什么？差生也能當總統(tǒng)？是的，你沒聽錯，美國前總統(tǒng)小布什在南方衛(wèi)理公會大學(xué)畢業(yè)典禮上是這么說的。這是他卸任后首次出席大學(xué)畢業(yè)典禮并發(fā)表演講，整場演講幽默風趣，同時不乏勵志之語，下面就讓我們一起來看看。

節(jié)選一

Thank you. Thank you very much. President Turner， thanks. Members of the Board of Trustees， Provost Ludden， faculty， staff， distinguished guests， parents， and-most importantly-the Class of 2015， I（Applause.）… I thank you for your warm welcome， and I appreciate the invitation to be with you.

You know， when I mentioned this speech to some pals， they were surprised I was going to give it. （Laughter.） I havent given a commencement address since leaving office. You know， my decision is quite practical. So I got a call from my landlord- （laughter）-Gerald Turner. （Laughter.）Rather than raising the rent or threatening to with hold our security deposit-（laughter）-I wasrelieved to hear President Turner ask if I believed in free speech. （Applause.） I said yeah. He said，“Perfect. Heres your chance to give one.” （Laughter and applause.）

謝謝，非常感謝！泰納校長，謝謝你。理事會成員們、教務(wù)長勒登、教職員工們、工作人員們、嘉賓們、家長們，以及最重要的，2015屆畢業(yè)生們，我（鼓掌）……我感謝你們的熱情歡迎，很榮幸被邀請來與你們共處這段時光。

我和我的朋友們提到這次演講時，他們都感到很驚訝。（笑聲）自從卸任以來，我還沒有發(fā)表過畢業(yè)演講。我決定來演講的原因很實際，我接到了房東的電話——（笑聲）——杰拉德·泰納。（笑聲）我心想他是不是要漲租金或是要扣住我們的押金呢？——（笑聲）——還好，泰納校長只是問我是否相信言論自由，我松了口氣。（掌聲）我說信啊，他說： “那太好了，那你就來我這里免費演講一次吧。”（笑聲和掌聲）

小編講解：關(guān)于決定來演講的原因，小布什解釋得風趣幽默。這里有兩個表達值得一提，一個是pal，意思是“朋友，伙伴，哥們兒”，這是個非?？谡Z化的詞;另一個是be relieved to，意思是“（聽到，看到，發(fā)現(xiàn)）……時松了口氣，如釋重負”。

例如：The words all over the street. Lynne is gonna give you a promotion，pal.

消息已經(jīng)傳開了。琳恩要給你升職，朋友。

Shes relieved to know that the flood has been controlled。

得知洪水已經(jīng)得到控制，她松了口氣。

節(jié)選二

Most of all， I congratulate the members of the Class of 2015. You worked hard to reach this milestone. You leave with life long friends and fond memories. You will always remember how much you enjoyed the right to buy a required campus meal plan. （Laughter.） Youll remember your frequent battles with the Park ‘N Pony Office. （Laughter.） And you may or may not remember those productive nights at the Barley House. （Laughter and applause.）

You were founding members of the mighty SMU Mob， bouncing like mad and watching in wonder as your then-Student Body President， Senor Lobster-（laughter）-danced with joy afierall those Pony victories right here in Moody. （Applause.） And youll think back to those carefree fallgame days on the Boulevard-though I dont recall seeing too many of you in the football stadium.（Laughter.）

To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors， awards， and distinctions， I say， “well done.” And as l like to tell the “C” students： You， too， can be President. （Laughter andapplause.）

最重要的，我要祝賀2015屆的畢業(yè)生們，你們?yōu)榈竭_這一里程碑付出了努力。你們將帶著持續(xù)終生的友誼和多彩的記憶離開，你們會記得曾經(jīng)有多享受學(xué)校的強制飲食套餐。（笑聲）你們會記得與車輛停泊辦公室之間三天兩頭的掐架。（笑聲）你們或許還會記得酒吧里那些成績斐然的夜晚。（笑聲和掌聲）

