第一篇：奧巴馬在父親節的講話

“父親”是男人最溫柔、最偉大的名字。父親的愛是無言的支撐，是默默的關懷。對父親來說，最有效的家庭教育就是以身作則。身為兩個女兒的父親，美國總統奧巴馬有哪些為人父的經驗？

Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important.And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that

foundation.They are teachers and coaches.They are mentors and role models.They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it.今天這個日子提醒我們，在我們締造生活所依賴的基石中，最為重要的是家庭。我們必須認識并且肯定每一位父親在這個基石中起到的關鍵作用。父親既循循善誘，又訓練指導；既指明方向，又言傳身教。父親既是成功的榜樣，又是不斷推動我們走向成功的人。

The first is setting an example of excellence for our children——because if we want to set high expectations for them, we’ve got to set high expectations for ourselves.It’s great if you have a job;it’s even better if you have a college degree.It’s a wonderful thing if you are married and living in a home with your children, but don’t just sit in the house and watch “ Sports Center” all weekend long.That’s why so many children are growing up in front of the television.As fathers and parents, we’ve got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework, and replace the video game or the remote control with a book once in a while.That’s how we build that foundation.第一個經驗是，我們必須給子女作出一個絕佳的榜樣——因為如果我們對他們抱有厚望，我們自己也應該志存高遠。你有工作是件好事，有個大學文憑好上加好。如果你結婚成家，兒女繞膝，那再好不過，但不要整個周末泡在家里看ESPN體育臺的“體育中心”。許多孩子就是在這樣的影響下傍著電視機長大的。作為父親，作為家長，我們應該花更多的時間陪伴孩子，幫助他們完成作業，時不時地把他們手中的游戲機或電視遙控器換成一本書。這就是我們打好家庭基石的方法。

We know that education is everything to our children’s future.We know that they will

compete for good jobs with children from all over the world.We know the work and the studying and the level of education that requires.To compete, they need to graduate high school, and then they need to graduate college, and they probably need a graduate degree too.So let’s give them a handshake and tell them to get their butts back in the library！

我們明白學校教育是創造孩子未來的關鍵。我們明白為了獲得好的工作，他們要跟世界各地的孩子競爭。我們明白為此所需的辛勞、學習和所應達到的教育水平。要想真正參與競爭，他們需要高中畢業，然后大學畢業，也許還得拿一張研究生文憑。讓我們握握他們的手，叫他們把屁股挪回到圖書館的座椅上吧！

It’s up to us——as fathers and parents——to instill this ethic of excellence in our children.It’s up to us to say to our daughters, don’t ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit and reach for those goals.要把這種追求卓越的理念灌輸進孩子的頭腦，就得靠作為父親和家長的我們。我們有責任告訴我們的女兒，別讓你的自身價值被電視上的形象所影響，因為我期望你的夢想無極限，期望你去追求這些夢想。

The second thing we need to do as fathers is pass along the value of empathy to our

children.Not sympathy, but empathy——the ability to stand in somebody else’s shoes;to look at the world through their eyes.第二個經驗是，作為父親，我們應該傳遞給孩子感同身受的價值觀。不是同情，而是感同身受——能設身處地地為人著想，能從別人的角度看世界。

And that is why the final lesson we must learn as fathers is also the greatest gift we can pass on to our children——and that is the gift of hope.因此，我們作為父親應該總結的最后一個經驗，也是我們可以傳給孩子的最為貴重的禮物，就是希望。

I’m not talking about an idle hope that’s little more than blind optimism or willful

ignorance of the problems we face.I’m talking about hope as that spirit inside us that insists,despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting for us if we’re willing to work for it and fight for it.If we are willing to believe.我講的希望不是空談的希望，不是那種盲目的樂觀主義，或是對所面臨問題的有意忽視。我講的希望是那種長存于我們內心的精神——即使所有跡象都不樂觀，這精神也讓我們堅信有更好的未來在等待著我們，只要我們愿意為之努力、為之奮斗。只要我們有這個信念。

We try.We hope.We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock.And

when the winds come, and the rains fall, and they beat upon that house, we keep faith that our Father will be there to guide us, and watch over us, and protect us, and lead His children through the darkest of storms into light of a better day.That is my prayer for all of us on this Father’s Day, and that is my hope for this country in the years ahead.我們嘗試，我們希望，我們盡力把我們的房子建在最堅實的基石上。當風吹時，當雨打時，當風雨侵襲我們的房子時，我們堅信上帝會引導我們，注視我們，保護我們，引領著他的孩子們穿過最黑暗的暴風驟雨，走向光明的美好未來。這就是今天父親節這個日子我為大家所作的祈禱，也是我對國家的未來所抱的希望。

（摘自2009年6月《新東方英語》）

第二篇：奧巴馬在父親節講話

奧巴馬在父親節講話

“在我們建立我們生活所依附的巖石中，今天我們要記起來的是，最重要的巖石是家庭。我們須要認識到并予以肯定的是，每位父親對這個基礎能起多么關鍵的作用。父親是教師和教練，他們是導師和生活角色的模范，是成功的榜樣，亦是老推動我們走向成功的人。

