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十分榮幸能將榮譽學位頒給美國第一夫人-蜜雪兒.歐巴馬女士。羅伯特.佛洛斯特的詩作《未擇之路》傳神地描寫了這位身為公職人員、領導者、美國公民的非裔美籍女性的經歷,對有志學習、服務和領導的人來說,你的經歷是「一切皆有可能」的最佳證明。你所做的每件事都展現了高度的同理心,蘊含了智慧、理解、真誠與承諾。出身於芝加哥公立學校的你,最後成為普林斯頓大學與哈佛法學院傑出校友;在芝加哥盛德國際律師事務所工作幾年後,你看清了應走的道路,你決定與他人共同服務社區,你成為芝加哥市政廳助理委員,負責城市規劃與發展,之後成為芝加哥公共同盟與美國志工團首位執行董事,培訓年輕人從事公共服務。之後你的旅程來到芝加哥大學,立志使校園與社區建立合作關係。身為學生服務中心副院長的你發展了芝加哥大學第一個社區服務計畫,因為卓越的領導力與奉獻精神,你以擔任芝加哥大學醫療中心社區與對外事務部副主任聞名。你因志願服務精神而聲名遠播,更別提早在成為美國第一夫人前你已走上志願服務的道路。成為美國第一夫人後,你繼續藉由「動起來」運動支持和激勵年輕人,使社區與領導者共同行動,還有教育人士、醫療專業人員、家長和各行各業的人,讓全國動員起來,採取健康生活方式、挑戰兒童肥胖。你和吉爾.拜登博士共同發起「聯合力量倡議」,呼籲全國民眾協助現役軍人、退伍軍人和軍眷,在健康、教育和就業上支持他們。你在高中推廣的「更上層樓」運動,展現了你的仁慈、智慧和努力。現在你藉由「讓女孩學習」運動,致力於確保全球女孩都能獲得應得的教育,你的所作所為展現了無私的精神。
美國第一夫人,你是你所選擇之人跡罕至道路的先驅,向世界展現了慈悲、同理心、真誠與榮耀的真義。你忠於你的價值觀和原則,你激勵了世上所有人。你在過去50年,尤其是過去六年所做的一切,為所有美國人挑戰、捍衛和改變我們的社會,塔斯基吉大學全體人員向你致敬,因為你體現了佛洛斯特詩作結尾的描述:「林中有兩條岔路,我選擇那條人跡罕至的道路,一切因此而有所不同。」因此,鑒於你影響深遠的努力以及塔斯基吉大學校董會賦予的權利,我們十分榮幸授予你人文榮譽博士學位,以及這個學位享有的所有權利和特權。來到我們引頸期盼的時刻,女士先生們以及2015年畢業生,我十分榮幸介紹蜜雪兒.歐巴馬,一位言行如一的女士,她體現了我認為最受歡迎的三個「7字母詞彙」:「目標(purpose)」、「熱情(passion)」和「使命(calling)」。不僅體現於去年發起、鼓勵年輕人完成高中學業的「更上層樓」運動,也體現於她身為具遠見的領導者、教育家、律師、妻子和母親的角色,請和我一起歡迎美國第一夫人蜜雪兒.歐巴馬女士。
感謝各位,十分感謝。讓畢業生們放鬆一下,你們為了此刻付出很多努力。首先感謝Johnson校長的精彩介紹,以及這所卓越的學府授予我榮譽學位。獲得這個學位令我十分自豪,謝謝,十分感謝。我要感謝陸軍少將Williams、國會議員Sewell、Zachary、Kalauna,感謝塔斯基吉大學校董會委員及全體教職員。謝謝,十分感謝你們如此熱情的歡迎與盛大的款待,我十分高興來到這裡。演講開始前我想提一下,我想到在座每個人都熟悉和摯愛的Eric Marks, Jr.。據我所知,他是一位才華洋溢的年輕人,一位前途遠大的航太工程師,他以塔斯基吉飛行員為目標,努力追逐自己的夢想。Eric 早一步離開我們,我們的追思與祈禱將一直與他的家人、朋友及所有塔斯基吉人同在。我也要感謝合唱團,哇,你們太棒了,太精彩了,多美妙的曲子。
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MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you so much. (Applause.) Let’s let our graduates rest themselves. You’ve worked hard for those seats! (Applause.) Let me start by thanking President Johnson for that very gracious introduction, and for awarding me with this honorary degree from an extraordinary institution. I am proud to have this degree -- very proud. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. And I'm so glad to be here. (Applause.) Before I begin, I just want to say that my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Eric Marks, Jr. I understand he was such a talented young man, a promising aerospace engineer who was well on his way to achieving his dream of following in the footsteps of the Tuskegee Airmen. And Eric was taken from us far too soon. And our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with his family, his friends, and this entire community. (Applause.) I also have to recognize the Concert Choir. Wow, you guys are good! Well done! (Applause.) Beautiful song. (Applause.)
