Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Dresser, President Roth, for welcoming me to your campus, and congratulations, President Roth on your first year at the helm of (“Wellesley”）Wesleyan. Congratulations also to the class of 2008，and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your graduation.

非常感謝！謝謝！感謝德萊塞主席、羅斯校長(zhǎng)，謝謝你們歡迎我來(lái)到你們學(xué) 校，同時(shí)我要祝賀羅斯校長(zhǎng)第一年接管衛(wèi)斯理公會(huì)大學(xué)。祝賀2008屆的畢業(yè)生們， 謝謝你們?cè)试S我參加你們的畢業(yè)典禮。

I have the distinct honor today of pinch-hitting for one of my personal heroes and a hero to this country, Senator Edward Kennedy. Ted is at home, getting some much-needed and deserved rest. And we're so pleased to see many of his family here today, including his wonderful wife, Vicky. He called me up a few days ago and I said that I'd be happy to be his stand-in, even though there was no way that I could fill his shoes.

今天，我十分榮幸能夠代替我個(gè)人心目中的一位英雄——愛(ài)德華?肯尼迪參 議員，來(lái)發(fā)表這次演講，他同樣也是我們國(guó)家的英雄。泰德現(xiàn)在在家里，他需要休 息，也應(yīng)該休息。我們非常髙興地看到他的很多家人今天也在這里，包括她出色的 妻子維姬。幾天之前，他打了電話給我，我說(shuō)，我很樂(lè)意做他的替身，但是我遠(yuǎn)不 能取代他。

I did，however, get the chance to glance at the speech he planned on delivering today, and Yd like to start by passing along a message from Ted: “To all those praying for my return to good health, I offer thanks. And to any who，d rather have a different result, I say, don’t get your hopes up just yet!”

然而，我的確有幸看了一下他原本為今晚演講所準(zhǔn)備的稿子，接下來(lái)我想替泰德傳遞一個(gè)口信來(lái)開始我今天的演講：“對(duì)于那些祈禱我恢復(fù)健康的人，我表示衷 心的感謝；而對(duì)于那些不希望我復(fù)原的人，我想說(shuō)，別抱太大希望！ ”

So we know that Teddy’s legendary sense of humor is as strong as ever, and I have no doubt that his equally legendary fighting spirit will carry him through this latest challenge. He is our friend, he is our champion, and we hope and pray for his return to good health. Now, the topic of his speech today was common for a commencement, and we heard some of the themes from President

由此我們知道，泰迪還和以前一樣風(fēng)趣幽默，而且我堅(jiān)信,他超群的斗志能 夠幫助他渡過(guò)最近這次的難關(guān)。他是我們的朋友、我們的勇士，我們希望并祈禱他 能夠早日康復(fù)。他為今天的畢業(yè)典禮準(zhǔn)備的演講主題是非常常見的話題，我們從羅 斯校長(zhǎng)的演講中也聽到了一些類似的內(nèi)容，但是，說(shuō)到討論這個(gè)主題，沒(méi)有人比泰 德?肯尼迪更具權(quán)威性和啟發(fā)性了。這個(gè)主題就是，為你的國(guó)家服務(wù)，這是一項(xiàng)與 他的家族的名聲和傳統(tǒng)具有相同意義的事業(yè)。

Roth but one that nobody could discuss with more authority or more inspiration than Ted Kennedy. And that is the topic of service to one’s country~a cause that is synonymous with his family’s name and legacy.

在我出生的那一年，在他的哥哥約翰的號(hào)召下，當(dāng)時(shí)美國(guó)的那一代人詢問(wèn)他們 的國(guó)家：他們可以為自己的國(guó)家做些什么。在我成年的時(shí)候，他們這樣做了。

I was born the year that his brother John called a generation of Americans to ask their country what they could do. And I came of age at a time when they did. They were the Peace Corps volunteers who won a generation of goodwill towards America at a time when America’s ideals were challenged. They were the teenagers and college students, not much older than you, who watched the Civil Rights Movement unfold on their television sets; who saw the dogs and the fire hoses and the footage of marchers being beaten within an inch of their lives; who knew it was probably smarter and safer to stay home, but decided to get on those buses and get in their cars and get on those trains anyway, and take those Freedom Rides down south~who still decided to march. And because they did，they changed the world.

