奥巴马的家教与博览群书（合集5篇）

第一篇：奥巴马的家教与博览群书

奥巴马的家教与博览群书

【_王辉耀的BLOG_新浪博客】

几天前宣誓就职美国总统的奥巴马开创了新的美国和世界历史。但奥巴马的母亲无疑是一个伟大的教育者。奥巴马的母亲突破种族偏见嫁给黑人，在于奥巴马的父亲离婚后依然胸怀宽阔，为其父亲树立良好形象，并让奥巴马从小接受精英而多元化的教育，这些非常难得。我记得在翻译《我父亲的梦想—奥巴马回忆录》一书的过程中有些很难忘的细节。比如奥巴马小时候六岁跟随母亲去印尼以后，由于母亲没有钱送他去国际学校，只好就送他去了普通当地的印尼学校，而这些学校使用当地语言教学。尽管如此，奥巴马母亲却深知早期教育的重要性，她加倍努力自己亲自辅导奥巴马的教育。每周星期一到星期五，她都会在凌晨四点叫奥巴马起床，然后教他三个小时的英文，然后奥巴马再去学校接受当地教育，妈妈还要去上班。每天凌晨四点就起床教育自己的儿子三个小时，一周连续五天，这需要怎样的毅力和付出？并且他的母亲对他的寄望很高，从小教导奥巴马做人要诚恳、坦率、有主见。奥巴马的自信、魄力和拉近不同人群的能力，以及面对强势女性能处之泰然的特点，无一不反映了母亲的影响力。他们母子俩虽然长时间远隔重洋，但始终关系密切。

奥巴马后来在写给自己两个女儿的信中提到母亲对他的教育：“这正是我在你们这年纪时，外婆想要教我的功课，她把独立宣言开头几行念给我听，告诉我有一些男女为了争取平等挺身而出游行抗议，因为他们认为两个世纪前白纸黑字写下来的这些句子，不应只是空话。她让我了解到，美国所以伟大，不是因为它完美，而是因为我们可以不断让它变得更好，而让它更好的未竞任务，就落在我们每个人的身上。”奥巴马的母亲把独立宣言念给奥巴马听，从小对他进行自由、民主和美国精神的教育，并且从小给他灌输了“领导国家”的理念，她对奥巴马说：“你不能像那些只顾享乐的人一样，总是坐等着机会送上门来。”正因为懂得抓住机会，才使得奥巴马总是能在机会面前抢先一步。这种对高层次理想的培养更是极难见到，当然也就造就了非同寻常的未来总统。

这种严格要求的教育方式也被奥巴马运用到教育自己的两个女儿，奥巴马在给10岁的马莉娅和7岁的萨莎写的信中敦促女儿在看到错误事物要挺身而出矫正，并努力工作让其它人也能获得“你们所拥有的机会”，他希望她们能成为有同情心和有责任感的女性，以助建造一个充满梦想和希望的世界。

奥巴马给她们设立以下家规：1.不准出现以下行为：抱怨、哭闹、争辩、纠缠和恶意嘲笑。2.自己的事情自己做，比如给自己冲麦片或倒牛奶，自己叠被子，自己上闹钟等等。3.如果干家务，每星期能从爸爸那里领得1美元零用钱。4.要求两个孩子安排充实课余生活:马莉娅跳舞、排戏、弹钢琴、打网球、玩橄榄球;萨莎练体操、弹钢琴、打网球、跳踢踏舞。

成功的家庭教育应是，家长注重锻炼孩子独立的生活能力，可以宠爱，但不应溺爱。要有计划有意识地培养孩子的独立能力，要求一致，持之以恒。奥巴马要求孩子自己整理床铺，自设闹钟，自己起床穿衣服，干家务等，能锻炼和培养孩子的独立性、自制力、坚韧性等良好的个性品质，孩子也应参加力所能及的家务劳动，这样就能逐步形成劳动的习惯。

除了很好的家教之外，奥巴马成长的过程中书籍对他的影响很大。他在美国哥伦比亚大学和哈佛大学读本科和研究生，这两所大学都是美国最顶尖的大学。我女儿现在上哥伦比亚大学一年级，她告诉我学校的图书馆是奥巴马当年在哥伦比亚读书时花时间最多的地方，常常一呆就是一整天，在哥伦比亚大学期间，书籍是奥巴马最好的伴侣和朋友。现在网上最流行的一张奥巴马照片就是他在哈佛读书是手捧一本书的照片。读书的好习惯和博览群书性格帮助造就了奥巴马的成长与成功。在战后美国历届总统中，奥巴马可能是最爱读书的，而且读书的也的确很多。从他自传广博的知识和优雅流畅的语言中我们能猜想他的阅读是非常丰富的。美国媒体也认为，他是美国很长时间以来难得一见的“有文化的总统”。他在自传中提到，每次遇到问题时，他都会找来相关的书阅读，希望从书中得到些启示。奥巴马认为塑造他人生、最感动的书是《圣经》。还有莎士比亚的悲剧，不管《哈姆莱特》还是《李尔王》，每一部悲剧都那么丰富。你可以一年读一次，每年都读，年年有新意，年年都有你不曾留意的东西，书里有对人性两难境遇的洞察，非常有力。

