正文
What I Want for You — and Every Child in America
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/14/2009
Source: beixing
NextTuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On thishistoric occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also adevoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for hischildren. Here, he shares his letter to them.
Dear Malia and Sasha,
Iknow that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on thecampaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eatingall sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have letyou have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you andMom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, itdoesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I'vemissed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little moreabout why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When Iwas a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make myway in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. Butthen the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity andmischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light upmy day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem soimportant anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life wasthe joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't countfor much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity forhappiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ranfor President: because of what I want for you and for every child inthis nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy oftheir potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instillin them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them tohave the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. AndI want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefitslike health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids andretire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries ofdiscovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventionsthat improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And Iwant us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides ofrace and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the bestin each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men and womeninto war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but whenwe do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, thatwe try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, andthat we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe.And I want every child to understand that the blessings these braveAmericans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of beinga citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That wasthe lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age,reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence andtelling me about the men and women who marched for equality becausethey believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should meansomething.
She helped me understand that America is great notbecause it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and thatthe unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's acharge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each newgeneration to what we know America should be.
I hope both of youwill take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working togive others the chances you've had. Not just because you have anobligation to give something back to this country that has given ourfamily so much-although you do have that obligation. But because youhave an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch yourwagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your truepotential.
These are the things I want for you-to grow up in aworld with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond yourreach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will helpbuild that world. And I want every child to have the same chances tolearn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's whyI've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud ofboth of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am gratefulevery day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare tostart our new life together in the White House.
Love, Dad
轉載：奧巴馬給女兒的信：夢想不受限製，無事不能成就
來源：北新
美國新當選總統巴拉克·奧巴馬在即將上任之際，寫了封公開信給兩個尚未成年的女兒，這封信發表在《大觀》雜誌（Parade）周末彩版增刊上。全文翻譯如下：
親愛的瑪麗亞和莎莎：
我知道這2年你們倆隨我一路競選都有過不少樂子，野餐、遊行、逛州博覽會，吃了各種或許我和你媽不該讓你們吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你們倆和你媽的日子，有時候並不愜意。新來的小狗雖然令你們興奮，卻無法彌補我們不在一起的所有時光。我明白這2年我錯過的太多了，今天我要再向你們說說為何我決定帶領我們一家走上這趟旅程。
當我還年輕的時候，我認為生活就該繞著我轉：我如何在這世上得心應手，成功立業，得到我想要的。後來，你們倆進入了我的世界，帶來的種種好奇、淘氣和微笑，總能填滿我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之間，我為自己譜寫的偉大計畫顯得不再那麽重要了。我很快便發現，我在你們生命中看到的快樂，就是我自己生命中最大的快樂。而我也同時體認到，如果我不能確保你們此生能夠擁有追求幸福和自我實現的一切機會，我自己的生命也沒多大價值。總而言之，我的女兒，這就是我競選總統的原因：我要讓你們倆和這個國家的每一個孩子，都能擁有我想要給他們的東西。
我要讓所有兒童都在能夠發掘他們潛能的學校就讀；這些學校要能挑戰他們，激勵他們，並灌輸他們對身處的這個世界的好奇心。我要他們有機會上大學，那怕他們的父母並不富有。而且，我要他們能找到好的工作：薪酬高還附帶健康保險的工作，讓他們有時間陪孩子、並且能帶著尊嚴退休的工作。
我要大家向發現的極限挑戰，讓你在有生之年能夠看見改善我們生活、使這個行星更幹淨、更安全的新科技和發明。我也要大家向自己的人際界限挑戰，跨越使我們看不到對方長處的種族、地域、性別和宗教樊籬。
有時候為了保護我們的國家，我們不得不把青年男女派到戰場或其他危險的地方，然而當我們這麽做的時候，我要確保師出有名，我們盡了全力以和平方式化解與他人的爭執，也想盡了一切辦法保障男女官兵的安全。我要每個孩子都明白，這些勇敢的美國人在戰場上捍衛的福祉是無法平白得到的：在享有作為這個國家公民的偉大特權之際，重責大任也隨之而來。
這正是我在你們這年紀時，外婆想要教我的功課，她把獨立宣言開頭幾行念給我聽，告訴我有一些男女為了爭取平等挺身而出遊行抗議，因為他們認為2個世紀前白紙黑字寫下來的這些句子，不應隻是空話。
她讓我了解到，美國所以偉大，不是因為它完美，而是因為我們可以不斷讓它變得更好，而讓它更好的未竟工作，就落在我們每個人的身上。這是我們交給孩子們的責任，每過一代，美國就更接近我們的理想。
我希望你們倆都願接下這個工作，看到不對的事要想辦法改正，努力幫助別人獲得你們有過的機會。這並非隻因國家給了我們一家這麽多，你們也當有所回饋，雖然你們的確有這個義務，而是因為你們對自己負有義務。因為，唯有在把你的馬車套在更大的東西上時，你才會明白自己真正的潛能有多大。
這些是我想要讓你們得到的東西：在一個夢想不受限製、無事不能成就的世界中長大，長成具慈悲心、堅持理想，能幫忙打造這樣一個世界的女性。我要每個孩子都有和你們一樣的機會，去學習、夢想、成長、發展。這就是我帶領我們一家展開這趟大冒險的原因。
我深以你倆為榮，你們永遠不會明白我有多愛你們，在我們準備一同在白宮開始新生活之際，我沒有一天不為你們的忍耐、沉穩、明理和幽默而心存感激。
愛你們的爸爸
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/14/2009
Source: beixing
NextTuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On thishistoric occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also adevoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for hischildren. Here, he shares his letter to them.