“但如果我們坦誠的話，我們應該承認有太多的父親不在其位——不在太多人的生活里，不在太多的家里。他們置他們的責任于不顧，表現得像小男孩而不是男子漢。我們許許多多家庭的基礎也因此而變得更加薄弱了。

“你我都知道這種情況在非洲裔美國人的社會里多么真實。我們知道一半以上的黑人小孩住在單親家庭里，這個數字比我們童年時代高出一倍。統計資料告訴我們：生活里沒有父親的孩子比較容易落入貧困或犯罪的可能性高出五倍；他們比較容易棄學的可能性高出九倍；比較容易關進監獄的可能性高出二十倍。他們比較可能出現行為問題，比較可能離家出走，比較可能成為青春發育年齡期父母。由于父親的缺席，我們社會的基礎變得更加薄弱。

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“但我們也需要家庭來撫育我們的子女。我們需要父親們能認識到做父親的責任并不終止于導致懷孕。我們需要他們認識到，不是有生孩子的能力，而是有撫養孩子的勇氣才配稱男子漢。

“我們需要幫助那些正在靠自己撫養孩子的母親。她們送孩子上學，去上班，下午接孩子回家，再上一次班，做飯和準備午餐飯盒，付帳單，打點家務，以及種種需要雙親干的工作。許許多多的婦女正干著這些英勇偉大的工作，但她們需要支持啊。她們需要另一個家長。她們的孩子也需要另一個家長。唯有如此他們才有牢靠的基礎，我們的國家也才有牢靠的基礎。

“我知道身邊沒有一個父親的苦處，當然我的處境沒有像今天許多年輕人的處境那么不幸。雖然我的父親在我兩歲時就離開了我們，而我只從他所寫的信和我家庭講到他的故事中了解到他，但我比大多數無父的小孩都幸運。我在夏威夷長大，我有兩個來自堪薩斯州的外祖父母，他們盡他們的一切幫我母親撫養我和我妹妹，也幫她教導我們對人要有愛心、尊重和有責任感。我做錯過許多不應做錯的事，但我獲得了許多改過自新的機會。雖然我們沒有很多錢，但獎學金讓我有機會上我們國家一些最好的學校。今天很多小孩未能獲得這些機會。他們的生活中不容他們有犯錯誤而改過自新的機會。所以在這一點上我個人的故事與他們是不同的。

“盡管如此，我了解我母親作為一個單親所要付出的艱辛：有時候她吃力掙扎著清還賬單；掙扎著給我們那些別的孩子有的東西；掙扎著扮演應該由雙親扮演的角色。我也知道因此我所要付出的艱辛。所以我多年前已下定決心要打破這個惡性循環——我下定決心，如果我一生中有何成就的話，我要作為我女兒的好父親；如果我能給予她們任何東西的話，我要給她們那個她們能建立她們生活的巖石——那個基礎。那將是我所能給予她們的最貴重的禮物。

“我在講這些話時，我心里明白我是一個缺點多多的父親——我知道我犯過錯誤并且將仍不斷地犯更多錯誤；我希望我能比現在有更多時間在家陪伴我女兒和太太，可是又做不到。我心里明白這一切，因為縱然我們缺點多多，縱然我們困難重重，有某些教訓是我們為父的應該盡可能地去親歷和總結的——不管我們是黑人或白人；富人或窮人；來自“南邊”區（芝加哥南部較窮的住宅區）或來自富裕的郊區。

“第一個教訓是給我們的子女做出一個絕佳的榜樣，因為如果我們對他們抱有很高的期望，我們對自己也應該抱有同樣高的期望。你有一個職業是件好事；有一個大學文憑更好一些。結了婚而又能跟孩子住在一起是再好不過了，但卻不能只坐在家里而整個周末看電視的“體育中心”節目。許多孩子就是因為有這樣的父親而在電視機前成長起來的。作為父親和家長，我們應該花更多時間在他們身上，幫他們完成作業，時不時讓他們拋開電腦游戲或遙控器而捧上一本書。這就是我們要建立那個基礎所應做的事。

“我們明白學校教育是孩子未來的關鍵。我們明白他們不再是只跟印地安那州的孩子競爭獲取未來的好職業，而是跟印度、跟中國、跟世界各地的孩子競爭。我們明白為此所需的努力、學習和教育水平。

“你知道嗎，有時候我去參加八年級（初中）畢業典禮，那里張燈結彩、花團錦簇、學生一個個禮服盛裝。我在想，那只不過初中畢業唄。要想真正參與競爭，他們必須高中畢業，然后必須大學畢業，也許還得拿一張研究生文憑呢。在今天，只完成初中教育是競爭不過人的。讓我們握一握他們的手，叫他們把屁股移到圖書館的座椅上吧！

