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

鲍威尔:孩子需要结构

Filmed:
1,636,965 views

如何协助孩子拥有好的开始?在这场发自内心、充满个人体验的演讲中,美国前国务卿鲍威尔请求父母、朋友和亲戚,在孩子上小学前,即透过小区和一份强烈的责任感,提供孩童协助。(摄于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
0
788
1627
今天下午,我想做些
00:18
is something a little different不同 than what's scheduled计划.
1
2415
2865
和预订计划稍微不同的事
00:21
Foreign国外 policy政策, you can figure数字 that out
2
5280
1946
若想了解外交政策
00:23
by watching观看, I don't know, Rachel雷切尔 MaddowMaddow or somebody,
3
7226
3034
你们可以欣赏,我不知道,Rachel Maddow
(美国自由派名嘴)或某人的节目
00:26
but — (Laughter笑声) —
4
10260
1834
但-(笑声)-
00:27
I want to talk about young年轻 people and structure结构体,
5
12094
3562
我想谈论的是年轻人和结构
00:31
young年轻 people and structure结构体.
6
15656
1967
年轻人和结构
00:33
This was last Wednesday星期三 afternoon下午
7
17623
2248
这是上周三下午
00:35
at a school学校 in Brooklyn布鲁克林, New York纽约,
8
19871
2504
在纽约布鲁克林区一所学校
00:38
at Cristo克里斯托 Rey雷伊 High School学校, run by the Jesuits耶稣会士.
9
22375
2934
由耶稣会经营的Cristo Rey高中
00:41
And I was talking to this group of students学生们, and take a look at them.
10
25309
3837
当时我对这群学生演讲,并观察他们
00:45
They were around me in three directions方向.
11
29146
2467
他们以三个方向环绕着我
00:47
You'll你会 noticed注意到 that almost几乎 all of them are minority少数民族.
12
31613
2796
你们注意到他们几乎都是少数族群
00:50
You'll你会 notice注意 that the building建造 is rather austere简朴的.
13
34409
1845
你们注意到这栋建筑十分简陋
00:52
It's an old New York纽约 school学校 building建造, nothing fancy幻想.
14
36254
4131
这是一栋老旧的纽约校舍,十分简朴
00:56
They still have old blackboards黑板 and whatnot诸如此类.
15
40385
2531
他们仍使用旧式黑板等设备
00:58
And there are about 300 kids孩子 in this school学校,
16
42916
2591
大约300名孩子在这所学校就读
01:01
and the school's学校的 been going now for four years年份,
17
45507
2652
这所学校已成立四年
01:04
and they're about to graduate毕业 their first class.
18
48159
2954
首届学生即将毕业
01:07
Twenty-two二十二 people are graduating毕业,
19
51113
2071
毕业生共有二十二人
01:09
and all 22 are going to college学院.
20
53184
2243
二十二人都会上大学
01:11
They all come from homes家园 where there is, for the most part部分,
21
55427
2740
他们全都来自于-大多来自于
01:14
just one person in the home,
22
58167
2523
只有一位亲人的家庭
01:16
usually平时 the mother母亲 or the grandmother祖母, and that's it,
23
60690
2906
通常是母亲或祖母,仅此而已
01:19
and they come here for their education教育
24
63596
2487
他们来这里接受教育
01:21
and for their structure结构体.
25
66083
1413
及结构训练
01:23
Now I had this picture图片 taken采取, and it was put up
26
67496
2808
我拍了这张相片
01:26
on my FacebookFacebook的 page last week,
27
70304
2493
上星期贴上我的Facebook页面
01:28
and somebody wrote in,
28
72797
1634
有人留言说
01:30
"Huh, why does he have him standing常设 at attention注意 like that?"
29
74431
4986
“哼,他为何让他像这样立正?”
