小布什：差生也能当总统

什么？差生也能当总统？是的，你没听错，美国前总统小布什在南方卫理公会大学毕业典礼上是这么说的。这是他卸任后首次出席大学毕业典礼并发表演讲，整场演讲幽默风趣，同时不乏励志之语，下面就让我们一起来看看。

节选一

Thank you. Thank you very much. President Turner， thanks. Members of the Board of Trustees， Provost Ludden， faculty， staff， distinguished guests， parents， and-most importantly-the Class of 2015， I（Applause.）… I thank you for your warm welcome， and I appreciate the invitation to be with you.

You know， when I mentioned this speech to some pals， they were surprised I was going to give it. （Laughter.） I havent given a commencement address since leaving office. You know， my decision is quite practical. So I got a call from my landlord- （laughter）-Gerald Turner. （Laughter.）Rather than raising the rent or threatening to with hold our security deposit-（laughter）-I wasrelieved to hear President Turner ask if I believed in free speech. （Applause.） I said yeah. He said，“Perfect. Heres your chance to give one.” （Laughter and applause.）

謝谢，非常感谢！泰纳校长，谢谢你。理事会成员们、教务长勒登、教职员工们、工作人员们、嘉宾们、家长们，以及最重要的，2015届毕业生们，我（鼓掌）……我感谢你们的热情欢迎，很荣幸被邀请来与你们共处这段时光。

我和我的朋友们提到这次演讲时，他们都感到很惊讶。（笑声）自从卸任以来，我还没有发表过毕业演讲。我决定来演讲的原因很实际，我接到了房东的电话——（笑声）——杰拉德·泰纳。（笑声）我心想他是不是要涨租金或是要扣住我们的押金呢？——（笑声）——还好，泰纳校长只是问我是否相信言论自由，我松了口气。（掌声）我说信啊，他说： “那太好了，那你就来我这里免费演讲一次吧。”（笑声和掌声）

小编讲解：关于决定来演讲的原因，小布什解释得风趣幽默。这里有两个表达值得一提，一个是pal，意思是“朋友，伙伴，哥们儿”，这是个非常口语化的词;另一个是be relieved to，意思是“（听到，看到，发现）……时松了口气，如释重负”。

例如：The words all over the street. Lynne is gonna give you a promotion，pal.

消息已经传开了。琳恩要给你升职，朋友。

Shes relieved to know that the flood has been controlled。

得知洪水已经得到控制，她松了口气。

节选二

Most of all， I congratulate the members of the Class of 2015. You worked hard to reach this milestone. You leave with life long friends and fond memories. You will always remember how much you enjoyed the right to buy a required campus meal plan. （Laughter.） Youll remember your frequent battles with the Park ‘N Pony Office. （Laughter.） And you may or may not remember those productive nights at the Barley House. （Laughter and applause.）

You were founding members of the mighty SMU Mob， bouncing like mad and watching in wonder as your then-Student Body President， Senor Lobster-（laughter）-danced with joy afierall those Pony victories right here in Moody. （Applause.） And youll think back to those carefree fallgame days on the Boulevard-though I dont recall seeing too many of you in the football stadium.（Laughter.）

To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors， awards， and distinctions， I say， “well done.” And as l like to tell the “C” students： You， too， can be President. （Laughter andapplause.）

最重要的，我要祝贺2015届的毕业生们，你们为到达这一里程碑付出了努力。你们将带着持续终生的友谊和多彩的记忆离开，你们会记得曾经有多享受学校的强制饮食套餐。（笑声）你们会记得与车辆停泊办公室之间三天两头的掐架。（笑声）你们或许还会记得酒吧里那些成绩斐然的夜晚。（笑声和掌声）

你们是强大的南方卫理公会大学匪帮的创始成员，曾发疯似地跳来跳去，目瞪口呆地看着你们当时的学生会主席西纳·罗伯斯特在解决了车位问题后兴奋地跳舞。（掌声）你们会回想起秋季赛季那些无忧无虑的日子——虽然我不记得在体育场见过你们多少人。（笑声）

对于荣誉满载、获奖众多、才华横溢的毕业生们，我要说： “干得漂亮！”对于得了C的学生们，我也要说！你们也可以当总统。（掌声和笑声）

得C的差生们也可以当总统，此话出自小布什之口，可谓是现身说法了。演讲中提到的a required campus meal plan是指美国大学的用餐计划。每所大学所提供的用餐计划各不相同，和我们的学生饭卡类似，不过他们是按用餐顿数算的，有一周10顿的，也有一周14顿的，也有不限次数的，学生可以自己选，然后往饭卡里相应充值，每吃完一顿减少一次使用权。另外，bounce一词的意思是“跳;弹;反弹”。

例如：The ball bounced off the wall.

球從墙上弹了回来。

She bounced into tha room.

他蹦蹦跳跳地进了房间。

节选三

You， too， will be called at some point. The question， as Mark aptly and artfully laid out，is：Will you be optimistic and hopeful， or pessimistic and cynical？ Here are three reasons why you should be optimistic and hopeful.

One， you are graduating from a great university. Your SMU degree will open the door to a wide variety of career options. Millions will never have had this opportunity. SMU has laid afoundation so you can reason， and continue to learn through out your life. It has given you the tools to be productive citizens.

