演讲文本

And yet, I know you know the truth. We all know that we are better than the cynicism and the pessimism that is regurgitated throughout Washington and the 24-hour cable news cycle.

然而，我知道你们明白真相。我们的真实情况都知道我们比电视上24小时滚动播出的新闻更好，比充斥着华盛顿的那些愤世嫉俗和悲观主义情绪更好。

Not my channel, by the way. We understand that the vast majority of people in this country believe in stronger background checks because they realize that we can uphold the Second Amendment and also reduce the violence that is robbing us of our children.

顺便说一句，那不是我的电视频道。我们理解，在这个国家绝大多数人相信并支持背景调查，因为他们明白我们可以支持宪法第二次修正案，同时减少残杀我们孩子的暴力。

They don't have to be incompatible.

而这两者并不必水火不相容。

And we understand that most Americans believe in a clear path to citizenship for the 12,000,000 undocumented immigrants who reside in this country because it's possible to both enforce our laws and at the same time embrace the words on the Statue of Liberty that have welcomed generations of huddled masses to our shores. We can do both.

我们知道大多数美国人相信让1200万没有合法身份的移民居住在这个国家成为公民会有一条清晰的路径。因为在捍卫法律的同时，我们还要拥抱自由女神像上的辞藻，而这些话语欢迎了一代代人到达美国的海岸。我们都能做得到。

And we understand. I know you do because you went to Harvard.

正如我们了解的那样，你们能理解，因为你们上了哈佛。

There are people from both parties and no party believe that indigent mothers and families should have access to healthy food and a roof over their heads and a strong public education, because here in the richest nation on earth we can afford a basic level of security and opportunity.

来自两党派和无党派的人同样坚信：贫困的母亲和家庭都理应获得使其健康的食物、住所以及强有力的教育支持。因为我们现在正生活在全世界最为富有的国家中，我们有能力去提供安全与机遇最基础的社会保障。

So the question is what are we going to do about it? Really what are you going to do about it?

于是问题便随之而来：我们将对此有何打算呢？说真的，我们将要对此做些什么呢？

Maybe you agree with these beliefs. Maybe you don't. Maybe you care about these issues and maybe there are other challenges that you, class of 2013, are passionate about.

也许你是赞同这些理念的，也有可能你会持反对意见。或许你作为2013届哈佛的毕业生，对这些问题很上心，抑或是你把关注点放在了其他极具挑战性的事情上。

Maybe you want to make a difference by serving in government. Maybe you want to launch your own television show.

你可能想要通过行政工作改变我们的社会，你可能想要做自己的电视节目。

Or maybe you simply want to collect some change. Your parents would appreciate that about now.

你也可能仅仅是想收集一些零钱，你的父母暂时会赞扬你这样的作为。

The point is your generation is charged with this task of breaking through what the body politic has thus far made impervious to change.

关键是你们这一代人肩负着突破国家积年累月无法突破的重重围嶂的使命。

Each of you has been blessed with this enormous opportunity of attending this prestigious school.

你们每一位上了哈佛这所名校的人都拥有千万机会。

You now have a chance to better your life, the lives of your neighbors and also the life of our country.

现在你有机会来改善你的生活，改变你周围人的生活，以及整个国家的命运。

When you do that let me tell you what I know for sure. That's when your story gets really good.

当你这样做的时候，我可以坚定地告诉你：这个时候，你的故事开始渐甄完美。

人物简介

奥普拉·温弗瑞(Oprah Winfrey)，1954年1月29日出生于密西西比州科修斯科，美国演员，制片，主持人。是当今世界上最具影响力的妇女之一，她的成就是多方面的：通过控股哈普娱乐集团的股份，掌握了超过10亿美元的个人财富；主持的电视谈话节目“奥普拉脱口秀”，平均每周吸引3300万名观众，并连续16年排在同类节目的首位；2009年11月20日，据国外媒体报道，在播出了23年之后，脱口秀女王奥普拉·温弗瑞的节目《奥普拉脱口秀》于2011年9月9日结束。

重点讲解

1.rob of 盗取

例句：The thief robbed me of my watch.

小偷把我的表偷走了。

2.make a difference 带来不同

例句：Whatever you can do can make a difference.

无论你能做什么，都会带来不同。

3.bless with 有幸得到

例句：I'm blessed with good health.

我有幸身体健康。

4.Statue of Liberty 自由女神

例句：The Statue of Liberty towers above the harbour of New York.

自由女神像高高耸立于纽约港。