“如果我們要把這種追求卓越的精神輸進我們孩子腦里的話，就得靠作為父親和家長的我們了。要靠我們告訴我們的女孩，別讓你的自身價值被電視上的形象所操縱影響，因為我要你能做你最大的夢，去為之而奮斗。要靠我們告訴我們的男孩，收音機里的歌曲有美化暴力的可能，但在我家里我們的生活是為了美化成就、美化自尊、美化辛勤的勞動。讓他們知道我們對他們抱有這些期望就全靠我們。這也就是說，我們自己也得達到這些期望的水平，我們在生活中也要做個追求卓越的榜樣。

“第二個教訓是，我們為父所應做的是傳給我們孩子對人應有同感empathy的人生價值。不是同情，而是同感——即能設身處地地為人著想，將心比心；能透過別人的眼觀世界。有時候我們是那么容易地執著于“我們”，而忘了我們相互之間所應承擔的義務。我們的社會有這么一種文化（流行的看法），認為牢記我們相互之間所應承擔的義務是一種軟弱的表現，因此我們不應該對人表示關愛。

“但我們年輕的男孩女孩都會觀察到這一切。他們會觀察到你不理會或虐待你的妻子；會觀察到你在家不為別人著想的表現；會觀察到你的冷漠無情；會觀察到你只為一己之私著想。所以，我們在學校或在街上會看到這些同樣的行為表現是不足為奇的。這就是為什么我們必須以身作則來把同感和關愛這些人生價值傳給我們的孩子。我們須要給他們做出這樣的榜樣——強者不是把別人擊倒而是把別人扶起來，這才是強者。這就是我們為父的所應負起的責任。”

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接下去奧巴馬談到政府應如何幫助盡責的父親和所應采取的措施。然后他接著說道： “我們應該采取這一切措施來為我們的孩子建立一個堅實的基礎。但我們也必須明白，即使我們做到這一切，既使我們做父親和家長的盡了我們的義務，即使華盛頓政府履其職責，我們在生活中仍然會碰到許多艱難的挑戰。人將仍會有掙扎與痛苦的日子。風仍會在吹，雨仍會在打。

“因此最后我們為父的應總結的教訓，也是我們可以傳給我們孩子最貴重的禮物，就是希望這個禮物。

“我講的希望不是空談的希望——那種類似盲目的樂觀主義或對問題不加考慮的盲干。我講的希望是那種寄托于我們內心的精神——即堅信在逆境中我們只要愿意為之努力而奮斗，就會有更好的事在等待著我們。只要我們有這個信念啊。

“前一天我在威斯康星州的一個市政廳座談會上回答問題。有一個年輕人舉起手，我猜想他想問的是有關大學學費、能源問題或者也許有關伊拉克戰爭。但他不問這些，卻很嚴肅地瞪著我問道：‘生活對你有何意義？’

“欸，我必須承認我對這個問題毫無準備。我當時開始回答得有點結巴，然后我停下來，想了一會兒就說道：

“我年輕的時候，我想到的生活就是關于我——我如何為自己在世界闖出一條路來，我如何取得成功，以及我如何獲得我所要的東西。

“但現在，我的生活圍繞著我的兩個小女兒。我想到的是我要留給她們一個什么樣的世界。她們應該生活在一個只有一小撥人富有而一大撥人為了生存而必須每天掙扎的國家嗎？她們應該生活在一個依舊有種族歧視的國家嗎？生活在一個由于她們是女孩而不能享有與男孩同樣多機會的國家嗎？她們應該生活在一個由于我們不能與其他國家有效地合作而被世人所討厭的國家嗎？她們應該生活在一個由于我們對氣候所造成的不良影響而出現嚴重危機的世界嗎？

“我所深刻認識到的是，你如果不愿意為我們的孩子——所有我們的孩子，作出一丁點貢獻而留下一個更美好世界的話，生活就沒有多大價值。哪怕這很困難，哪怕所要做的工作有多艱巨，哪怕在我們一生中所能做到的還遠離目標甚遠。

“這就是我們做父親和做家長的最重大的責任。我們嘗試，我們希望，我們盡力把我們的房子建在一個最堅實的巖石上。風吹雨打時，讓風雨吹打房屋吧，我們堅信我們的主會領導我們，看著我們，保護著我們，帶領著祂的孩子穿過暴風雨的極度黑暗而走向更美好未來的光明。這就是今天父親節我為我們大家作的祈禱，也是我對我們國家將來所抱有的希望。原上帝保佑您和您們的孩子。謝謝大家。”