01:35
And then they said, "But he looks容貌 good." (Laughter笑声)
30
79417
4371
接着写道,“但他看起来不错”(笑声)
01:39
He does look good, because kids孩子 need structure结构体,
31
83788
2710
他看起来确实不错,因为孩子需要结构
01:42
and the trick I play in all of my school学校 appearances出场
32
86498
3506
我每次造访学校,必定会玩个把戏
01:45
is that when I get through通过 with my little homily讲道 to the kids孩子,
33
90004
2899
当我稍微向孩子们说教后
01:48
I then invite邀请 them to ask questions问题,
34
92903
2184
接着会邀请他们发问
01:50
and when they raise提高 their hands, I say, "Come up,"
35
95087
1865
当他们举起手时,我会说,“到台上来”
01:52
and I make them come up and stand in front面前 of me.
36
96952
2339
让他们在我面前站好
01:55
I make them stand at attention注意 like a soldier士兵.
37
99291
2114
我让他们像士兵一样立正
01:57
Put your arms武器 straight直行 down at your side,
38
101405
1782
双臂笔直地贴在身侧
01:59
look up, open打开 your eyes眼睛, stare straight直行 ahead,
39
103187
3452
抬头挺胸、睁大双眼、直视前方
02:02
and speak说话 out your question loudly高声 so everybody每个人 can hear.
40
106639
3435
大声说出问题,让每个人都能听见
02:05
No slouching, no pants裤子 hanging down, none没有 of that stuff东东.
41
110074
3257
不可弯腰驼背
不可衣衫不整地穿垮裤等
02:09
(Laughter笑声)
42
113331
1371
(笑声)
02:10
And this young年轻 man, his name名称 is -- his last name名称 Cruz克鲁兹 --
43
114702
3265
这位年轻人,名字是-他姓Cruz-
02:13
he loved喜爱 it. That's all over his FacebookFacebook的 page and it's gone走了 viral病毒.
44
117967
3837
他爱极了,在Facebook上
大肆宣扬,使这件事广为流传
02:17
(Laughter笑声)
45
121804
2187
(笑声)
02:19
So people think I'm being存在 unkind刻薄 to this kid孩子.
46
123991
2743
所以人们认为我刁难这个孩子
02:22
No, we're having a little fun开玩笑.
47
126734
1644
并非如此,我们乐在其中
02:24
And the thing about it, I've doneDONE this for years年份,
48
128378
2414
至于这样的事,我已行之多年
02:26
the younger更年轻 they are, the more fun开玩笑 it is.
49
130792
3160
在年纪越小的孩子身上效果越有趣
02:29
When I get six-六- and seven-year-olds七岁的孩子 in a group,
50
133952
2940
当我面对一群六、七岁的孩子时
02:32
I have to figure数字 out how to keep them quiet安静.
51
136892
1879
必须设法让他们安静下来
02:34
You know that they'll他们会 always start开始 yakkingyakking.
52
138771
2003
你们知道,他们总是聒噪不休
02:36
And so I play a little game游戏 with them
53
140774
1605
因此我先和他们玩个小游戏
02:38
before I make them stand at attention注意.
54
142379
1572
才让他们立正站好
02:39
I say, "Now listen. In the army军队,
55
143951
2273
我说,“听着,在军队里”
02:42
when we want you to pay工资 attention注意,
56
146224
2328
当我们希望你集中注意力时
02:44
we have a command命令. It's called 'at'在 ease缓解.'
57
148552
3185
我们有个口令,叫做“稍息”
02:47
It means手段 everybody每个人 be quiet安静 and pay工资 attention注意. Listen up.
58
151737
3574
表示每个人都得安静并留意,专心聆听
02:51
Do you understand理解?"
59
155311
1138
“明白吗?”
02:52
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.""Let's practice实践. Everybody每个人 start开始 chatting聊天的."
60
156449
4865
“嗯哼、嗯哼、嗯哼”
“让我们做个练习,大家开始聊天”
02:57
And I let them go for about 10 seconds, then I go, "At ease缓解!"