他們是和平軍團(tuán)的志愿者，在美國(guó)理想受到質(zhì)疑的時(shí)代，他們贏得了一代人 對(duì)美國(guó)的友好。他們都是青少年和大學(xué)生，并不比你們大多少，他們?cè)谧约业碾娨?上目睹了民權(quán)運(yùn)動(dòng)的開展；他們近距離地目睹了警犬、消防水帶和游行者被打的畫 面；他們明知待在家里是一個(gè)更明智且更安全的選擇，他們?nèi)匀粵Q定前行，仍毅然決定乘上公車，鉆進(jìn)自己的汽車，坐上朝南的火車，開始他們的“自由之行”。正 是因?yàn)樗麄兊男袆?dòng)，世界發(fā)生了改變。

I bring this up today, because you are about to enter a world that makes it easier to get caught up in the notion that there are actually two different stories at work in our lives.

今天我講這些，是因?yàn)槟銈兗磳⒁M(jìn)入一個(gè)世界，這個(gè)世界會(huì)讓你們更容易地 理解一個(gè)概念：在我們的生活中，實(shí)際上有兩個(gè)不同的故事在同時(shí)發(fā)生著。

The first is the story of our everyday cares and concerns—the responsibilities we have to our jobs and our families~the bustle and busyness of what happens in our lives. And the second is the story of what happens in the life of our country—of what happens in the wider world. It，s the story you see when you catch a glimpse of the day’s headlines or turn on the news at night~a story of big challenges like war and recession; hunger and climate change; injustice and inequality. It’s a story that sometimes can seem separate and distant from our own—a destiny to be shaped by forces beyond our control.

第一個(gè)故事是關(guān)于我們每天關(guān)心和關(guān)注的事情，生活中的喧鬧與忙碌，即我 們對(duì)工作和家人的責(zé)任。第二個(gè)故事是關(guān)于發(fā)生在我們國(guó)家和世界更大范圍內(nèi)的_ 事情。只要看一看當(dāng)天報(bào)紙的頭條新聞或是在晚上收看新聞，你就能看到這樣一些 極具挑戰(zhàn)性的故事，如戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)和經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退，饑荒和氣候變化，不公正和不平等。有時(shí) 候，這樣的故事看似與我們無(wú)關(guān)，似乎離我們很遙遠(yuǎn)，理由是我們無(wú)法掌控它們的 命運(yùn)。

And yet, the history of this nation tells us that it isn，t so. It tells us that we are a people whose destiny has never been written for us, but by us~by generations of men and women, young and old, who have always believed that their story and the American story are not separate, but shared. And for more than two centuries, they have served this country in ways that have forever enriched both.

然而，美國(guó)歷史告訴我們，事實(shí)不是這樣。歷史告訴我們，我們民族的命運(yùn)從 來(lái)就不是為我們而書寫，而是由我們來(lái)書寫的，由一代又一代的男女老少們書寫， 他們相信自己的故事和美國(guó)的故事不是毫無(wú)關(guān)聯(lián)的，而是聯(lián)系在一起的。兩個(gè)多世 紀(jì)以來(lái)，他們以各種不同的方式服務(wù)于國(guó)家，在充實(shí)自己的同時(shí)也讓國(guó)家更加強(qiáng)大。

I say this to you as someone who couldn’t be standing here if it were not for the service of others, and wouldn’t be standing here today if not for the purpose that service gave my own life.

如果沒(méi)有他們對(duì)國(guó)家的服務(wù)，如果沒(méi)有這些服務(wù)賦予我的人生目標(biāo)，我今天就 無(wú)法站在這里對(duì)你們說(shuō)這些話。

You see, I spent much of my childhood adrift. My father left my mother and me when I was two. When my mother remarried, I lived overseas for a time, but was mostly raised in Hawaii by her and my grandparents from Kansas. My teenage years were filled with more than the usual dose of teenage rebellion, and I’ll admit that I didn’t always take myself or my studies very seriously. I realize that none of you can probably relate to this, overachievers that you are, but there were many times when I wasn’t sure where I was going, or what I was going to do with my life.