第三篇：奧巴馬父親節講話

奧巴馬在父親節的致詞 Hi, everybody.This Sunday is Father’s Day, and so I wanted to take a moment to talk about the most important job many of us will ever have – and that’s being a dad.大家好.本周日即將是父親節, 我想借此機會談談我們大家終將面臨的最最重要的工作: 做一個父親.Today we’re blessed to live in a world where technology allows us to connect instantly with just about anyone on the planet.But no matter how advanced we get, there will never be a substitute for the love and support and, most importantly, the presence of a parent in a child’s life.And in many ways, that’s uniquely true for fathers.今天我們很有幸生活在一個能瞬間可和地球上的任何一個人聯系的科技時代.但無論科技如何發達, 都沒有任何東西可以取代一個家長在孩子生活中的出現, 愛和支持.在許多方面, 對父親而言尤為如此.Being a good parent isn’t easy.It demands your constant attention, frequent sacrifice, and a healthy dose of patience.And nobody’s perfect.To this day, I’m still figuring out how to be a better husband to my wife and father to my kids.要做一個好的父母是不容易的.它要求你不停的注意力, 時常的犧牲, 和健康的耐心.然而, 沒有人是完美的.直到今天, 我仍在找尋如何才能做一個更好的丈夫和父親的途徑.Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that all our personal successes shine a little less brightly if we fail at family.That’s what matters most.When I look back on my life, I won’t be thinking about any particular legislation I passed or policy I promoted.I’ll be thinking about Michelle, and the journey we’ve been on together.I’ll be thinking about Sasha’s dance recitals and Malia’s tennis matches – about the conversations we’ve had and the quiet moments we’ve shared.I’ll be thinking about whether I did right by them, and whether they knew, every day, just how much they were loved.假如一路走來我學到了一件事的話, 那就是如果我們的家庭失敗, 我們的成就將黯然無光.家庭是最重要的.當我回首自己的生活, 我不會去想我所通過或推舉的任何一項立法, 但我會想我的太太和我們共同行走的路程.我會去想Sasha的舞蹈彩排和Malia的網球比賽, 以及我們之間的談話和共享的安靜時光.我會想我是否對他們所做是正確的, 他們是否每天都知道我是多么的愛他們.That’s what I think being a father is all about.And if we can do our best to be a source of comfort and encouragement to our kids;if we can show them unconditional love and help them grow into the people they were meant to be;then we will have succeeded.這就是我想的應該如何為人父.假如我們能盡全力為孩子們提供舒適和勇氣, 假如我們能向他們展示無條件的愛并幫助他們成為他們想成為的人, 那我們就成功了.Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, and have a great weekend.祝福每一個父親父親節快樂, 并過一個美好的周末。

第四篇：奧巴馬父親節英文講話

Hi, everybody.Sunday is Father's Day.If you haven't got Dad a gift yet, there's still time.Just barely.But the truth is, what we give our fathers can never match what our fathers give us.I know how important it is to have a dad in your life, because I grew up without my father around.I felt the weight of his absence.So for Michelle and our girls, I try every day to be the husband and father my family didn't have when I was young.And every chance I get, I

encourage fathers to get more involved in their children's lives, because what makes you a man isn't the ability to have a child – it's the courage to raise one.Still, over the past couple years, I've met with a lot of young people who don't have a father figure around.And while there's nothing that can replace a parent, any of us can do our part to be a mentor, a sounding board, a role model for a kid who needs one.Earlier this year, I launched an initiative called My Brother's Keeper – an

all-hands-on-deck effort to help more of our young men reach their full potential.And if you want to be a mentor to a young man in your community, you can find out how at

WhiteHouse.gov/MyBrothersKeeper.Now, when I launched this initiative, I said that government can't play the primary role in a young person's life.Taking responsibility for being a great parent or mentor is a choice that we, as individuals, have to make.No government

program can ever take the place of a parent's love.Still, as a country, there are ways we can help support dads and moms who make that choice.That's why, earlier this week, we brought working dads from across America to the White House to talk about the challenges they face.And in a few weeks, I'll hold the

first-ever White House Working Families Summit.We've still got too many workplace policies that belong in the 1950s, and it's time to bring them up to date for today's families, where oftentimes, both parents are working.Moms and dads deserve affordable child care, and time off to care for a sick parent or child without running into hardship.Women deserve equal pay for equal work – and at a time when more women are breadwinners for a family, that benefits men, too.And because no parent who works full-time should have to raise a family in poverty, it's time for

Congress to follow the lead of state after state, get on the bandwagon, and give America a raise.Dads work hard.So our country should do what we can to make sure their hard work pays off;to make sure life for them and their families is a little less stressful, and a little more secure, so they can be the dads their kids need them to be.Because there's nothing more precious in life than the time we spend with our children.There's no better feeling than knowing that we can be there for them, and provide for them, and help give them every shot at success.Let's make sure every dad who works hard and takes

responsibility has the chance to know that feeling, not just on one Sunday, but every day of the year.Thanks everybody, happy Father's Day, and have a great weekend.