61
161314
3297
我让他们吵大约十秒钟
然后大喊,“稍息!”
03:00
"Huh!" (Laughter笑声)
62
164611
3505
“啊!”(笑声)
03:04
"Yes, General一般. Yes, General一般."
63
168116
2522
“是,将军。是,将军”
03:06
Try it with your kids孩子. See if it works作品. (Laughter笑声)
64
170638
2403
不妨在你们孩子身上试试,看看是否奏效
(笑声)
03:08
I don't think so.
65
173041
3053
我想不太可能
03:11
But anyway无论如何, it's a game游戏 I play, and it comes obviously明显
66
176094
3014
总之这是我玩的一个游戏,显然这来自于
03:15
from my military军事 experience经验.
67
179108
1722
我的军事生涯体验
03:16
Because for the majority多数 of my adult成人 life,
68
180830
3429
因为我成年后大半时光
03:20
I worked工作 with young年轻 kids孩子, teenagers青少年 with guns枪炮, I call them.
69
184259
4060
都和年轻人共事,我称他们为“持枪青年”
03:24
And we would bring带来 them into the army军队,
70
188319
2445
我们将他们带入军队
03:26
and the first thing we would do is to put them
71
190764
2449
我们所做的第一件事,就是将他们
03:29
in an environment环境 of structure结构体, put them in ranks行列,
72
193213
4087
放入组织境里,将他们放入行伍中
03:33
make them all wear穿 the same相同 clothes衣服,
73
197300
1423
让他们全都穿着相同服装
03:34
cut all their hair头发 off so they look alike一样,
74
198723
2494
剃短头发,让他们看起来如出一辙
03:37
make sure that they are standing常设 in ranks行列.
75
201217
2204
确保他们能列队站好
03:39
We teach them how to go right face面对, left face面对,
76
203421
1780
我们教他们如何向右转、向左转
03:41
so they can obey遵守 instructions说明 and know
77
205201
1917
让他们服从指示
03:43
the consequences后果 of not obeying服从 instructions说明.
78
207118
2928
了解不服从指示的后果
03:45
It gives them structure结构体.
79
210046
1465
这让他们明白何谓组织结构
03:47
And then we introduce介绍 them to somebody who they come to hate讨厌 immediately立即, the drill钻头 sergeant军士.
80
211511
4180
然后向他们介绍一位
他们立刻会痛恨的人,士官长
03:51
And they hate讨厌 him.
81
215691
1874
他们对他恨之入骨
03:53
And the drill钻头 sergeant军士 starts启动 screaming尖叫 at them,
82
217565
2348
士官长开始对他们大声呼喊
03:55
and telling告诉 them to do all kinds of awful可怕 things.
83
219913
3849
命令他们做各种难为的事
03:59
But then the most amazing惊人 thing happens发生 over time.
84
223762
3004
但随着时光流逝
最令人惊异的事逐渐发生
04:02
Once一旦 that structure结构体 is developed发达,
85
226766
3026
一旦发展出那种组织结构
04:05
once一旦 they understand理解 the reason原因 for something,
86
229792
3218
一旦他们明白某件事的道理
04:08
once一旦 they understand理解, "Mama妈妈 ain't here, son儿子.
87
233010
4006
一旦他们明白,“妈妈不在这里,孩子”
04:12
I'm your worst最差 nightmare恶梦. I'm your daddy and your mommy妈妈.
88
237016
3820
“我是你们最糟的噩梦,我是你们的父母”
04:16
And that's just the way it is. You got that, son儿子?
89
240836
2612
“明白吗?
事实就是如此,了解吗,孩子?”
04:19
Yeah, and then when I ask you a question, there are only three possible可能 answers答案:
90
243448
2838
“当我问你们问题时,只有三个可能答案”
04:22
yes, sir先生; no, sir先生; and no excuse借口, sir先生.
