第一篇:奧巴馬演講
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter can not end on this autumn night.This victory alone is not the change we seeka party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.Those are values that we all share.And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.讓我們抵御住重走老路的誘惑,不再黨派紛爭,不再心胸狹窄,不再幼稚,它們長久以來一直毒害著我們的政治環境。讓我們記住,正是從這個州里出來的一個人(指林肯)首先肩扛共和黨的旗幟,走進了白宮。共和黨是以自強不息、個人自由以及全民團結為價值基礎,建立起來的。我們所有人都十分認同這些價值。所以,當今晚民主黨贏得了一場偉大的勝利之時,我們尤其帶著謙卑與無比的決心,認同這些價值,力求彌合阻擋我們前行的紛爭。
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends--though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.當初林肯面對是一個遠比目前更為分裂的美國,他說:“我們不是敵人,而是朋友,盡管狂熱的情緒令我們的關系緊張,但絕允許它撕裂我們彼此的感情紐帶?!睂τ谀切┪胰詻]有得到支持的美國選民們,我想說,今晚我盡管沒獲得你們的選票,但我已經聽到了你們的聲音;我需要你們的幫助,而且,我也將是你們的總統。
And all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.To those – to those who would tear the world down: we will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security: we support you.And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.此外,對那些關注今晚選舉的大洋以外的人,從議會和皇宮到世界上被遺忘的角落中聚在收音機旁的人們,我要說,我們的故事,各有不同,但我們的命運,卻彼此相通。美國一個新的領導層即將形成。對那些要破壞世界的人,我要說:我們會打敗你們;而對那些尋求和平與安全的人,我們支持你們。而對于所有懷疑美國這盞燈塔是否依然閃耀著光芒的人:今晚我們再次向你們證明了,我們國家的真正力量,并非來自我們軍隊力量的強大,或我們擁有的巨大財富,而是來自我們持久的諸多理念:民主、自由、機會、以及永不言棄的希望。
That’s the true genius of America, that America can change.Our union can be perfected.And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.美國(強大)的真諦就是美國可以變革。我們要使自己更加團結。我們已經贏得的一切,給了我們希望,它令我們明天能夠,也必須贏得更多。
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.But one that's on my mind tonight’s about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta.She is a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.這次總統選舉產生了很多“首次”,也誕生了很多必將被后人傳誦的故事。不過今晚我腦海里一直縈繞著的,是在亞特蘭大投票的一個婦人的故事。她和數百萬排隊投票的人一樣希望自己的聲音被人聽到;只有一樣與眾不同,這位叫安·尼克松·庫柏的婦女已經106歲了。
She was born just a generation past slavery;a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky;when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America: the heartache and the hope;the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.她出生時,奴隸制才剛剛結束有一代人的時間。那時,路上沒有汽車,天上也沒有飛機,那時,像她這們的人因兩個原因不能投票,一是因為她是女性,二是因為她的膚色。今晚我在想,她這一百年里在美國都看到了什么:心痛與希望,爭斗與進步,是我們被告之我們不能,卻也看到有很多人堅信美國信念,繼續頂著壓力向前:不,我們能。
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.她看到過女性的聲音被壓制,女性的希望被拋棄,但她活著看到了女性站起來、發出聲音并伸手投票了。是的,我們能。When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.她看到過1930年代的沙塵風暴、遍及全國的經濟蕭條,但她也看到,通過(羅斯福的)新政、創造就業機會、確立新的目標,一個國家終究戰勝了恐慌。
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved.Yes we can.她看到過炸彈扔到了我們的(夏威夷珍珠)港口,殘暴威脅著全世界。但她也看到了一代人的偉大崛起,看到了一個民主制度被拯救。是的,我們能。
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “we shall overcome.” Yes we can.她看到過蒙哥馬利市公交車上對黑人的種族歧視;看到過伯明翰市白人水槍噴向抗議的黑人學生;看到了塞爾馬市的大橋上黑人在為爭取權利所進行的拼爭。但她還看到,來自亞特蘭大的(馬丁·路德·金)牧師這樣跟大家說,“我們終將沖破一切樊籬?!笔堑模覀兡?。
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.她看到過人類登上月球、柏林墻被推倒。她還看到人類用自己的科學技術與想像,將整個世界連成了一體。就在今年的這次總統選舉,她用手指輕觸一下電腦屏幕,就投下了自己的一張票。美國走過了106年,穿越過最好的時光,也走過最黑暗的時刻,她知道,美國還會怎樣變革下去。
Yes we can.是的,我們能。
America, we have come so far.We have seen so much.But there’s so much more to do.So tonight, let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next century;if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
美國人民啊,我們走過了漫長道路,我們已經見多識廣。但我們仍有太多的事情要做。所以今晚,讓我們捫心自問一下吧:假如我們的孩子們活到下個世紀,假如我的兩個女兒有安·尼克松·庫柏那樣高壽,他們將看到什么樣的變革呢?到時候,我們會取得什么樣的進步呢?