我在翻译过他的自传《来自父亲的梦想—奥巴马回忆录》后发现，奥巴马有很好的语言表达能力。著名文学学者李欧梵在给我翻这本书的台湾版序中说：“即使奥巴马选不上总统，他也有足够资格成为一名作家。”并称赞该书是“富于文学性的大手笔”。从回忆父亲到回忆自己的幼年经历，从因身份焦虑而堕落到回到非洲寻求来自父亲的梦想，青年奥巴马的人生围绕寻求非同寻常的种族身份而展开，并被附上了找寻梦想的内涵。这样很符合政治家自传要达到宣传自己的“政治正确”的目标。当然，奥巴马又是那么诚恳地展现了他的意图，自传结构被安排得精巧别致。其中的对话和细节如同小说般生动精彩，遣词造句也凸现了英语的晓畅优美。奥巴马善于用细腻的文字氛围和诚恳的姿态带领读者去探究他最初的“政治缘起”。就这一点，奥巴马不当政治家也是个优秀的作家。于是我想到，听奥巴马的竞选成功演讲时那些让人记忆深刻的句子，我相信他的演讲稿多数是他亲自写就，因为它们的风格、遣词造句与他这本自传的语言都是一致的晓畅优雅。

奥巴马的文学修养是很高的，他还喜欢一些文学性极高一般人很少涉猎的著作。奥巴马在当选总统后曾与阿根廷总统克里斯蒂娜·费尔南德斯通过电话。他在电话中谈了对阿根廷的了解：“大学时曾认真看过博尔赫斯和科塔萨尔的小说，因此非常了解。”

奥巴马提到的博尔赫斯（1899-1986）是阿根廷著名作家，在阿根廷文坛享有很高的地位。他有英国血统，在日内瓦上中学，在剑桥读大学，掌握英、法、德等多国文字。他的小说常带异国情调背景，荒诞离奇，充满幻想，构思奇特，有神秘色彩。科塔萨尔（1914-1984）少年时在瑞士和西班牙生活过，在阿根廷读完大学后便到乡村中学任教，是个大器晚成的作家。他最著名的作品是1963年发表的《跳房子游戏》，被誉为“拉丁美洲的《尤利西斯》”。小说的主人公是位知识分子，为追求人生的真谛到了巴黎，却发现自己与其格格不入，失望之余不得不舍弃爱情与友谊，又回到了布宜诺斯艾利斯。阿根廷媒体得知奥巴马读过博尔赫斯和科塔萨尔的小说，还是很感兴奋：“很了解这两位作家的美国总统不多。”其实这两位作家在纯文学圈享有极高声誉，但因为对读者的阅读品位要求较高很少有普通读者喜欢，比如博尔赫斯是作家们喜欢的作家，奥巴马却是另类。很多人都相信，只要了解奥巴马在读什么书，就能多少猜测到他正在思考什么问题，他会用什么方法解决问题。美国《纽约时报》去年11月3日曾有一篇报道说，奥巴马在读《幽灵战争：中央情报局、阿富汗和本·拉丹秘史》。这本书的作者是《华盛顿邮报》前总编史蒂夫·科尔。当时，有人猜测奥巴马可能对抓捕本·拉丹很关注，但这本书中的内容远不止这些。

读完《幽灵战争》之后，奥巴马又读了杰弗里·萨克斯的《共同财富》(Common Wealth)。杰弗里·萨克斯是美国哥伦比亚大学经济学家，早在1990年代初期就已成名，与劳伦斯·萨默斯和保罗·克鲁格曼并称美国经济学界“三才俊”。近年来，萨克斯一直致力于研究人口、环境和经济发展等全球性问题。奥巴马可能是想从这本书中得到一些启示，看看美国政府应该如何解决地球变暖和第三世界援助问题。