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我要感謝看臺上所有來賓-家長、兄弟姐妹、朋友,以及所有在畢業生成長過程中傾注愛和支持的人。是的,這是屬於你們的日子,屬於你們的日子。在母親節前夕,我要給現場所有母親一個特別的問候。耶,各位母親,你們不妨將這個視為一則公共服務公告,針對所有還沒準備鮮花、卡片或禮物的人。我是在替你們掩飾,但記住一個原則-「讓母親快樂」,瞭解嗎?最後也是最重要的一點,我要恭喜塔斯基吉大學2015年畢業生:T-U(塔斯基吉大學)!我喜歡這個,我們可以這麼玩一整天。我為你們深感驕傲,你們看起來容光煥發。好樣的!
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And I have to join in recognizing all the folks up in the stands -- the parents, siblings, friends -- (applause) -- so many others who have poured their love and support into these graduates every step of the way. Yeah, this is your day. (Applause.) Your day. (Applause.) Now, on this day before Mother’s Day, I’ve got to give a special shout-out to all the moms here. (Applause.) Yay, moms! And I want you to consider this as a public service announcement for anyone who hasn’t bought the flowers or the cards or the gifts yet -- all right? I’m trying to cover you. (Laughter.) But remember that one rule is “keep mom happy.” (Laughter.) All right? (Applause.) And finally, most of all, I want to congratulate the men and women of the Tuskegee University Class of 2015! (Applause.) T-U!AUDIENCE: You know!MRS. OBAMA: I love that. (Applause.) We can do that all day. (Laughter.) I'm so proud of you all. And you look good. (Applause.) Well done!
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你們從全國各地來這裡學習研究,也許經歷了一些有趣的事,無論是大一在Adams或Younge宿舍的生活,或是深夜跑到The Coop買宵夜,我事先做了功課。你們為了搶佔有遮陽棚的看台觀賞校隊比賽而早起,是的,我都知道,我們在白宮可是有很多門路的。無論你是否親身參與過學校運動,或是否在合唱團唱過歌,是否參與過樂隊演奏,或是否加入兄弟會或姊妹會,今天過後,你們將成為本校眾多傑出校友的一員。你將跟隨父母、祖父母、叔伯姨嬸等前輩的腳步,或Robert Robinson Taylor這樣的領袖,最近被印在郵票上的開創性建築師和管理者。你們將追隨Boynton Robinson博士這樣的英雄,他是比利俱樂部與塞爾瑪血腥星期日催淚瓦斯攻擊中的倖存者。塔斯基吉的歷史充滿像這樣的故事,人們來到這座城市,抓住屬於他們的未來,為非裔美國人和所有美國人重塑歷史的進程。
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You all have come here from all across the country to study, to learn, maybe have a little fun along the way -- from freshman year in Adams or Younge Hall -- (applause) -- to those late night food runs to The Coop. (Applause.) I did my research. (Applause.) To those mornings you woke up early to get a spot under The Shed to watch the Golden Tigers play. (Applause.) Yeah! I've been watching! (Laughter.) At the White House we have all kinds of ways. (Laughter.) And whether you played sports yourself, or sang in the choir, or played in the band, or joined a fraternity or sorority -- after today, all of you will take your spot in the long line of men and women who have come here and distinguished themselves and this university.You will follow alums like many of your parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles -- leaders like Robert Robinson Taylor, a groundbreaking architect and administrator here who was recently honored on a postage stamp. (Applause.) You will follow heroes like Dr. Boynton Robinson -- (applause) -- who survived the billy clubs and the tear gas of Bloody Sunday in Selma. The story of Tuskegee is full of stories like theirs -- men and women who came to this city, seized their own futures, and wound up shaping the arc of history for African Americans and all Americans.
