ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Colin Powell - Former U.S. Secretary of State
General Colin Powell was the first African-American to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

Why you should listen

Four-star General Colin Powell was the first African-American U.S. Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Prior to his service Powell was also the first African-American to serve as Chairman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an office he held from 1989 to 1993. But how did young Powell, a C student from the Bronx and a child of Jamaican immigrants, reach the highest military position in the Department of Defense?

While Powell was attending university at City College of New York, he found his calling in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated to become an Army second lieutenant and later went on to serve two tours in the Vietnam War. In 1989 under President George H. W. Bush, Powell was made a full general, before being named 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Powell is the Founding Chairman of America's Promise Alliance, an organization which supports children through volunteer networks.

More profile about the speaker
Colin Powell | Speaker | TED.com
TEDxMidAtlantic

Colin Powell: Kids need structure

克林·鮑威爾: 小孩子需要結構

Filmed:
1,636,965 views

你可以怎樣幫助小孩子得到一個好的開始呢?在這次演講中,前美國國務卿克林·鮑威爾,用真誠分享個人閱歷,並請求父母、朋友和親戚,早在兒童上小學前,就透過社區以及一份強烈的責任感,為兒童提供支援。 (攝於 TEDxMidAtlantic。)
- Former U.S. Secretary of State
General Colin Powell was the first African-American to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:16
What I want to do this afternoon下午
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今個下午,我想做些
00:18
is something a little different不同 than what's scheduled計劃.
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與日程表中編排的有點兒不一樣的事。
00:21
Foreign國外 policy政策, you can figure數字 that out
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要知道外交政策的話,你大抵看看,
00:23
by watching觀看, I don't know, Rachel雷切爾 MaddowMaddow or somebody,
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我不知道,雷切爾·瑪多 (Rachel Maddow) 或某誰,
00:26
but — (Laughter笑聲) —
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就可以了,不過 — (眾笑) —
00:27
I want to talk about young年輕 people and structure結構體,
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我想談談年青人和結構,
00:31
young年輕 people and structure結構體.
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年青人及結構。
00:33
This was last Wednesday星期三 afternoon下午
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上星期三的下午,
00:35
at a school學校 in Brooklyn布魯克林, New York紐約,
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我在紐約市布魯克林區的一所學校,
00:38
at Cristo克里斯托 Rey雷伊 High School學校, run by the Jesuits耶穌會士.
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是由耶穌會營辦的 Cristo Rey 高中。
00:41
And I was talking to this group of students學生們, and take a look at them.
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我與這一班學生對話,並觀察他們。
00:45
They were around me in three directions方向.
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他們從三個方向面對着我。
00:47
You'll你會 noticed注意到 that almost幾乎 all of them are minority少數民族.
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你會注意到他們幾乎所有人都是少數族裔。
00:50
You'll你會 notice注意 that the building建造 is rather austere簡樸的.
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你會注意到建築物頗為簡樸。
00:52
It's an old New York紐約 school學校 building建造, nothing fancy幻想.
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那是個老舊的紐約市校舍建築,絕無花巧。
00:56
They still have old blackboards黑板 and whatnot諸如此類.
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那裏仍有老舊的黑板,諸如此類。
00:58
And there are about 300 kids孩子 in this school學校,
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而這所學校,有約 300 名小孩子就讀,
01:01
and the school's學校的 been going now for four years年份,
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開辦迄今已有四年了,
01:04
and they're about to graduate畢業 their first class.
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而首屆學生亦即將畢業。
01:07
Twenty-two二十二 people are graduating畢業,
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有二十二人將會畢業,
01:09
and all 22 are going to college學院.
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而當中全部人都會升讀大學。
01:11
They all come from homes家園 where there is, for the most part部分,
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二十二位來自的家庭,大部份
01:14
just one person in the home,
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家中只有一位親人,
01:16
usually平時 the mother母親 or the grandmother祖母, and that's it,
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通常是母親或祖母,就沒別人了,
01:19
and they come here for their education教育
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而他們來這裏,是為了接受教育,
01:21
and for their structure結構體.
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以及他們的結構。
01:23
Now I had this picture圖片 taken採取, and it was put up
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拍了這幅照片之後,在上星期就放上了
01:26
on my FacebookFacebook的 page last week,
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我的 Facebook 頁面,
01:28
and somebody wrote in,
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有人寫道:
01:30
"Huh, why does he have him standing常設 at attention注意 like that?"
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「唔,為何包先生讓孩子這樣的向他立正?」
01:35
And then they said, "But he looks容貌 good." (Laughter笑聲)
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他們接着寫道:「但孩子看起來挺不錯的。」 (眾笑)
01:39
He does look good, because kids孩子 need structure結構體,
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他的確頗好看,因為小孩子需要結構,
01:42
and the trick I play in all of my school學校 appearances出場
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而每次我到訪學校,必定會耍個把戲,
01:45
is that when I get through通過 with my little homily講道 to the kids孩子,
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就是當我與小孩子說完道理後,
01:48
I then invite邀請 them to ask questions問題,
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我就會邀請他們發問,
01:50
and when they raise提高 their hands, I say, "Come up,"
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而當他們舉起手時,我就說:「上來」,
01:52
and I make them come up and stand in front面前 of me.
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並讓他們排好隊在我面前站立。
01:55
I make them stand at attention注意 like a soldier士兵.