奥巴马他最爱读《圣经》外第二喜欢的书呢？有人说就是多丽丝·古德温写的《对手团队：亚伯拉罕·林肯的政治天才》。这本书很详细地介绍了林肯内阁的内情，有人望文生义，说奥巴马在选择内阁人选方面，效仿林肯，让白宫内布满了在政治上相互竞争的对手。奥巴马爱读有关林肯的书，是很自然的。除了本书外，还有人看到，去年11月中旬时，奥巴马拿着卡普兰的《林肯传》一书。奥巴马曾在接受采访时表示，他读过美国历史学家爱德华·史密斯的《富兰克林·罗斯福》，他也读过新闻记者乔纳森·艾尔特的《决定性瞬间：罗斯福的一百天和希望的胜利》。在美国，有关罗斯福总统的书数以百计，这两本书据说是诸多罗斯福传记中较好的。据说，奥巴马还读过普林斯顿大学教授拉里·巴特尔斯的《不平等的民主：新镀金时代的政治经济》。这本书阐述了为何民主党执政时期，美国经济会更繁荣些。奥巴马已经明确提出，他将通过大规模的基础设施建设，来应对危机，振兴美国经济。在这方面，他应当是从罗斯福总统那里得到了启示。

在外交问题领域，奥巴马阅读了美国时事周刊《新闻周刊》国际版总编法里德·扎卡里亚撰写的《后美国世界》。这本书论述了中国和俄罗斯等“其他地区”的崛起，强调美国应该发挥以“软实力”为中心的领导力。

奥巴马今天当选美国总统成功，与他有一个很好的母亲，很好的家教传统和他爱好博览群书是密不可分的，且不管奥巴马未来的政治主张如何，单就其家庭教育、他母亲的育儿方式和他博览群书的习惯来说，是值得我们欣赏或予以借鉴的。

第二篇：奥巴马演讲稿与奥巴马父亲节演讲稿

奥巴马演讲稿

我衷心感谢艾奥瓦的公民们。

众所周知，有人说这一天永远不会到来。

有人说我们好高骛远。

有人说人民异见纷呈，悲观失望，不可能再为了一个共同的目标而众志成城。

但在这个一月的夜晚，在这个书写历史的时刻，你们做到了那些愤世嫉俗的人断言我们做不到的事。五天后新罕布什尔州的选民也将完成你们的壮举。在刚刚来到的

XX年，美国人民也会完成同样的壮举。在学校和教堂，在小市镇和大城市，你们——民主党人、共和党人、无党派人士——熙熙攘攘地走到一起，自豪地宣称：我们是一个国家，我们是一个民族;变革的时刻已经到来。你们还说，华盛顿被冷酷、萎缩和愤怒所淹没，现在是超越这种政治手段、以相加替代分割的时刻，是在红州和蓝州建立变革联盟的时刻。这是因为我们将以此在11月取胜，我们也将以此面对我们国家面临的挑战。

我们选择希望，抛弃恐惧;我们选择联合，拒绝分裂;我们向美利坚高声宣布变革就在眼前。

你们宣布，政治说客自以为他们的财富和影响力比公众舆论的威力更大，但是他们并不拥有这个政府。政府是我们的，我们正在把它收回。

人民此刻需要这样一位总统：他能诚实面对机遇和挑战;即使跟人民见解不同也会倾听和了解他们的想法;他不仅要说人民愿意听到的话，更要提供人民需要知道的信息。如果新罕布什尔也给我今晚艾奥瓦给我的机会，我将会是这样一位总统。

感谢你们。

我会是这样一位总统：让每个人都能看上病和看得起病。我在伊利诺斯州就通过民主党人和共和党人的携手合作实现了这一目标。

我会是这样一位总统：终止所有把工作运往海外的公司的税收优惠政策，并给美国最值得享受减税的中产阶级减税。

我会是这样一位总统：让农场主、科学家和企业家发挥他们的创造力，使我们国家一劳永逸地摆脱石油的主宰。

最后，我会是这样一位总统：我要结束伊拉克战争并让我们的士兵回家;我要恢复我们的道德地位;我知道9/11不是骗取选票的借口，而是使美国和世界联合起来应对21世纪这个世界面临的共同威胁：恐怖主义和核扩散，全球变暖和贫困，种族屠杀和疾病。

今晚，因为艾奥瓦公民的选择，我们距离那样的美国蓝图又近了一步。在此，我特别想感谢选举的组织者和各个投票站的站长、志愿者和我的竞选团队的工作人员。没有你们就没有今晚的胜利。

当我站在这里表达谢意时，我想有必要感谢我的至爱，奥巴马家庭的坚实后盾，竞选旅途的殿后者，米歇尔·奥巴马。

我明白你们不是为了我才这样做的。你们这样做，你们这样做，是因为你们坚信一个美国信念，那就是，无论条件多么艰难困苦，相信这个国家的人是可以改变它的。

我明白这一点，我明白这一点，是因为虽然我此刻站在这里，我永远也不会忘记我的行程从芝加哥的街头开始。我曾经作过你们为我的竞选和艾奥瓦所有的竞选作过的一切：组织，工作，为了让人民的生活能够得到一点点改善而奋斗。