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今天我想從追溯這段歷史開始,從軍隊選擇塔斯基吉為黑人飛行員的機場與飛行學校談起。當時黑人士兵面臨各式各樣的障礙,所謂的科學研究顯示黑人男性的大腦小於白人男性的大腦,軍隊官方報告指出,黑人士兵「幼稚」、「無能」、「不道德且不誠實」,以及「有利可圖才會忠誠與順從」。因此即使這個計畫選擇的黑人飛行員事實上已受過高等教育,當中許多人已擁有大學學位和飛行員執照,他們仍被視為低人一等。培訓期間,他們經常被安排幹粗活,如整理內務或打掃環境,許多人遭受指導者的言語侮辱。當他們休假離營,鎮上的白人警長稱他們為「小鬼頭」,為了微不足道的小事開他們罰單。當他們終於被派遣至海外時,白人士兵甚至經常連他們的敬禮都不回應。試想一下那些年輕人的遭遇,他們在這裡接受訓練,操作當時最複雜的高科技飛機,以每小時數百英哩的速度、機翼尖端相距僅六英寸的距離飛行。然而,當他們落地時,人們對待他們如同無名小卒,彷彿他們的存在沒有任何意義。這些飛行員很可能因為這些遭遇而折斷羽翼,但如你們所知,他們並未因周遭的歧視和質疑而喪志,他們成為史上最成功的驅逐機中隊之一,他們不斷向世界證明,如果黑人和白人可以一起戰鬥、一起飛行,他們當然也能共進午餐,他們的孩子也能一起上學。
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And I’d like to begin today by reflecting on that history -- starting back at the time when the Army chose Tuskegee as the site of its airfield and flight school for black pilots. (Applause.) Back then, black soldiers faced all kinds of obstacles. There were the so-called scientific studies that said that black men’s brains were smaller than white men’s. Official Army reports stated that black soldiers were “childlike,” “shiftless,” “unmoral and untruthful,” and as one quote stated, “if fed, loyal and compliant.” So while the Airmen selected for this program were actually highly educated -- many already had college degrees and pilots licenses -- they were presumed to be inferior. During training, they were often assigned to menial tasks like housekeeping or landscaping. Many suffered verbal abuse at the hands of their instructors. When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them “boy” and ticketed them for the most minor offenses. And when they finally deployed overseas, white soldiers often wouldn’t even return their salutes.Just think about what that must have been like for those young men. Here they were, trained to operate some of the most complicated, high-tech machines of their day -- flying at hundreds of miles an hour, with the tips of their wings just six inches apart. Yet when they hit the ground, folks treated them like they were nobody -- as if their very existence meant nothing. Now, those Airmen could easily have let that experience clip their wings. But as you all know, instead of being defined by the discrimination and the doubts of those around them, they became one of the most successful pursuit squadrons in our military. (Applause.) They went on to show the world that if black folks and white folks could fight together, and fly together, then surely -- surely -- they could eat at a lunch counter together. Surely their kids could go to school together. (Applause.)
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這些飛行員始終明白他們肩負「雙重責任」,一方面是對國家的責任,一方面是為所有仰賴他們的黑人同胞鋪平前進道路的責任,因此對這些飛行員來說,飛行本身是解放自我與所有非裔美國人的象徵。首批黑人飛行員之一,一位名叫Charles DeBow的人曾經這麼形容,他說:「飛行是一個永不失敗的奇蹟,所有的衝突都能在九霄雲外化解。」當Charles在空中飛行時,有時會俯視黑人在離此不遠處的棉田中工作,多年前他們的奴隸祖先曾經耕作的同一片棉田,他知道他是為了他們而飛行,為他們與他們的子孫帶來更多的希望與嚮往。以許多層面來說,「永不失敗的奇蹟」-我們為了黑人同胞不斷克服途中阻礙、爭取更大的自由,一直是非裔美國人在塔斯基吉塑造的故事。
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You see, those Airmen always understood that they had a “double duty” -- one to their country and another to all the black folks who were counting on them to pave the way forward. (Applause.) So for those Airmen, the act of flying itself was a symbol of liberation for themselves and for all African Americans.One of those first pilots, a man named Charles DeBow, put it this way. He said that a takeoff was -- in his words -- “a never-failing miracle” where all “the bumps would smooth off… [you’re] in the air… out of this world… free.”And when he was up in the sky, Charles sometimes looked down to see black folks out in the cotton fields not far from here -- the same fields where decades before, their ancestors as slaves. And he knew that he was taking to the skies for them -- to give them and their children something more to hope for, something to aspire to.And in so many ways, that never-failing miracle -- the constant work to rise above the bumps in our path to greater freedom for our brothers and sisters -- that has always been the story of African Americans here at Tuskegee. (Applause.)