第五篇：奧巴馬在父親節講話 (原文及翻譯)

奧巴馬在父親節講話 中英文對照稿

[align=center][size=5][color=black]此中文翻譯稿轉自譯言[/color][/size][/align][align=center][size=5][color=#ff0000][/color][/size][/align] [size=5][size=9pt][size=9pt]Good morning.It's good to be home on this Father's Day with my girls, and it's an honor to spend some time with all of you today in the house of our Lord.[/size][/size] [size=9pt][size=9pt][/size][/size] [/size][size=9pt][size=9pt][color=#ff6600][size=5][color=#ff6600]Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important.And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation.They are teachers and coaches.They are mentors and role models.They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]But if we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing – missing from too many lives and too many homes.They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men.And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]You and I know how true this is in the African-American community.We know that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled – doubled – since we were children.We know the statistics – that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime;nine times more likely to drop out of schools and twenty times more likely to end up in prison.They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home, or become teenage parents themselves.And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]How many times in the last year has this city lost a child at the hands of another child? How many times have our hearts stopped in the middle of the night with the sound of a gunshot or a siren? How many teenagers have we seen hanging around on street corners when they should be sitting in a classroom? How many are sitting in prison when they should be working, or at least looking for a job? How many in this generation are we willing to lose to poverty or violence or addiction? How many? [/color]

[color=#ff6600]Yes, we need more cops on the street.Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn't have them.Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more afterschool programs for our children.Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]But we also need families to raise our children.We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception.We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child – it's the courage to raise one.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]We need to help all the mothers out there who are raising these kids by themselves;the mothers who drop them off at school, go to work, pick up them up in the afternoon, work another shift, get dinner, make lunches, pay the bills, fix the house, and all the other things it takes both parents to do.So many of these women are doing a heroic job, but they need support.They need another parent.Their children need another parent.That's what keeps their foundation strong.It's what keeps the foundation of our country strong.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]I know what it means to have an absent father, although my circumstances weren't as tough as they are for many young people today.Even though my father left us when I was two years old, and I only knew him from the letters he wrote and the stories that my family told, I was luckier than most.I grew up in Hawaii, and had two wonderful grandparents from Kansas who poured everything they had into helping my mother raise my sister and me – who worked with her to teach us about love and respect and the obligations we have to one another.I screwed up more often than I should've, but I got plenty of second chances.And even though we didn't have a lot of money, scholarships gave me the opportunity to go to some of the best schools in the country.A lot of kids don't get these chances today.There is no margin for error in their lives.So my own story is different in that way.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]Still, I know the toll that being a single parent took on my mother – how she struggled at times to the pay bills;to give us the things that other kids had;to play all the roles that both parents are supposed to play.And I know the toll it took on me.So I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle – that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls;that if I could give them anything, I would give them that rock – that foundation – on which to build their lives.And that would be the greatest gift I could offer.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]I say this knowing that I have been an imperfect father – knowing that I have made mistakes and will continue to make more;wishing that I could be home for my girls and my wife more than I am right now.I say this knowing all of these things because even as we are imperfect, even as we face difficult circumstances, there are still certain lessons we must strive to live and learn as fathers – whether we are black or white;rich or poor;from the South Side or the wealthiest suburb.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]The first is setting an example of excellence for our children – because if we want to set high expectations for them, we've got to set high expectations for ourselves.It's great if you have a job;it's even better if you have a college degree.It's a wonderful thing if you are married and living in a home with your children, but don't just sit in the house and watch ―SportsCenter‖ all weekend long.That's why so many children are growing up in front of the television.As fathers and parents, we've got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework, and replace the video game or the remote control with a book once in awhile.That's how we build that foundation.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]We know that education is everything to our children's future.We know that they will no longer just compete for good jobs with children from Indiana, but children from India and China and all over the world.We know the work and the studying and the level of education that requires.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]You know, sometimes I'll go to an eighth-grade graduation and there's all that pomp and circumstance and gowns and flowers.And I think to myself, it's just eighth grade.To really compete, they need to graduate high school, and then they need to graduate college, and they probably need a graduate degree too.An eighth-grade education doesn't cut it today.Let's give them a handshake and tell them to get their butts back in the library![/color]