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我讓他們像士兵一樣立正。
01:57
Put your arms武器 straight直行 down at your side,
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雙手垂放在側,
01:59
look up, open打開 your eyes眼睛, stare straight直行 ahead,
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抬起頭,睜大眼睛,直視前方,
02:02
and speak說話 out your question loudly高聲 so everybody每個人 can hear.
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大聲說出你的問題,讓每個人都能聽到。
02:05
No slouching, no pants褲子 hanging down, none沒有 of that stuff東東.
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不要曲起背,不要把褲子穿成大褲襠,不要碎唸。
02:09
(Laughter笑聲)
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(眾笑)
02:10
And this young年輕 man, his name名稱 is -- his last name名稱 Cruz克魯茲 --
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而這位年青人,名字是 -- 他姓 Cruz -- 他很喜歡這樣。
02:13
he loved喜愛 it. That's all over his FacebookFacebook的 page and it's gone走了 viral病毒.
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並在 Facebook 上說個不停,就像病毒般流傳。
02:17
(Laughter笑聲)
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(眾笑)
02:19
So people think I'm being存在 unkind刻薄 to this kid孩子.
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所以,人們以為我對這小子苛刻。
02:22
No, we're having a little fun開玩笑.
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不,其實我們在享受一點兒樂趣。
02:24
And the thing about it, I've doneDONE this for years年份,
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而我想提一提,我這樣做已有多年了,
02:26
the younger更年輕 they are, the more fun開玩笑 it is.
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小孩子年紀愈小,就愈有趣。
02:29
When I get six-六- and seven-year-olds七歲的孩子 in a group,
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當我有一班六、七歲的小孩子時,
02:32
I have to figure數字 out how to keep them quiet安靜.
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我要想辦法讓他們安靜下來。
02:34
You know that they'll他們會 always start開始 yakkingyakking.
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你知道他們經常吵個不停。
02:36
And so I play a little game遊戲 with them
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因此我與他們先玩個小遊戲
02:38
before I make them stand at attention注意.
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才讓他們立正。
02:39
I say, "Now listen. In the army軍隊,
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我說:「聽着。在軍隊裏,
02:42
when we want you to pay工資 attention注意,
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當我們想引起你注意時,
02:44
we have a command命令. It's called 'at'在 ease緩解.'
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我們有個命令。就是叫「稍息」。
02:47
It means手段 everybody每個人 be quiet安靜 and pay工資 attention注意. Listen up.
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意思是每個人都安靜並留心。聽好。
02:51
Do you understand理解?"
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明白嗎?」
02:52
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.""Let's practice實踐. Everybody每個人 start開始 chatting聊天的."
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「唔,唔,唔。」「練習一下吧。大家開始聊天。」
02:57
And I let them go for about 10 seconds, then I go, "At ease緩解!"
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之後我讓他們吵約十秒鐘,然後我說:「稍息!」
03:00
"Huh!" (Laughter笑聲)
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「唔!」(眾笑)
03:04
"Yes, General一般. Yes, General一般."
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「是,將軍。是,將軍。」
03:06
Try it with your kids孩子. See if it works作品. (Laughter笑聲)
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不妨跟你的孩子試試。看看是否湊效。 (眾笑)
03:08
I don't think so.
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我想未必。
03:11
But anyway無論如何, it's a game遊戲 I play, and it comes obviously明顯
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無論如何,這是個我玩的遊戲,而且很明顯
03:15
from my military軍事 experience經驗.
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是來自我的軍事經驗。
03:16
Because for the majority多數 of my adult成人 life,
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因為我成人的生命裏,大部分時間
03:20
I worked工作 with young年輕 kids孩子, teenagers青少年 with guns槍砲, I call them.
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我都與年青小伙子一起工作,我叫他們「持槍少年」。
03:24
And we would bring帶來 them into the army軍隊,
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而我們將他們帶進軍隊裏,
03:26
and the first thing we would do is to put them
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我們第一件會做的事,就是將他們
03:29
in an environment環境 of structure結構體, put them in ranks行列,
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放進有結構的環境裏,將他們放進軍階中,
03:33
make them all wear穿 the same相同 clothes衣服,
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讓他們全都穿相同的衣服,
03:34
cut all their hair頭髮 off so they look alike一樣,
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剃光頭髮,讓他們看來都很相似,
03:37
make sure that they are standing常設 in ranks行列.
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確保他們是按軍階站立。
03:39
We teach them how to go right face面對, left face面對,
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我們教導他們怎樣將頭往右、往左步操,
03:41
so they can obey遵守 instructions說明 and know
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好讓他們懂得服從指示,
03:43
the consequences後果 of not obeying服從 instructions說明.
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並學懂不服從指示的後果。
03:45
It gives them structure結構體.
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這給予他們結構。
03:47
And then we introduce介紹 them to somebody who they come to hate討厭 immediately立即, the drill鑽頭 sergeant軍士.
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之後我們向他們介紹一個他們立即就會討厭的人,教官。
03:51
And they hate討厭 him.
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而他們討厭他。
03:53
And the drill鑽頭 sergeant軍士 starts啟動 screaming尖叫 at them,
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教官開始向他們大聲呼喊,
03:55
and telling告訴 them to do all kinds of awful可怕 things.
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並指令他們做各種難為的事情。
03:59
But then the most amazing驚人 thing happens發生 over time.
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但最奇妙的事情,隨着時間慢慢發生。
04:02
Once一旦 that structure結構體 is developed發達,
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當那種結構發展出來時,
04:05
once一旦 they understand理解 the reason原因 for something,
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當他們明白事情背後的理由,
04:08
once一旦 they understand理解, "Mama媽媽 ain't here, son兒子.