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思考一下這所大學的歷史。回顧1800年代後期,學校需要興建新宿舍,但沒有建設資金,因此Booker T. Washington典當他的懷錶,買了磚窯,學生用自己的雙手製磚,建造了宿舍和一些其他建築。幾年後,當George Washington Carver首次來這裡做研究時,學校沒有實驗室,因此他從垃圾堆中收集舊瓶子、茶杯、水果罐進行他的第一次實驗。一代接一代,塔斯基吉學生展現同樣的韌性與毅力,克服曾經的阻礙與迫害,克服地方私刑的威脅,克服《吉姆.克勞法》的屈辱,克服民權運動時期的動盪,然後成為遍布全美的科學家、工程師、護士、老師,並在過程中不斷提攜他人。儘管這所學校的歷史並不完美,塔斯基吉人的故事卻為所有非裔美國人帶來希望和機遇。畢業生們,現在輪到你們擔負起這項重任。我想告訴你們,你們應該為這一天的到來感到萬分自豪。我希望你們以興奮的心情展開人生下一個篇章,但我也能想像,當你們想到所有過去的歷史與英雄前輩們,你們或許也會感到一些壓力。知道嗎?擔負起前人傳承的壓力,不辜負他人期望的壓力。相信我,我理解這種壓力,我曾親身經歷。
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Just think about the arc of this university’s history. Back in the late 1800s, the school needed a new dormitory, but there was no money to pay for it. So Booker T. Washington pawned his pocket watch to buy a kiln, and students used their bare hands to make bricks to build that dorm -- and a few other buildings along the way. (Applause.) A few years later, when George Washington Carver first came here for his research, there was no laboratory. So he dug through trash piles and collected old bottles, and tea cups, and fruit jars to use in his first experiments. Generation after generation, students here have shown that same grit, that same resilience to soar past obstacles and outrages -- past the threat of countryside lynchings; past the humiliation of Jim Crow; past the turmoil of the Civil Rights era. And then they went on to become scientists, engineers, nurses and teachers in communities all across the country -- and continued to lift others up along the way. (Applause.)And while the history of this campus isn’t perfect, the defining story of Tuskegee is the story of rising hopes and fortunes for all African Americans. And now, graduates, it’s your turn to take up that cause. And let me tell you, you should feel so proud of making it to this day. And I hope that you’re excited to get started on that next chapter. But I also imagine that you might think about all that history, all those heroes who came before you -- you might also feel a little pressure, you know -- pressure to live up to the legacy of those who came before you; pressure to meet the expectations of others. And believe me, I understand that kind of pressure. (Applause.) I’ve experienced a little bit of it myself.
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畢業生們,你們知道我並非一開始就順利成為今天站在你們面前的第一夫人。不、不,我也曾經歷種種阻礙。當我丈夫開始競選總統時,人們對我有各式各樣的質疑:她會成為什麼樣的第一夫人?她會接受什麼樣的挑戰?她會像蘿拉.布希、希拉蕊.克林頓還是南茜.雷根?事實上任何候選人的配偶都會面臨同樣的質疑,這只是必經的過程。但身為史上首位非裔美籍準第一夫人,我也是另一組問題和猜測的焦點,一些根植於大眾恐懼與誤解的疑問:她是否會太聒噪、太兇悍或太軟弱?或她是否會太柔弱、太像家庭主婦而非職業女性?接著我首次登上雜誌封面,我頂著巨大的爆炸頭、手持機關槍的卡通畫。是的,這只是諷刺,但坦白說我確實感到有點吃驚,這讓我好奇人們是如何看待我。你們或許還記得,我和丈夫在臺上擊拳慶祝初選勝利的畫面被稱為「恐怖分子的擊拳示威」。多年來,人們用許多有趣的詞彙形容我,有人說我表現得「有點自命不凡」,有人說我是丈夫的「黑人黨羽」之一,有線新聞台曾有創意地稱我為「歐巴馬孩子的媽」。當然,歐巴馬也同樣忍受他人的侮辱和輕蔑。即使如今,仍有人質疑他的公民資格。
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You see, graduates, I didn’t start out as the fully-formed First Lady who stands before you today. No, no, I had my share of bumps along the way.Back when my husband first started campaigning for President, folks had all sorts of questions of me: What kind of First Lady would I be? What kinds of issues would I take on? Would I be more like Laura Bush, or Hillary Clinton, or Nancy Reagan? And the truth is, those same questions would have been posed to any candidate’s spouse. That’s just the way the process works. But, as potentially the first African American First Lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? (Applause.) Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman? Then there was the first time I was on a magazine cover -- it was a cartoon drawing of me with a huge afro and machine gun. Now, yeah, it was satire, but if I’m really being honest, it knocked me back a bit. It made me wonder, just how are people seeing me.Or you might remember the on-stage celebratory fist bump between me and my husband after a primary win that was referred to as a “terrorist fist jab.” And over the years, folks have used plenty of interesting words to describe me. One said I exhibited “a little bit of uppity-ism.“ Another noted that I was one of my husband’s “cronies of color.” Cable news once charmingly referred to me as “Obama’s Baby Mama.”And of course, Barack has endured his fair share of insults and slights. Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship.