[color=#ff6600]It's up to us – as fathers and parents – to instill this ethic of excellence in our children.It's up to us to say to our daughters, don't ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit and reach for those goals.It's up to us to tell our sons, those songs on the radio may glorify violence, but in my house we live glory to achievement, self respect, and hard work.It's up to us to set these high expectations.And that means meeting those expectations ourselves.That means setting examples of excellence in our own lives.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]The second thing we need to do as fathers is pass along the va[/color][color=#ff6600]lue of empathy to our children.Not sympathy, but empathy – the ability to stand in somebody else's shoes;to look at the world through their eyes.Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in ―us,‖ that we forget about our obligations to one another.There's a culture in our society that says remembering these obligations is somehow soft – that we can't show weakness, and so therefore we can't show kindness.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]But our young boys and girls see that.They see when you are ignoring or mistreating your wife.They see when you are inconsiderate at home;or when you are distant;or when you are thinking only of yourself.And so it's no surprise when we see that behavior in our schools or on our streets.That's why we pass on the values of empathy and kindness to our children by living them.We need to show our kids that you're not strong by putting other people down – you're strong by lifting them up.That's our responsibility as fathers.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]And by the way – it's a responsibility that also extends to Washington.Because if fathers are doing their part;if they're taking our responsibilities seriously to be there for their children, and set high expectations for them, and instill in them a sense of excellence and empathy, then our government should meet them halfway.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]We should be making it easier for fathers who make responsible choices and harder for those who avoid them.We should get rid of the financial penalties we impose on married couples right now, and start making sure that every dime of child support goes directly to helping children instead of some bureaucrat.We should reward fathers who pay that child support with job training and job opportunities and a larger Earned Income Tax Credit that can help them pay the bills.We should expand programs where registered nurses visit expectant and new mothers and help them learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after – programs that have helped increase father involvement, women's employment, and children's readiness for school.We should help these new families care for their children by expanding maternity and paternity leave, and we should guarantee every worker more paid sick leave so they can stay home to take care of their child without losing their income.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]We should take all of these steps to build a strong foundation for our children.But we should also know that even if we do;even if we meet our obligations as fathers and parents;even if Washington does its part too, we will still face difficult challenges in our lives.There will still be days of struggle and heartache.The rains will still come and the winds will still blow.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]And that is why the final lesson we must learn as fathers is also the greatest gift we can pass on to our children – and that is the gift of hope.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]I'm not talking about an idle hope that's little more than blind optimism or willful ignorance of the problems we face.I'm talking about hope as that spirit inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting for us if we're willing to work for it and fight for it.If we are willing to believe.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]I was answering questions at a town hall meeting in Wisconsin the other day and a young man raised his hand, and I figured he'd ask about college tuition or energy or maybe the war in Iraq.But instead he looked at me very seriously and he asked, ―What does life mean to you?‖[/color]

[color=#ff6600]Now, I have to admit that I wasn't quite prepared for that one.I think I stammered for a little bit, but then I stopped and gave it some thought, and I said this:[/color]

[color=#ff6600]When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me – how do I make my way in the world, and how do I become successful and how do I get the things that I want.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]But now, my life revolves around my two little girls.And what I think about is what kind of world I'm leaving them.Are they living in a county where there's a huge gap between a few who are wealthy and a whole bunch of people who are struggling every day? Are they living in a county that is still divided by race? A country where, because they're girls, they don't have as much opportunity as boys do? Are they living in a country where we are hated around the world because we don't cooperate effectively with other nations? Are they living a world that is in grave danger because of what we've done to its climate? [/color]

[color=#ff6600]And what I've realized is that life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world.Even if it's difficult.Even if the work seems great.Even if we don't get very far in our lifetime.[/color]

[color=#ff6600]That is our ultimate responsibility as fathers and parents.We try.We hope.We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock.And when the winds come, and the rains fall, and they beat upon that house, we keep faith that our Father will be there to guide us, and watch over us, and protect us, and lead His children through the darkest of storms into light of a better day.That is my prayer for all of us on this Father's Day, and that is my hope for this country in the years ahead.May God Bless you and your children.Thank you.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]（開頭黑字體那一段沒有翻譯）[/b][/color] [/size][color=#000000] [/color]

[color=#ff6600] [/color][size=5][color=gray]―在我們建立我們生活所依附的巖石中，今天我們要記起來的是，最重要的巖石是家庭。我們須要認 識到并予以肯定的是，每位父親對這個基礎能起多么關鍵的作用。父親是教師和教練，他們是導師和生活角色的模范，是成功的榜樣，亦是老推動我們走向成功的 人。[/color]

[color=gray]―但如果我們坦誠的話，我們應該承認有太多的父親不在其位——不在太多人的生活里，不在太多的家里。他們置他們的責任于不顧，表現得像小男孩而不是男子漢。我們許許多多家庭的基礎也因此而變得更加薄弱了。[/color]

[color=gray]―你我都知道這種情況在非洲裔美國人的社會里多么真實。我們知道一半以上的黑人小孩住在單親家庭里，這個數字比我們童年時代高出 一倍。統計資料告訴我們：生活里沒有父親的孩子比較容易落入貧困或犯罪的可能性高出五倍；他們比較容易棄學的可能性高出九倍；比較容易關進監獄的可能性高 出二十倍。他們比較可能出現行為問題，比較可能離家出走，比較可能成為青春發育年齡期父母。由于父親的缺席，我們社會的基礎變得更加薄 弱。[/color]

[/size][size=5][color=gray]……

[/color] [color=gray]―但我們也需要家庭來撫育我們的子女。我們需要父親們能認識到做父親的責任并不終止于導致懷孕。我們需要他們認識到，不是有生孩子的能力，而是有撫養孩子的勇氣才配稱男子漢。[/color] [/size][size=5][color=gray] [/color] [color=gray]―我們需要幫助那些正在靠自己撫養孩子的母親。她們送孩子上學，去上班，下午接孩子回家，再上一次班，做飯和準備午餐飯盒，付帳 單，打點家務，以及種種需要雙親干的工作。許許多多的婦女正干著這些英勇偉大的工作，但她們需要支持啊。她們需要另一個家長。她們的孩子也需要另一個家 長。唯有如此他們才有牢靠的基礎，我們的國家也才有牢靠的基礎。[/color]

