时，也不要对你自己丧失信心，因为当你自暴自弃时，你也抛弃了自己的国家。
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.书写美国历史的不是在困难时刻退缩的人，而是坚持不懈、加倍努力的人，他们对国家的爱促使他们全力以赴。
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way
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we communicate with each other.书写美国历史的是250年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们后来进行了独立战争并创建了这个国家。还有75年前坐在你们的位置上的年轻人和学生，他们走出了大萧条并打赢了一场世界大战；他们为民权而奋斗并把宇航员送上了月球。至于20年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们创办了谷歌（Google）、叽喳网（Twitter）和脸谱网（Facebook），改变了我们交流沟通的方式。
So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?
而今天，我要问问你们大家，你们将做出什么贡献？你们将解决什么问题？你们将有什么发现？20年、50年或100年后来到这里讲话的总统将会怎样评价你们大家为这个国家所做的一切？
Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you
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do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.你们的家人、你们的老师和我正在竭尽全力保证你们接受必要的教育，以便回答上述问题。我正在努力工作，以便你们的教室得到修缮，你们能够得到学习所需的课 本、设备和电脑。但你们也必须尽自己的努力。因此，我希望你们大家从今年起认真对待这个问题。我希望你们尽最大努力做好每一件事。我希望你们每个人都有出 色的表现。不要让我们失望。不要让你们的家人或你们的国家失望。而最重要的是，不要辜负你们自己，而要让我们都能[为你们]感到骄傲。
Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.(Applause.)
非常感谢你们大家。愿主保佑你们。愿主保佑美国。谢谢你们。（掌声）
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the
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hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.然而，即使我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长和全世界最好的学校——如果你们大家不履行你们的责任，不到校上课，不专心听讲，不听家长、祖父祖母和其他大 人的话，不付出取得成功所必须的勤奋努力，那么这一切都毫无用处，都无关紧要。这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。
I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每个人都有自己的长处。你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会。
Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the
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next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.你或许能成为一名出色的作家——甚至可能写书或在报纸上发表文章——但你可能要在完成那篇英文课的作文后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名创新者或发明家——甚至可能设计出新一代iPhone或研制出新型药物或疫苗——但你可能要在完成科学课的实验后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名市长或参议员或最高法院的大法官——但你可能要在参加学生会的工作或辩论队后才会发现自己的才华。
And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.不论你的生活志向是什么，我敢肯定你必须上学读书才能实现它。你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你想当护士、建筑师、律师或军人吗？你必须接受良好的教育，才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后能碰上个好工
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作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。可以毫不夸大地说，教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。美国的未来取决于你们。你们今日在校学习的知识将决定我们作为一个国家是否能够迎接我们未来所面临的最严峻挑战。
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.你们将需要利用你们通过自然科学和数学课程所学到的知识和解决问题的能力来治愈癌症、艾滋病及其他疾病，开发新的能源技术和保护我们的环境。你们将需要利用 你们在历史学和社会学课堂上所获得的知识和独立思考
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能力来抗击贫困和解决无家可归问题，打击犯罪和消除歧视，使我们的国家更公平、更自由。你们将需要利用 你们在所有课堂上培养的创造力和智慧来创办新公司，增加就业机会，振兴我们的经济。
We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.我们需要你们每个人发挥你们的聪明才智和技能，以便帮助老一辈人解决我们面临的最棘手问题。如果你们不这样做，如果你们辍学，你们不仅仅是自暴自弃，也是抛弃自己的国家。
Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.我自然知道要做到学业优秀并非总是易事。我知道你们许多人在生活中面临挑战，难以集中精力从事学业。
I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times
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to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.我明白这一点。我有亲身感受。两岁时，我父亲离家而去，我是由一位单亲母亲抚养成人的，母亲不得不工作，并时常为支付生活费用而苦苦挣扎，但有时仍无法为我们提供其他孩子享有的东西。有时，我渴望生活中能有一位父亲。有时我感到孤独，感到自己不适应社会。
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.我并非总是像我应该做到的那样专心学习，我也曾做过我如今不能引以为豪的一些事情，我曾惹过不应该惹的麻烦。我的人生原本会轻易陷入更糟糕的境地。
But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.25 / 36
但是，我当年际遇不错。我有过许多第二次机会，我有幸能上大学，上法学院，追求自己的理想。我的妻子，我们的第一夫人米歇尔.奥巴马，也有着类似的经历。她的父母都未曾上过大学，家里很穷。但他们非常勤奋，她也是如此，因此她得以进入一些美国最好的学校。
Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.你们中有一些人可能没有那些有利条件。或许你们生活中没有成年人为你们提供你们所需要的支持。或许你们家中有人失业，经济非常拮据。或许你们生活在使你们感觉不安全的社区，或有朋友逼迫你们去做你们知道不对的事情。
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.26 / 36
然而说到底，你们生活的环境、你们的肤色、你们的原籍、你们的经济收入、你们家中的境况等等，这一切都不能成为你们不用功或不努力的理由。你们没有理由不服从你们的老师、逃学、或辍学。没有理由不付出努力。
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.你们目前的状况并不决定着你们的未来。没有人决定你们的命运，在美国，你们决定自己的命运。你们掌握自己的未来。
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.这就是像你们这样的年轻人每天都在做的事情，全美各地都是如此。
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.27 / 36
来自得州罗马城的贾兹敏.佩雷斯（Jazmin Perez）就是一个例证，她刚开始上学时并不会说英文。她的父母都没有上过大学。然而，她非常勤奋，成绩优秀，获得了布朗大学的奖学金，她如今正在读研究生，攻读公共卫生专业，不久将成为贾兹敏.佩雷斯博士。
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.我想起了加州洛斯阿尔托斯城的安多尼.舒尔茨（Andoni Schultz），他从三岁开始就一直与脑癌进行抗争，他不得不忍受各类治疗和手术带来的痛苦，其中一项手术曾影响了他的记忆，因此他花在功课上的时间比一般人长得多，要多出数百个小时。然而，他从未落后。他今年秋季将迈进大学。
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.28 / 36
我还想起家乡伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的尚特尔.史蒂夫（Shantell Steve）。她曾在芝加哥最困难的社区生活，寄养于多个不同的家庭，但她最终在一家地方医疗中心找到工作，并开始了一项帮助年轻人远离流氓团伙的计划，她即将以优异成绩从中学毕业，紧接着将上大学。
And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.贾兹敏、安多尼和尚特尔与你们中间的每个人没什么两样。跟你们一样，他们在生活中面临种种挑战。在某些情况下，他们的处境比起你们许多人更差。但他们拒绝放弃。他们决定要为自己的一生、自己的教育负起责任，为自己设定各项奋斗目标。我期待你们大家都会这样做。
That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how
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they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.因此，我今天呼吁你们每一个人为自己的教育设定目标，并尽自己的最大努力来实现这些目标。你的目标可以是一件十分简单的事情，例如完成家庭作业、上课专心听 讲、或每天花一点时间读一本书。也许你会决定要参加课外活动或在你的社区提供志愿服务。也许你会决定挺身而出保护那些因为身份或长相而受人戏弄或欺负的孩 子，原因是你和我一样认为所有的年轻人都应该享有一个适合读书和学习的安全环境。也许你会决定更好地照料自己，以便有更充沛的精力来学习。顺便提一下，除 了这些事情外，我希望大家要勤洗手，身体感到不舒服的时候要呆在家里不去上学，这样我们能防止人们在今年秋冬季节染上流感。
But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.但无论你决定做什么，我希望你保证去做。我希望你脚踏实地地去做。
I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping
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or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.我知道有时候你会从电视上得到这样的印象：你不用做任何艰苦的工作就能发财致富并取得成功，唱小调、打篮球或成为真人秀明星是走向成功的途径。但实际情况是：你可能不会成为其中的一员。
The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.事实上，取得成功不是轻而易举的事情。你不会喜欢你学习的每一门课目。你不会与你的每一位老师都很投契。不是所有的家庭作业似乎都与你眼前的生活完全有关。你第一次尝试做每件事的时候，不一定成功。
That's okay.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed.”