你們是強大的南方衛(wèi)理公會大學(xué)匪幫的創(chuàng)始成員，曾發(fā)瘋似地跳來跳去，目瞪口呆地看著你們當時的學(xué)生會主席西納·羅伯斯特在解決了車位問題后興奮地跳舞。（掌聲）你們會回想起秋季賽季那些無憂無慮的日子——雖然我不記得在體育場見過你們多少人。（笑聲）

對于榮譽滿載、獲獎眾多、才華橫溢的畢業(yè)生們，我要說： “干得漂亮！”對于得了C的學(xué)生們，我也要說！你們也可以當總統(tǒng)。（掌聲和笑聲）

得C的差生們也可以當總統(tǒng)，此話出自小布什之口，可謂是現(xiàn)身說法了。演講中提到的a required campus meal plan是指美國大學(xué)的用餐計劃。每所大學(xué)所提供的用餐計劃各不相同，和我們的學(xué)生飯卡類似，不過他們是按用餐頓數(shù)算的，有一周10頓的，也有一周14頓的，也有不限次數(shù)的，學(xué)生可以自己選，然后往飯卡里相應(yīng)充值，每吃完一頓減少一次使用權(quán)。另外，bounce一詞的意思是“跳;彈;反彈”。

例如：The ball bounced off the wall.

球從墻上彈了回來。

She bounced into tha room.

他蹦蹦跳跳地進了房間。

節(jié)選三

You， too， will be called at some point. The question， as Mark aptly and artfully laid out，is：Will you be optimistic and hopeful， or pessimistic and cynical？ Here are three reasons why you should be optimistic and hopeful.

One， you are graduating from a great university. Your SMU degree will open the door to a wide variety of career options. Millions will never have had this opportunity. SMU has laid afoundation so you can reason， and continue to learn through out your life. It has given you the tools to be productive citizens.

One of the great strengths of America is our active public square. Issues are influenced by the will of the people. That is why an educated citizenry is so important to the success of ourcountry. As SMU graduates， you are well-equipped to participate in these vital debates. My hopeis that you speak out on the issues that matter to you， and participate in your Nations civic life ascitizens， not spectators. Youll come to learn that who you are is more important than what you have-and that you have responsibilities to your fellow citizens， your country， and your family. By taking part in American democracy， you will make our country stronger.

Secondly， you are blessed to live in the greatest Nation-ever. （Applause.） Here you canstrive and succeed as far as you dare to dream. It says something about our country that millions around the world are willing to leave their homes and families and risk everything to come here and realize the American dream. Their pursuit of that dream invigorates our national soul. Itrenews our countrys character. And it adds vitality to our culture.

在某個時刻，你們也會受到召喚。問題是正如Mark恰當而巧妙地描述的那樣你們到時是會積極樂觀、滿懷希望還是消極悲觀、憤世嫉俗？你們有三個原因應(yīng)該積極樂觀且充滿希望。

一、你們畢業(yè)于一所偉大的大學(xué)。它授予你們的學(xué)位會為你們打開各種各樣的職業(yè)選擇之門。很多人都沒有這樣的機會。南衛(wèi)大為你們打下了這樣一個基礎(chǔ)，讓你們可以明辨事理，可以繼續(xù)學(xué)習終生，可以成為一個有貢獻的公民。

美國的一大優(yōu)點在于我們積極的民主制度，事情受民眾意志的影響。因此，受教育的民眾對我們國家的成功來說至關(guān)重要。作為南衛(wèi)大的畢業(yè)生，你們有足夠的能力參與這些重要的討論。我希望你們能在那些與你們息息相關(guān)的事情上發(fā)聲，作為公民積極參與國家政治生活，不要袖手旁觀。你最終會意識到自己的身份比自己的所得更重要，會意識到自己對其他公民、國家和家庭的責任。通過參與美國民主，你們會使我們的國家更強大。