91
246286
2396
“是,长官;不,长官;没有理由,长官”
04:24
Don't start开始 telling告诉 me why you didn't do something.
92
248682
2163
“别告诉我为何你们没做到某件事”
04:26
It's yes, sir先生; no, sir先生; no excuse借口, sir先生."
93
250845
2652
“你只能回答:是,长官;
不,长官;没有理由,长官”
04:29
"You didn't shave刮胡子.""But sir先生 —"
94
253497
1123
“你没刮胡子”
“但长官-”
04:30
"No, don't tell me how often经常 you scraped your face面对 this morning早上.
95
254620
3255
“不,别告诉我你今早老是刮伤脸皮”
04:33
I'm telling告诉 you you didn't shave刮胡子."
96
257875
1740
“我说的是你没刮胡子”
04:35
"No excuse借口, sir先生.""AttaboyAttaboy, you're learning学习 fast快速."
97
259615
3206
“没有理由,长官”
“好小子,算你识相”
04:38
But you'd be amazed吃惊 at what you can do with them
98
262821
2388
但你会惊讶于能让他们做到的事
04:41
once一旦 you put them in that structure结构体.
99
265209
2454
一旦你将他们放入那个组织结构中后
04:43
In 18 weeks, they have a skill技能. They are mature成熟.
100
267663
4858
十八周后,他们会拥有
一身本领,他们会变得成熟
04:48
And you know what, they come to admire欣赏 the drill钻头 sergeant军士
101
272521
3117
知道吗?他们开始钦佩士官长
04:51
and they never forget忘记 the drill钻头 sergeant军士.
102
275638
1898
他们对士官长永难忘怀
04:53
They come to respect尊重 him.
103
277536
2635
他们开始尊敬他
04:56
And so we need more of this kind of structure结构体 and respect尊重
104
280171
3915
因此我们需要将更多这种结构和尊敬
04:59
in the lives生活 of our children孩子.
105
284086
2031
灌输到孩子的生活中
05:02
I spend a lot of time with youth青年 groups,
106
286117
1973
我花了很多时间和年轻人相处
05:03
and I say to people, "When does the education教育 process处理 begin开始?"
107
288090
3291
当我询问人们,“教育过程从何时开始?”
05:07
We're always talking about, "Let's fix固定 the schools学校.
108
291381
1679
大家总是说,“让我们改善学校”
05:08
Let's do more for our teachers教师. Let's put more computers电脑 in our schools学校.
109
293060
3747
“让我们为教师提供更多方案
让我们在学校装设更多计算机”
05:12
Let's get it all online线上."
110
296807
2941
“让我们将一切放上网络”
05:15
That isn't the whole整个 answer回答. It's part部分 of the answer回答.
111
299748
3306
那并非全部答案,仅是部分答案
05:18
But the real真实 answer回答 begins开始 with bringing使 a child儿童 to the school学校
112
303054
3262
但真正答案从孩子入学开始
05:22
with structure结构体 in that child's孩子的 heart and soul灵魂 to begin开始 with.
113
306316
4608
将组织结构的概念灌输到孩子心灵中
05:26
When does the learning学习 process处理 begin开始? Does it begin开始 in first grade年级?
114
310924
2869
学习过程从何时开始?从一年级开始吗?
05:29
No, no, it begins开始 the first time
115
313793
2183
不,不,它开始于
05:31
a child儿童 in a mother's母亲 arms武器
116
315976
2681
孩子第一次在母亲怀中
05:34
looks容貌 up at the mother母亲
117
318657
2764
仰视母亲时
05:37
and says, "Oh, this must必须 be my mother母亲.
118
321421
3364
心想,“喔,这必定是我的母亲”
05:40
She's the one who feeds供稿 me.
119
324785
2373
“她是抚育我的人”
05:43
Oh yeah, when I don't feel so good down there,
120
327158
2206
“喔,是的,当我不舒服时”
05:45
she takes care关心 of me.