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这些都没关系。世界上最成功的人士中有一些是遭遇失败最多的人。作者J.K.罗琳（J.K.Rowling）所写的系列小说《哈利.波特》（Harry Potter）第一部在获得出版之前被退稿12次。迈克尔.乔丹（Michael Jordan）曾被他的高中篮球队除名。在乔丹的篮球生涯中，他输过数百场比赛，有成千上万个球没有投中。但他曾说过：“在我的一生中，我失败了一次又一次、一次又一次。这就是我成功的原因。”
These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.这些人士获得成功，因为他们懂得：你不能让失败来限制你，而必须让失败来开导你。你必须让失败向你展示下次如何以不同的方式去做这件事情。因此，如果你遇到 麻烦，那并不表示你是麻烦的制造者，而意味着你需要更加努力去把它做对。如果你有一门课分数低，那不表示你比别人笨，而只表示你需要花更多的时间学习。
No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through
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hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.没有一个人天生擅长做各种事情。你通过勤奋而变得擅长于各种事情。第一次从事新的体育项目时，你不可能是一位主力队员。第一次唱一首歌曲时，你不可能唱准每 个音。你必须练习。同样的道理适用于你的学业。你可能要把一道数学题做几次才把它做对。你可能要把一些材料阅读几遍才能理解。在交出一篇优美的作文之前，你肯定需要打几遍草稿。
Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.不要害怕提问。不要在需要帮助时害怕请求别人帮助。我天天请求别人的帮助。请求帮助不是软弱的表现，它是力量的标志，因为它表明你有勇气
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承认自己对某些事情 不懂，这样做会使你学到新的东西。因此，请确定一位你信任的成年人，例如家长、祖父母或老师、教练或辅导员，请他们帮助你遵循既定计划实现你的目标。
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.即使当你苦苦挣扎、灰心丧气、感到其他人对你不抱希望时，也不要对你自己丧失信心，因为当你自暴自弃时，你也抛弃了自己的国家。
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.书写美国历史的不是在困难时刻退缩的人，而是坚持不懈、加倍努力的人，他们对国家的爱促使他们全力以赴。
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit
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years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.书写美国历史的是250年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们后来进行了独立战争并创建了这个国家。还有75年前坐在你们的位置上的年轻人和学生，他们走出了大萧条并打赢了一场世界大战；他们为民权而奋斗并把宇航员送上了月球。至于20年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们创办了谷歌（Google）、叽喳网（Twitter）和脸谱网（Facebook），改变了我们交流沟通的方式。
So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?
而今天，我要问问你们大家，你们将做出什么贡献？你们将解决什么问题？你们将有什么发现？20年、50年或100年后来到这里讲话的总统将会怎样评价你们大家为这个国家所做的一切？
Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of
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you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.你们的家人、你们的老师和我正在竭尽全力保证你们接受必要的教育，以便回答上述问题。我正在努力工作，以便你们的教室得到修缮，你们能够得到学习所需的课 本、设备和电脑。但你们也必须尽自己的努力。因此，我希望你们大家从今年起认真对待这个问题。我希望你们尽最大努力做好每一件事。我希望你们每个人都有出 色的表现。不要让我们失望。不要让你们的家人或你们的国家失望。而最重要的是，不要辜负你们自己，而要让我们都能[为你们]感到骄傲。
Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.(Applause.)