我知道这样的工作的艰辛，睡眠不足，薪酬低微，大量的自我牺牲，失望常常伴随着我们。但是偶尔，仅仅是偶尔，也会有象今晚这样的时刻，在这样一个夜晚，这样一个我们数年后想起来会自豪地说那个更好的美国就是从那个时刻开始的夜晚。在这样的美国，我们实现了我们坚信不移的变革：更多的家庭看得起病;我们的孩子，我的女儿玛利亚和萨沙和你们的孩子会生活在一个更干净和更安全的星球上;世界将以不同的眼光来看待美国，而美国将把自己看作一个更少歧见、更多团结的国家。

这一刻是勇往直前的人击败了华盛顿总是说战无不胜的人的时刻。

奥巴马父亲节演讲稿范文

奥巴马父亲节演讲稿范文：

of all the rocks upon witch we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most imortant.and we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation.they are teachers and coaches.they are mentors role models.they are examples of succeand the men who constantly push us towared it.今天我们要记起来的是，在我们缔造生活所依赖的基石中，家庭是最重要的。我们必须认识并且认识和赞颂每一位父亲在这个基石中所起的关键作用。父亲既是老师又是教练;既是导师又是模范。既是成功的榜样，又是不断推动我们走向成功的人。

i say this knowing that i have been an imperfect father—knowing that i have made mistakes and will contiue to make more;wishing that i could be home for my girls and my wife more than i am right now.i say this knowing all of these things because even as we are imperfect ,even as we face diffcult circumstance ,there are still certain lessons we must strive to live and learn as fathers —whether we are black or white , poor or rich.我讲这些话时，心里明白我并非一个尽善尽美的父亲——我知道我犯过错误，并且还可能会犯更多错误;我希望我能比现在有更多的时间在家里陪伴我的女儿和太太。我心里明白这一切，应为纵然我们缺点多多，纵然我们面对重重困难，但有某些教训是我们身为人父者应该尽可能去体会与学习的——不管我们是黑人还是白人，富人还是穷人。奥巴马父亲节演讲稿

the first is setting an example of excellence for our children —because if we want to set high expectations for them , we've got to set hight expectations for ourselfs.it's great if you have a job;it's even better if you have a college degree;it's a wonderful thing if you are married and living in a home with your children ,but don't just sit in the house and watch “sports center” all weekend long;that's why so many children are growing up in front of television.as fathers and parents , we've got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework , and replace video game or remote control with a book in a while.that's how we build that foundation.”节目。许多孩子就是因为有这样的父亲而只能傍着电视机长大。作为父亲，作为家长，我们应该在他们身上花更多的时间，帮助他们完成作业，时不时地让他们抛开手中的游戏机或电视遥控器而捧上一本书。这就是我们要为建立那个基础所应该做的事情。

the second thing we need to do as fathers is paalong the value of empathy to our children.not sympathy , but empathy — the ability to stand in somebody else's shoes;to look at the world through their eyes.sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in “us”, that we forget about our obligations to one another.第二个教训是，身为人父，我们应该传递给我们的子女一种同理心的人生价值观。不是同情怜悯，而是同理心——能设身处地的为别人着想，将心比心;能透过别人的眼睛观察这个世界。有时候我们是如此轻易的执着于“我们”，而忘了我们彼此之间所应负担的责任。

and the final lesson we must learn as father is also the greatest gift we can paon to our children----and that is the gift of hope.我们身为人父应总结的最后一个教训，也是我们可以传给子女的最为贵重的礼物，就是希望

i am not talking about an idle hope that's little more than blind optimism or willful ignorance of the problems we face.i'm talking about hope as the spirit inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contray, that something better is waiting for us if we're willing to work for it and fight for it.if we are willing to believe.我将的希望不是空谈的希望，不是那种盲目的乐观主义或对我们面对的问题不加考虑。我讲的希望是那种寄托于我们内心的精神;坚信在逆境中只要愿意为之努力奋斗，情况就会变得好起来。只要我们怀有这种信念。

