President Obama's Tucson Memorial Speech Transcript |
President Obama's Tucson Memorial Speech Transcript
Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Please, please be seated. (Applause.)
总统：谢谢大家。（掌声）非常感谢你们。请就座。（掌声）
To the families of those we've lost; to all who called them friends; to the students of this university, the public servants who are gathered here, the people of Tucson and the people of Arizona: I have come here tonight as an American who, like all Americans, kneels to pray with you today and will stand by you tomorrow. (Applause.)
各位遇难者的亲人及朋友、这所大学的各位同学、今天在场的政府公务员、图森的市民和全亚利桑那州的人民：今天晚上，我作为一名美国人来到这里，像所有的美国人一样，今天同你们一道跪下祈祷；明天同你们站在一起。（掌声）
There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts. But know this: The hopes of a nation are here tonight. We mourn with you for the fallen. We join you in your grief. And we add our faith to yours that Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the other living victims of this tragedy will pull through. (Applause.)
我无法用任何语言来弥合你们心头骤然撕裂的创口。但要知道这一点：今晚，这里凝聚着一个民族的希望。我们同你们一起悼念。与你们哀戚同在。我们把自己的信心与你们的信心汇聚到一起，让加布丽埃勒·吉福兹（Gabrielle Giffords）众议员及这场悲剧中的其他幸存者将转危为安。（掌声）
Scripture tells us:
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
《圣经》中说：
有一条河，它的溪流令神之城欢悦；
这城就是至高者之圣所。
神在其中，使她坚不可摧；
破晓之际，神将助她。
On Saturday morning, Gabby, her staff and many of her constituents gathered outside a supermarket to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and free speech. (Applause.) They were fulfilling a central tenet of the democracy envisioned by our founders -- representatives of the people answering questions to their constituents, so as to carry their concerns back to our nation's capital. Gabby called it "Congress on Your Corner" -- just an updated version of government of and by and for the people. (Applause.)
星期六早上，嘉比[加布丽埃勒的昵称 译者注]和她的工作人员及她所在选区的许多民众聚集在一家超市门前，行使他们的和平集会与言论自由的权利。（掌声）他们这样做是遵循建国先贤们所憧憬的民主制度中的一条基本要求：人民代表回答选民的提问，再将他们的问题带到首都。嘉比把这样的活动称为街头国会（Congress on Your Corner）即现代版的 民有、民治、民享政府。（掌声）
And that quintessentially American scene, that was the scene that was shattered by a gunman's bullets. And the six people who lost their lives on Saturday -- they, too, represented what is best in us, what is best in America. (Applause.)
这一场景是经典美利坚的缩影，但它被枪手的子弹击打破。在星期六失去生命的六个人也代表着我们的最佳精神和美国的最佳精神。（掌声）
Judge John Roll served our legal system for nearly 40 years. (Applause.) A graduate of this university and a graduate of this law school -- (applause) -- Judge Roll was recommended for the federal bench by John McCain 20 years ago -- (applause) -- appointed by President George H.W. Bush and rose to become Arizona's chief federal judge. (Applause.)
约翰·罗尔（John Roll） 法官在我们的司法部门任职近40年。（掌声）他毕业于这所大学和这所法学院（掌声）罗尔法官是在20年前由约翰·麦凯恩（John McCain）推荐担任联邦法官的（掌声）他由乔治·H·W·布什（George H.W. Bush）总统任命，后来成为亚利桑那州的首席首席联邦法官。（掌声）
His colleagues described him as the hardest-working judge within the Ninth Circuit. He was on his way back from attending Mass, as he did every day, when he decided to stop by and say hi to his representative. John is survived by his loving wife, Maureen, his three sons and his five beautiful grandchildren. (Applause.)
他的同事们说他是第九巡回法院中工作最努力的法官。他刚刚做完弥撒归来如同过去的每一天那样偶然决定去和他的国会议员打个招呼。约翰留下了他的爱妻莫琳（Maureen）、三个儿子和五个美丽的孙儿女。（掌声）
George and Dorothy Morris -- "Dot" to her friends -- were high school sweethearts who got married and had two daughters. They did everything together -- traveling the open road in their RV, enjoying what their friends called a 50-year honeymoon. Saturday morning, they went by the Safeway to hear what their congresswoman had to say. When gunfire rang out, George, a former Marine, instinctively tried to shield his wife. (Applause.) Both were shot. Dot passed away.