非常感谢你们大家。愿主保佑你们。愿主保佑美国。谢谢你们。（36 / 36
第四篇：美国总统奥巴马对全美中小学生的讲话
美国总统奥巴马对全美中小学生的讲话
Hello, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, everybody.All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat.How is everybody doing today?(Applause.)How about Tim Spicer?(Applause.)I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade.And I am just so glad that all could join us today.And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host.Give yourselves a big round of applause.(Applause.)大家好！谢谢你们。谢谢你们。谢谢你们大家。好，大家请就坐。你们今天都好吗？（掌声）蒂姆.斯派塞（Tim Spicer）好吗？（掌声）我现在与弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起。美国各地从小学预备班到中学12年级的学生正在收听收看。我很高兴大家今天都能参与。我还要感谢韦克菲尔德高中出色的组织安排。请为你们自己热烈鼓掌。（掌声）I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school.And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous.I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now--(applause)--with just one more year to go.And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.我知道，今天是你们很多人开学的日子。对于进入小学预备班、初中或高中的学生，今天是你们来到新学校的第一天，心里可能有点紧张，这是可以理解的。我能想象 有些毕业班学生现在感觉很不错——（掌声）——还有一年就毕业了。不论在哪个年级，你们有些人可能希望暑假更长一点，今天早上还能多睡一小会儿。
I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived overseas.I lived in Indonesia for a few years.And my mother, she didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.我了解这种感觉。我小时候，我们家生活在海外。我在印度尼西亚住了几年。我妈妈没有钱送我上其他美国孩子上的学校，但她认为必须让我接受美式教育。因此，她决定从周一到周五自己给我补课。不过她还要上班，所以只能在清晨四点半给我上课。
Now, as you might imagine, I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early.And a lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she’d say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”(Laughter.)
你们可以想见，我不太情愿那么早起床。有很多次，我趴在餐桌上就睡着了。但每当我抱怨的时候，我妈妈都会那样地看我一眼，然后说：“小子，这对我也并不轻松。”（笑声）
So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.我知道你们有些人还在适应开学后的生活。但我今天来到这里是因为有重要的事情要和你们说。我来这里是要和你们谈谈你们的教育问题，以及在这个新学年对你们所有人的期望。Now, I’ve given a lot of speeches about education.And I’ve talked about responsibility a lot.我做过很多次有关教育问题的演讲。我多次谈到过责任问题。
I’ve talked about teachers’ responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.我谈到过教师激励学生并督促他们学习的责任。
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.我谈到过家长的责任，要确保你们走正路，完成家庭作业，不要整天坐在电视前或玩Xbox游戏。I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working, where students aren’t getting the opportunities that they deserve.我多次谈到过政府的责任，要制定高标准，支持教师和校长的工作，彻底改善不能为学生提供应有机会的、教育质量差的学校。
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.然而，即使我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长和全世界最好的学校——如果你们大家不履行你们的责任，不到校上课，不专心听讲，不听家长、祖父祖母和其他大 人的话，不付出取得成功所必须的勤奋努力，那么这一切都毫无用处，都无关紧要。这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。
I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you’re good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That’s the opportunity an education can provide.我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每个人都有自己的长处。你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会。
Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that’s assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.你或许能成为一名出色的作家——甚至可能写书或在报纸上发表文章——但你可能要在完成那篇英文课的作文后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名创新者或发明家——甚至可能设计出新一代iPhone或研制出新型药物或疫苗——但你可能要在完成科学课的实验后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名市长或参议员或最高法院的大法官——但你可能要在参加学生会的工作或辩论队后才会发现自己的才华。
And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You’ve got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.不论你的生活志向是什么，我敢肯定你必须上学读书才能实现它。你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你想当护士、建筑师、律师或军人吗？你必须接受良好的教育，才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后能碰上个好工作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。可以毫不夸大地说，教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。美国的未来取决于你们。你们今日在校学习的知识将决定我们作为一个国家是否能够迎接我们未来所面临的最严峻挑战。