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當他們明白:「媽媽不在這裏,小子。
04:12
I'm your worst最差 nightmare惡夢. I'm your daddy and your mommy媽媽.
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我是你最壞的惡夢。我是你的爸爸和媽媽。
04:16
And that's just the way it is. You got that, son兒子?
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而這就是這裏的方式。收到嗎,小子?
04:19
Yeah, and then when I ask you a question, there are only three possible可能 answers答案:
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沒錯,然後當我問你一條問題時,只有三種可能答案:
04:22
yes, sir先生; no, sir先生; and no excuse藉口, sir先生.
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『是,長官』;『不是,長官』;和『沒有理由,長官』。
04:24
Don't start開始 telling告訴 me why you didn't do something.
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不要開始告訴我,為何你沒做到。儘管說
04:26
It's yes, sir先生; no, sir先生; no excuse藉口, sir先生."
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『是,長官』;『不是,長官』;『沒有理由,長官』。」
04:29
"You didn't shave刮鬍子.""But sir先生 —"
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「你沒有刮鬍子。」「但是長官 —」
04:30
"No, don't tell me how often經常 you scraped your face面對 this morning早上.
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「不,不要告訴我今早你怎樣不斷刮傷臉皮。
04:33
I'm telling告訴 you you didn't shave刮鬍子."
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我在告訴你,你沒有刮鬍子。」
04:35
"No excuse藉口, sir先生.""AttaboyAttaboy, you're learning學習 fast快速."
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「沒有理由,長官。」「不錯,真是快上手。」
04:38
But you'd be amazed吃驚 at what you can do with them
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但你會驚訝,當你將他們放進那種結構中時,
04:41
once一旦 you put them in that structure結構體.
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你能讓他們做到的事情。
04:43
In 18 weeks, they have a skill技能. They are mature成熟.
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在十八週內,他們學到技巧。變得成熟。
04:48
And you know what, they come to admire欣賞 the drill鑽頭 sergeant軍士
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而你知道嗎?他們開始欽羡教官,
04:51
and they never forget忘記 the drill鑽頭 sergeant軍士.
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然後他們永遠難忘教官。
04:53
They come to respect尊重 him.
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他們開始敬佩他。
04:56
And so we need more of this kind of structure結構體 and respect尊重
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所以我們需要將多些這類型的結構和敬佩
04:59
in the lives生活 of our children孩子.
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放進我們兒女的生命中。
05:02
I spend a lot of time with youth青年 groups,
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我有不少時間,常常與青年人一起,
05:03
and I say to people, "When does the education教育 process處理 begin開始?"
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而我對人們說:「教育的過程從何時開始?」
05:07
We're always talking about, "Let's fix固定 the schools學校.
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我們常常在說:「讓我們來改善學校。
05:08
Let's do more for our teachers教師. Let's put more computers電腦 in our schools學校.
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為教師提供更多配套。在學校安裝更多電腦。
05:12
Let's get it all online線上."
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讓所有事物都步上軌道。」
05:15
That isn't the whole整個 answer回答. It's part部分 of the answer回答.
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那不是答案的全部。僅只包含一小部分。
05:18
But the real真實 answer回答 begins開始 with bringing使 a child兒童 to the school學校
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但真正的答案,是從帶小孩上學開始,
05:22
with structure結構體 in that child's孩子的 heart and soul靈魂 to begin開始 with.
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從那小孩心靈中的結構開始。
05:26
When does the learning學習 process處理 begin開始? Does it begin開始 in first grade年級?
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學習的過程從何時開始?是從一年級開始嗎?
05:29
No, no, it begins開始 the first time
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不,不,它的開始
05:31
a child兒童 in a mother's母親 arms武器
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是小孩第一次在母親臂中
05:34
looks容貌 up at the mother母親
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仰視母親時,
05:37
and says, "Oh, this must必須 be my mother母親.
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心想:「噢,這一定是我的母親。
05:40
She's the one who feeds供稿 me.
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她是哺養我的人。
05:43
Oh yeah, when I don't feel so good down there,
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沒錯,當我覺得有點兒不舒服的時候,
05:45
she takes care關心 of me.
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她會照料我。
05:47
It's her language語言 I will learn學習."
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我會學她的語言。」
05:50
And at that moment時刻 they shut關閉 out all the other languages語言
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而那個時候,他們就會將所有其他
05:53
that they could be learning學習 at that age年齡,
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那個年紀時可以學習的語言都拒諸門外,
05:55
but by three months個月, that's her.
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而首三個月,她就是一切。
05:58
And if the person doing it, whether是否 it's the mother母親
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如果那個人,不管是母親
06:01
or grandmother祖母, whoever's誰是 doing it,
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還是祖母,不管是誰做這件事,
06:03
that is when the education教育 process處理 begins開始.
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那就是教育過程的開始。
06:05
That's when language語言 begins開始.
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那是語言的開始。
06:07
That's when love begins開始. That's when structure結構體 begins開始.
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那是愛的開始。那是結構的開始。
06:09
That's when you start開始 to imprint版本說明 on the child兒童
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那是你開始在小孩中烙印
06:11
that "you are special特別,
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「你是特別的,
06:14
you are different不同 from every一切 other child兒童 in the world世界.
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你與世界上任何其他一位小孩都不同。
06:17
And we're going to read to you."