乔治和多萝西·莫里斯（George and Dorothy Morris）朋友们称她为多特是高中时的情侣，他们后来结婚，生了一对女儿。他们总是形影不离无论是驾驶着房车出游还是做别的事，朋友们说他们的蜜月延续了50年。星期六上午，他们到西夫韦（Safeway）超市这里，想听听他们的国会议员讲些什么。枪声响起时，曾经在海军陆战队服役的乔治本能地用自己的身体去掩护他的妻子。（掌声）二人都中了枪弹，多特离开人间。
A New Jersey native, Phyllis Schneck retired to Tucson to beat the snow. But in the summer, she would return East, where her world revolved around her three children, her seven grandchildren and 2-year-old great-granddaughter. A gifted quilter, she'd often work under a favorite tree, or sometimes she'd sew aprons with the logos of the Jets and the Giants -- (laughter) -- to give out at the church where she volunteered. A Republican, she took a liking to Gabby, and wanted to get to know her better. (Applause.)
菲利斯·施奈克（Phyllis Schneck）是新泽西州人，她退休后来到图森，以避开雪天气候。但是在夏天她仍然回到东部，在那里，她的生活围绕着她的三个孩子、七个孙儿女和一个两岁的曾孙女。她是一位出色的工艺被子缝手，经常在她喜爱的树下缝做，有时在围裙上刺绣喷气机队（Jets）和巨人队（Giants）的标志（笑声）然后去她做义工的教堂分发。她是共和党人，但喜欢上了嘉比，希望对她有更多了解。（掌声）
Dorwan and Mavy Stoddard grew up in Tucson together -- about 70 years ago. They moved apart and started their own respective families. But after both were widowed they found their way back here, to, as one of Mavy's daughters put it, "be boyfriend and girlfriend again." (Laughter.)
多尔万和玛维·斯托达德（Dorwan and Mavy Stoddard）一起在图森长大那大约是70年前了。他们后来各奔东西，都成了家。但是，在二人都丧偶后，他们又回到这里，如玛维的一个女儿所说，再次成为男女朋友。（笑声）
When they weren't out on the road in their motor home, you could find them just up the road, helping folks in need at the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ. A retired construction worker, Dorwan spent his spare time fixing up the church along with his dog, Tux. His final act of selflessness was to dive on top of his wife, sacrificing his life for hers. (Applause.)
当他们不在开车旅行时，人们会在门口这条街上看到他们，他们在高山大道基督教堂（Mountain Avenue Church of Christ）帮助有困难的人。多尔万是一位退休的建筑工人，他空闲时会带着他的狗塔克斯，到教堂去做些维修工作。他的最后一个无私行动是扑在妻子的身上，用自己的生命保护了妻子的生命。（掌声）
Everything -- everything -- Gabe Zimmerman did, he did with passion. (Applause.) But his true passion was helping people. As Gabby's outreach director, he made the cares of thousands of her constituents his own, seeing to it that seniors got the Medicare benefits that they had earned, that veterans got the medals and the care that they deserved, that government was working for ordinary folks. He died doing what he loved -- talking with people and seeing how he could help. And Gabe is survived by his parents, Ross and Emily, his brother, Ben, and his fiancιe, Kelly, who he planned to marry next year. (Applause.)
加布齐默尔曼(Gabe Zimmerman)是怀着热忱去做每一件事每一件事。 （掌声）然而他真正的热忱是助人为乐。作为嘉比的外联主任，他把关心成千上万她的选民当成自己的事，确保让老年人得到他们应得的医疗保险补助，让退伍军人得到他们应得的奖章和治疗，让政府为普通百姓服务。他去世时是在做着他所钟爱的事业与人民交谈，了解他能否提供帮助。加布死后留下了他的父母罗斯（Ross）和艾米莉（ Emily），他的弟弟本（Ben），和他的未婚妻凯利（Kelly），他本计划明年结婚。（掌声）
And then there is nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green. Christina was an A student; she was a dancer; she was a gymnast; she was a swimmer. She decided that she wanted to be the first woman to play in the Major Leagues, and as the only girl on her Little League team, no one put it past her. (Applause.)