第五篇：美国总统奥巴马在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼的讲话
美国总统奥巴马在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼的讲话
2009年12月10日，美国总统奥巴马在接受挪威诺贝尔委员会颁发的诺贝尔和平奖时发表讲话，以下是讲话全文：
Remarks by US.President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo City Hall, Norway
December 10, 2009 奥巴马总统在诺贝尔和平奖颁奖典礼上的讲话
挪威奥斯陆市政大厅
2009年12月10日
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world: 国王和王后陛下，各位殿下，杰出的挪威诺贝尔委员会委员，美国公民及全世界公民们：
I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility.It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations--that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate.Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.获此殊荣，我深怀感激并深表谦恭。这个奖表达出我们的最高理想——尽管这个世界存在种种凶残困苦，但我们并不任命运摆布。我们的行动是有作用的，能够推动历史向正义方向发展。
And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated.(Laughter.)In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.Compared to some of the giants of history who’ve received this prize--Schweitzer and King;Marshall and Mandela--my accomplishments are slight.And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice;those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering;the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.I cannot argue with those who find these men and women--some known, some obscure to all but those they help--to be far more deserving of this honor than I.不过，如果不坦承你们这项厚爱有加的决定所引起的相当激烈的争议，那我就有失疏忽了。（笑声）其中部分原因是，我在世界舞台上的奋斗才刚刚开始，而不是接近尾声。与曾经获此殊荣的一些历史巨人相比——史怀哲和马丁·路德·金；马歇尔和曼德拉——我的成就微不足道。还有全世界为追求正义而遭到监禁和欧打的男女志士；那些为减轻苦难而在人道组织中艰辛工作的人；那千百万默默无闻地以充满勇气和关爱的无声行动让最悲观的愤世嫉俗者也受到感召的人们。我绝不反驳那些认为这样的男女志士——有些知名，有些只为他们所帮助的对象所知——远比我有资格获此殊荣的看法。
But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.One of these wars is winding down.The other is a conflict that America did not seek;one in which we are joined by 42 other countries--including Norway--in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.但与我获奖有关的最深层的问题可能在于我是一个正打着两场战争的国家的三军统帅。其中一场战争已接近尾声。另一场并非是美国挑起的冲突；有包括挪威在内的42个国家在与我们共同努力，为的是保护我们及其他所有国家不再遭受攻击。
Still, we are at war, and I’m responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land.Some will kill, and some will be killed.And so I come here with an acute sense of the costs of armed conflict--filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.然而，我们仍处在战争时期，是我派遣成千上万名美国年轻人远赴战场。有些人要杀射，有些人要被杀射。因此，我是带着对武装冲突的代价的敏锐感觉来到这里的——心中充满有关战争与和平的关系以及我们为用和平取代战争而努力的难题。
Now these questions are not new.War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man.At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned;it was simply a fact, like drought or disease--the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.而这些问题并不新鲜。战争，以这样或那样的形式，随着人类的诞生而出现。在历史初期，战争的道义性无人质疑；它是如同干旱或疾病一样的现实——是各个部落以及后来的各种文明谋求权力和解决分歧的方式。
And over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers and clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war.The concept of a “just war” emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when certain conditions were met: if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense;if the force used is proportional;and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence.后来，随着旨在控制群体内部暴力的规范的出现，哲学家、宗教领袖和政治家也纷纷致力于用条文限制战争的破坏力。“正义战争”的概念由此形成，亦即认为，在符合以下几个具体条件时，战争是正义的：如果战争是最后手段或是为自我防御；如果武力程度适当；以及在一切可能的情况下不对平民使用暴力。
Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of “just war” was rarely observed.The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God.Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations--total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred.In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent.And while it’s hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.当然，我们都知道，在人类历史的大部分时间内，这种“正义战争”的概念鲜被理会。人类显然有无穷的能力不断想出新的方式相互残杀，同样也有无穷的能力毫不怜惜那些外貌不同或信仰不同的人。军队之间的战争变成国家间的战争——模糊了战斗人员与平民界线的全面战争。这种战争大屠杀曾在30年内两度侵吞这块大陆。虽然难以设想还有什么比击败第三帝国和轴心国更正义的事业，但在第二次世界大战中死亡的平民总数超过了战死疆场的军人。