Dear Malia and Sasha,
Iknow that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on thecampaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eatingall sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have letyou have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you andMom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, itdoesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I'vemissed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little moreabout why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When Iwas a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make myway in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. Butthen the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity andmischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light upmy day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem soimportant anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life wasthe joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't countfor much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity forhappiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ranfor President: because of what I want for you and for every child inthis nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy oftheir potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instillin them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them tohave the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. AndI want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefitslike health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids andretire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries ofdiscovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventionsthat improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And Iwant us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides ofrace and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the bestin each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men and womeninto war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but whenwe do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, thatwe try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, andthat we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe.And I want every child to understand that the blessings these braveAmericans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of beinga citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That wasthe lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age,reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence andtelling me about the men and women who marched for equality becausethey believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should meansomething.
She helped me understand that America is great notbecause it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and thatthe unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's acharge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each newgeneration to what we know America should be.
I hope both of youwill take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working togive others the chances you've had. Not just because you have anobligation to give something back to this country that has given ourfamily so much-although you do have that obligation. But because youhave an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch yourwagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your truepotential.
These are the things I want for you-to grow up in aworld with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond yourreach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will helpbuild that world. And I want every child to have the same chances tolearn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's whyI've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud ofboth of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am gratefulevery day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare tostart our new life together in the White House.
Love, Dad
轉載：奧巴馬給女兒的信：夢想不受限製，無事不能成就
來源：北新
美國新當選總統巴拉克·奧巴馬在即將上任之際，寫了封公開信給兩個尚未成年的女兒，這封信發表在《大觀》雜誌（Parade）周末彩版增刊上。全文翻譯如下：
親愛的瑪麗亞和莎莎：
我知道這2年你們倆隨我一路競選都有過不少樂子，野餐、遊行、逛州博覽會，吃了各種或許我和你媽不該讓你們吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你們倆和你媽的日子，有時候並不愜意。新來的小狗雖然令你們興奮，卻無法彌補我們不在一起的所有時光。我明白這2年我錯過的太多了，今天我要再向你們說說為何我決定帶領我們一家走上這趟旅程。
當我還年輕的時候，我認為生活就該繞著我轉：我如何在這世上得心應手，成功立業，得到我想要的。後來，你們倆進入了我的世界，帶來的種種好奇、淘氣和微笑，總能填滿我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之間，我為自己譜寫的偉大計畫顯得不再那麽重要了。我很快便發現，我在你們生命中看到的快樂，就是我自己生命中最大的快樂。而我也同時體認到，如果我不能確保你們此生能夠擁有追求幸福和自我實現的一切機會，我自己的生命也沒多大價值。總而言之，我的女兒，這就是我競選總統的原因：我要讓你們倆和這個國家的每一個孩子，都能擁有我想要給他們的東西。
我要讓所有兒童都在能夠發掘他們潛能的學校就讀；這些學校要能挑戰他們，激勵他們，並灌輸他們對身處的這個世界的好奇心。我要他們有機會上大學，那怕他們的父母並不富有。而且，我要他們能找到好的工作：薪酬高還附帶健康保險的工作，讓他們有時間陪孩子、並且能帶著尊嚴退休的工作。
我要大家向發現的極限挑戰，讓你在有生之年能夠看見改善我們生活、使這個行星更幹淨、更安全的新科技和發明。我也要大家向自己的人際界限挑戰，跨越使我們看不到對方長處的種族、地域、性別和宗教樊籬。
有時候為了保護我們的國家，我們不得不把青年男女派到戰場或其他危險的地方，然而當我們這麽做的時候，我要確保師出有名，我們盡了全力以和平方式化解與他人的爭執，也想盡了一切辦法保障男女官兵的安全。我要每個孩子都明白，這些勇敢的美國人在戰場上捍衛的福祉是無法平白得到的：在享有作為這個國家公民的偉大特權之際，重責大任也隨之而來。
這正是我在你們這年紀時，外婆想要教我的功課，她把獨立宣言開頭幾行念給我聽，告訴我有一些男女為了爭取平等挺身而出遊行抗議，因為他們認為2個世紀前白紙黑字寫下來的這些句子，不應隻是空話。
她讓我了解到，美國所以偉大，不是因為它完美，而是因為我們可以不斷讓它變得更好，而讓它更好的未竟工作，就落在我們每個人的身上。這是我們交給孩子們的責任，每過一代，美國就更接近我們的理想。
我希望你們倆都願接下這個工作，看到不對的事要想辦法改正，努力幫助別人獲得你們有過的機會。這並非隻因國家給了我們一家這麽多，你們也當有所回饋，雖然你們的確有這個義務，而是因為你們對自己負有義務。因為，唯有在把你的馬車套在更大的東西上時，你才會明白自己真正的潛能有多大。
這些是我想要讓你們得到的東西：在一個夢想不受限製、無事不能成就的世界中長大，長成具慈悲心、堅持理想，能幫忙打造這樣一個世界的女性。我要每個孩子都有和你們一樣的機會，去學習、夢想、成長、發展。這就是我帶領我們一家展開這趟大冒險的原因。
我深以你倆為榮，你們永遠不會明白我有多愛你們，在我們準備一同在白宮開始新生活之際，我沒有一天不為你們的忍耐、沉穩、明理和幽默而心存感激。
愛你們的爸爸
評論
目前還沒有任何評論
登錄後才可評論.