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這一切確實曾令我困擾。在那些日子裡,我經常夜不成眠,擔心人們如何看待我,擔心是否會因為我而影響丈夫勝選的機會,擔心女兒們聽見人們對她們母親的評價時有何感受。但最終我意識到,如果我想保持理智,不讓別人定義我,我只能做一件事,那就是對上帝為我做的安排有信心。我必須忽略所有干擾、忠於自我,其他的就順其自然。因此在這個過程中,我學會排除一切干擾、忠於自我,我必須回答自己一些基本問題:我是誰?認真思索:我是誰?我關心什麼?這些問題的答案成就了今天站在你們面前的這個女人,一位將「母親」視為畢生最重要角色的女人。我愛我的女兒勝於世上一切,甚至超越我的生命。或許這並非人們想從一位常春藤盟校畢業的律師口中聽見的首要目標,但這就是真正的我。因此對我來說「母親」永遠是最重要的角色,其次,我深感自己有責任藉由這個難得的平臺盡可能發揮最大的影響,因此我致力於一些個人感興趣的議題,例如幫助家庭培養健康的孩子、表揚我在競選活動中遇見的傑出軍人家庭、鼓勵年輕人珍惜受教育的機會並完成大學學業。
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And all of this used to really get to me. Back in those days, I had a lot of sleepless nights, worrying about what people thought of me, wondering if I might be hurting my husband’s chances of winning his election, fearing how my girls would feel if they found out what some people were saying about their mom.But eventually, I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do, and that was to have faith in God’s plan for me. (Applause.) I had to ignore all of the noise and be true to myself -- and the rest would work itself out. (Applause.) So throughout this journey, I have learned to block everything out and focus on my truth. I had to answer some basic questions for myself: Who am I? No, really, who am I? What do I care about? And the answers to those questions have resulted in the woman who stands before you today. (Applause.) A woman who is, first and foremost, a mom. (Applause.) Look, I love our daughters more than anything in the world, more than life itself. And while that may not be the first thing that some folks want to hear from an Ivy-league educated lawyer, it is truly who I am. (Applause.) So for me, being Mom-in-Chief is, and always will be, job number one. Next, I’ve always felt a deep sense of obligation to make the biggest impact possible with this incredible platform. So I took on issues that were personal to me -- issues like helping families raise healthier kids, honoring the incredible military families I’d met on the campaign trail, inspiring our young people to value their education and finish college. (Applause.)