再有就是九岁的克里斯蒂娜泰勒格林（Christina Taylor Green)。克里斯蒂 娜是一名优等生，是舞蹈演员，体操运动员，游泳运动员。她决心成为在职棒联盟（Major Leagues）打球的第一位女生，作为少棒联盟（Little League）球队中唯一的女孩，谁也别想低估她。（掌声）
She showed an appreciation for life uncommon for a girl her age. She'd remind her mother, "We are so blessed. We have the best life." And she'd pay those blessings back by participating in a charity that helped children who were less fortunate.
她小小年纪，就表现出对生命价值的珍惜。她会提醒母亲说：我们真幸运。我们过着最美好的生活。为了回报她得到的福分，她参加慈善机构的工作，帮助那些不太幸运的孩子。
Our hearts are broken by their sudden passing. Our hearts are broken -- and yet, our hearts also have reason for fullness.
Our hearts are full of hope and thanks for the 13 Americans who survived the shooting, including the congresswoman many of them went to see on Saturday.
I have just come from the University Medical Center, just a mile from here, where our friend Gabby courageously fights to recover even as we speak. And I want to tell you -- her husband Mark is here and he allows me to share this with you -- right after we went to visit, a few minutes after we left her room and some of her colleagues in Congress were in the room, Gabby opened her eyes for the first time. (Applause.) Gabby opened her eyes for the first time. (Applause.)
Gabby opened her eyes. Gabby opened her eyes, so I can tell you she knows we are here. She knows we love her. And she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. We are there for her. (Applause.)
Our hearts are full of thanks for that good news, and our hearts are full of gratitude for those who saved others. We are grateful to Daniel Hernandez -- (applause) -- a volunteer in Gabby's office. (Applause.)
And, Daniel, I'm sorry, you may deny it, but we've decided you are a hero because -- (applause) -- you ran through the chaos to minister to your boss, and tended to her wounds and helped keep her alive. (Applause.)
We are grateful to the men who tackled the gunman as he stopped to reload. (Applause.) Right over there. (Applause.) We are grateful for petite Patricia Maisch, who wrestled away the killer's ammunition, and undoubtedly saved some lives. (Applause.) And we are grateful for the doctors and nurses and first responders who worked wonders to heal those who'd been hurt. We are grateful to them. (Applause.)
These men and women remind us that heroism is found not only on the fields of battle. They remind us that heroism does not require special training or physical strength. Heroism is here, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, all around us, just waiting to be summoned -- as it was on Saturday morning. Their actions, their selflessness poses a challenge to each of us. It raises a question of what, beyond prayers and expressions of concern, is required of us going forward. How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory?
You see, when a tragedy like this strikes, it is part of our nature to demand explanations -- to try and pose some order on the chaos and make sense out of that which seems senseless. Already we've seen a national conversation commence, not only about the motivations behind these killings, but about everything from the merits of gun safety laws to the adequacy of our mental health system. And much of this process, of debating what might be done to prevent such tragedies in the future, is an essential ingredient in our exercise of self-government.
But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized -- at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do -- it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we're talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. (Applause.)
Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world, and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, "When I looked for light, then came darkness." Bad things happen, and we have to guard against simple explanations in the aftermath.
For the truth is none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack. None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped these shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man's mind. Yes, we have to examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence. We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future. (Applause.) But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. (Applause.) That we cannot do. (Applause.) That we cannot do.
As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility. Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let's use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy and remind ourselves of all the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound together. (Applause.)
After all, that's what most of us do when we lose somebody in our family -- especially if the loss is unexpected. We're shaken out of our routines. We're forced to look inward. We reflect on the past: Did we spend enough time with an aging parent, we wonder. Did we express our gratitude for all the sacrifices that they made for us? Did we tell a spouse just how desperately we loved them, not just once in a while but every single day?
So sudden loss causes us to look backward -- but it also forces us to look forward; to reflect on the present and the future, on the manner in which we live our lives and nurture our relationships with those who are still with us. (Applause.)