This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time: to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one;that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: 現在是我們回應這一召喚的時機了。就在當下,就在我們這個時代:讓我們的人民回到工作中去,并且為我們的孩子們,打開機會的大門吧;讓繁榮再現,將和平的事業推向前進吧,讓“美國夢”重回人們的心中,并再次證明一個最基本的真理吧,那就是,無論我們有多少人,都是一家人;只要我們一息尚存,就要心存希望;當有人不信,有人懷疑,有人說我們不能的時候,我們要帶著那永恒的信念,帶著那使美國人民振作精神的信念,高聲答道:
Yes We Can.是的,我們能。
Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.謝謝,上帝祝福你們,愿上帝保佑美利堅合眾國。
Hello, Chicago!芝加哥,你好啊!
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible;who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time;who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.假如還有人懷疑美國不是一個一切都有可能的地方、懷疑我們國家奠基人所懷揣的夢想是否薪火相傳、甚而質疑我們民主的力量是否足夠強大,那么今晚就是給他們的答案。
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen;by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different;that their voices could be that difference.這個答案是由那些在學校和教堂周邊的長長隊伍給出的。如此多的人參與,這在美國前所未有。他們苦等三、四小時,其中有很多人是生平第一次去投票,因為他們相信這一次與以往不同,自己的意見將改變一切。
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabledIt belongs to you.It belongs to you.除了上述這些人,我將永遠銘記真正擁有這場勝利的人。這勝利屬于你們,屬于你們所有人。
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office.We didn't start with much money or many endorsements.Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washingtontwo wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child’s college education.There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created;new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.我知道,你們這樣做,并不是只為了贏得一次選舉,也不單單是為了我。你們這樣做,是因為你們懂得,擺在眼前的任務太過艱巨了。即便我們今晚在慶祝勝利,但我們都明白明天挑戰將是我們一生中最大的挑戰了--兩場戰爭、危機四伏的地球、一百年來最糟糕的金融危機。我們今晚站在這里,但我們都明白,在伊拉克的沙漠里,在阿富汗的群山中,還有我們勇敢的美國同胞,不顧個人安危在保護著我們的安全。還有無數母親和父親,當孩子已經熟睡了,自己卻不能入眠;他們盤算著如何償付房貸、怎樣支付醫療費用、如何才能攢夠孩子上大學的錢。還有,新能源要開發,新的就業機會要創造,新校舍要搭建,無數威脅要面對,友邦關系要修補。
The road ahead will be long.Our climb will be steep.We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but Americawe as a people will get there.前路漫漫,我們上下求索。我們也許在一年內,甚至一屆總統任期內,都不一定解決上述問題。但美國人民哪,我從來沒有像今晚這樣滿懷希望--我們一定會成功。我向你們承諾:我們美國全體人民一定會達成目標!
There will be setbacks and false starts.There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem.But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years-block by block, brick by brick, calloused hands by calloused hands.今后一定會有諸多挫折或者出師不利。對于我作為總統所作的每項決策和政策,可能會有許多人不認。我們都明白,政府不可能解決得所有問題。不過,我一定與你們坦誠面對各種挑戰。我會傾聽你們的意見,尤其當我們意見不一樣時??傊?,我要請你們加入到重建這個國家行列里來,重建的方式是美國建國221年以來從未改變的唯一方式:用一雙雙長滿老繭的手,一磚一瓦地建設。
第二篇:奧巴馬演講
奧巴馬演講
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.
第三篇:奧巴馬演講
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.)