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現在,有人批評說我的選擇不夠大膽,但這是我的選擇,我關心的議題,我決定用我認為最實際的方式解決這些問題,一種具實質性與策略性的方式,但也能從中獲得樂趣、希望與鼓舞。因此我深入研究政策細節,我參與國會立法,為企業領袖、軍事將領及好萊塢管理人員演講。但我也致力於確保我的努力與孩子及家庭產生共鳴,這意味著以創新及非傳統方式行事。因此我開闢了一座花園,我在白宮草坪上與孩子玩呼拉圈,在電視上跳媽媽舞,我與大青蛙布偶一起表揚軍人家庭的孩子,我呼籲全國同胞在大學選校日穿母校T恤。一天結束後,藉由忠於熟悉的自我使我在這個過程中感到無比的自在,因為無論發生什麼,我都能用平和的心態意識到,所有的流言、謾罵與質疑不過是無意義的干擾,它無法定義我,它無法改變我的本質,最重要的是,它無法阻擋我的腳步。我學習到,只要我堅持自己的信仰與價值觀,遵循自己的道德準則,那麼我唯一要兌現的就是我對自己的期許。
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Now, some folks criticized my choices for not being bold enough. But these were my choices, my issues. And I decided to tackle them in the way that felt most authentic to me -- in a way that was both substantive and strategic, but also fun and, hopefully, inspiring. So I immersed myself in the policy details. I worked with Congress on legislation, gave speeches to CEOs, military generals and Hollywood executives. But I also worked to ensure that my efforts would resonate with kids and families -- and that meant doing things in a creative and unconventional way. So, yeah, I planted a garden, and hula-hooped on the White House Lawn with kids. I did some Mom Dancing on TV. I celebrated military kids with Kermit the Frog. I asked folks across the country to wear their alma mater’s T-shirts for College Signing Day. And at the end of the day, by staying true to the me I’ve always known, I found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the peace of mind of knowing that all of the chatter, the name calling, the doubting -- all of it was just noise. (Applause.) It did not define me. It didn’t change who I was. And most importantly, it couldn’t hold me back. I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values -- and follow my own moral compass -- then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own.
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因此各位畢業生,這就是我對你們的期許。我希望你們都能忠於最真實、最誠摯、最實際的自我,我希望你們詢問這些基本問題:你想成為什麼樣的人?什麼能激勵你?你想如何回報?然後我希望你們深呼吸,相信自己、規劃屬於你的人生、在這個世界留下足跡。也許這個感覺就像別人認為你應該唸法學院,但你真正想做的是教導孩童。也許父母希望你畢業後回家,但你更想環遊世界。我希望你傾聽內心的想法,我希望你遵循理智的思考,同時傾聽內心的想法。無論你選擇什麼樣的道路,我希望你確保這是「你」的選擇,而非他人替你做的選擇。因為重點是前方的道路充滿艱辛,一向如此,尤其是對你我這樣的人而言。因為儘管我們已前進了不短的路程,事實上那些沉痾已久的問題十分頑固,並未完全消失,因此我們將經歷如那些飛行員所經歷過的時期。你將感受被忽略的滋味,或人們僅看見你部分真實的面貌。世人並非總是能看見隱藏在畢業禮帽與禮袍下的東西,他們不知道你們付出多少努力與犧牲才擁有今天的成就,你為了獲得這個文憑花了多少時間學習,你為了繳學費做了多少兼職工作,你有多少次不得不開車回家照顧祖母,你有多少個夜晚在食物銀行擔任義工或志願組織校園募款活動。他們不知道這樣的你,相反地,他們將基於對這個世界有限的認知假設你是什麼樣的人。
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So, graduates, that’s what I want for all of you. I want you all to stay true to the most real, most sincere, most authentic parts of yourselves. I want you to ask those basic questions: Who do you want to be? What inspires you? How do you want to give back? And then I want you to take a deep breath and trust yourselves to chart your own course and make your mark on the world.Maybe it feels like you’re supposed to go to law school -- but what you really want to do is to teach little kids. Maybe your parents are expecting you to come back home after you graduate -- but you’re feeling a pull to travel the world. I want you to listen to those thoughts. I want you to act with both your mind, but also your heart. And no matter what path you choose, I want you to make sure it’s you choosing it, and not someone else. (Applause.) Because here’s the thing -- the road ahead is not going to be easy. It never is, especially for folks like you and me. Because while we’ve come so far, the truth is that those age-old problems are stubborn and they haven’t fully gone away. So there will be times, just like for those Airmen, when you feel like folks look right past you, or they see just a fraction of who you really are.The world won’t always see you in those caps and gowns. They won’t know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to make it to this day -- the countless hours you spent studying to get this diploma, the multiple jobs you worked to pay for school, the times you had to drive home and take care of your grandma, the evenings you gave up to volunteer at a food bank or organize a campus fundraiser. They don't know that part of you.Instead they will make assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the world.