第三篇：奥巴马演讲

奥巴马演讲

Hello, everybody.In the State of the Union, I laid out three areas we need to focus on if we're going to build an economy that lasts: new American manufacturing, new skills and education for American workers, and new sources of American-made energy.These days, we're getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future.Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb.Only this time, it's happening earlier.And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car;everyone who owns a business.It means you have to stretch your paycheck even further.Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.Now, some politicians always see this as a political opportunity.And since it's an election year, they're already dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas.I'll save you the suspense: Step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.We hear the same thing every year.Well the American people aren't stupid.You know that's not a plan – especially since we're already drilling.It's a bumper sticker.It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge.It's a strategy to get politicians through an election.You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.If we're going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more.We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks;in our buildings and plants.That's the strategy we're pursuing, and that's the only real solution to this challenge.Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America.That's why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade.And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I've directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what's going on in the oil markets.But over the long term, an all-of-the-above energy strategy means we have to do more.It means we have to make some choices.Here's one example.Right now, four billion of your tax dollars subsidize the oil industry every year.Four billion dollars.Imagine that.Maybe some of you are listening to this in your car right now, pulling into a gas station to fill up.As you watch those numbers rise, know that oil company profits have never been higher.Yet somehow, Congress is still giving those same companies another four billion dollars of your money.That's outrageous.It's inexcusable.And it has to stop.A century of subsidies to the oil companies is long enough.It's time to end taxpayer giveaways to an industry that's never been more profitable, and use that money to reduce our deficit and double-down on a clean energy industry that's never been more promising.Because of the investments we've already made, the use of wind and solar energy in this country has nearly doubled – and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.And because we put in place the toughest fuel economy standards in history, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.Now Congress needs to keep that momentum going by renewing the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil.Look, we know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight.But what we can do is get our priorities straight, and make a sustained, serious effort to tackle this problem.That's the commitment we need right now.And with your help, it's a commitment we can make.Thank you.

第四篇：奥巴马演讲

Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you very much.Everybody, please have a seat.Well, Madam President, that was an outstanding introduction.(Laughter.)We are so proud of Donae for representing this school so well.And in addition, I also want to acknowledge your outstanding principal, who has been here for 20 years--first as a teacher, now as an outstanding principal--Anita Berger.Please give her a big round of applause.(Applause.)I want to acknowledge, as well, Mayor Gray is here--the mayor of Washington, D.C.is here.Please give him a big round of applause.(Applause.)And I also want to thank somebody who is going to go down in history as one of the finest Secretaries of Education that we’ve ever had--Arne Duncan is here.(Applause.)

Now, it is great to be here at Benjamin Banneker High School, one of the best high schools not only in Washington, D.C., but one of the best high schools in the country.(Applause.)But we’ve also got students tuning in from all across America.And so I want to welcome you all to the new school year, although I know that many of you already have been in school for a while.I know that here at Banneker, you’ve been back at school for a few weeks now.So everything is starting to settle in, just like for all your peers all across the country.The fall sports season is underway.Musicals and marching band routines are starting to shape up, I believe.And your first big tests and projects are probably just around the corner.I know that you’ve also got a great deal going on outside of school.Your circle of friends might be changing a little bit.Issues that used to stay confined to hallways or locker rooms are now finding their way onto Facebook and Twitter.(Laughter.)Some of your families might also be feeling the strain of the economy.As many of you know, we’re going through one of the toughest economic times that we’ve gone through in our lifetime--in my lifetime.Your lifetime hasn’t been that long.And so, as a consequence, you might have to pick up an after-school job to help out your family, or maybe you’re babysitting for a younger sibling because mom or dad is working an extra shift.So all of you have a lot on your plates.You guys are growing up faster and interacting with a wider world in a way that old folks like me, frankly, just didn’t have to.So today, I don’t want to be just another adult who stands up and lectures you like you’re just kids--because you’re not just kids.You’re this country’s future.You’re young leaders.And whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation is going to depend in large part on you.So I want to talk to you a little bit about meeting that responsibility.It starts, obviously, with being the best student that you can be.Now, that doesn’t always mean that you have to have a perfect score on every assignment.It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to get straight As all the time--although that’s not a bad goal to have.It means that you have to stay at it.You have to be determined and you have to persevere.It means you’ve got to work as hard as you know how to work.And it means that you’ve got to take some risks once in a while.You can’t avoid the class that you think might be hard because you’re worried about getting the best grade if that’s a subject that you think you need to prepare you for your future.You’ve got to wonder.You’ve got to question.You’ve got to explore.And every once in a while, you need to color outside of the lines.That’s what school is for: discovering new passions, acquiring new skills, making use of this incredible time that you have to prepare yourself and give yourself the skills that you’re going to need to pursue the kind of careers that you want.And that’s why when you’re still a student you can explore a wide range of possibilities.One hour you can be an artist;the next, an author;the next, a scientist, or a historian, or a carpenter.This is the time where you can try out new interests and test new ideas.And the more you do, the sooner you’ll figure out what makes you come alive, what stirs you, what makes you excited--the career that you want to pursue.Now, if you promise not to tell anybody, I will let you in on a little secret: I was not always the very best student that I could be when I was in high school, and certainly not when I was in middle school.I did not love every class I took.I wasn’t always paying attention the way I should have.I remember when I was in 8th grade I had to take a class called ethics.Now, ethics is about right and wrong, but if you’d ask me what my favorite subject was back in 8th grade, it was basketball.I don’t think ethics would have made it on the list.But here’s the interesting thing.I still remember that ethics class, all these years later.I remember the way it made me think.I remember being asked questions like: What matters in life? Or, what does it mean to treat other people with dignity and respect? What does it mean to live in a diverse nation, where not everybody looks like you do, or thinks like you do, or comes from the same neighborhood as you do? How do we figure out how to get along?