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而我們將會向你朗讀。」
06:19
A child兒童 who has not been read to
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得不到朗讀的小孩,
06:21
is in danger危險 when that child兒童 gets得到 to school學校.
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當小孩上學時可能會有風險。
06:23
A child兒童 who doesn't know his or her colors顏色
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一個小孩,不知道自己的膚色,
06:25
or doesn't know how to tell time, doesn't know how to tie領帶 shoes,
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或者不知道如何報時間,不知道怎樣綁鞋帶,
06:28
doesn't know how to do those things,
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不知道怎樣做那些事情,
06:30
and doesn't know how to do something that
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也不知道如何去做那件
06:32
goes by a word that was drilled into me as a kid孩子: mind心神.
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自小就紮根我的腦海中的字眼:注意。
06:35
Mind心神 your manners禮貌! Mind心神 your adults成年人! Mind心神 what you're saying!
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注意你的言行舉止!當心身邊的大人!小心你所說的話!
06:39
This is the way children孩子 are raised上調 properly正確.
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這是正確養育兒童的方式。
06:42
And I watched看著 my own擁有 young年輕 grandchildren孫子 now come along沿
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我現在看着自己年幼的孫兒,
06:45
and they're, much to the distress苦難 of my children孩子,
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他們真令我的兒女頭疼,
06:49
they are acting演戲 just like we did. You know? You imprint版本說明 them.
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他們就像我們當年一樣。你知道嗎?你要去烙印他們。
06:54
And that's what you have to do to prepare準備 children孩子 for education教育 and for school學校.
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而那就是你要做的事,去準備兒童接受教育和上學。
06:59
And I'm working加工 at all the energy能源 I have
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現在我正盡全力
07:02
to sort分類 of communicate通信 this message信息 that
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希望將這個訊息宣揚:
07:04
we need preschool幼兒, we need Head Start開始,
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我們需要學前教育,我們需要「啟蒙計劃」,
07:08
we need prenatal產前 care關心.
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我們需要產前檢查。
07:10
The education教育 process處理 begins開始 even before the child兒童 is born天生,
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教育的過程,早在小孩誕生之前已經開始,
07:14
and if you don't do that, you're going to have difficulty困難.
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若你不這樣做的話,就可能會面對困難。
07:17
And we are having difficulties困難 in so many許多 of our communities社區
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而我們在很多社區中都面對困難,
07:20
and so many許多 of our schools學校 where kids孩子 are coming未來
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很多學校接收一年級新生,
07:23
to first grade年級 and their eyes眼睛 are blazing熾烈,
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那些學童雙眼發亮,
07:25
they've他們已經 got their little knapsack背包 on and they're ready準備 to go,
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他們收拾好小背包準備上學,
07:29
and then they realize實現 they're not like the other first graders平地機
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然後他們發覺自己不像其他一年級生,
07:32
who know books圖書, have been read to, can do their alphabet字母.
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其他人懂書,有人朗讀給他們聽,懂得英文字母。
07:36
And by the third第三 grade年級, the kids孩子 who didn't have
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而到了三年級,那些一開始
07:39
that structure結構體 and minding自掃門前雪 in the beginning開始
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缺乏那種結構和思維的小孩子,
07:43
start開始 to realize實現 they're behind背後, and what do they do?
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開始發覺他們落後了,然後他們怎樣做?
07:45
They act法案 it out. They act法案 it out, and they're on their way
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他們行為出位。他們表現出來,然後他們就要
07:49
to jail監獄 or they're on their way to being存在 dropouts輟學.
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邁向一條鋃鐺入獄或是中途綴學的道路。
07:52
It's predictable可預測.
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預料得到。
07:53
If you're not at the right reading level水平 at third第三 grade年級,
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若你到了三年級,閱讀能力不達標,
07:56
you are a candidate候選人 for jail監獄 at age年齡 18,
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你就是十八歲時入獄的候選了,
08:00
and we have the highest最高 incarceration監禁 rate
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而我們有最高的監禁率,
08:03
because we're not getting得到 our kids孩子 the proper正確 start開始 in life.
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因為我們沒有讓我們的小孩子在生命中得到妥當的起步。
08:06
The last chapter章節 in my book is called
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我的著作中最後一章,名為
08:08
"The Gift禮品 of a Good Start開始."
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「一份好的開始的禮物」。
08:11
The gift禮品 of a good start開始. Every一切 child兒童 ought應該 to have a good start開始 in life.
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一份好的開始的禮物。每個小孩生命中都應該有個好開始。
08:14
I was privileged特權 to have that kind of good start開始.
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我有幸能夠有這種好的開始。
08:17
I was not a great student學生.
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昔日的我不是個傑出的學生。
08:19
I was a public上市 school學校 kid孩子 in New York紐約 City,
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我是紐約市一個讀公立學校的學生,
08:22
and I didn't do well at all.
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而我各方面的表現都不好。
08:24
I have my entire整個 New York紐約 City Board of Education教育 transcript抄本
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我從紐約市教育局拿到一副
08:28
from kindergarten幼兒園 through通過 college學院.
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從幼稚園到大學的完整成績單。
08:31
I wanted it when I was writing寫作 my first book.
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我想索取的原因是,當時我在寫我第一本書。
08:33
I wanted to see if my memory記憶 was correct正確,
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我想看看我的記憶是否正確,
08:35
and, my God, it was. (Laughter笑聲)
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結果是,老天,果然沒錯。 (眾笑)
08:38
Straight直行 C everywhere到處.