你們知道，我在漂泊中度過(guò)了我童年的大部分時(shí)光。在我兩歲的時(shí)候，父親離 開了母親和我。當(dāng)我母親再婚的時(shí)候，我曾在海外住了一段時(shí)間，但是在大部分時(shí) 間里，我都是由母親和來(lái)自堪薩斯州的外祖父母在夏威夷帶大的。青少年時(shí)期，我 異常叛逆，我承認(rèn)那時(shí)我并不重視自己，也不重視學(xué)習(xí)。我知道，你們之中沒(méi)有一 個(gè)人會(huì)這樣，你們都是非常優(yōu)秀的學(xué)生，而我有許多時(shí)候都對(duì)自己未來(lái)的方向感到 很迷惘，不知道自己該過(guò)怎樣的生活。但是，在我上大一大二的時(shí)候，可能是因?yàn)?我母親曾經(jīng)教給我的諸如勤奮工作，誠(chéng)實(shí)、執(zhí)著和憐憫的價(jià)值觀，在經(jīng)歷了一段漫 長(zhǎng)的冬眠之后終于蘇醒了 ；也可能是因?yàn)閮?yōu)秀的老師和一生的摯友給我樹立了良好 的榜樣，我開始注意到外面的世界。我在反對(duì)南非種族隔離制度的運(yùn)動(dòng)中表現(xiàn)非常 活躍，我開始關(guān)注這個(gè)國(guó)家關(guān)于貧困和衛(wèi)生保健的爭(zhēng)論。于是，大學(xué)畢業(yè)的時(shí)候， 我有了一個(gè)瘋狂的想法我要從基層做起，改變這個(gè)世界。

But during my first two years of college, perhaps because the values my mother had taught me一values of hard work, honesty, empathy and compassion finally resurfaced after a long hibernation； or perhaps because of the example of wonderful teachers and lasting friends, I began to notice a world beyond myself. I became active in the movement to oppose the apartheid regime in South Africa. I began following the debates in this country about poverty and health care. So that by the time I graduated from college, I was possessed with this crazy idea一that I was going to work at a grassroots level to bring about change.

我給這個(gè)國(guó)家里所有我能想到的組織都寫了信。然后有一天，芝加哥南部的一 個(gè)小型教會(huì)組織給我提供了一份擔(dān)任社區(qū)組織者工作，負(fù)責(zé)一個(gè)因鋼廠關(guān)閉而陷入 混亂的社區(qū)。我母親和外祖父母雖然思想開明，卻也希望我能上法學(xué)院，因?yàn)槲业?朋友們都在華爾街找工作。而同時(shí)，這個(gè)組織提出一年支付給我12_美元的薪水， 還提供2000美元讓我去買一輛破舊的老爺車。我同意了，接受了這份工作。

I wrote letters to every organization in the country I could think of. And one day, a small group of churches on the South Side of Chicago offered me a job to come work as a community organizer in neighborhoods that had been devastated by the closing of steel mills. My mother and my grandparents, liberal minded though they were, wanted me to go to law school. My friends were applying to jobs on Wall Street. Meanwhile, this organization offered me $12,000 a year plus $2,000 for an old, beat-up car. And I said yes. I said yes.

我在芝加哥人生地不熟，也不清楚這個(gè)組織的主要工作項(xiàng)目。之前我總是受 到民權(quán)運(yùn)動(dòng)和約翰?菲茨杰拉德?肯尼迪服務(wù)號(hào)召的鼓舞，但是，當(dāng)我來(lái)到芝加哥 南部的時(shí)候，我發(fā)現(xiàn)那里既沒(méi)有游行，也沒(méi)有氣勢(shì)高昂的演講。在空蕩蕩的工廠周 圍，只有很多在生活中掙扎的人們。一開始，我們并沒(méi)有取得很大的進(jìn)展。

I didn’t know a soul in Chicago，and I wasn’t sure about what this community organizing business was all about. I had always been inspired by the stories of the Civil Rights Movement and by JFK's call to service, but when I got to the South Side, there were no marches, there were no soaring speeches. In the shadows of empty factories, there were just a lot of people who were struggling. And at first we didn’t get very far.

至今我都還記得我們第一次召開的那場(chǎng)會(huì)議。社區(qū)群眾遭到了暴力團(tuán)伙的侵 害，因此我們?cè)噲D聯(lián)合社區(qū)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)組織一次會(huì)議，為此我連續(xù)工作了幾個(gè)星期。我們 耐心等候著人們的出現(xiàn)。最終，一群老年人走進(jìn)了禮堂。他們坐下來(lái)，一個(gè)痩小的 老太太舉起手詢問(wèn)道：“這是玩賓戈游戲的地方嗎？ ”

I still remember one of the very first meetings we put together. The community had been plagued by gang violence, and so we tried to mobilize a meeting with community leaders. And I had worked for weeks on this project. We waited and waited for people to show up, and finally, a group of older people walked into the hall. And they sat down. And a little old lady raised her hand and asked, “Is this where the bingo game is?”

