爱华网 我首先代表伟大的伊利诺依州，林肯的故里，感谢给我这个难得的机会。
今天我感到特别荣幸，说实在话，我连做梦都没想到我会有机会站到这个讲台上。
我父亲是个外国留学生，出生和生长在肯尼亚的一个小山村里。他从小给人放羊，在一个铁皮做屋顶的教室里上课。他的父亲，也就是我爷爷，是个厨师，一个英国人的佣人。
但是，我爷爷对我父亲抱有一个很大的期望。基于勤奋和坚忍不拔，父亲有幸得到了一份奖学金，能来到这个神奇的地方--美利坚学习。这是一块已经赋予先驱者自由与机会的圣土。
来到这里上学时，我爸爸遇到我母亲，一个出生在世界另一边的来自肯萨斯的女孩。在整个大萧条期间，她父亲先是个农场工人而后当了个石油钻井工。在珍珠港被轰炸后，他应征入伍，随巴顿军团开赴欧洲。从欧洲回来后，他发现我外祖母在一边拉扯自己年幼的女儿，一边在一个炸弹装配线上班当女工。战后，他们进补习学校学习，并通过联邦贷款买了栋房子，有了第一个自己的家。再后来，他们西移，远远地去了夏威夷寻找机会。
他们心中对自己的女儿也怀抱着一个很大的期望。虽然来自相隔遥远的两个不同的大陆，但他们的期望是共同的。
我父母不仅仅分享一个原来不太可能发生的爱恋，而且更重要的是，他们共同享有对这个国家的信赖。他们给我取了个意思为"被赐福"的名字"巴拉克"，因为他们深信，在这个宽容大度的合众国，一个奇怪的名字决不会成为他未来成功的障碍。他们梦想着，有一天我能进入这块土地上最好的学校接受教育，即使他们并不富有。他们深知，即使是贫穷的孩子，也能在这个宽容的美利坚国土实现自己的理想，让自己的潜力尽情发挥。
他们现在都已逝去，但是，如果他们有在天之灵，能看到我的今天，他们一定会为我感到骄傲和自豪。
这个国家多民族的兼容和大度，是我们的幸运。现在，和我们的父母一样，我对自己的一对女儿也满怀同样的期待。我深知，我的故事只是众多的美国故事的一部分。我更清楚，我得深深感谢那些生活在这片土地上的前辈们，是他们一代代的努力，才使我的梦想成为现实。
今天，我站在这里，是要向你们展示这个国家的伟大之处，并不取决于她所拥有的摩天大楼的高度和军队的强大，甚至也不是我们庞大的经济规模。我为这个国家感到骄傲，只是因为两百年前先人给予我们一个基本的承诺：在这块土地上，所有人都拥有生而平等的生存、自由和追求幸福的权利，它神圣而不可侵犯。
正是对这种信念的坚持，带给我们对这个国家的信心，并由此而带给我们一个个奇迹。能让我们的孩子夜有所居，饥有所食，寒有所衣，而且身心安全得以保障。能让我们说所想，写所思，而不用耽心夜半三更会有不速之客的敲门声。能让我们按自己的想法经营企业而不用行使贿赂。能让我们自由参政而不用害怕受到惩处。能让我们的选票能算数--至少在大多数情形。
今晚，我要告诉你们，我尊敬的党内各派同仁，我们还有很多工作要做，我们这个社会还有很多不完美的地方。在伊州，那里梅特格（Maytag）的工人正失去他们作为工会工人的工作，只因为他们赖以生存的工厂搬去了墨西哥，他们现在不得不与自己的孩子竞争最低工资的工作机会，我们应为他们做些事情。
有一位父亲刚失去工作，他老泪纵横地告诉我，他正发愁怎样才能付得起他那没有医疗保险的儿子，每个月四千五百元的救命的医药费。自问一下，我们是不是该为这样的父亲做点什么？还有，一位年轻的高中毕业姑娘，与成千上万类似的女孩子一样，她有不错的学习成绩，她想并且愿意上大学深造，学点技术，却因为没有钱支付学费而上不起。我们是不是应该帮帮她们？
请不要误解我。我所遇到的人，不论是在大城小镇还是在餐桌和公园，他们并没有奢望政府解决他们的所有问题。他们深知，他们自己得努力和勤奋才能有所作为，他们愿意为此付出。如果你有机会，去芝加哥附近的工人弟兄们中间走走，他们都会告诉你一个愿望：他们不希望自己的税款被福利机构或五角大楼白白地浪费掉。
去看看，请去各大城市的城区走走看，他们会告诉你，单靠政府是没法教会他们的孩子认字的，这还得靠各个父母自己的努力。如果我们不给孩子更高的期望，不为他们关掉电视，孩子们就不可能有更大的作为。他们都理解这个道理。
他们深知政府不可能包办一切，不可能解决他们的所有问题。但是，他们更深刻地感到，只要我们稍微调整一下我们的政策取向，调整一下我们政策的轻重缓急的次序，我们就能确保美国的每一个孩子都有一个真正好的人生机会，就能保证机会的大门对他们敞开。
他们知道我们能做得更好，并且，他们想要这种选择。在这次竞选中，我们给予了你们这个选择。我们党已经选出一个能给予这个国家最好的管理的领导人--克里。