二、你們有幸生活在有史以來最偉大的國家里。（掌聲）在這，只要敢于夢想，你們就可以去努力奮斗，就有成功的可能。全世界有幾百萬人告別家鄉(xiāng)、告別家人，賭上一切來到這里，實現(xiàn)美國夢。他們對夢想的追求鼓舞了我們的國家靈魂，重塑了我們的國家性格，也增添了我們的文化的活力。在某個時刻，你們也會受到召喚。問題是你們會樂觀而充滿希望地面對還是悲觀而憤世嫉俗地面對呢？小布什在這里問的是南衛(wèi)大的畢業(yè)生，其實這個問題我們也應(yīng)該問問自己。我們是否做好了準備能樂觀且充滿希望的面對召喚呢？這里還有兩個詞組值得一提：一個是open the door to，意思是“打開了通向……的門，給……的機會”;另一個是come to do sth.，表示“逐漸，慢慢地，終于”。

例如：The talk opened the door to a peaceful solution.

這次會談打開了和平解決之門。

She comes to realize that her master will never forgive her.

她漸漸意識到她的師父永遠不會原諒她。

節(jié)選四

As you serve others， you can inspire others. Ive been inspired by the examples of many selfless servants. Winston Churchill， a leader of courage and resolve， inspired me during my Presidency-and， for that matter， in the post-presidency. Like Churchill， I now paint. （Laughter.）Unlike Churchill， the painting isnt worth much without the signature. （Laughter.）

In 1941， he gave a speech to the students of his old school during Britains most trying times in World WarmIt wasnt too long， and it is well-remembered. Prime Minister Churchill urged，“Never give in… in nothing， great or small， large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

I hope youll remember this advice. But theres a lesser-known passage from that speech that I also want to share with you：

“These are not dark days. These are great days. The greatest our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed， each of us according to our stations， to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.”

When Churchill uttered these words， many had lost hope in Great Britains chance for survival against the Nazis. Many doubted the future of freedom. Today， some doubt Americasfuture， and they say our best days are behind us. I say， given our strengths-one of which is abright new generation like you-these are not dark days. These are great days.

幫助別人，你同時也可以激勵別人。我一直被很多無私的行善者啟示。溫斯頓·丘吉爾，一位勇敢堅定的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者，在我執(zhí)政時一直啟示著我，在卸任后也是如此。像丘吉爾一樣，我現(xiàn)在也畫畫。（笑聲）但和丘吉爾不同的是，我的畫在沒有簽名的時候不值錢。（笑聲）

1941年，他在英國二戰(zhàn)最艱難的時期給他母校的學(xué)生做了一次演講。演講不長，但令人印象深刻。首相丘吉爾呼吁道： “永遠不要放棄……任何事情，無論大小，都不要放棄。除非為榮譽、善意，否則永不言棄?！?/p>

我希望你們能記住這個建議。我還想和你們分享那個演講中一段知名度較低的話：

“這不是黑暗的時代，這是偉大的時代，是我們國家所經(jīng)歷過的最偉大的時代。我們必須感謝上帝，允許我們所有的人在我們歷史中值得紀念的光輝歲月里有所作為?！?/p>

當丘吉爾說出這些話時，很多人都已經(jīng)失去了對英國在反納粹戰(zhàn)爭中勝利的希望。很多人都懷疑著自由的未來。今天，有人質(zhì)疑美國的未來。他們說我們最輝煌的時期已經(jīng)過去。我卻認為，有著像你們這樣光明的新一代人將會是我們的優(yōu)勢所在。這不是黑暗的時代，這是偉大的時代。

小編講解：這不是黑暗的時代，而是偉大的時代。即便身處最艱難的時刻，丘吉爾也能說出這樣的話，不得不說的確是很激勵人心的。這里“說出”一詞用的是“utter”。

例如：He couldnt utter a word.

他一句話也說不出來。

I didnt know who first uttered the truth.

我不知道是誰先道出了真相。