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各科一律都是 C。
08:41
And I finally最後 bounced反彈 through通過 high school學校,
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而我終於在高中時期翻身,
08:43
got into the City College學院 of New York紐約
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以平均分 78.3 進了紐約市立學院,
08:46
with a 78.3 average平均, which哪一個 I shouldn't不能 have been allowed允許 in with,
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以這種分數我是無法被錄取的,
08:49
and then I started開始 out in engineering工程,
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之後我專攻工程學,
08:52
and that only lasted歷時 six months個月. (Laughter笑聲)
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而這只維持了六個月。 (眾笑)
08:54
And then I went into geology地質學, "rocks岩石 for jocks喬克斯." This is easy簡單.
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之後我轉攻地理學,「基礎地理學」。很簡單。
08:58
And then I found發現 ROTCROTC.
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之後我發現了預備軍官訓練團 (ROTC)。
09:00
I found發現 something that I did well and something that I loved喜愛 doing,
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我發現了一樣我做得好,同時喜歡做的事情,
09:04
and I found發現 a group of youngsters青少年 like me who felt the same相同 way.
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我也發現了一群年青人,像我一樣有相同的感覺。
09:08
And so my whole整個 life then was dedicated專用 to ROTCROTC and the military軍事.
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自此之後,我的人生就奉獻給預備軍官訓練團和軍方。
09:12
And I say to young年輕 kids孩子 everywhere到處, as you're growing生長 up
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而我到處都跟年輕小伙子說,隨着你長大,
09:15
and as this structure結構體 is being存在 developed發達 inside of you,
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隨着這個結構在你身上發展時,
09:18
always be looking for that which哪一個 you do well and that which哪一個 you love doing,
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永遠試着找尋你做得好的事,以及你熱愛做的事,
09:21
and when you find those two things together一起, man, you got it.
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而當你能將兩者結合時,老兄,你找對了。
09:24
That's what's going on. And that's what I found發現.
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這是一路發生的過程。而我就找到了那一樣事物。
09:26
Now the authorities當局 at CCNYCCNY were getting得到 tired of me being存在 there.
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此時,紐約市立學院當局開始厭倦我在那兒讀書了。
09:29
I'd been there four and a half going on five years年份,
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我在那兒讀了四年半,將近五年,
09:31
and my grades等級 were not doing particularly尤其 well,
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而我的成績等級不太理想,
09:35
and I was in occasional偶然 difficulties困難 with the administration行政.
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我中間與校方也有些過不去。
09:38
And so they said, "But he does so well in ROTCROTC.
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之後他們說:「但他在預備軍官訓練團做得很好。
09:41
Look, he gets得到 straight直行 A's in that but not in anything else其他."
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看,他在那兒全部奪 A,但其他就完全沒有了。」
09:44
And so they said, "Look, let's take his ROTCROTC grades等級
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之後他們說:「看,不如取他在預備軍官訓練團的成績,
09:49
and roll them into his overall總體 GPAGPA and see what happens發生."
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一併計進整體成積均點 (Overall GPA),看看如何。」
09:52
And they did, and it brought me up to 2.0. (Laughter笑聲)
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他們照做,結果讓我攀升到 2.0。 (眾笑)
09:59
Yep是的. (Laughter笑聲) (Applause掌聲)
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對。(眾笑) (掌聲)
10:03
They said, "It's good enough足夠 for government政府 work.
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他們說:「這個成績足以打政府工。
10:06
Give him to the army軍隊. We'll never see him again. We'll never see him again."
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將他送給軍隊吧。我們不會再見到他了。我們不會再見到他了。」
10:09
So they shipped me off to the army軍隊,
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就此他們將我送到軍隊裏,
10:11
and lo and behold不料, many許多 years年份 later後來,
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時移世易,眾多年後,
10:15
I'm considered考慮 one of the greatest最大 sons兒子 the City College學院 of New York紐約 has ever had. (Laughter笑聲)
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我獲認為紐約市立學院歷屆最傑出的舊生之一。(眾笑)
10:19
So, I tell young年輕 people everywhere到處,
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所以,我四處都對年青人說,
10:22
it ain't where you start開始 in life, it's what you do with life
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不是你在生命中的起點,而是你用生命做甚麼,
10:26
that determines確定 where you end結束 up in life,
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決定你人生的目的地,
10:30
and you are blessed幸福 to be living活的 in a country國家 that,
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而你生活在這個國家,實在是個祝福,
10:33
no matter where you start開始, you have opportunities機會
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無論你在哪裏起步,你都會有機會,
10:36
so long as you believe in yourself你自己,
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只要你相信自己,
10:39
you believe in the society社會 and the country國家,
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相信社會和國家,
10:42
and you believe that you can self-improve自我提高
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相信你可以自我提升
10:45
and educate教育 yourself你自己 as you go along沿.
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並沿途可以教育你自己。
10:47
And that's the key to success成功.
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而那就是成功的關鍵。
10:50
But it begins開始 with the gift禮品 of a good start開始.
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但一切源於這一份好開始的禮物。
10:53
If we don't give that gift禮品 to each and every一切 one of our kids孩子,
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若我們不給予我們每一個小孩子那份禮物,
10:55
if we don't invest投資 at the earliest最早 age年齡,
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若我們不在最早階段作出投資,
10:59
we're going to be running賽跑 into difficulties困難.