We may ask ourselves if we've shown enough kindness and generosity and compassion to the people in our lives. Perhaps we question whether we're doing right by our children, or our community, whether our priorities are in order.
We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -- but rather, how well we have loved -- (applause)-- and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better. (Applause.)
And that process -- that process of reflection, of making sure we align our values with our actions -- that, I believe, is what a tragedy like this requires.
For those who were harmed, those who were killed -- they are part of our family, an American family 300 million strong. (Applause.) We may not have known them personally, but surely we see ourselves in them. In George and Dot, in Dorwan and Mavy, we sense the abiding love we have for our own husbands, our own wives, our own life partners. Phyllis -- she's our mom or our grandma; Gabe our brother or son. (Applause.) In Judge Roll, we recognize not only a man who prized his family and doing his job well, but also a man who embodied America's fidelity to the law. (Applause.)
And in Gabby -- in Gabby, we see a reflection of our public-spiritedness; that desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating, sometimes contentious, but always necessary and never-ending process to form a more perfect union. (Applause.)
And in Christina -- in Christina we see all of our children. So curious, so trusting, so energetic, so full of magic. So deserving of our love. And so deserving of our good example.
If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate -- as it should -- let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. (Applause.) Let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle.
The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better. To be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors and coworkers and parents. And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more civility in our public discourse, let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy -- it did not -- but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation in a way that would make them proud. (Applause.)
We should be civil because we want to live up to the example of public servants like John Roll and Gabby Giffords, who knew first and foremost that we are all Americans, and that we can question each other's ideas without questioning each other's love of country and that our task, working together, is to constantly widen the circle of our concern so that we bequeath the American Dream to future generations. (Applause.)