Each of these questions led to new questions.And I didn’t always know the right answers, but those discussions and that process of discovery--those things have lasted.Those things are still with me today.Every day, I’m thinking about those same issues as I try to lead this nation.I’m asking the same kinds of questions about, how do we as a diverse nation come together to achieve what we need to achieve? How do we make sure that every single person is treated with dignity and respect? What responsibilities do we have to people who are less fortunate than we are? How do we make sure that everybody is included in this family of Americans?

Those are all questions that date back to this class that I took back in 8th grade.And here’s the thing: I still don’t always know the answers to all these questions.But if I’d have just tuned out because the class sounded boring, I might have missed out on something that not only did I turn out enjoying, but has ended up serving me in good stead for the rest of my life.So that’s a big part of your responsibility, is to test things out.Take risks.Try new things.Work hard.Don’t be embarrassed if you’re not good at something right away.You’re not supposed to be good at everything right away.That’s why you’re in school.The idea, though, is, is that you keep on expanding your horizons and your sense of possibility.Now is the time for you to do that.And those are also, by the way, the things that will make school more fun.Down the road, those will be the traits that will help you succeed, as well--the traits that will lead you to invent a device that makes an iPad look like a stone tablet.Or what will help you figure out a way to use the sun and the wind to power a city and give us new energy sources that are less polluting.Or maybe you’ll write the next great American novel.Now, to do almost any of those things, you have to not only graduate from high school,--and I know I’m just--I’m in the “amen” corner with Principal Berger here--not only do you have to graduate from high school, but you’re going to have to continue education after you leave.You have to not only graduate, but you’ve got to keep going after you graduate.That might mean, for many of you, a four-year university.I was just talking to Donae, and she wants to be an architect, and she’s interning with a architectural firm, and she’s already got her sights set on what school she wants to go to.But it might, for some other folks, be a community college, or professional credentialing or training.But the fact of the matter is, is that more than 60 percent of the jobs in the next decade will require more than a high school diploma--more than 60 percent.That’s the world you’re walking into.So I want all of you to set a goal to continue your education after you graduate.And if that means college for you, just getting into college is not enough.You also have to graduate.One of the biggest challenges we have right now is that too many of our young people enroll in college but don’t actually end up getting their degree, and as a consequence--our country used to have the world’s highest proportion of young people with a college degree;we now rank 16th.I don't like being 16th.I like being number one.That’s not good enough.So we’ve got to use--we’ve got to make sure your generation gets us back to the top of having the most college graduates relative to the population of any country on Earth.If we do that, you guys will have a brighter future.And so will America.We’ll be able to make sure the newest inventions and the latest breakthroughs happen right here in the United States of America.It will mean better jobs, and more fulfilling lives, and greater opportunities not only for you, but also for your kids.So I don’t want anybody who’s listening here today to think that you’re done once you finish high school.You are not done learning.In fact, what’s happening in today’s economy is--it’s all about lifelong learning.You have to constantly upgrade your skills and find new ways of doing things.Even if college isn't for you, even if a four-year college isn't for you, you’re still going to have to get more education after you get out of high school.You’ve got to start expecting big things from yourself right now.I know that may sound a little intimidating.And some of you may be wondering how you can pay for college, or you might not know what you want to do with your life yet.And that’s okay.Nobody expects you to have your entire future mapped out at this point.And we don't expect you to have to make it on your own.First of all, you’ve got wonderful parents who love you to death and want you to have a lot more opportunity than they ever had--which, by the way, means don’t give them a hard time when they ask you to turn off the video games, turn off the TV and do some homework.You need to be listening to them.I speak from experience because that’s what I’ve been telling Malia and Sasha.Don’t be mad about it, because we’re thinking about your future.You’ve also got people all across this country--including myself and Arne and people at every level of government--who are working on your behalf.We’re taking every step we can to ensure that you’re getting an educational system that is worthy of your potential.We’re working to make sure that you have the most up-to-date schools with the latest tools of learning.We’re making sure that this country’s colleges and universities are affordable and accessible to you.We’re working to get the best class--teachers into the classroom as well, so they can help you prepare for college and a future career.Let me say something about teachers, by the way.Teachers are the men and women who might be working harder than just about anybody these days.