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我們將會走進困境中。
11:02
It's why we have a dropout退出 rate of roughly大致 25 percent百分 overall總體
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這是為何我們整體的綴學率接近百分之 25,
11:06
and almost幾乎 50 percent百分 of our minority少數民族 population人口
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而我們的少數族群人口將近一半
11:09
living活的 in low-income低收入 areas,
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都活在低收入地區,
11:12
because they're not getting得到 the gift禮品 of a good start開始.
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因為他們得不到一個好的開始作為禮物。
11:15
My gift禮品 of a good start開始 was not only being存在 in a nice不錯 family家庭,
231
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我得到一個好的開始作為禮物,不單是生在不錯的家庭,
11:19
a good family家庭, but having a family家庭 that said to me,
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一個好的家庭,而且亦是有家人會對我說:
11:23
"Now listen, we came來了 to this country國家 in banana香蕉 boats
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「聽好了,早在 1920 和 1924 年,
11:27
in 1920 and 1924.
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我們乘坐香蕉船來到這個國家。
11:30
We worked工作 like dogs小狗 down in the garment服裝 industry行業 every一切 single day.
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我們每一日都在製衣廠下做牛做馬。
11:34
We're not doing it so that you can stick something up your nose鼻子
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我們這麼辛苦,不是為了讓你吸毒追龍,
11:38
or get in trouble麻煩. And don't even think about dropping落下 out."
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或是惹是生非。更休想中途綴學。」
11:42
If I had ever gone走了 home and told those immigrant移民 people
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若我試試回家,對着兩位第一代移民的父母說:
11:45
that, "You know, I'm tired of school學校 and I'm dropping落下 out,"
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「你知道嗎,我厭倦上學,我要綴學了」,
11:48
they'd他們會 said, "We're dropping落下 you out. We'll get another另一個 kid孩子."
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他們會說:「我們斷絕關係了。當沒生過你這個兒子。」
11:50
(Laughter笑聲)
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(眾笑)
11:57
They had expectations期望 for all of the cousins表兄弟
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他們對所有表堂兄弟,以至住在南布朗克斯
11:59
and the extended擴展 family家庭 of immigrants移民 that lived生活 in the South Bronx布朗克斯,
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遠方親戚的移民子弟都抱有期望,
12:03
but they had more than just expectations期望 for us.
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而他們對我們,更是超乎期許之上。
12:06
They stuck卡住 into our hearts心中 like a dagger匕首
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就像匕首一樣,他們將一份尊榮心
12:10
a sense of shame恥辱: "Don't you shame恥辱 this family家庭."
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刺進我們的心坎裏:「不要將家族之名蒙愧」。
12:15
Sometimes有時 I would get in trouble麻煩,
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有時我會惹上麻煩,
12:16
and my parents父母 were coming未來 home,
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我父母回家途中,
12:18
and I was in my room房間 waiting等候 for what's going to happen發生,
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而我就在自己的房間中佇候發落,
12:22
and I would sit there saying to myself, "Okay, look,
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我會獨自坐着,對自己說:「好的,看,
12:24
take the belt and hit擊中 me, but, God, don't give me that 'shame'恥辱 the family'家庭' bit again."
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就讓皮鞭鞭打我吧,但,老天,不要再罵我甚麼『丟盡顏面』了。」
12:29
It devastated滿目瘡痍 me when my mother母親 did that to me.
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我母親對我這樣說時,實在是很大的衝擊。
12:31
And I also had this extended擴展 network網絡.
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而我亦都有這一個延伸的網路。
12:34
Children孩子 need a network網絡. Children孩子 need to be part部分 of a tribe部落,
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兒童需要一個網路。兒童需要成為
12:36
a family家庭, a community社區.
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部落、家庭、社區的一份子。
12:38
In my case案件 it was aunts阿姨 who lived生活 in all of these tenement房屋 buildings房屋.
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在我的情況中,那就是住在所有那些唐樓中的阿姨。
12:43
I don't know how many許多 of you are New Yorkers紐約人,
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我不知道在座有多少位是紐約人,
12:44
but there were these tenement房屋 buildings房屋,
258
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1921
但紐約市昔日有這些唐樓,
12:46
and these women婦女 were always hanging out one of the windows視窗,
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而這些女士經常就是探頭窗外,
12:50
leaning on a pillow枕頭.
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倚着枕頭。
12:51
They never left. (Laughter笑聲)
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她們永遠不會走開。(眾笑)
12:54
I, so help me God, I grew成長 up walking步行 those streets街道,
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我,願主庇佑,我是逛過這些街道長大的,
12:57
and they were always there.
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而她們永遠都在。
12:58
They never went to the bathroom浴室. They never cooked. (Laughter笑聲)
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她們永遠不會上洗手間。她們永遠不會煮食。(眾笑)
13:01
They never did anything.
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她們永遠不幹任何事。
13:04
But what they did was keep us in play.
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然而她們做的,卻是督促着我們。
13:07
They kept不停 us in play.
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她們不斷鞭韃我們。
13:09
And they didn't care關心
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而她們不管
13:11
whether是否 you became成為 a doctor醫生 or a lawyer律師 or a general一般,
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他朝你會成為醫生、律師還是上將,
13:16
and they never expected預期 any generals將軍 in the family家庭,
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而他們從來也沒有期望家門出名將,
13:19
as long as you got an education教育 and then you got a job工作.
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只要你接受教育,之後找到一份工作。
13:23
"Don't give us any of that self-actualization自我實現 stuff東東.