In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another world war.And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations--an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this prize--America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, restrict the most dangerous weapons.在这种毁灭之后，并且随着核时代的到来，战胜者与战败者同样清楚地认识到，这个世界需要有防止另一次世界大战的机制。为此，在美国参议院拒绝接受国际联盟的四分之一世纪后——而伍德罗∙威尔逊正因为提出成立国联的设想而荣获诺贝尔和平奖，美国带动世界建起维护和平的体制：马歇尔计划和联合国，对发动战争的规范，以及保护人权、防止种族灭绝大屠杀和限制最危险武器的各项条约。
In many ways, these efforts succeeded.Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed.But there has been no Third World War.The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall.Commerce has stitched much of the world together.Billions have been lifted from poverty.The ideals of liberty and self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced.We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.这些努力在很多方面获得了成功。不错，可怕的战争仍然发生，种种暴行依然出现，但第三次世界大战没有爆发。冷战以兴高采烈的人群推倒一堵墙而告结束；商贸将世界大片地区紧密连在了一起；数十亿人口摆脱了贫困；自由、自决、平等和法治的理想断断续续地向前推进。我们是先辈们的坚韧精神和远大目光的继承人，这是我自己的国家有理由为之感到骄傲的业绩。
And yet, a decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats.The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe.Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.然而，在进入新世纪已10年之际，这一旧有的架构正在越来越难撑新生威胁的重压。世界或许不再为两个超级核大国之间可能发生战争而颤栗，但核扩散可能会增加发生巨大灾难的危险。恐怖主义一贯是一种手段，但现代技术会使少数怒火超量的小人以可怕的规模残杀无辜。
Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations.The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts;the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states--all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos.In today’s wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers;the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred.而且，国与国的战争正在日益被国家内部的战争所取代。民族和宗派冲突的重新抬头、分离主义运动、叛乱活动和失控国家的增加，都越来越将平民困于无休止的**中。在今天的战争中，平民的死亡大大超过军人；埋下未来冲突的种子；破坏经济；摧毁公民社会；形成大批难民；使儿童遭受创伤。
I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war.What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago.And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.我今天没有带来对战争问题的决定性解决办法。但我确知，应对这些挑战要求具有几十年前那些英勇无畏的前辈所具有的远见、勤劳和坚韧不拔。这需要我们从新的角度思考正义战争的含义和正义和平的必备条件。
We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth: We will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes.There will be times when nations--acting individually or in concert--will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.我们必须首先承认这个严峻的现实：在我们的有生之年，我们不会根除暴力冲突。会有一些时候，国家——不论是单独或共同行动——发现使用武力不仅必要，而且为道义所需。
I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr.said in this same ceremony years ago: “Violence never brings permanent peace.It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones.” As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr.King’s life work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence.I know there’s nothing weak--nothing passive--nothing naïve--in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.我说这番话时并没有忘记马丁·路德·金多年前在这同一仪式上说过的话：“暴力永远不会带来持久和平。它解决不了社会问题：只会制造新的、更复杂的问题”。我站在这里，作为金博士毕生奋斗的直接受益者，就是对非暴力的道义力量的活见证。我知道在甘地和马丁·路德·金的信念与人生中，绝无软弱——绝无消极——绝无天真。
But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone.I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people.For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world.A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies.Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda’s leaders to lay down their arms.To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism--it is a recognition of history;the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.但是，作为宣誓保卫自己国家的一国元首，我不能只以他们的榜样为指南。我面对的世界是现实的世界，我不能面对美国人民遭到的威胁无动于衷。因为，切莫误会：邪恶在世界上确实存在。一场非暴力运动不可能阻止希特勒的军队。谈判不能说服基地组织的头目放下武器。说武力有时是必要的并不是让大家变得愤世嫉俗——这是承认历史；是人类的不完美和情理的限度。