(Applause.)Whether you go to a big school or a small one, whether you attend a public or a private or charter school –-your teachers are giving up their weekends;they’re waking up at dawn;they’re cramming their days full of classes and extra-curricular activities.And then they’re going home, eating some dinner, and then they’ve got to stay up sometimes past midnight, grading your papers and correcting your grammar, and making sure you got that algebra formula properly.And they don’t do it for a fancy office.They don’t--they sure don’t do it for the big salary.They do it for you.They do it because nothing gives them more satisfaction than seeing you learn.They live for those moments when something clicks;when you amaze them with your intellect or your vocabulary, or they see what kind of person you’re becoming.And they’re proud of you.And they say, I had something to do with that, that wonderful young person who is going to succeed.They have confidence in you that you will be citizens and leaders who take us into tomorrow.They know you’re our future.So your teachers are pouring everything they got into you, and they’re not alone.But I also want to emphasize this: With all the challenges that our country is facing right now, we don’t just need you for the future;we actually need you now.America needs young people’s passion and their ideas.We need your energy right now.I know you’re up to it because I’ve seen it.Nothing inspires me more than knowing that young people all across the country are already making their marks.They’re not waiting.They’re making a difference now.There are students like Will Kim from Fremont, California, who launched a nonprofit that gives loans to students from low-income schools who want to start their own business.Think about that.So he’s giving loans to other students.He set up a non-for-profit.He’s raising the money doing what he loves--through dodgeball tournaments and capture-the-flag games.But he’s creative.He took initiative.And now he’s helping other young people be able to afford the schooling that they need.There is a young man, Jake Bernstein, 17 years old, from a military family in St.Louis, worked with his sister to launch a website devoted to community service for young people.And they’ve held volunteer fairs and put up an online database, and helped thousands of families to find volunteer opportunities ranging from maintaining nature trails to serving at local hospitals.And then last year, I met a young woman named Amy Chyao from Richardson, Texas.She’s 16 years old, so she’s the age of some of you here.During the summer, I think because somebody in her family had an illness, she decided that she was interested in cancer research.She hadn’t taken chemistry yet, so she taught herself chemistry during the summer.And then she applied what she had learned and discovered a breakthrough process that uses light to kill cancer cells.Sixteen years old.It’s incredible.And she's been approached by some doctors and researchers who want to work with her to help her with her discovery.The point is you don’t have to wait to make a difference.You’re first obligation is to do well in school.You’re first obligation is to make sure that you’re preparing yourself for college and career.But you can also start making your mark right now.A lot of times young people may have better ideas than us old people do anyway.We just need those ideas out in the open, in and out of the classroom.When I meet young people like yourselves, when I sat and talk to Donae, I have no doubt that America’s best days are still ahead of us, because I know the potential that lies in each of you.Soon enough, you will be the ones leading our businesses and leading our government.You will be the one who are making sure that the next generation gets what they need to succeed.You will be the ones that are charting the course of our unwritten history.And all that starts right now--starts this year.So I want all of you who are listening, as well as everybody here at Banneker, I want you to make the most of the year that’s ahead of you.I want you to think of this time as one in which you are just loading up with information and skills, and you’re trying new things and you’re practicing, and you’re honing--all those things that you’re going to need to do great things when you get out of school.Your country is depending on you.So set your sights high.Have a great school year.Let’s get to work.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless the United States of America.(Applause.)

