公众人物毕业演讲第19期:迈克尔·彭博哈佛大学2014毕业典礼演讲(11)

 　　Now, don't get me wrong: scientific skepticism is healthy

　　别误解我的意思 科学怀疑主义是有好处的
　　But there is a world of difference between scientific skepticism that seeks out more
　　但是寻找更多证据的科学怀疑主义同意识形态上
　　evidence and ideological 1 stubbornness that shuts it out
　　拒绝科学证据的顽固不化是有本质差别的
　　Given the general attitude of many elected officials toward science
　　这么多民选官员针对科学都是这种态度
　　it's no wonder that the federal government has abdicated 2 its responsibility
　　联邦政府没能尽到自己的职责
　　to invest in scientific research, much of which occurs at our universities
　　在大学等机构投资科学研究也就毫不奇怪了
　　Today, federal spending on research and development as a percentage of GNP
　　如今 GNP中用于研究和开发的联邦支出百分比
　　is lower than it has been in more than 50 years
　　是五十余年间最低的
　　which is allowing the rest of the world to catch up
　　这让世界其它国家有机会赶上
　　and even surpass the US in scientific research
　　甚至超过美国的科学研究
　　The federal government is flunking 3 science, just as many state governments are
　　联邦政府在科学上是不及格的 就像很多州政府一样
　　We must not become a country that turns our back on science, or on each other
　　我们美国不应该背离科学 内部也不应该相互仇视
　　Now I get to the class of 2014. You graduates must help lead the way
　　回到2014届毕业生来 你们必须引领前路
　　On every issue
　　每个问题上
　　we must follow the evidence where it leads
　　我们都应当遵循证据的指引
　　and listen to people where they are
　　倾听人们的意见
　　If we do that, there is no problem we cannot solve
　　只要我们这样做 就没有什么问题解决不了
　　No gridlock we cannot break
　　没有解不开的死结
　　No compromise we cannot broker
　　没有谈不妥的和解
　　The more we embrace a free exchange of ideas
　　思想交流越自由
　　and the more we accept that political diversity
　　政治多样性越强
　　the healthier we are, the stronger our society will be
　　我们就越健康 社会就会越强大
　　Now I know this has not been a traditional commencement speech
　　我知道 我并没有按照传统方式做毕业典礼演讲
　　and in fact it may
　　实际上
　　keep me from passing a dissertation defense in the humanities department
　　这甚至可能让我在人文系的论文答辩上无法通过
　　but there is no easy time to say hard things
　　不过讲这些麻烦事时总不会轻松
　　Graduates, throughout your lives
　　毕业生们 在你们一生中
　　do not be afraid of saying what you believe is right
　　不要害怕说出自己认为正确的东西
　　no matter how unpopular it may be
　　无论它有多么不受欢迎
　　especially when it comes to defending the rights of others
　　特别是在捍卫他人权利的时候
　　Stand up for the rights of others
　　捍卫他人权利
　　and in some ways it's even more important than standing up for your own rights
　　有时比捍卫自身权利更为重要
　　Because when people seek to repress freedom for some
　　因为当人们寻求抑制其他人自由的时候
　　and you remain silent
　　你可能会保持沉默
　　you are complicit in that repression
　　这样你将会助长这种抑制
　　and you may well become its victim
　　哪天你可能也会成为受害者
　　Do not be complicit, and do not follow the crowd
　　不要沆瀣一气 不要人云亦云
　　Speak up, and fight back
　　大声说出来 有力地回击
　　You will take your lumps, I can assure you of that
　　我敢肯定 你会受到批评
　　You will lose some friends and make some enemies, I can assure you of that too
　　我敢肯定 你还会失去一些朋友 树立一些敌人
　　But the arc of history will be on your side
　　但历史会站在你这一边
　　and our nation will be stronger for it
　　我们的国家也会因此更加强盛
　　Now all of you graduates have earned today's celebration
　　所有毕业生都经过努力获得了今天的成就
　　You have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be grateful for
　　你们可以很自豪 很感激
　　So tonight, as you leave this great university behind
　　今晚 在你们离开这所伟大的大学之前
　　have one last Scorpion Bowl at the Kong on second thought, don't
　　可能会去香港餐厅来一大碗蝎子碗大杂烩
　　and tomorrow, get back to work
　　明天 你们需要开始行动起来
　　making our country and our world freer for ever, freer for everyone
　　让我们的国家和世界对每个人都更自由 并永远自由下去
　　God bless and good luck
　　上帝保佑你们好运