米歇尔.奥巴马在DNC美国民主党代表大会的演讲

Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.

Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.

And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.

I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.

I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed 1 to keep teaching without pay.

I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...driving for hours to bail 2 out a flooded town.

And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families...in wounded warriors 3 who tell me they're not just going to walk again, they're going to run, and they're going to run marathons...in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, "...I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do."

Every day, the people I meet inspire me...every day, they make me proud...every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.

Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege...but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we'd begun.

While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country...and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President...like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.

How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight 4?

How would they feel being uprooted 5 from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known?

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys...Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house...and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted 6 mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.

And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...I deeply loved the man I had built that life with...and I didn't want that to change if he became President.

I loved Barack just the way he was.

You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted 7 out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door...he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.

But when Barack started telling me about his family – that's when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.

You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable – their unconditional 8 love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.

My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.

And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.

But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop 9 himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.

And when he returned home after a long day's work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him...watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.

But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work...he and my mom were determined 10 to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.

And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.

But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.

And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.

He was so proud to be sending his kids to college...and he made sure we never missed a registration 11 deadline because his check was late.

You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.

Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life – being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.

And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.

Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.

Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank...and she moved quickly up the ranks...but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.

And for years, men no more qualified 12 than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.

But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus...arriving at work before anyone else...giving her best without complaint or regret.

And she would often tell Barack, "So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters."

Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.

They didn't begrudge 13 anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.

They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.

That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.

We learned about dignity and decency 14 – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...that helping 15 others means more than just getting ahead yourself.

We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...that you don't take shortcuts 16 or play by your own set of rules...and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.

We learned about gratitude 17 and humility 18 – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors 19 who kept our school clean...and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.

That's who we are.

And standing 20 before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.

Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are.

You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.

And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer...the judgment 21 calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin 22 for error.

And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.

But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.

So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.

He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.

That's why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.

That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto 23 industry back on its feet.

That's how he brought our economy from the brink 24 of collapse 25 to creating jobs again – jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.

When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.

He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.

He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine...our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick...and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.

And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care...that's what my husband stands for.

When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could've attended college without financial aid.

And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.

We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.

That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill 26 their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.

So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political – they're personal.

Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.

He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.

Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it...and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.

And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway 27 of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.

So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.

He's the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work...because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.

He's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.

That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.

That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched 28 over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.

The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.

I see the concern in his eyes...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, "You won't believe what these folks are going through, Michelle...it's not right. We've got to keep working to fix this. We've got so much more to do."

I see how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.

And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago...even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.

I love that he's never forgotten how he started.

I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard – especially when it's hard.

I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as "us" and "them" – he doesn't care whether you're a Democrat 29, a Republican, or none of the above...he knows that we all love our country...and he's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter 30 and the noise.

Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.

And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.

But eventually we get there, we always do.

We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, "I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will."

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing 31, and steadfast 32 love...because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.

So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming – or even impossible – let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation...it's who we are as Americans...it's how this country was built.

And if our parents and grandparents could toil 33 and struggle for us...if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button...then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.

And if so many brave men and women could wear our country's uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights...then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights...surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.

If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores...if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote...if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time...if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream...and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love...then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.

Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.

That is what has made my story, and Barack's story, and so many other American stories possible.

And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady...and not just as a wife.

You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still "mom-in-chief."

My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.

But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what's best for our girls.

Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters...if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy 34 of their promise...if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility – that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it...then we must work like never before...and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward...my husband, our President, President Barack Obama.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

点击收听单词发音  






1
vowed

  
 


起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）


参考例句：





He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。












2
bail

  
 


v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人


参考例句：





One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。












3
warriors

  
 


武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )


参考例句：





I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。












4
spotlight

  
 


n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目


参考例句：





This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。












5
uprooted

  
 


v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园


参考例句：





Many people were uprooted from their homes by the flood. 水灾令许多人背井离乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
The hurricane blew with such force that trees were uprooted. 飓风强烈地刮着，树都被连根拔起了。 来自《简明英汉词典》












6
exhausted

  
 


adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的


参考例句：





It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。












7
rusted

  
 


v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 )


参考例句：





I can't get these screws out; they've rusted in. 我无法取出这些螺丝，它们都锈住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
My bike has rusted and needs oil. 我的自行车生锈了，需要上油。 来自《简明英汉词典》












8
unconditional

  
 


adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的


参考例句：





The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。












9
prop

  
 


vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山


参考例句：





A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。












10
determined

  
 


adj.坚定的；有决心的


参考例句：





I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。












11
registration

  
 


n.登记，注册，挂号


参考例句：





Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？












12
qualified

  
 


adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的


参考例句：





He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。












13
begrudge

  
 


vt.吝啬，羡慕


参考例句：





I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。
We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。












14
decency

  
 


n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重


参考例句：





His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。












15
helping

  
 


n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的


参考例句：





The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。












16
shortcuts

  
 


n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草）


参考例句：





In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说，专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓












17
gratitude

  
 


adj.感激，感谢


参考例句：





I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。












18
humility

  
 


n.谦逊，谦恭


参考例句：





Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。












19
janitors

  
 


n.看门人( janitor的名词复数 )；看管房屋的人；锅炉工


参考例句：





The janitors were always kicking us out. 守卫总是将～踢出去。 来自互联网
My aim is to be one of the best janitors in the world. 我的目标是要成为全世界最好的守门人。 来自互联网












20
standing

  
 


n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的


参考例句：





After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。












21
judgment

  
 


n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见


参考例句：





The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。












22
margin

  
 


n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘


参考例句：





We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。












23
auto

  
 


n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车


参考例句：





Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。












24
brink

  
 


n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿


参考例句：





The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。












25
collapse

  
 


vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷


参考例句：





The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。












26
fulfill

  
 


vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意


参考例句：





If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。












27
doorway

  
 


n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径


参考例句：





They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。












28
hunched

  
 


（常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的


参考例句：





He sat with his shoulders hunched up. 他耸起双肩坐着。
Stephen hunched down to light a cigarette. 斯蒂芬弓着身子点燃一支烟。












29
democrat

  
 


n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员


参考例句：





The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。












30
chatter

  
 


vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战


参考例句：





Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。












31
longing

  
 


n.（for）渴望


参考例句：





Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。












32
steadfast

  
 


adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的


参考例句：





Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。












33
toil

  
 


vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事


参考例句：





The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。












34
worthy

  
 


adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的


参考例句：





I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。