第四篇:奧巴馬演講
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address Saturday, May 14, 2011
Washington D.C.Recently, there have been signs that the economy is picking up steam.Last month, we saw the strongest job growth in five years, and have added more than three-quarters of a million private sector jobs in just three months.But there are still too many Americans who are either looking for work, or struggling to pay the bills and make the mortgage.Paychecks aren’t getting any bigger, but the cost of everything from groceries to college tuition keeps on rising.Without a doubt, one of the biggest burdens over the last few months has been the price of gasoline.In many places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be paying more than $60 to fill up your tank.These spikes in gas prices are often temporary, and while there are no quick fixes to the problem, there are a few steps we should take that make good sense.First, we should make sure that no one is taking advantage of consumers at the pump.That’s why we’ve launched a task force led by the Attorney General that has one job: rooting out cases of fraud or manipulation in the markets that might affect gas prices, including any illegal activity by traders and speculators.Second, we should increase safe and responsible oil production here at home.Last year, America’s oil production reached its highest level since 2003.But I believe that we should expand oil production in America – even as we increase safety and environmental standards.To do this, I am directing the Department of Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, while respecting sensitive areas, and to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic.We plan to lease new areas in the Gulf of Mexico as well, and work to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore.We’re also taking steps to give companies time to meet higher safety standards when it comes to exploration and drilling.That’s why my Administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain areas off the coast of Alaska.And to streamline that permitting process, I am establishing a new team to coordinate work on Alaska drilling permits.Finally, the third step we should take is to eliminate the taxpayer subsidies we give to oil and gas companies.In the last few months, the biggest oil companies made about $4 billion in profits each week.And yet, they get $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies each year.Four billion dollars at a time when Americans can barely fill up their tanks.Four billion dollars at a time when we’re trying to reduce our deficit.This isn’t fair, it makes no sense.Before I was President, the CEOs of these companies even admitted that the tax subsidies made no sense.Well, next week, there is a vote in Congress to end these oil company giveaways once and for all.And I hope Democrats and Republicans come together and get this done.The American people shouldn’t be subsidizing oil companies at a time when they’re making near-record profits.As a nation, we should be investing in the clean, renewable sources of energy that are the ultimate solution to high-gas prices.That’s why we’re investing in clean energy technology, helping businesses that manufacture solar panels and wind turbines, and making sure that our cars and trucks can go further on a tank of gas – a step that could save families as much as $3,000 at the pump.These are investments worth making – investments that will save us money, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and protect the health and safety of our planet.That’s an energy policy for the future, and it’s what I’ll be fighting for in the weeks and months to come.Thanks.
第五篇:奧巴馬演講
奧巴馬演講:為未來清潔能源投資
來源:http:// Hi, everybody.I’m speaking to you this week from a factory in Petersburg, Virginia, where they’re bringing on more than 100 new workers to build parts for the next generation of jet engines.It’s a story that’s happening more frequently across the country.Our businesses just added 233,000 jobs last month – for a total of nearly four million new jobs over the last two years.More companies are choosing to bring jobs back and invest in America.Manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s, and we’re building more things to sell to the rest of the world stamped with three proud words: Made in America.And it’s not just that we’re building stuff.We’re building better stuff.The engine parts manufactured here in Petersburg will go into next-generation planes that are lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient.That last part is important.Because whether you’re paying for a plane ticket, or filling up your gas tank, technology that helps us get more miles to the gallon is one of the easiest