121
329364
2514
“她会照料我”
05:47
It's her language语言 I will learn学习."
122
331878
3023
“我将学习她的语言”
05:50
And at that moment时刻 they shut关闭 out all the other languages语言
123
334901
2749
那时,他们会将所有
那个年纪能学习的其他语言
05:53
that they could be learning学习 at that age年龄,
124
337650
2356
都拒之门外
05:55
but by three months个月, that's her.
125
340006
2949
在最初三个月中,只听得进她的语言
05:58
And if the person doing it, whether是否 it's the mother母亲
126
342955
2320
如果做这件事的人,无论是母亲
06:01
or grandmother祖母, whoever's谁是 doing it,
127
345275
1993
或祖母,无论做这件事的人是谁
06:03
that is when the education教育 process处理 begins开始.
128
347268
2214
那就是教育过程的开始
06:05
That's when language语言 begins开始.
129
349482
1728
那就是语言的开始
06:07
That's when love begins开始. That's when structure结构体 begins开始.
130
351210
2249
那就是爱的开始,那就是结构的开始
06:09
That's when you start开始 to imprint版本说明 on the child儿童
131
353459
2488
那就是当你开始对孩子灌输
06:11
that "you are special特别,
132
355947
2218
“你是特别的”
06:14
you are different不同 from every一切 other child儿童 in the world世界.
133
358165
3189
“你和世上任何其他孩子都不同”
06:17
And we're going to read to you."
134
361354
2084
“我们会念书给你听”
06:19
A child儿童 who has not been read to
135
363438
2071
不曾听过他人念书的孩子
06:21
is in danger危险 when that child儿童 gets得到 to school学校.
136
365509
2144
入学后将处于风险中
06:23
A child儿童 who doesn't know his or her colors颜色
137
367653
2060
一位不知道自己肤色的孩子
06:25
or doesn't know how to tell time, doesn't know how to tie领带 shoes,
138
369713
3014
或不知道如何看时间,不知道如何系鞋带
06:28
doesn't know how to do those things,
139
372727
1399
不知道如何做那些事
06:30
and doesn't know how to do something that
140
374126
2670
不知道如何遵守
06:32
goes by a word that was drilled into me as a kid孩子: mind心神.
141
376796
2876
自小就扎根于我脑海的字眼:注意
06:35
Mind心神 your manners礼貌! Mind心神 your adults成年人! Mind心神 what you're saying!
142
379672
3888
注意你的举止!
注意身边的大人!注意你说的话!
06:39
This is the way children孩子 are raised上调 properly正确.
143
383560
3523
这就是正确教养孩子的方式
06:42
And I watched看着 my own拥有 young年轻 grandchildren孙子 now come along沿
144
387083
2795
当我现在观察自己年幼孙辈的言行
06:45
and they're, much to the distress苦难 of my children孩子,
145
389878
4093
他们令我的孩子苦恼万分
06:49
they are acting演戏 just like we did. You know? You imprint版本说明 them.
146
393971
4676
他们的反应就像当年的我们
知道吗?你们让他们深受影响
06:54
And that's what you have to do to prepare准备 children孩子 for education教育 and for school学校.
147
398647
5225
你们必须做的事
就是让孩子为接受教育和上学做准备
06:59
And I'm working加工 at all the energy能源 I have
148
403872
2259
现在,我竭尽所能地
07:02
to sort分类 of communicate通信 this message信息 that
149
406131
2330
宣扬这个讯息
07:04
we need preschool幼儿, we need Head Start开始,
150
408461
3879
我们需要学前教育,我们需要启蒙计划
07:08
we need prenatal产前 care关心.
151
412340
2520
我们需要胎教
07:10
The education教育 process处理 begins开始 even before the child儿童 is born天生,
152
414860
4215
教育过程甚至在孩子诞生之前已经开始
07:14
and if you don't do that, you're going to have difficulty困难.
