評論
打印
Now, don't get me wrong: scientific skepticism is healthy
別誤解我的意思 科學懷疑主義是有好處的
But there is a world of difference between scientific skepticism that seeks out more
但是尋找更多證據的科學懷疑主義同意識形態上
evidence and ideological stubbornness that shuts it out
拒絕科學證據的頑固不化是有本質差別的
Given the general attitude of many elected officials toward science
這么多民選官員針對科學都是這種態度
it's no wonder that the federal government has abdicated its responsibility
聯邦政府沒能盡到自己的職責
to invest in scientific research, much of which occurs at our universities
在大學等機構投資科學研究也就毫不奇怪了
Today, federal spending on research and development as a percentage of GNP
如今 GNP中用于研究和開發的聯邦支出百分比
is lower than it has been in more than 50 years
是五十余年間最低的
which is allowing the rest of the world to catch up
這讓世界其它國家有機會趕上
and even surpass the US in scientific research
甚至超過美國的科學研究
The federal government is flunking science, just as many state governments are
聯邦政府在科學上是不及格的 就像很多州政府一樣
We must not become a country that turns our back on science, or on each other
我們美國不應該背離科學 內部也不應該相互仇視
Now I get to the class of 2014. You graduates must help lead the way
回到2014屆畢業生來 你們必須引領前路
On every issue
每個問題上
we must follow the evidence where it leads
我們都應當遵循證據的指引
and listen to people where they are
傾聽人們的意見
If we do that, there is no problem we cannot solve
只要我們這樣做 就沒有什么問題解決不了
No gridlock we cannot break
沒有解不開的死結
No compromise we cannot broker
沒有談不妥的和解
The more we embrace a free exchange of ideas
思想交流越自由
and the more we accept that political diversity
政治多樣性越強
the healthier we are, the stronger our society will be
我們就越健康 社會就會越強大
Now I know this has not been a traditional commencement speech
我知道 我并沒有按照傳統方式做畢業典禮演講
and in fact it may
實際上
keep me from passing a dissertation defense in the humanities department
這甚至可能讓我在人文系的論文答辯上無法通過
but there is no easy time to say hard things
不過講這些麻煩事時總不會輕松
Graduates, throughout your lives
畢業生們 在你們一生中
do not be afraid of saying what you believe is right
不要害怕說出自己認為正確的東西
no matter how unpopular it may be
無論它有多么不受歡迎
especially when it comes to defending the rights of others
特別是在捍衛他人權利的時候
Stand up for the rights of others
捍衛他人權利
and in some ways it's even more important than standing up for your own rights
有時比捍衛自身權利更為重要
Because when people seek to repress freedom for some
因為當人們尋求抑制其他人自由的時候
and you remain silent
你可能會保持沉默
you are complicit in that repression
這樣你將會助長這種抑制
and you may well become its victim
哪天你可能也會成為受害者
Do not be complicit, and do not follow the crowd
不要沆瀣一氣 不要人云亦云
Speak up, and fight back
大聲說出來 有力地回擊
You will take your lumps, I can assure you of that
我敢肯定 你會受到批評
You will lose some friends and make some enemies, I can assure you of that too
我敢肯定 你還會失去一些朋友 樹立一些敵人
But the arc of history will be on your side
但歷史會站在你這一邊
and our nation will be stronger for it
我們的國家也會因此更加強盛
Now all of you graduates have earned today's celebration
所有畢業生都經過努力獲得了今天的成就
You have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be grateful for
你們可以很自豪 很感激
So tonight, as you leave this great university behind
今晚 在你們離開這所偉大的大學之前
have one last Scorpion Bowl at the Kong on second thought, don't
可能會去香港餐廳來一大碗蝎子碗大雜燴
and tomorrow, get back to work
明天 你們需要開始行動起來
making our country and our world freer for ever, freer for everyone
讓我們的國家和世界對每個人都更自由 并永遠自由下去
God bless and good luck
上帝保佑你們好運