I raise this point, I begin with this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter what the cause.And at times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world’s sole military superpower.我说起这一点，我以这一点开头，因为今天在许多国家，对军事行动，不管出于什么理由，都存在一种深深的矛盾心理。有时候，这种矛盾又掺杂着对美国，这个世界上惟一的超级大国的一种反射性的不信任。
But the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions--not just treaties and declarations--that brought stability to a post-World War II world.Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans.We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will.We have done so out of enlightened self-interest--because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if others’ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.但世人必须记住，不简单地是因为国际体制——不只是条约和宣言——才给二战后的世界带来稳定。不管我们犯了多少错误，一个明白的事实是：美利坚合众国在60多年里，以自己公民的鲜血和军力，帮助维护和保证了世界的安全。我们的男女军人的贡献与牺牲促进了从德国到韩国的和平与繁荣，使民主能在像巴尔干这样的地方扎根。我们承受这些重负并不是因为我们谋求强加我们的意志。我们这样做是出于开化的自身利益——因为我们为我们的子子孙孙追求更美好的未来。我们相信如果别人的子子孙孙能生活在自由和繁荣中，他们的生活会更好。So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace.And yet this truth must coexist with another--that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.The soldier’s courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause, to comrades in arms.But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.所以，是的，战争的手段确实在保卫和平中具有作用。但这个事实必须同另一个事实共存——不管理由多么正当，战争导致人间悲剧。军人的勇敢和牺牲无比光荣，表达了对国家、事业、战友的忠诚。但战争本身决不光荣，我们决不能如此宣扬。
So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly inreconcilable truths--that war is sometimes necessary, and war at some level is an expression of human folly.Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago.“Let us focus,” he said, “on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions.” A gradual evolution of human institutions.因此，我们面对的挑战部分来自于调和这两个看似不可调和的事实——战争有时必要，战争在某种程度上是人类愚蠢的表现。具体说，我们必须把我们的努力放在肯尼迪总统很久以前所指出的使命上。他说：“让我们把注意力，集中在更实际，更能取得的和平上，这种和平不是基于人类本性的突发革命，而是基于人类体制的逐渐演进。”
What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be? 这种演进可能具有何种形式？哪些可能是切实可行的步骤？ To begin with, I believe that all nations--strong and weak alike--must adhere to standards that govern the use of force.I--like any head of state--reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation.Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards, international standards, strengthens those who do, and isolates and weakens those who don’t.首先，我认为所有国家，无论强弱，都必须遵循对使用武力的规范。与任何国家元首一样，我保留在必要时采取单边行动保卫自己国家的权利。然而，我确信遵循标准——国际标准——的国家更有力量，而那些不遵循标准的国家会陷于孤立，并且被削弱。
The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense.Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait--a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.“9.11”之后，全世界团结一致，与美国站在一起，并在今天继续支持我们在阿富汗的努力，这是滥杀无辜的残忍与公认的自卫原则使然。同样，当萨达姆•侯赛因入侵科威特时，世界也认识到必须与其抗衡。这一共识发出的清晰信息是：侵略必须付出代价。
Furthermore, America--in fact, no nation--can insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves.For when we don’t, our actions appear arbitrary and undercut the legitimacy of future interventions, no matter how justified.另外，美国──以及任何国家──都不能在自己拒绝遵守规则时要求别人遵守规则。如果我们不以身作则，我们的行动就会表现为专横武断，使未来进行干预的合理性受到影响，无论理由多么充足。
And this becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor.More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.当军事行动的目的超越了自卫或帮助某一国抵抗侵略者的防卫行动时，这一点变得尤其重要。我们大家都越来越多地面对棘手的问题：如何防止一国政府屠杀本国的平民？如何制止一场其暴行和所导致的痛苦会殃及整个地区的内战? I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war.Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later.That’s why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.我认为，基于人道理由的武力是正当的，例如在巴尔干地区或饱经战乱的其他地区。不采取行动不仅折磨我们的良心，还会导致未来以更高的代价进行干预。因此，所有负责任的国家都必须相信使命明确的军事行动所能够发挥的维护和平作用。
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