They believed -- they believed, and I believe that we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved life here -- they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another, that's entirely up to us. (Applause.)
And I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us. (Applause.)
That's what I believe, in part because that's what a child like Christina Taylor Green believed. (Applause.)
Imagine -- imagine for a moment, here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that some day she, too, might play a part in shaping her nation's future. She had been elected to her student council. She saw public service as something exciting and hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman, someone she was sure was good and important and might be a role model. She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted.
I want to live up to her expectations. (Applause.) I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. (Applause.) All of us -- we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations. (Applause.)
As has already been mentioned, Christina was given to us on September 11th, 2001, one of 50 babies born that day to be pictured in a book called "Faces of Hope." On either side of her photo in that book were simple wishes for a child's life. "I hope you help those in need," read one. "I hope you know all the words to the National Anthem and sing it with your hand over your heart." (Applause.) "I hope you jump in rain puddles."
If there are rain puddles in Heaven, Christina is jumping in them today. (Applause.) And here on this Earth -- here on this Earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and we commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit.
May God bless and keep those we've lost in restful and eternal peace. May He love and watch over the survivors. And may He bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
他们的突然离开让我们心碎。我们的心碎了然而，我们的心也有理由感到充实。我们的心充满了希望，对包括女国会议员在内的13位美国人在枪击中幸存下来，心怀感激；他们中许多人星期六是去见她。
我刚从大学医学中心回来，距离这里只有一英里，我们的朋友嘉比就是在我们说话的此时此刻，勇敢地为生还而搏斗。我想告诉你们她的丈夫马克（Mark）也在这里，他让我告诉你们就在我们探视之后，我们离开她的房间几分钟后，国会里的有些同事还在房间里，嘉比第一次睁开了眼睛。（掌声）嘉比第一次睁开了眼睛。（掌声）
嘉比睁开了眼睛。嘉比睁开了眼睛，所以我可以告诉你们，她知道我们在这里。她知道我们爱戴她。她知道，在她走过无疑是最艰苦的历程时，我们在为她加油。我们在她的身边。（掌声）
我们的心对这个好消息充满感激之情，我们的心对那些挽救他人的人充满感激之情。我们感谢丹尼尔埃尔南德斯（Daniel Hernandez) （掌声）嘉比办公室的一名义工。（掌声）
丹尼尔（Daniel），对不起，你可能不承认，但我们认定你是一位英雄，因为（掌声）你在现场一片混乱的时候冲上去救护你的上司，为她处理伤口，帮她维系生命。（掌声）
我们感谢那些在枪手重装子弹时将他摔倒在地的人。（掌声）（他们）就在那里。（掌声）我们感谢个子娇小的帕特里夏·迈施（Patricia Maisch），是她从杀手手里夺走了弹药，毫无疑问挽救了一些人的生命。（掌声）我们也感谢医生、护士和最早来处理这一事件的人，他们奇迹般地治愈了那些伤者。我们感谢他们。（掌声）
这些男女民众告诉我们，英雄行为不仅在战场上能看到。他们告诉我们，英雄行为并不需要专门的训练或体力。英雄行为就发生在这里，大无畏的精神就在我们众多同胞的心中，在我们周围无处不在，只待响应召唤就像发生在星期六上午的情景。他们的行动，他们的无私精神向我们每个人提出了挑战。它提出了一个问题：除了祈祷和表示关切以外，在我们前进道路上还必须做些什么。我们如何纪念死者？我们如何能真正地缅怀他们？