我們舉步維艱，但是最終我們?nèi)〉昧诉M(jìn)步。我們一天天、一個(gè)街區(qū)一個(gè)街區(qū)地 把這個(gè)社區(qū)團(tuán)結(jié)在一起，我們登記新的選民，建立課后計(jì)劃，創(chuàng)造新的工作機(jī)會(huì)， 并幫助人們過(guò)上有尊嚴(yán)的生活。我也開始意識(shí)到，我不僅僅是在幫助別人。通過(guò)服 務(wù)，我也找到了一個(gè)接受我的社區(qū)，找到了一種有意義的公民身份，找到了我一直 都在尋找的人生方向。通過(guò)服務(wù)，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了自己的這個(gè)看似不可能發(fā)生的故事是如 何嵌入美國(guó)這個(gè)更大的故事中的。

It wasn’t easy, but eventually, we made progress. Day by day, block by block, we brought the community together, and we registered new voters, and we set up after school programs, and fought for new jobs, and helped people live lives with some measure of dignity. I also began to realize that I wasn’t just helping other people. Through service, I found a community that embraced me; citizenship that was meaningful; the direction that Yd been seeking. Through service, I discovered how my own improbable story fit into the larger story of America.

現(xiàn)在，你們每一個(gè)人都有機(jī)會(huì)在未來(lái)的日子里找到自己的發(fā)現(xiàn)。我之所以用“機(jī) 會(huì)”這個(gè)詞，是因?yàn)榫拖窳_斯校長(zhǎng)說(shuō)的，你們并不是非得這樣做。外面的世界里沒(méi) 有對(duì)社區(qū)服務(wù)制定要求；沒(méi)有人會(huì)強(qiáng)迫你去關(guān)注它。你可以帶著你的文憑離弁這個(gè) 舞臺(tái)，去追逐大房子、華美的套裝和其他一些我們的金錢文化告訴你們應(yīng)該買的東 西。你們可以選擇縮小自己的關(guān)注范圍，并嘗試過(guò)一種與美國(guó)毫不相干的生活。

Now，each of you will have the chance to make your own discovery in the years to come. And I say “chance” because, as President Roth indicated, you won’t have to take it. There’s no community service requirement in the outside world; no one’s forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and the other things that our money culture says you should buy. You can choose to narrow your concerns and live life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s. But I hope you don't. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, although I believe you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get to where you are today, although I do believe you have that debt to pay.

但是我希望你們不要這樣做。不是因?yàn)槟銈冇胸?zé)任去關(guān)心那些不幸的人，雖然 我認(rèn)為你們確實(shí)有這樣的責(zé)任；也不是因?yàn)槟銈儗?duì)那些幫助你們走到今天的人有所 虧欠，雖然我認(rèn)為你們確實(shí)有這樣的虧欠。

It's because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation  depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon into something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role that you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in the American story.

是因?yàn)槟銈儗?duì)自己有責(zé)任。因?yàn)槲覀儌€(gè)人的救贖依賴于集體的拯救。因?yàn)槿绻阒幌氲阶约海幌霛M足自己眼前的欲望和需求，這就是對(duì)雄心壯志的背叛。因?yàn)?只有當(dāng)你把自己的事業(yè)與一些更偉大的事業(yè)聯(lián)系在一起的時(shí)候，你才能發(fā)揮出你真 正的潛力，才會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在書寫美國(guó)歷史的下一個(gè)篇章時(shí)所扮演的角色。

There are so many ways to serve and so much that needs to be done at this defining moment in our history. You don’t have to be a community organizer or do something crazy like run for President. Right here at this school, many of you have already volunteered at local high schools and elementary schools, contributed to the United Way, and even started a program that brings fresh produce to needy families in the area. One hundred and sixty-four graduates of this school have joined the Peace Corps since 2001，and I confess a special pride that two of you are about to leave for my father’s homeland of Kenya to bring alternative sources of energy to impoverished areas.

在這個(gè)歷史上的決定性時(shí)刻，我們有很多種服務(wù)的方式，也有很多事情要做。 你不一定要成為一個(gè)社區(qū)組織者或者是做一些類似競(jìng)選總統(tǒng)這樣瘋狂的事情。就在 這個(gè)學(xué)校里，你們中的很多人已經(jīng)在當(dāng)?shù)氐闹行W(xué)做志愿腋務(wù)，為“國(guó)際聯(lián)合勸募 協(xié)會(huì)”作貢獻(xiàn)，甚至還啟動(dòng)了一個(gè)“為本地區(qū)的貧困家庭提供新鮮的農(nóng)產(chǎn)品”的項(xiàng) 目。從2001年開始，這所學(xué)校已有164名畢業(yè)生參加了和平軍團(tuán)，尤其讓我感到驕傲 的是，你們當(dāng)中的兩名畢業(yè)生將會(huì)動(dòng)身前往我父親的家鄉(xiāng)肯尼亞，為貧困地區(qū)帶去 可替代性能源。

I ask you to seek these opportunities when you leave here，because the future of this country~your future, my future, my children’s future~depends on it. At a time when our security and moral standing depends on winning the hearts and minds in the forgotten corners of this world，we need more of you to serve abroad. As President, I intend to grow the Foreign Service, double the Peace Corps over the next few years, and engage young people of other nations in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all of humanity.