第五篇：奥巴马演讲词

Remarks of President Barack ObamaMay 19, 2012 For the past three and a half years, we’ve been fighting our way back from an historic economic crisis – one caused by breathtaking irresponsibility on the part of some on Wall Street who treated our financial system like a casino.Not only did that behavior nearly destroy the financial system – it cost our economy millions of jobs, hurt middle-class families, and left taxpayers holding the bag.Since then, we’ve recovered taxpayer dollars that were used to stabilize troubled banks.And we’ve put in place Wall Street reform with smarter, tougher, commonsense rules that serve one primary purpose: to prevent a crisis like that from ever happening again.And yet, for the past two years, too many Republicans in Congress and an army of financial industry lobbyists have actually been waging an all-out battle to delay, defund, and dismantle Wall Street reform.Recently, we’ve seen why we can’t let that happen.We found out that a big mistake at one of our biggest banks resulted in a two billion dollar loss.While that bank can handle a loss of that size, other banks may not have been able to.And without Wall Street reform, we could have found ourselves with the taxpayers once again on the hook for Wall Street’s mistakes.That’s why it’s so important that Members of Congress stand on the side of reform, not against it;because we can’t afford to go back to an era of weak regulation and little oversight;where excessive risk-taking on Wall Street and a lack of basic oversight in Washington nearly destroyed our economy.We can't afford to go back to that brand of “you’re-on-your-own” economics.Not after the American people have worked so hard to come back from this crisis.We’ve got to keep moving forward.We’ve got to finish the job of implementing this reform and putting these rules in place.These new rules say that, if you’rea big bank or financial institution, you now have to hold more cash on hand so that if you make a bad decision you pay for it, not the taxpayers.You have to write out a “living will” that details how you’ll be wound down if you do fail.The new law takes away big bonuses and paydays from failed CEOs, while giving shareholders a say on executive salaries.And for the first time in our nation’s history, we have in place a consumer watchdog whose sole job is to look out for working families by protecting them from deceptive and unfair practices.So unless you run a financial institution whose business model is built on cheating consumers, or making risky bets that could damage the whole economy, you have nothing to fear from Wall Street reform.Yes, it discourages big banks and financial institutions from making risky bets with taxpayer-insured money.And it encourages them to do things that actually help the economy – like extending loans toentrepreneurs with good ideas, to middle-class families who want to buy a home, to students who want to pursue higher education.That is what Wall Street reform is all about – making this economy stronger for you.And we are going to keep working – to recover every job lost to the recession;to build an economy where hard work and responsibility are once again rewarded;to restore an America where everyone has a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.I believe the free market is one of the greatest forces for progress in human history;that businesses are the engine of growth;that risk-takers and innovators should be celebrated.But I also believe that at its best, the free market has never been a license to take whatever you want, however you can get it.Alongside our entrepreneurial spirit and rugged individualism, America only prospers when we meet our obligations to one another;and to future generations.If you agree with me, let your Member of Congress know.Tell them to spend less time working to undermine rules that are there to protect the economy, and spend more time actually working to strengthen the economy.Thanks and have a great weekend.Vicky: What are you working on? Issac: If I tell you, will you promise not to laugh? Vicky: All right.What is it? Issac: It’s a love letter to Julie.Vicky: Isn’t it a little premature? You’ve only been going out for a month.Issac: Maybe, but I really want her to know how I feel.Vicky: Let me see it.“Dear Julie.I’m writing this letter to pour my heart out to you.When we met, it was love at first sight and I can’t get you out of my head.You mean everything to me.Now that we’re together, how can I ever live without you?”

Issac: So, what do you think? Vicky: I thought it would have some simple sweet nothings.I didn’t expect it to be this heavy.Issac: Do you think it needs more terms of endearment? Maybe I should have called her “my love,” “my darling,” or “sweetheart.” Tell me the truth, do you think it’s too much? I don’t want to scare her off.Vicky: Well, I know you’re head over heels in love with her, but if I were you, I’d play it by ear.Give it to her when you feel the time is right.Issac: Okay, thanks.I’ll try to play it cool, for now.《纯正英语一分钟》第194课：Multiculturalism Multiculturalism is everywhere today.As the world gets smaller, multiculturalism becomes bigger.Few of us today live in towns in which there is only one culture.Today, we live in towns where we are surrounded by many other cultures.If we live in a city, we will see people from all over the world.Of course, some cities are more multicultural than others.New York is a real melting pot.It is called the most multicultural city on Earth.A city like Tokyo isn’t so multicultural.I think multiculturalism is a great thing.It’s fantastic walking out of your door and seeing other cultures.This didn’t happen when I was young.People didn’t understand other cultures.They didn’t even want to understand.I’m glad things are changing today.打赌

Suzanna: Hey, the back of the line is over there.Ivan: I was here.I just stepped out of line for a minute to get some cash.Suzanna: Yeah, right.I don’t remember you being in line ahead of me.Ivan: Come on.Let’s do this.We’ll flip for it.If it’s heads, I win and I get to get back into line.If it’s tails, you win and I’ll go to the back of the line.Suzanna: All right.I’ll take those odds.You’re on.Ivan: Here goes…Oh, it’s heads!I win.Suzanna: I guess it’s your lucky day.Ivan: I guess so.How about going double or nothing? Suzanna: What are the stakes? Ivan: If it’s tails and you win, I go to the back of the line and I have to buy you a drink when we get inside.If It’s heads and I win, I get in back in line in front of you and you buy me a drink.Suzanna: So, no matter what happens I have to have a drink with you? Ivan: That’s the idea.What do you say?

Suzanna: Okay, you talked me into it.Let’s see if your luck will hold up.Ivan: I’ve got a good feeling it will.Muscle Where would we be without muscles? Probably a mess on the floor.Muscles are pretty interesting things.Everybody has lots of them.Some people look after them better than others.Bodybuilders want to have really big muscles.The bigger the better.They spend hours in the gym lifting weights to make their muscles as big as they can.Athletes work on the specific muscles they need for their sport.If you look at a hundred-metre runner, you’ll notice they have large shoulder and arm muscles.This is so they can power ahead when they run.An interesting thing about muscles is that it takes more face muscles to frown than it does to smile.This means smiling uses less energy, so we should do it more.