[color=gray]―我知道身邊沒有一個父親的苦處，當然我的處境沒有像今天許多年輕人的處境那么不幸。雖然我的父親在我兩歲時就離開了我們，而我 只從他所寫的信和我家庭講到他的故事中了解到他，但我比大多數無父的小孩都幸運。我在夏威夷長大，我有兩個來自堪薩斯州的外祖父母，他們盡他們的一切幫我 母親撫養我和我妹妹，也幫她教導我們對人要有愛心、尊重和有責任感。我做錯過許多不應做錯的事，但我獲得了許多改過自新的機會。雖然我們沒有很多錢，但獎 學金讓我有機會上我們國家一些最好的學校。今天很多小孩未能獲得這些機會。他們的生活中不容他們有犯錯誤而改過自新的機會。所以在這一點上我個人的故事與 他們是不同的。[/color]

[color=gray]―盡管如此，我了解我母親作為一個單親所要付出的艱辛：有時候她吃力掙扎著清還賬單；掙扎著給我們那些別的孩子有的東西；掙扎著 扮演應該由雙親扮演的角色。我也知道因此我所要付出的艱辛。所以我多年前已下定決心要打破這個惡性循環——我下定決心，如果我一生中有何成就的話，我要作 為我女兒的好父親；如果我能給予她們任何東西的話，我要給她們那個她們能建立她們生活的巖石——那個基礎。那將是我所能給予她們的最貴重的禮 物。[/color]

[color=gray]―我在講這些話時，我心里明白我是一個缺點多多的父親——我知道我犯過錯誤并且將仍不斷地犯更多錯誤；我希望我能比現在有更多時 間在家陪伴我女兒和太太，可是又做不到。我心里明白這一切，因為縱然我們缺點多多，縱然我們困難重重，有某些教訓是我們為父的應該盡可能地去親歷和總結的 ——不管我們是黑人或白人；富人或窮人；來自―南邊‖區（芝加哥南部較窮的住宅區）或來自富裕的郊區。[/color]

[color=gray]―第一個教訓是給我們的子女做出一個絕佳的榜樣，因為如果我們對他們抱有很高的期望，我們對自己也應該抱有同樣高的期望。你有一 個職業是件好事；有一個大學文憑更好一些。結了婚而又能跟孩子住在一起是再好不過了，但卻不能只坐在家里而整個周末看電視的―體育中心‖節目。許多孩子就 是因為有這樣的[/color][/size][url=http://www.tmdps.cn/articles/tag/父親] [size=5][color=gray]父親[/color][/size][/url][size=5][color=gray]而在電視機前成長起 來的。作為父親和家長，我們應該花更多時間在他們身上，幫他們完成作業，時不時讓他們拋開電腦游戲或遙控器而捧上一本書。這就是我們要建立那個基礎所應做 的事。

[/color] [color=gray]―我們明白學校教育是孩子未來的關鍵。我們明白他們不再是只[/color][/size][size=5] [color=gray]跟印地安那州的孩子競爭獲取未來的好職業，而是跟印度、跟中國、跟世界各地的孩子競爭。我們明白為此所需的努力、學習和教育水平。

[/color] [color=gray]―你知道嗎，有時候我去參加八年級（初中）畢業典禮，那里張燈結彩、花團錦簇、學生一個個禮服盛裝。我在想，那只不過初中畢業 唄。要想真正參與競爭，他們必須高中畢業，然后必須大學畢業，也許還得拿一張研究生文憑呢。在今天，只完成初中教育是競爭不過人的。讓我們握一握他們的 手，叫他們把屁股移到圖書館的座椅上吧！[/color]

[color=gray]―如果我們要把這種追求卓越的精神輸進我們孩子腦里的話，就得靠作為父親和家長的我們了。要靠我們告訴我們的女孩，別讓你的自身 價值被電視上的形象所操縱影響，因為我要你能做你最大的夢，去為之而奮斗。要靠我們告訴我們的男孩，收音機里的歌曲有美化暴力的可能，但在我家里我們的生 活是為了美化成就、美化自尊、美化辛勤的勞動。讓他們知道我們對他們抱有這些期望就全靠我們。這也就是說，我們自己也得達到這些期望的水平，我們在生活中 也要做個追求卓越的榜樣。[/color]

[color=gray]―第二個教訓是，我們為父所應做的是傳給我們孩子對人應有同感empathy的人生價值。不是同情，而是同感——即能設身處地地 為人著想，將心比心；能透過別人的眼觀世界。有時候我們是那么容易地執著于―我們‖，而忘了我們相互之間所應承擔的義務。我們的社會有這么一種文化（流行 的看法），認為牢記我們相互之間所應承擔的義務是一種軟弱的表現，因此我們不應該對人表示關愛。[/color]