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我和丈夫知道這種經歷多麼令人沮喪,我們都曾被日常生活中隨處可見的歧視刺痛過。和我們一起過馬路的人擔心自身安全,百貨公司的職員總是緊盯著我們,正式場合中的來賓認為我們是服務員,還有人質疑我們的智力、忠誠、甚至對這個國家的熱愛。我知道相較於全國黑人同胞每天的經歷,這些微不足道的侮辱顯然不值一提。擔心毫無理由地被迫停車臨檢、害怕求職履歷會因為名字聽起來像黑人而被忽略、苦惱孩子上學時,或許不再被隔離,但也得不到平等待遇。在現實社會中,無論你多麼上進,多麼努力做個好人、好家長、好公民,對一些人來說永遠不夠。這一切都將成為沉重的負擔,它會讓人感到孤立,它會讓你覺得你的人生無關緊要。如塔斯基吉校友Ralph Ellison多年前所寫的:「你就像隱形人。」如我們在過去幾年當中所見,這些感受是真實的,它們根植於數十年來讓許多黑人同胞感到沮喪與被忽視的社會結構挑戰中。這些情緒在巴爾的摩、弗格森以及全國許多城市爆發出來。
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And my husband and I know how frustrating that experience can be. We’ve both felt the sting of those daily slights throughout our entire lives -- the folks who crossed the street in fear of their safety; the clerks who kept a close eye on us in all those department stores; the people at formal events who assumed we were the “help” -- and those who have questioned our intelligence, our honesty, even our love of this country.And I know that these little indignities are obviously nothing compared to what folks across the country are dealing with every single day -- those nagging worries that you’re going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason; the fear that your job application will be overlooked because of the way your name sounds; the agony of sending your kids to schools that may no longer be separate, but are far from equal; the realization that no matter how far you rise in life, how hard you work to be a good person, a good parent, a good citizen -- for some folks, it will never be enough. (Applause.)And all of that is going to be a heavy burden to carry. It can feel isolating. It can make you feel like your life somehow doesn’t matter -- that you’re like the invisible man that Tuskegee grad Ralph Ellison wrote about all those years ago. And as we’ve seen over the past few years, those feelings are real. They’re rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated and invisible. And those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country. (Applause.)
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但畢業生們,今天我要聲明,那些情緒並非甩手不管的藉口,絕非如此。絕非失去希望的藉口,屈服於絕望與憤怒的情緒只意味著最終我們將步上失敗之途。但重點是歷史提供我們一條更好的道路,一幅引領我們走向勝利的藍圖。它教導我們,當我們將自己從情緒的深淵中拉出,化沮喪為學習、組織和團結,我們就能建立自我和我們的群體,我們可以共同解決這些根深蒂固的問題。只要團結起來,我們就能克服前進道路上的所有阻礙,我們要做的第一件事就是投票。嘿,不是偶爾一次,不僅是我丈夫或你喜歡的人參選時,而是毫無遺漏地參與每一次選舉。因為事實是,如果你希望在你的社區中擁有發言權,如果你希望擁有掌控自己命運的力量,你就必須參與、必須獲得席位,你必須參與投票。就是如此,這就是我們前進的道路,這就是我們本身與國家進步的方式,這就是不斷發生在塔斯基吉的情形。想想那些親手製磚的學生,因為他們的行動,其他學生才能遵循他們的腳步,在這個校園裡學習。想想那位從垃圾堆裡建造自己實驗室的傑出科學家,他這麼做的原因是為了幫助佃農養家糊口。那些克服不合理歧視的飛行員,他們這麼做的原因是為了讓全世界看見黑人能飛得多高,這就是解決如今面臨的挑戰應擁有的精神。
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But, graduates, today, I want to be very clear that those feelings are not an excuse to just throw up our hands and give up. (Applause.) Not an excuse. They are not an excuse to lose hope. To succumb to feelings of despair and anger only means that in the end, we lose.But here’s the thing -- our history provides us with a better story, a better blueprint for how we can win. It teaches us that when we pull ourselves out of those lowest emotional depths, and we channel our frustrations into studying and organizing and banding together -- then we can build ourselves and our communities up. We can take on those deep-rooted problems, and together -- together -- we can overcome anything that stands in our way.And the first thing we have to do is vote. (Applause.) Hey, no, not just once in a while. Not just when my husband or somebody you like is on the ballot. But in every election at every level, all of the time. (Applause.) Because here is the truth -- if you want to have a say in your community, if you truly want the power to control your own destiny, then you’ve got to be involved. You got to be at the table. You’ve got to vote, vote, vote, vote. That’s it; that's the way we move forward. That’s how we make progress for ourselves and for our country.That’s what’s always happened here at Tuskegee. Think about those students who made bricks with their bare hands. They did it so that others could follow them and learn on this campus, too. Think about that brilliant scientist who made his lab from a trash pile. He did it because he ultimately wanted to help sharecroppers feed their families. Those Airmen who rose above brutal discrimination -- they did it so the whole world could see just how high black folks could soar. That’s the spirit we’ve got to summon to take on the challenges we face today. (Applause.)