我希望你們?cè)陔x開這里的時(shí)候抓住這樣的機(jī)遇，因?yàn)檎麄€(gè)國(guó)家的未來(lái)、你們的 未來(lái)、我的未來(lái)、我的孩子們的未來(lái)，都取決于這個(gè)機(jī)遇。在這4^時(shí)代，我們的安 全和道德聲謄的好壞取決于我們是否贏得了那些處在被世界遺忘角落里的人們的支 持與愛(ài)戴，因此我們需要更多的人去國(guó)外服務(wù)。作為總統(tǒng)，我準(zhǔn)備把駐外事務(wù)所發(fā)展壯大，在未來(lái)的幾年里，讓和平軍團(tuán)的成員人數(shù)增加一倍，并讓其他國(guó)家里參與 類似項(xiàng)目的年輕人參與到我們的項(xiàng)目中來(lái)，這樣，我們就能1起應(yīng)對(duì)全體人類面臨 的挑戰(zhàn)。

At a time when our ice caps are melting and our oceans are rising, we need you to help lead a green revolution. We still have time to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change if we get serious about investing in renewable sources of energy, and if we get a generation of volunteers to work on renewable energy projects, and if we teach people about conservation, and help clean up polluted areas; if we send talented engineers and scientists abroad to help developing countries promote clean energy in a way that’s compatible with economic growth.

在這個(gè)冰蓋漸融、海平面漸長(zhǎng)的時(shí)代，我們需要你們引領(lǐng)一場(chǎng)綠色革命。如果 我們能夠認(rèn)真對(duì)待在可再生能源上的投資，如果我們能夠讓一代志愿者致力于可再 生能源項(xiàng)目的開發(fā)，如果我們讓人們學(xué)會(huì)節(jié)約并幫助清理被污染的環(huán)境，如果我們 把有才能的工程師和科學(xué)家送到國(guó)外，幫助發(fā)展中國(guó)家以一種與經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展相協(xié)調(diào)的 方式來(lái)推動(dòng)清潔能源的使用進(jìn)程，那么，我們就還來(lái)得及避免氣候變化帶來(lái)的一系 列災(zāi)難性后果。

At a time when a child in Boston must compete with children in Beijing and Bangalore, we need an army of you to become teachers and principals in schools that this nation cannot afford to give up on. I will pay our educators what they deserve, and give them more support, but I will also ask more of them to be mentors to other teachers, and serve in high-need schools and high-need subject areas like math and science. We will need you.

在這個(gè)時(shí)代，波士頓的孩子必須與北京以及班加羅爾的孩子們同臺(tái)競(jìng)技，我們 需要你們中的一群人擔(dān)任學(xué)校的教師和校長(zhǎng)，我們國(guó)家決不能放棄教育事業(yè)。我會(huì) 給教育工作者們他們應(yīng)得的報(bào)酬，給他們更多的支持，但是我也會(huì)對(duì)他們提出更高 的要求，要求他們能夠成為其他教師的導(dǎo)師，并為有高需求的學(xué)校以及對(duì)數(shù)學(xué)和科 學(xué)等有髙需求的學(xué)科服務(wù)。我們需要你們。

At a time when there are children in the city of New Orleans who still spend each  night in a lonely trailer, we need more of you to take a weekend or a week off from work, and head down South, and help rebuild. If you can't get the time, volunteer at the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen in your own communities, because there’s more than enough work to go around. Find an organization that’s fighting poverty, or a candidate who promotes policies you believe in, and find a way to help them. We need you.