153
419075
2708
如果不这么做,将会面临困境
07:17
And we are having difficulties困难 in so many许多 of our communities社区
154
421783
2414
许多小区面临这些困境
07:20
and so many许多 of our schools学校 where kids孩子 are coming未来
155
424197
3045
许多学校中的孩子
07:23
to first grade年级 and their eyes眼睛 are blazing炽烈,
156
427242
2311
成为一年级新生时,他们双眼发亮
07:25
they've他们已经 got their little knapsack背包 on and they're ready准备 to go,
157
429553
3611
他们背上小背包,准备上学
07:29
and then they realize实现 they're not like the other first graders平地机
158
433164
3401
然后发现自己不像其他一年级生一样
07:32
who know books图书, have been read to, can do their alphabet字母.
159
436565
4464
熟知书中内容
他们已经听过,看得懂英文字母
07:36
And by the third第三 grade年级, the kids孩子 who didn't have
160
441029
2694
到了三年级,那些一开始缺乏
07:39
that structure结构体 and minding自扫门前雪 in the beginning开始
161
443723
4146
那种结构和思维的孩子
07:43
start开始 to realize实现 they're behind背后, and what do they do?
162
447869
1910
开始意识到自己落后他人,他们怎么做?
07:45
They act法案 it out. They act法案 it out, and they're on their way
163
449779
3321
他们表现脱轨行为,然后踏上
07:49
to jail监狱 or they're on their way to being存在 dropouts辍学.
164
453100
3086
通往监狱之路,或踏上辍学之路
07:52
It's predictable可预测.
165
456186
1864
这是意料之事
07:53
If you're not at the right reading level水平 at third第三 grade年级,
166
458050
2966
如果到了三年级时,你的阅读能力不及格
07:56
you are a candidate候选人 for jail监狱 at age年龄 18,
167
461016
4077
到了十八岁,就是入狱的候选者
08:00
and we have the highest最高 incarceration监禁 rate
168
465093
2237
我们拥有最高的入监率
08:03
because we're not getting得到 our kids孩子 the proper正确 start开始 in life.
169
467330
2928
因为我们没有
让孩子的生命拥有正确的开始
08:06
The last chapter章节 in my book is called
170
470258
2216
我的著作中最后一章,标题为
08:08
"The Gift礼品 of a Good Start开始."
171
472474
2911
“以好的开始作礼物”
08:11
The gift礼品 of a good start开始. Every一切 child儿童 ought应该 to have a good start开始 in life.
172
475385
3692
以好的开始作礼物
每个孩子的生命都应该拥有好的开始
08:14
I was privileged特权 to have that kind of good start开始.
173
479077
2703
我有幸拥有这种好的开始
08:17
I was not a great student学生.
174
481780
1891
我并非一位杰出学生
08:19
I was a public上市 school学校 kid孩子 in New York纽约 City,
175
483671
2668
我就读于纽约市一所公立学校
08:22
and I didn't do well at all.
176
486339
2640
各方面表现都不佳
08:24
I have my entire整个 New York纽约 City Board of Education教育 transcript抄本
177
488979
3812
我从纽约市教育局取得一份
08:28
from kindergarten幼儿园 through通过 college学院.
178
492791
2443
从幼儿园到大学的完整成绩单
08:31
I wanted it when I was writing写作 my first book.
179
495234
2270
于撰写第一本着作时申请
08:33
I wanted to see if my memory记忆 was correct正确,
180
497504
2039
我想知道我的记忆是否正确
08:35
and, my God, it was. (Laughter笑声)
181
499543
3275
天哪,确实如此(笑声)
08:38
Straight直行 C everywhere到处.