在这个危险的世界上，战争有时是一种不可避免的选择，但是，战争永远也不应该成为我们的首要选择。
不久前，我遇到了一个小伙子，他已应征入伍海军陆战队，第二个星期就要开赴伊拉克前线了。我认真听取了他应征入伍的理由和他对这个国家领导者的信任。我曾想，这就是我们国家所需要的年轻一代的爱国热情。
但是，我接着问自己：我们为他们做了些什么？我们国家为他们做的，是不是和他们为我们国家所作的贡献对等呢？
我想到了那九百位永远不能回家的英灵，和他们的子女、父母、亲朋。我想到了那个因失掉家中经济支柱而挣扎的家中母子和母女，那些为国家而残疾但仍然没有终身医疗保障的退伍军人们。
我想当我们将无数的青年男女送上危险的征程，我们有责任告诉他们实情--为了什么而战？我们有义务照顾好他们在后方的家人，当他们在前线为国而战之时；我们应该给予他们足够的支持与关心，当他们从前线返回故土时。我们应该确保，从此以后，如果我们没有足够的军力赢得战争，我们就不应该卷入战火。我们应该力尽全力，确保和平，赢得世人的尊敬。
现在，让我更清楚地告诉你，是的，在这个世上，我们是有真正的敌人，我们必须找到这些敌人，击败他们。
在美国，只有一部分人富裕是不够的。我们是一个共同的大家庭，如果在芝加哥南边区还有一个孩子不会阅读，那也会让我难过，尽管他（她）不是我自己的孩子。如果还有一位老人无力支付处方药，还在为药品与租金而烦恼时，那也会让我感觉到自己的贫穷，虽然那不是我自己的父母和祖父母。如果还有一个阿拉伯裔美国人得不到宪法赋予的司法权利，那就等同于在侵犯我自己个人的公民自由权。
这就是我的基本信仰：我是我兄弟姐妹的守护人！正是这种信仰能让我们每个人自由地追寻各自的理想，同时让我们和谐地共同生活在这个大家庭里，一个单一的大家庭里。
在我说这话时，有些人还在试图分裂我们。在这里，我想告诉你们，不存在一个自由派和保守派的美国，只有一个美利坚合众国。也不存在一个黑人，白人，拉丁及亚裔人的美国，只有一个美利坚合众国。……
实际上，这就是这次选举的区别所在，那么请问问你们自己，你是想参与一个世俗的政治？还是参与一个拥有无限希望的政治？
我不是在谈论盲目的乐观。可能有人在梦想，失业问题或许会自然地自己得到解决，如果我们不去想它；医疗保险危机也会自己过去，如果我们有意忽视它。不！这不是我所谈的希望。我说的是远比这更加重要的理想。
我谈的是当奴隶们围坐在火盆旁取暖，高唱自由之歌时心中的希望；移民们坐在野地里遥望远处的海岸时心中的希望；年轻的海军上尉带兵执勤时心中的希望；工厂工人胆敢向世俗命运挑战时心中的希望；一个有着奇怪名字的苗条小孩当他深信美国将有他的一席之地时的希望，等等，等等。
希望--面临艰难困苦时的希望，面对不确定性时的希望，无畏的希望。
这是上帝给予我们的最好礼物，是这个国家的基石。一种对于未来美好生活的信仰。
我相信我们可以为中产阶级减轻负担，和给工薪家庭以机会。
我相信我们能够给无业者以工作机会，给无家可归者以住房，将遍布美国城市中的年轻人，从暴力和绝望的悬崖边拯救出来。
美国正面临危机，我们正处于十字路口，我们可以作出正确的选择，去面对前面的挑战。
奥巴马成名演讲稿:无畏的希望 (英文版)
The audacity ofhope
Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic NationalConvention
July27, 2004
On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation,land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilegeof addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for mebecause, let's face it, my presence on this stage is prettyunlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in asmall village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school ina tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, adomestic servant.