在新奧爾良市，一些孩子還是在拖車?yán)锒冗^(guò)每一個(gè)寂寥的夜晚的時(shí)候，我們需要你們中的更多人能夠從工作中抽出一個(gè)周末或是一個(gè)星期的時(shí)間，去到南部幫助 他們重建。如果你們沒(méi)有那么多時(shí)間，你們可以在當(dāng)?shù)氐牧骼藵h之家或者流動(dòng)廚房 做志愿工作，因?yàn)樗奶幙纯磿?huì)讓你們發(fā)現(xiàn)有太多的工作需要去做。你們需要找一個(gè) 旨在對(duì)抗貧困的組織，或者是一個(gè)能推行你所信仰的政策的候選人，找到一種能夠 幫助他們的方式。我們需要你們。

At a time of war, we need you to work for peace. At a time of inequality, we need you to work for opportunity. At a time of so much cynicism and so much doubt, we need you to make us believe again. That’s your task, class of 2008.

在戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)爆發(fā)時(shí)，我們需要你們?yōu)楹推蕉ΑＴ诓黄降鹊默F(xiàn)象出現(xiàn)時(shí)，我們需 要你們?yōu)樗藸?zhēng)取機(jī)遇。在憤世嫉俗和疑云重重的時(shí)代，我們需要你們幫我們重新 建立信任。這是你們的任務(wù)，2008屆的畢業(yè)生們。

Now understand this~believing that change is possible is not the same as being naive. Go into service with your eyes wide open, for change will not come easily. On the big issues that our nation faces, difficult choices await. We5ll have to face some hard truths, and some sacrifice will be required—not only from you individually, but from the nation as a whole.

現(xiàn)在，你們要理解這一點(diǎn)，相信可能發(fā)生的改變與天真是兩碼事。在服務(wù)時(shí)你 們要睜大眼睛，因?yàn)楦淖儾皇禽p而易舉的。在國(guó)家所面臨的那些重大問(wèn)題上，我們 得做出艱難的抉擇，我們得面對(duì)一些殘酷的現(xiàn)實(shí)，我們可能需要做出一些犧牲，不 僅僅是個(gè)人的犧牲，還有整個(gè)國(guó)家的犧牲。

There is no magic bullet to our energy problems, for example; no perfect energy source—so all of us will have to use the energy sources we have more wisely. Deep-rooted poverty will not be reversed overnight; it will require both money and reform at a time when our federal and state budgets are strapped and when Washington is skeptical that reform is possible. Transforming our education system will require not only bold government action, but a change in attitudes among parents and among students. And it’s hard to change attitudes. Bringing an end to the slaughter in Darfur will involve navigating extremely difficult realities on the ground, even for those with the best of intentions.

我們沒(méi)有解決能源問(wèn)題的靈丹妙藥，比如說(shuō)，我們所有人都應(yīng)該更加明智地使 用我們目前所擁有的能源，因?yàn)橥昝赖哪茉词遣淮嬖诘摹８畹俟痰呢毨Р豢赡茉?一夜之間就被消除，這需要投入資金和實(shí)行改革，但我們的聯(lián)邦政府和國(guó)家財(cái)政預(yù)算吃緊，而且華盛頓政府對(duì)改革的可能性存在質(zhì)疑。教育系統(tǒng)的改革不僅需要政府 采取大膽的行動(dòng)，而且需要家長(zhǎng)和學(xué)生轉(zhuǎn)變自身的態(tài)度。但態(tài)度是很難改變的。想 要結(jié)束達(dá)爾富爾的殺戮，就必須得處理好當(dāng)?shù)貥O其復(fù)雜的現(xiàn)實(shí)情況，這其中還包括 了那些因好心幫倒忙的糟糕狀況。

And so, understand that, should you take the path of service, should you choose to take up one of these causes as your own, know that you’ll experience the occasional frustrations and the occasional failures. Even your successes will be marked by imperfections and unintended consequences. I guarantee you, there will be times when friends or family urge you to pursue more sensible endeavors with more tangible ewards. And there will be rimes where you will be tempted to take such advice.But I hope you’ll remember, during those times of doubt and frustration, that there is nothing naive about your impulse to change the world. Because all it takes is one act of service~one blow against injustice~to send forth what Robert Kennedy called that tiny ripple of hope. That’s what changes the world. That one act. An act by you, Class of 2008.

