名人英语演讲稿(9)

now, i could, as you might guess, go on and on, but the point is to remind us all that government is us and each generation has to stake its claim. and, as stakeholders, you will have to decide whether or not to make the choice to participate. it is hard and it is, bringing change in a democracy, particularly now. there’s so much about our modern times that conspire to lower our sights, to weaken our vision-as individuals and communities and even nations.

it is not the vast conspiracy you may have heard about; rather it’s a silent conspiracy of cynicism and indifference and alienation that we see every day, in our popular culture and in our prodigious consumerism.

but as many have said before and as vaclav havel has said to memorably, “it cannot suffice just to invent new machines, new regulations and new institutions. it is necessary to understand differently and more perfectly the true purpose of our existence on this earth and of our deeds.” and i think we are called on to reject, in this time of blessings that we enjoy, those who will tear us apart and tear us down and instead to liberate our god-given spirit, by being willing to dare to dream of a better world.

during my campaign, when times were tough and days were long i used to think about the example of harriet tubman, a heroic new yorker, a 19th century moses, who risked her life to bring hundreds of slaves to freedom. she would say to those who she gathered up in the south where she kept going back year after year from the safety of auburn, new york, that no matter what happens, they had to keep going. if they heard shouts behind them, they had to keep going. if they heard gunfire or dogs, they had to keep going to freedom. well, those aren’t the risks we face. it is more the silence and apathy and indifference that dogs our heels.

thirty-two years ago, i spoke at my own graduation from wellesley, where i did call on my fellow classmates to reject the notion of limitations on our ability to effect change and instead to embrace the idea that the goal of education should be human liberation and the freedom to practice with all the skill of our being the art of making possible.

for after all, our fate is to be free. to choose competition over apathy, caring over indifference, vision over myopia, and love over hate.

just as this is a special time in your lives, it is for me as well because my daughter will be graduating in four weeks, graduating also from a wonderful place with a great education and beginning a new life. and as i think about all the parents and grandparents who are out there, i have a sense of what their feeling. their hearts are leaping with joy, but it’s hard to keep tears in check because the presence of our children at a time and place such as this is really a fulfillment of our own american dreams. well, i applaud you and all of your love, commitment and hard work, just as i applaud your daughters and sons for theirs.