182
502818
2788
从头到尾都是C
08:41
And I finally最后 bounced反弹 through通过 high school学校,
183
505606
2441
我终于在高中时期翻身
08:43
got into the City College学院 of New York纽约
184
508047
2079
进入纽约市立学院
08:46
with a 78.3 average平均, which哪一个 I shouldn't不能 have been allowed允许 in with,
185
510126
3640
以平均78.3分的成绩
我本来应该无法录取
08:49
and then I started开始 out in engineering工程,
186
513766
2739
我最初主修工程学
08:52
and that only lasted历时 six months个月. (Laughter笑声)
187
516505
2558
仅持续了六个月(笑声)
08:54
And then I went into geology地质学, "rocks岩石 for jocks乔克斯." This is easy简单.
188
519063
4013
然后转攻地质学
“捡石头运动”,简单极了
08:58
And then I found发现 ROTCROTC.
189
523076
2002
然后我发现ROTC(大学储备军官训练团)
09:00
I found发现 something that I did well and something that I loved喜爱 doing,
190
525078
3934
我发现某样我擅长且喜欢的事
09:04
and I found发现 a group of youngsters青少年 like me who felt the same相同 way.
191
529012
3894
我发现一群志同道合的年轻人
09:08
And so my whole整个 life then was dedicated专用 to ROTCROTC and the military军事.
192
532906
3986
因此我将毕生奉献于ROTC和军方
09:12
And I say to young年轻 kids孩子 everywhere到处, as you're growing生长 up
193
536892
2668
我经常对年轻人说,随着年龄增长
09:15
and as this structure结构体 is being存在 developed发达 inside of you,
194
539560
2601
随着这种结构在你身上成长茁壮
09:18
always be looking for that which哪一个 you do well and that which哪一个 you love doing,
195
542161
3036
努力不懈地寻找你所擅长及喜爱的事
09:21
and when you find those two things together一起, man, you got it.
196
545197
3137
当你发现两者吻合时,老兄,你找到了
09:24
That's what's going on. And that's what I found发现.
197
548334
2364
这就是我的经历,这就是我的领悟
09:26
Now the authorities当局 at CCNYCCNY were getting得到 tired of me being存在 there.
198
550698
2654
此时,纽约市立学院
越来越厌倦我的存在
09:29
I'd been there four and a half going on five years年份,
199
553352
1801
我在那里读了四年半,将近五年
09:31
and my grades等级 were not doing particularly尤其 well,
200
555153
4410
我的成绩不甚理想
09:35
and I was in occasional偶然 difficulties困难 with the administration行政.
201
559563
3142
我和校方不时有些摩擦
09:38
And so they said, "But he does so well in ROTCROTC.
202
562705
2914
因此他们说,“但他在ROTC表现优异”
09:41
Look, he gets得到 straight直行 A's in that but not in anything else其他."
203
565619
3350
“看,他在那方面
全都拿A,但其他方面都不行”
09:44
And so they said, "Look, let's take his ROTCROTC grades等级
204
568969
4356
因此他们说:
“好,我们不妨采用他的ROTC成绩”
09:49
and roll them into his overall总体 GPAGPA and see what happens发生."
205
573325
3446
“并入大学平均成绩
(Overall GPA),看看情况如何”
09:52
And they did, and it brought me up to 2.0. (Laughter笑声)
206
576771
6716
他们这么做了,使我的GPA上升到2.0(笑声)
09:59
Yep是的. (Laughter笑声) (Applause掌声)
207
583487
3734
没错(笑声)(掌声)
10:03
They said, "It's good enough足够 for government政府 work.
208
587221
3049
他们说,“这个成绩足以进政府单位”
10:06
Give him to the army军队. We'll never see him again. We'll never see him again."