大家看，当发生这种悲剧性事件时，我们出于本能会要求得到解释，试图从混乱中找出一些条理，从这一似乎不可思议的事件中理出一些头绪。我们已经看到，在全国范围内人们开始进行讨论，不仅涉及这些杀人事件的动机，而且还关系到从枪支安全法律的功过到我们的精神健康体系是否完备等各种问题。这一过程很大的一部分，即关于可以采取些什么措施来防止今后发生这样的悲剧的讨论，是我们在行使自治权时不可或缺的一部分。
但是，在我们的辩论变得严重两极化的时刻在我们太急于把所有那些困扰世人的现象归咎于与自己观点不同的人的时刻我们必须停下来想一想，让我们以带来愈合而不是伤害的方式与彼此说话。（掌声）
《圣经》告诉我们，世界上存在着邪恶，人们无法理解的可怕事情确实会发生。用约伯（Job）的话来说，我等待光明，黑暗便來了。坏事情是会发生的，我们必须避免事后过于简单地作出解释。
事实是，我们谁也不知道究竟是何种原因引发了这起恶性攻击，我们谁也无法确切知道怎样做或许曾可以制止这些枪弹出膛，也无法知道哪些想法隐伏在一个暴徒的内心深处。的确，我们必须仔细审视这起不幸事件背后的所有事实，面对这种暴力我们不能也决不会消极待之。我们应有意愿主动挑战旧的看法，以减少将来发生此类暴力事件的可能。（掌声）我们所不能做的是，将这个不幸事件当作又一个相互攻击的时机。（掌声）我们绝不能那样做。
当我们讨论这些问题时，让我们每个人都保持所需的一定谦恭，而不是交相指責或诿过于人；让我们利用这一事件来扩展我们的道德想象力，来更仔细地相互倾听，来强化我们的同情本能，并让我们自己看到我们的希望与梦想的息息相连的方方面面。（掌声）
说到底，这也是我们大多数人在失去家人时的做法特别是当我们意外地失去亲人时。我们被事件震出了常轨，我们不得不反省。我们反思以往，问自己：我们是否曾用充分时间伴陪年迈的父母？我们有没有对他们为我们所做的一切牺牲表示感激？我们有没有告诉妻子或丈夫我们是多么地深爱着他们，不仅仅是有时候，而是每日每天？
如此突如其来的损失令我们回首，也使我们展望；反思现在，思索未来，以及我们是在以何种方式生活和增进今天仍与我们同在的人们的关系。（掌声）
我们不妨扪心自问，我们是否向我们生活中的人充分展示了善心、慷慨和同情。或许我们会问，我们是否为孩子或我们的社区做了应做的事；我们是否摆正了首要事务。
我们认识到我们自身生命的短暂，我们看到在我们在这个地球上瞬间即逝的时光中，重要的东西不是财富，不是地位，不是权力，不是荣耀，而是我们如何诚挚地互爱（掌声）以及我们为使其他人过得更美好所尽的微薄之力。（掌声）
这一过程这一反思的过程，这一让我们将自己的价值观贯穿于行动的过程我认为，是这场悲剧带来的要求。
那些受到伤害的人们，那些遭到杀害的人们，他们是我们大家庭中的成员，是美国三亿大众之中的一部分。（掌声）我们本人或许不认识他们，但我们无疑在他们身上看到我们自己。在乔治和多特身上，在多尔万和玛维身上，我们感受到我们对自己的丈夫、妻子、生活伴侣的永久之爱。菲利斯她是我们的母亲，我们的祖母；加布是我们的兄弟，我们的儿子。（掌声）在罗尔法官身上，我们不仅看到一个珍视家庭和尽职敬业的人，而且看到对美国对法律的忠诚。（掌声）
在嘉比身上，我们看到公益精神的反映，看到那种为建设一个更完美的联邦而参与的愿望，而这是一个有时令人沮丧、有时发生争论、但总是不可或缺的、永无止境的进程。（掌声）
在克里斯蒂娜身上，我们看到所有的孩子。如此充满好奇心、如此真诚、如此精力充沛、如此神奇。如此值得我们去爱。如此值得我们去做他们的表率。
如果这场悲剧激起反思和辩论它理应如此那么让我们确保它不辜负那些失去的生命。（掌声）让我们确保它不是停留在通常的政治及政治得分层次和微不足道的恩怨上，不会因下一个新闻周期到来而烟消云散。
失去这些可敬可爱的人应当促使我们每一个人力争至善。在我们的个人生活中力争至善，更加善待朋友、邻居和同事，做更好的父母。如果像近日的讨论中提出的观点他们的死为我们的公共讨论注入更多的文明精神，让我们记住不是仅仅因为缺乏文明礼貌才造成这场悲剧不是如此而是因为只有更讲文明和更真诚的公共讨论，才能帮助我们以他们为之感到骄傲的方式迎接我国面临的挑战。（掌声）
我们应该有文明精神，因为我们希望仿效约翰罗尔和嘉比吉福兹这些大众公仆作出的榜样。他们知道，首先也是最重要的一点是，我们都是美国人，我们可以质疑彼此的观点，但不质疑彼此对国家的热爱。我们的使命是通过共同努力，不断扩大我们关注的范围，从而把美国梦传给我们的子孙后代。（掌声）
他们相信他们相信，我也相信，我们可以做得更好。在这里失去生命的人们、在这里拯救生命的人们是他们让我相信这一点。我们可能无法遏制世界上所有的罪恶；但我知道，我们用什么方式来对待别人则是完全取决于我们自己。（掌声）
我相信，尽管我们有种种不完美之处，但我们充满了正值和善良，分离我们的势力远不如团结我们的力量强大。（掌声）
这就是我相信的道理，其部分原因是，一个像克里斯蒂娜泰勒格林这样的孩子相信这点。（掌声）
请设想，想象一下这里有一位年轻的女孩刚刚开始了解我们的民主，刚刚开始理解公民的义务，刚刚开始憧憬有朝一日她也能为建设自己国家的未来贡献力量。她被选入学生会。她认为公共服务令人激动又充满希望。她正要去会见代表选区的国会女议员，一个她认为重要的好人，可以做为好榜样。她通过一双儿童的眼睛看着这一切，没有被蒙上我们成人经常视为理所当然的愤世嫉俗或刻薄。
我希望能不辜负她的期望。（掌声）我希望我们的民主如克里斯蒂娜想象的一样好。我希望美国如她想象的一样好。（掌声）我们所有人都应该尽其所能，确保这个国家能够不辜负我们孩子们的期望。（掌声）
如同之前说过，克里斯蒂娜在2001年9月11日出生，她是五十个在当天出生，将收录在《希望的脸庞》（Faces of Hope）一书中的婴儿之一。在那本书中，她的照片两边写着一个孩子一生单纯的愿望。其中一个是：我希望你帮助有需要的人。我希望你知道国歌的每一个字，并且唱国歌时把手放在心口上。（掌声）我希望你跳进雨水洼。
如果天国有雨水洼，克里斯蒂娜今天就会跳进去。（掌声）在地球上此时此刻在地球上此时此刻，我们把手放在心口上，发出作为美国人的承诺，将塑造一个永远不辜负她温和、快乐精神的国家。
愿上帝赐福，愿我们失去的人永远安息。愿上帝关爱并守护幸存者。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。（掌声）
结束
山地标准时间 晚7:17
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