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你不必像美國總統那樣從解決貧困、教育、機會缺乏等問題著手。畢業生們,今天,你可以指導一位年輕人,確保他走上正確的道路;今天,你可以在課後活動中或食品分發處擔任義工;今天,你可以協助表妹填寫大學資助申請表,讓她有朝一日能坐在畢業典禮現場。但如同為我們鋪路的前人,你們也得為後代子孫奠定基礎。我之前提到的飛行員Charles DeBo,他在創造歷史後並未滿足於這份榮耀而停下腳步,相反地,他離開軍隊後完成學業,成為高中英語老師和大學講師,他繼續藉由教育提攜他人。脫下軍服後很長一段時間,他依然履行所肩負的「雙重責任」。
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And you don’t have to be President of the United States to start addressing things like poverty, and education, and lack of opportunity. Graduates, today -- today, you can mentor a young person and make sure he or she takes the right path. Today, you can volunteer at an after-school program or food pantry. Today, you can help your younger cousin fill out her college financial aid form so that she could be sitting in those chairs one day. (Applause.) But just like all those folks who came before us, you’ve got to do something to lay the groundwork for future generations.That pilot I mentioned earlier -- Charles DeBow -- he didn’t rest on his laurels after making history. Instead, after he left the Army, he finished his education. He became a high school English teacher and a college lecturer. He kept lifting other folks up through education. He kept fulfilling his “double duty” long after he hung up his uniform.
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畢業生們,這是我們需要你們每個人所做的事。我們需要你們將塔斯基吉的奇蹟延伸到今天所面臨的挑戰,我希望你們真正瞭解一件事:你們已擁有達成這個目標所需的一切資源,你們已獲得這個能力。因為即使你對未來的道路感到不安或不確定,我希望你們瞭解,現在你們已獲得成功所需的一切。你們已獲得一切,你們已獲得這個神聖的校園所孕育的知識和技能,你們擁有看臺上的家人,他們將在未來的道路上一路支持你。最重要的是,你們已找到自我,以及引領你們達成今日成就所需的熱情、勇氣和智慧。如果你們克服周遭的干擾和壓力,如果你們忠於自我、忠於你的本質,如果你們對上帝的安排有信心,你們將持續履行對全國人民的責任。隨著時間流逝,你們將感受到如Charles DeBow飛行時所感受到的自由,你們將感受到阻礙輕易地被克服,你們將經歷「永不失敗的奇蹟」,你們將在天際間自由翱翔。各位畢業生,上帝保佑你們,我等不及看見你們能飛得多高。我愛你們,我為你們感到驕傲,謝謝。
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And, graduates, that’s what we need from all of you. We need you to channel the magic of Tuskegee toward the challenges of today. And here’s what I really want you to know -- you have got everything you need to do this. You’ve got it in you. Because even if you’re nervous or unsure about what path to take in the years ahead, I want you to realize that you’ve got everything you need right now to succeed. You’ve got it.You’ve got the knowledge and the skills honed here on this hallowed campus. You’ve got families up in the stands who will support you every step of the way. And most of all, you’ve got yourselves -- and all of the heart, and grit, and smarts that got you to this day.And if you rise above the noise and the pressures that surround you, if you stay true to who you are and where you come from, if you have faith in God’s plan for you, then you will keep fulfilling your duty to people all across this country. And as the years pass, you’ll feel the same freedom that Charles DeBow did when he was taking off in that airplane. You will feel the bumps smooth off. You’ll take part in that “never-failing miracle” of progress. And you’ll be flying through the air, out of this world -- free.God bless you, graduates. (Applause.) I can’t wait to see how high you soar. Love you all. Very proud. Thank you. (Applause.)