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「別跟我們談甚麼實踐理想。
13:25
You get a job工作 and get out of the house.
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你找份工作,就踏出家門。
13:28
We don't have time to waste浪費 for that.
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我們沒有時間可以浪費在那。
13:30
And then you can support支持 us. That's the role角色 of you guys."
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然後你就可以撐起這個家。這是你們男孩子的責任。」
13:34
And so, it's so essential必要 that we kind of put this culture文化
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所以,很重要的一點是,我們應該將這種文化
13:39
back into our families家庭, all families家庭.
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放回我們的家庭,所有的家庭。
13:44
And it is so important重要 that all of you here today今天
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而這是如此重要,因為今日在座各位
13:47
who are successful成功 people,
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都是成功人士,
13:50
and I'm sure have wonderful精彩 families家庭 and children孩子 and grandchildren孫子,
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而我相信你們都有美好的家庭、兒孫滿堂,
13:54
it's not enough足夠. You've got to reach達到 out and back
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這並不足夠。你需要再踏出一步,
13:56
and find kids孩子 like Mr先生. Cruz克魯茲
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探本溯源,找回像 Cruz 先生這樣的小孩子,
13:58
who can make it if you give them the structure結構體,
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若你給予他們結構,那些小孩子做得出來,
14:02
if you reach達到 back and help, if you mentor導師,
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1987
若你回首並伸出援手,若你身體力行給予指導,
14:04
if you invest投資 in boys男孩 and girls女孩 clubs會所,
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若你投資在男女幼童軍,
14:06
if you work with your school學校 system系統,
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若你與你的學校系統攜手合作,
14:08
make sure it's the best最好 school學校 system系統,
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確保它是最佳的學校系統,
14:09
and not just your kid's孩子的 school學校, but the school學校 uptown住宅區 in Harlem哈林,
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不只是你孩子的學校,也是那所在哈林區住宅區的學校,
14:14
not just downtown市中心 Montessori蒙特梭利 on the West西 Side.
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而不只是在西邊市中心的蒙台梭利學校。
14:17
All of us have to have a commitment承諾 to do that.
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我們每一位都應該表現出承擔,貫徹實踐。
14:21
And we're not just investing投資 in the kids孩子.
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而我們不只是投資在小孩子身上。
14:24
We're investing投資 in our future未來.
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我們也在投資我們的未來。
14:26
We're going to be a minority-majority少數民族佔多數 country國家
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再過一代人,我們將會變成一個
14:29
in one more generation.
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少數族矞成為大多數的國家。
14:31
Those that we call minorities少數民族 now are going to be the majority多數.
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我們現在稱為少數族矞的人,將會變成大多數。
14:34
And we have to make sure that they are ready準備 to be the majority多數.
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而我們需要確保他們準備好成為大多數。
14:37
We have to make sure they're ready準備 to be the leaders領導者
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我們需要確保他們準備好成為領袖,
14:39
of this great country國家 of ours我們的,
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帶領這個屬於我們的偉大國家,
14:42
a country國家 that is like no other,
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一個與眾不同的國家,
14:45
a country國家 that amazes驚訝 me every一切 single day,
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一個每一天都讓我新奇的國家,
14:47
a country國家 that's fractious易怒的. We're always arguing爭論 with each other.
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一個易怒的國家。我們經常互相爭吵。
14:50
That's how the system's系統 supposed應該 to work.
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這卻是制度應該運作的方式。
14:53
It's a country國家 of such這樣 contrasts對比, but it's a nation國家 of nations國家.
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它是個有如此反差的國家,但它是國度中之國度。
14:56
We touch觸摸 every一切 nation國家. Every一切 nation國家 touches觸摸 us.
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我們觸及每個國度。每個國度也觸及我們。
15:00
We are a nation國家 of immigrants移民.
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我們是一個移民的國度。
15:02
That's why we need sound聲音 immigration移民 policy政策.
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所以我們需要完善的移民政策。
15:05
It's ridiculous荒謬 not to have a sound聲音 immigration移民 policy政策
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如果我們沒有一套完善的移民政策,去歡迎那些
15:08
to welcome歡迎 those who want to come here and be part部分 of this great nation國家,
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想來這裏並成為這個強大國度的一份子的人,實在荒謬,
15:11
or we can send發送 back home with an education教育
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又或者,我們可以將一套教育送返故鄉,
15:13
to help their people rise上升 up out of poverty貧窮.
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幫助他們的人民從貧困中站起來。
15:17
One of the great stories故事 I love to tell is about my love
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3843
其中一個讓我津津樂道的得意故事,就是我喜愛
15:21
of going to my hometown家鄉 of New York紐約
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1397
回去我在紐約的故里走一趟,
15:22
and walking步行 up Park公園 Avenue大街 on a beautiful美麗 day
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1794
並在風和日麗的一日,走上公園大道,
15:24
and admiring欣賞 everything and seeing眼看 all the people go by
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欣賞身邊一切,並看着身邊擦過
15:26
from all over the world世界.
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來自世界各地的人。
15:28
But what I always have to do is stop at one of the corners角落
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3638
但我經常都要做的事,就是在其中一個轉角處停步,
15:31
and get a hot dog from the immigrant移民 pushcart手推車 peddler小販.
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3386
並從那個移民的手推車檔口中買一個熱狗。
15:35
Gotta總得 have a dirty water dog. (Laughter笑聲)
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忍不住口要吃個熱狗。(眾笑)
15:38
And no matter where I am or what I'm doing,
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而無論我身處何方或在做甚麼,
15:41
I've got to do that.