One of the great strengths of America is our active public square. Issues are influenced by the will of the people. That is why an educated citizenry is so important to the success of ourcountry. As SMU graduates， you are well-equipped to participate in these vital debates. My hopeis that you speak out on the issues that matter to you， and participate in your Nations civic life ascitizens， not spectators. Youll come to learn that who you are is more important than what you have-and that you have responsibilities to your fellow citizens， your country， and your family. By taking part in American democracy， you will make our country stronger.

Secondly， you are blessed to live in the greatest Nation-ever. （Applause.） Here you canstrive and succeed as far as you dare to dream. It says something about our country that millions around the world are willing to leave their homes and families and risk everything to come here and realize the American dream. Their pursuit of that dream invigorates our national soul. Itrenews our countrys character. And it adds vitality to our culture.

在某个时刻，你们也会受到召唤。问题是正如Mark恰当而巧妙地描述的那样你们到时是会积极乐观、满怀希望还是消极悲观、愤世嫉俗？你们有三个原因应该积极乐观且充满希望。

一、你们毕业于一所伟大的大学。它授予你们的学位会为你们打开各种各样的职业选择之门。很多人都没有这样的机会。南卫大为你们打下了这样一个基础，让你们可以明辨事理，可以继续学习终生，可以成为一个有贡献的公民。

美国的一大优点在于我们积极的民主制度，事情受民众意志的影响。因此，受教育的民众对我们国家的成功来说至关重要。作为南卫大的毕业生，你们有足够的能力参与这些重要的讨论。我希望你们能在那些与你们息息相关的事情上发声，作为公民积极参与国家政治生活，不要袖手旁观。你最终会意识到自己的身份比自己的所得更重要，会意识到自己对其他公民、国家和家庭的责任。通过参与美国民主，你们会使我们的国家更强大。

二、你们有幸生活在有史以来最伟大的国家里。（掌声）在这，只要敢于梦想，你们就可以去努力奋斗，就有成功的可能。全世界有几百万人告别家乡、告别家人，赌上一切来到这里，实现美国梦。他们对梦想的追求鼓舞了我们的国家灵魂，重塑了我们的国家性格，也增添了我们的文化的活力。在某个时刻，你们也会受到召唤。问题是你们会乐观而充满希望地面对还是悲观而愤世嫉俗地面对呢？小布什在这里问的是南卫大的毕业生，其实这个问题我们也应该问问自己。我们是否做好了准备能乐观且充满希望的面对召唤呢？这里还有两个词组值得一提：一个是open the door to，意思是“打开了通向……的门，给……的机会”;另一个是come to do sth.，表示“逐渐，慢慢地，终于”。

例如：The talk opened the door to a peaceful solution.

这次会谈打开了和平解决之门。

She comes to realize that her master will never forgive her.

她渐渐意识到她的师父永远不会原谅她。

节选四

As you serve others， you can inspire others. Ive been inspired by the examples of many selfless servants. Winston Churchill， a leader of courage and resolve， inspired me during my Presidency-and， for that matter， in the post-presidency. Like Churchill， I now paint. （Laughter.）Unlike Churchill， the painting isnt worth much without the signature. （Laughter.）

In 1941， he gave a speech to the students of his old school during Britains most trying times in World WarmIt wasnt too long， and it is well-remembered. Prime Minister Churchill urged，“Never give in… in nothing， great or small， large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

I hope youll remember this advice. But theres a lesser-known passage from that speech that I also want to share with you：

“These are not dark days. These are great days. The greatest our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed， each of us according to our stations， to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.”

When Churchill uttered these words， many had lost hope in Great Britains chance for survival against the Nazis. Many doubted the future of freedom. Today， some doubt Americasfuture， and they say our best days are behind us. I say， given our strengths-one of which is abright new generation like you-these are not dark days. These are great days.

帮助别人，你同时也可以激励别人。我一直被很多无私的行善者启示。温斯顿·丘吉尔，一位勇敢坚定的领导者，在我执政时一直启示着我，在卸任后也是如此。像丘吉尔一样，我现在也画画。（笑声）但和丘吉尔不同的是，我的画在没有签名的时候不值钱。（笑声）

1941年，他在英国二战最艰难的时期给他母校的学生做了一次演讲。演讲不长，但令人印象深刻。首相丘吉尔呼吁道： “永远不要放弃……任何事情，无论大小，都不要放弃。除非为荣誉、善意，否则永不言弃。”

我希望你们能记住这个建议。我还想和你们分享那个演讲中一段知名度较低的话：

“这不是黑暗的时代，这是伟大的时代，是我们国家所经历过的最伟大的時代。我们必须感谢上帝，允许我们所有的人在我们历史中值得纪念的光辉岁月里有所作为。”

当丘吉尔说出这些话时，很多人都已经失去了对英国在反纳粹战争中胜利的希望。很多人都怀疑着自由的未来。今天，有人质疑美国的未来。他们说我们最辉煌的时期已经过去。我却认为，有着像你们这样光明的新一代人将会是我们的优势所在。这不是黑暗的时代，这是伟大的时代。

小编讲解：这不是黑暗的时代，而是伟大的时代。即便身处最艰难的时刻，丘吉尔也能说出这样的话，不得不说的确是很激励人心的。这里“说出”一词用的是“utter”。

例如：He couldnt utter a word.

他一句话也说不出来。

I didnt know who first uttered the truth.

我不知道是谁先道出了真相。