因此，如果你們選擇了服務(wù)這條道路，如果你們選擇把這其中的一項(xiàng)當(dāng)做你 們自己的事業(yè)，那么你們必須了解，挫折和失敗不可避免，隨處可見。你們的成功 甚至都是不完美的，可能還會(huì)夾雜著一些意料之外的后果。我敢向你們保證，你們 的朋友和家人一定會(huì)經(jīng)常力勸你們追求一些更加實(shí)際的東西，以獲得更多有形的回 報(bào)。你們也可能會(huì)因受到誘惑而接受這樣的建議。但是我希望你們記住，在面對(duì)質(zhì) 疑和沮喪的時(shí)候，想改變世界的沖動(dòng)無(wú)關(guān)乎天真。因?yàn)閷⒘_伯特?肯尼迪所說(shuō)的微 小的希望之波散播開去所需要的只不過(guò)是一個(gè)服務(wù)的行動(dòng)，只不過(guò)是對(duì)不公正的猛 力一擊。那就是改變世界的東西。就那一個(gè)行動(dòng)。你們的行動(dòng)，2008屆的畢業(yè)生們。

You know，Ted Kennedy often tells a story about the fifth anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps. He was there, and he asked one of the young Americans why he had chosen to volunteer. And the man replied, “Because it was the first time someone asked me to do something for my country.” “It was the first time someone asked me to do something for my country."I don’t know how many of you have been asked that question, but after today, you have no excuses. I am asking you, and if I should have the honor of serving this nation as President, I will be asking again and again in the coming years. Because we may disagree as Americans on certain issues and positions, but I believe that we can be unified in service to a greater good. I intend to make it a cause of my presidency, and I believe that with all my heart this generation is ready, and eager, and up to the challenge.

眾所周知，泰德?肯尼迪經(jīng)常講一個(gè)關(guān)于和平軍團(tuán)五周年慶典的故事。當(dāng)時(shí)他問(wèn)其中的一個(gè)年輕人，為什么選擇做志愿者。這個(gè)年輕人回答：“因?yàn)檫@是第一次 有人讓我為我的國(guó)家做點(diǎn)事情。” “這是第一次有人讓我為我的國(guó)家做點(diǎn)事情。” 我不知道在你們之中有多少人被問(wèn)過(guò)那個(gè)問(wèn)題，但從今以后，你們就沒(méi)有借口 了。我現(xiàn)在就在問(wèn)你們，而且如果我有幸成為美國(guó)總統(tǒng)，服務(wù)于這個(gè)國(guó)家，我將會(huì) 在今后的日子里反復(fù)地問(wèn)你們這個(gè)問(wèn)題。因?yàn)榧幢阕鳛槊绹?guó)人，我們可能在某些問(wèn) 題和立場(chǎng)上持有分歧，但是我相信，我們可以為了創(chuàng)造一個(gè)更美好的祖國(guó)而緊緊團(tuán) 結(jié)在服務(wù)行動(dòng)中。我打算以此作為我總統(tǒng)任期內(nèi)的一項(xiàng)事業(yè)，而且我由衷地相信， 你們這一代人已經(jīng)整裝待發(fā)，對(duì)這個(gè)即將到來(lái)的挑戰(zhàn)躍躍欲試。

We will face our share of cynics and doubters. But we always have. I can still remember a conversation I had with an older man all those years ago right before I was headed for my new job in Chicago. He said，“Barack，I'll give you a bit of advice. Forget about this community organizing business and do something that’s gonna make you some money. You can't change the world, and people won’t appreciate you trying. But youVe got a nice voice，so you should think about going into television broadcasting. Fm telling you, you have a future there.

我們總會(huì)難免遇見一些憤世嫉俗的言論或質(zhì)疑我們的人。我至今都還記得多年 前與一位老者的對(duì)話，那時(shí)我正好準(zhǔn)備出發(fā)前往芝加哥去擔(dān)任那個(gè)新職位。他說(shuō)： “巴拉克，我要給你一點(diǎn)建議。把這個(gè)社區(qū)組織的事情忘掉吧，去做一些能讓你賺錢 的事情。你無(wú)法改變世界，人們也不會(huì)感謝你的努力。但是，你的聲音很好聽，所 以你應(yīng)該考慮一下去做電視廣播界的工作。我告訴你，你在那里肯定前途無(wú)量。”

Now, I’ve wondered...he might have been right about the TV thing, but he was wrong about everything else. For that old man has not seen what I have seen. He has not seen the faces of ordinary people the first time they clear a vacant lot or build a new playground or force an unresponsive leader to provide services to a community that’s been neglected. He has not seen the face of a child brighten because of an inspiring teacher or an inspiring mentor. He has not seen the scores of young people educate their parents on issues like Darfur, or mobilize the conscience of a nation around the challenges of climate change. He has not seen the lines of men and women that wrap around schools and churches, that stretch out block after block after block just so they could make their voices heard, many for the first time. That old man who didn’t believe the world could change~who didn’t think one person could make a difference~well he certainly didn’t know much about the life of Joseph Kennedy’s youngest son.