But my grandfather had largerdreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my fathergot a scholarship to study in a magical place: America, which stoodas a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had comebefore. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was bornin a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her fatherworked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. Theday after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's armyand marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised theirbaby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war,they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and movedwest in search of opportunity.
And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream,born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbablelove; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of thisnation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed,"believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier tosuccess. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land,even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America youdon't have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are bothpassed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down onme with pride.
Istand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, awarethat my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I standhere knowing that my story is part of the larger American story,that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, inno other country on earth, is my story evenpossible.
Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, notbecause of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of ourmilitary, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a verysimple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundredyears ago, "We hold these truths to he self-evident, that all menare created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator withcertain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty andthe pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams ofits people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck inour children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safefrom harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think,without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have anidea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiringsomebody's son. That we can participate in the political processwithout fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted -or at least, most of the time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our valuesand commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how weare measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promiseof future generations. And fellow Americans - Democrats,Republicans, Independents - I say to you tonight: we have more workto do. More to do for the workers I met in Gale□□urg, Illinois, whoare losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving toMexico, and now are having to compete with their own children forjobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I metwho was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how hewould pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without thehealth benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman inEast St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades,has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go tocollege.
Don't get mewrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in dinersand office parks, they don't expect government to solve all theirproblems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and theywant to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and peoplewill tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfareagency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, andfolks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids tolearn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can'tachieve unless we raise their expectations and turn offthe
television sets anderadicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is actingwhite. No, people don't expect government to solve all theirproblems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just achange in priorities, we can make sure that every child in Americahas a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remainopen to all. They know we can do better. And they want thatchoice.
Inthis election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man tolead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That manis John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community,faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From hisheroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenantgovernor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he hasdevoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen himmake tough choices when easier ones were available. His values andhis record affirm what is best in us.
John Kerrybelieves in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead ofoffering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'lloffer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerrybelieves in an America where all Americans can afford the samehealth coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves.John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't heldhostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreignoil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms thathave made our country the envy of the world, and he will neversacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divideus. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must bean option, but it should never he the firstoption.
Awhile back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in EastMoline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three,clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marinesand was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to himexplain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country andits leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this youngman was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I askedmyself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? Ithought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters,hu□□ands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not bereturning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met whowere struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, orwhose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nervesshattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits becausethey were reservists. When we send our young men and women intoharm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers orshade the truth about why they're going, to care for their familieswhile they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, andto never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war,secure the peace, and earn the respect of theworld.
Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. Theseenemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must bedefeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry didnot hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served withhim in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to useour military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerrybelieves in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some ofus to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there'sanother ingredient in the American saga.
A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child onthe south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, evenif it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere whocan't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicineand the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not mygrandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded upwithout benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens mycivil liberties. It's that fundamental belief - I am my brother'skeeper, I am my sister's keeper - that makes this country work.It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still cometogether as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out ofmany, one.
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divideus, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace thepolitics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's nota liberal America and a conservative America - there's the UnitedStates of America. There's not a black America and white Americaand Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States ofAmerica. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into RedStates and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States forDemocrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesomeGod in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents pokingaround our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League inthe Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There arepatriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it.We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars andstripes, all of us defending the United States ofAmerica.
In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participatein a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry callson us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talkingabout blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance thatthinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, orthe health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No,I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope ofslaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope ofimmigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a youngnaval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of amillworker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinnykid with a funny name who believes that America has a place forhim, too. The audacity of hope!
In the end,that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; thebelief in things not seen; the belief that there are better daysahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provideworking families with a road to opportunity. I believe we canprovide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaimyoung people in cities across America from violence and despair. Ibelieve that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can makethe right choices, and meet the challenges that face us.America!
Tonight, ifyou feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the samepassion I do, the same hopefulness I do - if we do what we must do,then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida toOregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up inNovember, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and JohnEdwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country willreclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness abrighter day will come. Thank you and God blessyou