[color=gray]―但我們年輕的男孩女孩都會觀察到這一切。他們會觀察到你不理會或虐待你的妻子；會觀察到你在家不為別人著想的表現；會觀察到你 的冷漠無情；會觀察到你只為一己之私著想。所以，我們在學校或在街上會看到這些同樣的行為表現是不足為奇的。這就是為什么我們必須以身作則來把同感和關愛 這些人生價值傳給我們的孩子。我們須要給他們做出這樣的榜樣——強者不是把別人擊倒而是把別人扶起來，這才是強者。這就是我們為父的所應負起的責任。‖[/color]

[/size][size=5][color=gray]……

接下去[/color][/size][url=http://www.tmdps.cn/articles/tag/奧巴馬][size=5] [color=gray]奧巴馬[/color][/size][/url][size=5][color=gray]談到政府應如何幫助盡責的父親和所 應采取的措施。然后他接著說道：

―我們應該采取這一切措施來為我們的孩子建立一個堅實的基礎。但我們也必須明白，即使我們做到這一切，既使我們做[/color][/size] [url=http://www.tmdps.cn/articles/tag/父親][size=5][color=gray]父親 [/color][/size][/url][size=5][color=gray]和家長的盡了我們的義務，即使華盛頓政府履其職責，我們在生活中仍 然會碰到許多艱難的挑戰。人將仍會有掙扎與痛苦的日子。風仍會在吹，雨仍會在打。

[/color] [color=gray]―因此最后我們為父的應總結的教訓，也是我們可以傳給我們孩子最貴重的禮物，就是希望這個禮物。[/color]

[color=gray]―我講的希望不是空談的希望——那種類似盲目的樂觀主義或對問題不加考慮的盲干。我講的希望是那種寄托于我們內心的精神——即堅信在逆境中我們只要愿意為之努力而奮斗，就會有更好的事在等待著我們。只要我們有這個信念啊。[/color]

[color=gray]―前一天我在威斯康星州的一個市政廳座談會上回答問題。有一個年輕人舉起手，我猜想他想問的是有關大學學費、能源問題或者也許有關伊拉克戰爭。但他不問這些，卻很嚴肅地瞪著我問道：?生活對你有何意義？‘[/color]

[color=gray]―欸，我必須承認我對這個問題毫無準備。我當時開始回答得有點結巴，然后我停下來，想了一會兒就說道：[/color]

[color=gray]―我年輕的時候，我想到的生活就是關于我——我如何為自己在世界闖出一條路來，我如何取得成功，以及我如何獲得我所要的東西。[/color]

[color=gray]―但現在，我的生活圍繞著我的兩個小女兒。我想到的是我要留給她們一個什么樣的世界。她們應該生活在一個只有一小撥人富有而一大 撥人為了生存而必須每天掙扎的國家嗎？她們應該生活在一個依舊有種族歧視的國家嗎？生活在一個由于她們是女孩而不能享有與男孩同樣多機會的國家嗎？她們應 該生活在一個由于我們不能與其他國家有效地合作而被世人所討厭的國家嗎？她們應該生活在一個由于我們對氣候所造成的不良影響而出現嚴重危機的世界嗎？ [/color]

[color=gray]―我所深刻認識到的是，你如果不愿意為我們的孩子——所有我們的孩子，作出一丁點貢獻而留下一個更美好世界的話，生活就沒有多大價值。哪怕這很困難，哪怕所要做的工作有多艱巨，哪怕在我們一生中所能做到的還遠離目標甚遠。[/color]

[color=gray]―這就是我們做父親和做家長的最重大的責任。我們嘗試，我們希望，我們盡力把我們的房子建在一個最堅實的巖石上。風吹雨打時，讓 風雨吹打房屋吧，我們堅信我們的主會領導我們，看著我們，保護著我們，帶領著祂的孩子穿過暴風雨的極度黑暗而走向更美好未來的光明。這就是今天 [/color][/size][url=http://www.tmdps.cn/articles/tag/父親][size=5] [color=gray]父親[/color][/size][/url][size=5][color=gray]節我為我們大家作的祈禱，也是我對我 們國家將來所抱有的希望。原上帝保佑您和您們的孩子。謝謝大家。‖[/color] [/size][color=#ff6600] [/color]

[size=5]At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus closes by saying, ―Whoever hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.‖ [Matthew 7: 24-25]

Here at Apostolic, you are blessed to worship in a house that has been founded on the rock of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.But it is also built on another rock, another foundation – and that rock is Bishop Arthur Brazier.In forty-eight years, he has built this congregation from just a few hundred to more than 20,000 strong – a congregation that, because of his leadership, has braved the fierce winds and heavy rains of violence and poverty;joblessness and hopelessness.Because of his work and his ministry, there are more graduates and fewer gang members in the neighborhoods surrounding this church.There are more homes and fewer homeless.There is more community and less chaos because Bishop Brazier continued the march for justice that he began by Dr.King's side all those years ago.He is the reason this house has stood tall for half a century.And on this Father's Day, it must make him proud to know that the man now charged with keeping its foundation strong is his son and your new pastor, Reverend Byron Brazier.