現(xiàn)在，我想想……他說(shuō)的關(guān)于電視廣播的事情也許是對(duì)的，但是他所說(shuō)的其他話都是錯(cuò)的，因?yàn)槟莻€(gè)老人沒(méi)有看到我所看到的東西。當(dāng)人們第一次清出一塊空 地，或建起一個(gè)新運(yùn)動(dòng)場(chǎng)，或迫使一個(gè)冷漠的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人為一個(gè)被忽略的社區(qū)提供服務(wù) 時(shí)，他沒(méi)有看到他們臉上的表情。當(dāng)孩子們因?yàn)橛龅揭粋€(gè)鼓舞人心的老師或?qū)煏r(shí)， 他沒(méi)有看到他們臉上所綻放的光彩。他沒(méi)有看到許多年輕人的成功：他們教自己的父 母了解像達(dá)爾富爾這樣的問(wèn)題，或者喚醒國(guó)民在氣候變化問(wèn)題上的良知。他沒(méi)有看到 人們成群環(huán)繞在學(xué)校和教堂外，隊(duì)伍伸展到幾個(gè)街區(qū)之外，只是為了向人們表露心 跡，而很多人都是第一次這樣做。那個(gè)老人不相信世界是可以改變的，他不相信一個(gè) 人就能帶來(lái)改變。那么，他肯定不怎么了解約瑟夫?肯尼迪最小的兒子。

It‘s rare in this country of ours that a person exists who has touched the lives of nearly every single American without many of us even realizing it. And yet, because of Ted Kennedy, millions of children can see a doctor when they get sick. Mothers and fathers can leave work to spend time with their newborns. Working Americans are paid higher wages，and compensated for overtime, and can keep their health insurance when they change jobs.

在我們的國(guó)家里，有一個(gè)人能夠在我們很多人都沒(méi)有意識(shí)到的情況下，便幾 乎觸及到了每一個(gè)美國(guó)人的生活，這是很罕見的。然而，正是因?yàn)樘┑驴夏?迪，數(shù)以百萬(wàn)計(jì)的孩子在生病的時(shí)候能夠?qū)で筢t(yī)生的幫助了，父母能夠歇工陪伴他 們剛出生的孩子了，美國(guó)的工人們得到了更高的報(bào)酬，加班也有酬勞了，而且在換 工作的時(shí)候也還能夠保有他們的健康保險(xiǎn)了。

They are protected from discrimination in the workplace, and those who are born with disabilities can still get an education, and health care，and fair treatment on the job. Our schools are stronger and our colleges are filled with more Americans who afford it. And I have a feeling that Ted Kennedy is not done just yet.

在工作場(chǎng)所，他們不再遭到歧視了，那些天生殘疾的人也同樣擁有接受教育、獲得衛(wèi)生保健、享有獲取工作的同等權(quán)利和工作中的同等待遇的機(jī)會(huì)了。我們的學(xué) 校實(shí)力更強(qiáng)大了，也有更多的美國(guó)人可以負(fù)擔(dān)起大學(xué)教育了-。而且我有預(yù)感，泰 德?肯尼迪還會(huì)為人民做更多。

Surely, surely, if one man can achieve so much and make such a difference in the lives of so many people, then each of us can do our part. Surely, if his service and his story can forever shape America’s story, then our collective service can shape the destiny of this generation. At the very least, his living example calls us to try. That is all I ask of you on this joyous day of new beginnings; that is what Senator Kennedy asks of you as well, and that is how we will keep so much needed work going, and the cause of justice everlasting, and the dream alive for generations to come. Thank you so much to the Class of 2008，and congratulations on your graduation.

可以確定的是，如果一個(gè)人可以做這么多事情，改變那么多人的生活，那么 我們每一個(gè)人都可以貢獻(xiàn)出自己的一份力量。如果他的服務(wù)和故事可以永遠(yuǎn)地塑造 美國(guó)的歷史，那么，我們共同的服務(wù)就能夠塑造這代人的命運(yùn)。至少，他鮮活的例 子呼吁我們?nèi)L試。這就是我在這個(gè)歡慶的日子里，在你們新的起點(diǎn)上要求你們做 的、也是肯尼迪議員要求你們做的；這也是，這是我們保證使命繼續(xù)進(jìn)行、公正事 業(yè)永遠(yuǎn)持續(xù)、后代夢(mèng)想成真的必經(jīng)之路。2008屆的畢業(yè)生們，非常感謝你們，祝賀 你們順利畢業(yè)。

Thank you everybody. God bless you. Thank you!

謝謝你們每一個(gè)人。愿上帝保佑你們。謝謝！

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