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我都要這樣做。
15:42
I even did it when I was Secretary秘書 of State.
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甚至在就任國務卿期間,我都這樣做。
15:45
I'd come out of my suite套房 at the Waldorf華爾 Astoria道夫
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我會從華爾道夫酒店的酒店套房走出來
15:48
— (Laughter笑聲) —
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— (眾笑) —
15:51
be walking步行 up the street, and I would hit擊中 around 55th Street
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935478
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在街中步行,然後在第 55 街交界轉角,
15:54
looking for the immigrant移民 pushcart手推車 peddler小販.
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找尋移民手推車檔口。
15:57
In those days, I had five bodyguards保鏢 around me
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那些年,我身邊有五個保鏢,
15:59
and three New York紐約 City police警察 cars汽車 would roll alongside並肩
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943299
2894
加上三輛紐約市的警車會沿途護航,
16:02
to make sure nobody沒有人 whacked疲憊不堪 me while I was going up Park公園 Avenue大街. (Laughter笑聲)
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4820
確保當我走上公園大道時沒有人會重擊我。(眾笑)
16:06
And I would order訂購 the hot dog from the guy,
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而我就會向那個小販買個熱狗,
16:08
and he'd他會 start開始 to fix固定 it, and then he'd他會 look around
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2446
他就會開始弄,然後他環顧四周,
16:11
at the bodyguards保鏢 and the police警察 cars汽車 --
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955127
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見到那些保鏢和警車 --
16:12
"I've got a green綠色 card! I've got a green綠色 card!" (Laughter笑聲)
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接着說:「我有綠卡的!我有綠卡的!」(眾笑)
16:14
"It's okay, it's okay."
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「沒事的,沒事的。」
16:19
But now I'm alone單獨. I'm alone單獨.
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但現在我獨自一個。我一個人。
16:21
I've got no bodyguards保鏢, I've got no police警察 cars汽車. I've got nothing.
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我再沒有保鏢。我再沒有警車。我甚麼也沒有。
16:24
But I gotta總得 have my hot dog.
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但我都要吃我的熱狗。
16:27
I did it just last week. It was on a Tuesday星期二 evening晚間
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我上星期才買過。那是個星期二的黃昏,
16:30
down by Columbus哥倫布 Circle.
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就在哥倫布圓環附近。
16:33
And the scene現場 repeats重複 itself本身 so often經常.
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這種場景重複了不計其數。
16:35
I'll go up and ask for my hot dog,
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我上前買個熱狗,
16:39
and the guy will fix固定 it, and as he's finishing精加工,
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那個小販就會弄,而當他差不多弄好時,
16:41
he'll地獄 say, "I know you. I see you on television電視.
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他就會說:「我認得你。你上過電視。
16:44
You're, well, you're General一般 Powell鮑威爾."
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你是…欸…你是包威爾上將。」
16:46
"Yes, yes.""Oh ... "
344
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「是,是。」「噢…」
16:48
I hand him the money.
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我給他錢。
16:50
"No, General一般. You can't pay工資 me. I've been paid支付.
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「不,上將。你不能給我。我受過很多人情了。
16:55
America美國 has paid支付 me. I never forget忘記 where I came來了 from.
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美國已給了我許多。我永遠無法忘記我來自的地方。
16:58
But now I'm an American美國. Sir先生, thank you."
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但現在我是個美國人。長官,多謝你。」
17:01
I accept接受 the generosity慷慨, continue繼續 up the street,
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我接受了那個盛意之請,繼續走在街頭,
17:04
and it washes over me, my God,
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腦海只浮現出一片景象,老天,
17:06
it's the same相同 country國家 that greeted歡迎 my parents父母 this way 90 years年份 ago.
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這就是相同的國家,九十年前以這種方式迎接我父母。
17:10
So we are still that magnificent華麗的 country國家,
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所以,我們仍然是那個雄偉的國家,
17:12
but we are fueled燃料 by young年輕 people coming未來 up
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但我們得到來自世界各地不同鄉土的年青人
17:15
from every一切 land土地 in the world世界,
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來到這裏,推動我們,
17:18
and it is our obligation義務 as contributing貢獻 citizens公民
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而我們作為貢獻社會的公民,
17:21
to this wonderful精彩 country國家 of ours我們的
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為了我們這個美妙的國家,
17:23
to make sure that no child兒童 gets得到 left behind背後.
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是我們的責任,去確保每一個小孩都不會被遺忘。
17:26
Thank you very much.
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多謝各位。
17:28
(Applause掌聲)
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(掌聲)
Translated by Clement Fu
Reviewed by Jui-Hsin Chen

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Colin Powell - Former U.S. Secretary of State
General Colin Powell was the first African-American to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

Why you should listen

Four-star General Colin Powell was the first African-American U.S. Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Prior to his service Powell was also the first African-American to serve as Chairman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an office he held from 1989 to 1993. But how did young Powell, a C student from the Bronx and a child of Jamaican immigrants, reach the highest military position in the Department of Defense?

While Powell was attending university at City College of New York, he found his calling in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated to become an Army second lieutenant and later went on to serve two tours in the Vietnam War. In 1989 under President George H. W. Bush, Powell was made a full general, before being named 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Powell is the Founding Chairman of America's Promise Alliance, an organization which supports children through volunteer networks.

More profile about the speaker
Colin Powell | Speaker | TED.com