米歇尔·奥巴马2015欧柏林学院毕业演讲(7)
See, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big-hearted.
那么，事实就是，绝大多数的人都是胸襟宽广，志向远大。
They are smart enough to see through that noise,
他们有足够的智慧看清这些噪音，
and they are so hungry for voices that rise above it — smart, compassionate, thoughtful voices like yours.
他们渴望噪音之上的声音–智慧、同情、深刻的声音，像你们一样。
Now, the process of democracy might not always be as fast or as smooth as we’d like. But the fact is, it works.
现在，民主的过程还不像我们期盼的那样快速和平稳。事实上，它正在进步。
Generation after generation, this country has become more equal, more inclusive, more fair, more free.
经过一代又一代人的努力，这个国家已经变得越来越公平、包容、公正、自由。
My life and so many of your lives are a testament of that truth.
我的生活和你们很多人的生活都很好地证实了这一点。
But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard.
但是这些都需要你们离开原来的舒适区，发出自己的声音。
Just look at the story of Oberlin College.
来看看欧柏林学院的校史。
The founders of this school didn’t just decide to admit women and African American students
这所学校的创始人不仅仅招收女学生和非裔美国学生，
and then pat themselves on the back and say “job well done.”
然后吹嘘着说：“干得漂亮。”
No, even in those early days, folks here at Oberlin were attending anti-slavery meetings,
不是的，即使在建校初期，欧柏林学院的师生们参加反奴隶制会议，
shivering on rough wooden benches in unheated, unfinished buildings.
坐在没有完工、没有暖气的房子里的粗糙木板凳上冻得瑟瑟发抖。
They were joining the Equal Suffrage League and speaking out for women’s right to vote.
他们参加了平等选举权联盟，为妇女的选举权发声。
They were leading civil rights marches and sit-ins, organizing exchange programs with historically black colleges and universities, and so much more.
他们领导民权游行和静坐，与历史悠久的黑人学院和大学组织交流计划等等。
Because they knew it wasn’t enough to welcome women and African American students to Oberlin
因为他们知道这还远远不够，如果只是欢迎招收女性学生和非裔美国学生来到欧柏林学院，
if they would only graduate in four years to be second-class citizens in their own country.
然后让他们在四年后毕业成为自己国家的二等公民的话。
They knew that our policies matter. They knew that our laws matter.
他们知道我们的政策很重要。他们知道我们的法律很重要。
And I know, as President Krislov understands, that electing the right folks matters — it matters a lot.
我知道，正如克里斯洛夫校长所理解的那样，选出合适的人很重要，这非常重要。