评论
打印
Finally, even if it all seems broken ...
最后，即使一切似乎都支离破碎了……
Have faith in our democracy.
大家依然要对我们的民主抱有信心。
Participate and vote.
要参与投票。
Don't fall for the easy cynicism that says, "Nothing can change." Or that there's only one way to bring about change.
不要相信那种简单的愤世嫉俗的说法：“任何东西都无法改变”，或者说只有一种方法可以带来改变。
In the midst of recent protests, I've noticed that there've been some debates among young people about how useful voting is compared to direct action and civil disobedience,
在最近的抗议活动中，我注意到年轻人在争论，投票和直接行动与公民不服从哪个更有用，
in ending discrimination in our society.
在结束我们社会的歧视这一点上。
The fact is, we don't have to choose. We need both.
事实上，我们不必选择，我们两者都需要。
Peaceful protests and demonstrations are patriotic.
和平抗议和示威是爱国的行为。
They shine a light on injustice. They raise public awareness. They make the folks in-charge uncomfortable, in a way that's healthy.
它们揭露了不公正、提高了公众意识、让负责人感到不舒服，这种方式是很健康的。
After all, we're a nation that was founded on protest.
毕竟，我们是一个建立在抗议基础上的国家。
Eventually though, your aspirations have to be translated in to specific laws and institutional practices.
但最终，你们的愿望必须转化为具体的法律和制度实践。
And that only happens when we elect good people at every level, who are responsive to our demands.
只有当我们在每一个层面选出对我们的要求作出反应的好人时，这种情况才会出现。
And that includes local offices like the office of mayor or the office of district attorney.
其中包括地方办事处，如市长办公室或地方检察官办公室。
They don't get as much attention as a presidential race, but have the most direct impact on issues, like how communities are policed.
他们不像总统竞选那样受到关注，但对一些问题有着最直接的影响，比如社区的治安。
In fact, you don't even have to be an activist to make a contribution to our democracy.
事实上，不是只有成为一个积极分子才能为我们的民主做出贡献。
If you've always dreamed of starting your own business, go build a company that is a model for paying its workers a fair wage.
如果你一直梦想着自己创业，那就去开一家公司，为员工提供公平的工资。
If you've dreamed always of being a doctor, think about working in a community that's short on doctors.
如果你一直梦想成为一名医生，那就在一个缺少医生的社区工作。
There are so many ways to serve.
服务的方式有很多种。
The important thing is to recognize that this nation needs your talents, your passions, your voice to make it better.
重要的是要认识到这个国家需要你们的才能、你们的激情、你们的发声来让国家变得更好。
You know, it's not always pretty, this democracy of ours.
你知道，我们的民主并不总是美好的。
Trust me, I know.
相信我，我知道的。
It can be loud and messy and sometimes depressing.
它可以是喧闹和混乱的，有时还是令人沮丧的。
But because citizens took seriously the mandate that this is a government of and by and for the people, well, bit by bit, generation by generation,
但因为公民们认真对待这一规定：这是一个民众的、由民众组成和为民众服务的政府，一点一点，一代一代地，
we've made progress, from cleaning up our air and water to creating programs that lifted millions of seniors out of poverty, to winning the right to vote, and to marry who you love.
我们已经取得了进展，从净化空气与水到创建让数百万老年人摆脱贫困的计划，到赢得选举权，以及与你的爱人结婚。
None of these changes happened overnight. Or without sustained effort.
这些变化都不是一夜之间发生的，或者说没有持续的努力是达不成的。
But they did happen.
但它们确实发生了。
Usually because young people marched and organized and voted and formed alliances and just led good lives and looked after their community,
通常是因为年轻人游行，组织，投票，结成联盟，过着美好的生活，照顾他们的社区、
their families, their neighborhoods, and slowly changed hearts and minds.
他们的家人、他们的邻居，慢慢改变了他们的心意。
America changed, has always changed because young people dared to hope.
美国发生了变化，而且一直在变化，这是因为年轻人敢抱有希望。
Democracy isn't about relying on some charismatic leader to make changes from on high.
民主不是靠某个有魅力的领导人从高层做出改变。
It's about finding hope in ourselves and creating it in others, especially in a time like this.
这是关于在我们自己身上找到希望，并在别人身上创造希望，尤其是在这样的时代。
You don't always need hope when everything's going fine. It's when things seem darkest. That's when you need it the most.
当一切顺利的时候，你们并不总是需要希望，最黑暗的时候往往最需要希望。
Now, someone once said,
有人曾经说过，
"Hope is not a lottery ticket, it's a hammer for us to use in a national emergency, to break the glass, sound the alarm, and sprint into action."
“希望不是彩票，它是我们在国家紧急情况下使用的锤子，它要打破玻璃，敲响警钟，冲向行动。”
That's what hope is.
这就是希望。
It's not the blind faith that things will get better, it's the conviction that with effort and perseverance and courage and a concern for others, things can get better.
它不是盲目相信事情会变好，而是坚信只要努力、有毅力、有勇气和关心他人，事情就会变得更好。
That remains the truest part of our American story.
这依然是我们美国故事中的真理。
And if your generation sprints into action, it will still be true of America's future.
如果你们这一代人迅速行动起来，这对美国的未来仍然是一条真理。
Congratulations, Class of 2020.
恭喜你们，2020届毕业生。
Make it mean something. And keep making us proud.
让它变得有所意义，让我们为你们而骄傲。