ways to save money and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The recent spike in gas prices has been another painful reminder of why we have to invest in this technology.As usual, politicians have been rolling out their three-point plans for two-dollar gas: drill, drill, and drill some more.Well, my response is, we have been drilling.Under my Administration, oil production in America is at an eight-year high.We’ve quadrupled the number of operating oil rigs, and opened up millions of acres for drilling.But you and I both know that with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices – not when consume 20 percent of the world’s oil.We need an all-of-the-above strategy that relies less on foreign oil and more on American-made energy – solar, wind, natural gas, biofuels, and more.That’s the strategy we’re pursuing.It’s why I went to a plant in North Carolina earlier this week, where they’re making trucks that run on natural gas, and hybrid trucks that go further on a single tank.And it’s why I’ve been focused on fuel efficient cars since the day I took office.Over the last few years, the annual number of miles driven by Americans has stayed roughly the same, but the total amount of gas we use has been going down.In other words, we’re getting more bang for our buck.If we accelerate that trend, we can help drivers save a significant amount of money.That’s why, after 30 years of inaction, we finally put in place new standards that will make sure our cars average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – nearly double what they get today.This wasn’t easy: we had to bring together auto companies, and unions, and folks who don’t ordinarily see eye to eye.But it was worth it.Because these cars aren’t some pie in the sky solution that’s years away.They’re being built right now – by American workers, in factories right here in the U.S.A.Every year, our cars and trucks will be able to go further and use less fuel, and pretty soon, you’ll be able to fill up every two weeks instead of every week – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.We’ll reduce our oil consumption by more than 12 billion barrels.That’s a future worth investing in.So we have a choice.Right now, some folks in Washington would rather spend another $4 billion on subsidies to oil companies each year.Well you know what? We’ve been handing out these kinds of taxpayer giveaways for nearly a century.And outside of Congress, does anyone really think that’s still a good idea? I want this Congress to stop the giveaways to an oil industry that’s never been more profitable, and invest in a clean energy industry that’s never been more promising.We should be investing in the technology that’s building the cars and trucks and jets that will prevent us from dealing with these high gas prices year after year after year.Ending this cycle of rising gas prices won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight.But that’s why you sent us to Washington – to solve tough problems like this one.So I’m going to keep doing everything I can to help you save money on gas, both right now and in the future.I hope politicians from both sides of the aisle join me.Let’s put aside the bumper-sticker slogans, remember why we’re here, and get things done for the American people.Thank you, God bless you, and have a great weekend.大家好。本周我來到了維吉尼亞州匹茲堡市的一家工廠,這家工廠帶來了100多個新的工作崗位,他們正在生產下一代噴氣發動機的零部件。
這樣的景象在全國各地不斷涌現。上個月我們的企業又新增23.3萬個就業崗位,過去兩年總共新增約400萬個就業崗位。越來越多的企業選擇回國投資并將工作崗位帶回來。制造業也從上世紀90年代以來首次增加就業崗位,我們制造的產品被銷往世界各地,產品上印著讓我們自豪的四個字:美國制造。
我們不僅僅是正在制造一些東西,我們是在制造更棒的東西。在匹茲堡這里生產的引擎零部件將用于下一代的更輕、更快、更節省燃料的飛機上。
最后一個特點很重要。因為無論你是買機票還是給自己的汽車加油,提高單位燃料的行駛里程是幫助我們節約支出和降低對海外石油依賴的最直接的方式。而最近油價的上漲也深深刺痛著我們,我們必須在這一技術上進行投資。一些政客一直在兜售他們實現2美元油價的三項計劃:開采、開采以及更多的開采。好吧,我的回應是,我們一直都在開采。在政府領導下,美國國內的石油產量處在8年來的最高點。我們開放了數百萬英畝的開采區域,正在運轉的石油鉆井平臺也增加了4倍。但你我都知道我們僅僅擁有2%的世界石油儲量,我們不能單獨依靠開采來降低油價,何況我們還消費了全球20%的石油。我們需要一個最高的能源戰略,減少我們對海外石油的依賴,更多使用國產能源:太陽能、風能、天然氣以及生物燃料等等。
這才是我們追求的戰略。這也是我本周早些時候到訪北卡的一家工廠的原因,那里的工人們正在生產使用天然氣的卡車,混合動力卡車用一箱油能行駛的更遠。
這也是我自主政以來就一直關注高能效汽車的原因。在過去的幾年里,美國人每年的汽車行駛里程基本保持不變,但總的汽油消耗量在不斷下降。換句話說,我們花同樣的錢,得到的利益增加了。如果我們加速推進這一趨勢,我們就可以幫助駕駛員們節約一筆可觀的費用。這也是我們實施新的能效標準的原因,老的標準還是30年前制定的,這樣我們能在未來15年內實現汽車平均用1加侖汽油行駛55英里的目標,這是現狀的兩倍。實現這一目標并不容易,我們需要將汽車生產廠家、產業聯盟以及意見并不一致的人們團結到一起。但這么做是值得的。
因為這樣的汽車并不像前幾年那樣還是空中樓閣。我們的工人,國內的工廠現在正在生產這樣的汽車。每年,我們的汽車、卡車都能用更少的油跑的更遠,很快,你們將能每兩周加一次油而不用每周都去加油站。這樣假以時日,將為一般家庭在油費支出上節省8000多美元。我們將減少超過120億桶的石油消費量。這是值得我們投資的未來。因此,我們要做出選擇。但現在華盛頓的一些人卻寧愿每年花40億美元給石油公司提供補貼。你們可知道。我們已經用納稅人的錢給它們提供了將近一個世紀的補貼了。在國會之外,難道就有人真的認為這是個好主意嗎?我希望國會終止對石油產業的補貼,它們的利潤已經高的不能再高了,我們應該把這些錢投資到更有希望的清潔能源產業上。我們應該投資于生產高能效汽車、卡車和飛機的技術上,避免我們年復一年的受高油價的麻煩。
走出不斷上漲的油價這一惡性循環并不容易,也不能在一夜間完成。但這正是你們選擇我們來到華盛頓的原因,我們就是來解決這樣的難題的。因此我將繼續竭盡所能幫助我們節約油費支出,現在如此將來亦如此。我希望兩黨的政客們都能與我一道。讓我們把空洞的口號放置一邊,牢記使命,為美國人民把事情做好。謝謝,上帝保佑大家,祝大家周末愉快。