209
590270
3498
“把他送入军队
我们再也不会见到他,我们再也不会见到他”
10:09
So they shipped me off to the army军队,
210
593768
1852
因此他们把我送入军队
10:11
and lo and behold不料, many许多 years年份 later后来,
211
595620
3668
瞧,多年后
10:15
I'm considered考虑 one of the greatest最大 sons儿子 the City College学院 of New York纽约 has ever had. (Laughter笑声)
212
599288
4306
我被认为是纽约市立学院
最杰出的校友之一(笑声)
10:19
So, I tell young年轻 people everywhere到处,
213
603594
3202
因此,我经常对年轻人说
10:22
it ain't where you start开始 in life, it's what you do with life
214
606796
4191
并非生命的起点
而是你如何挥洒生命
10:26
that determines确定 where you end结束 up in life,
215
610987
3611
决定了生命的结果
10:30
and you are blessed幸福 to be living活的 in a country国家 that,
216
614598
2685
你有幸生活在这个国家
10:33
no matter where you start开始, you have opportunities机会
217
617283
3186
无论从何处起步,都拥有机会
10:36
so long as you believe in yourself你自己,
218
620469
2704
只要你相信自己
10:39
you believe in the society社会 and the country国家,
219
623173
2991
相信这个社会和国家
10:42
and you believe that you can self-improve自我提高
220
626164
3419
相信你可以自我提升
10:45
and educate教育 yourself你自己 as you go along沿.
221
629583
2411
随时自我教育
10:47
And that's the key to success成功.
222
631994
2233
那就是成功的关键
10:50
But it begins开始 with the gift礼品 of a good start开始.
223
634227
3350
但这始于好的开始这份礼物
10:53
If we don't give that gift礼品 to each and every一切 one of our kids孩子,
224
637577
2473
如果我们不将这份礼物给予每一位孩子
10:55
if we don't invest投资 at the earliest最早 age年龄,
225
640050
3678
如果我们不在最早阶段进行投资
10:59
we're going to be running赛跑 into difficulties困难.
226
643728
2742
我们将面临困境
11:02
It's why we have a dropout退出 rate of roughly大致 25 percent百分 overall总体
227
646470
4266
这就是整体辍学率将近25 %的原因
11:06
and almost几乎 50 percent百分 of our minority少数民族 population人口
228
650736
2722
将近50 %少数族群
11:09
living活的 in low-income低收入 areas,
229
653458
3474
生活在低收入地区
11:12
because they're not getting得到 the gift礼品 of a good start开始.
230
656932
2781
因为他们得不到好的开始这份礼物
11:15
My gift礼品 of a good start开始 was not only being存在 in a nice不错 family家庭,
231
659713
3978
我拥有好的开始这份礼物
不仅是诞生于不错的家庭
11:19
a good family家庭, but having a family家庭 that said to me,
232
663691
3555
好的家庭,还有会对我这么说的家人
11:23
"Now listen, we came来了 to this country国家 in banana香蕉 boats
233
667246
3947
“听着,我们乘着香蕉船来到这个国家”
11:27
in 1920 and 1924.
234
671193
3362
“在1920和1924年”
11:30
We worked工作 like dogs小狗 down in the garment服装 industry行业 every一切 single day.
235
674555
4175
“我们每天在成衣厂做牛做马”
11:34
We're not doing it so that you can stick something up your nose鼻子
236
678730
3526
“我们这么做不是为了让你吸毒”
11:38
or get in trouble麻烦. And don't even think about dropping落下 out."
237
682256
4380
“或惹是生非,更别动辍学的念头”
11:42
If I had ever gone走了 home and told those immigrant移民 people
238
686636
3051
如果我胆敢对身为移民的父母说
11:45
that, "You know, I'm tired of school学校 and I'm dropping落下 out,"
239
689687
2469
“你们知道吗?我厌倦了学校,打算辍学”
11:48
they'd他们会 said, "We're dropping落下 you out. We'll get another另一个 kid孩子."
240
692156
2657
他们会说,“我们打算
和你断绝关系,就当没生过这个孩子”
11:50
(Laughter笑声)
241
694813
6358
(笑声)
11:57
They had expectations期望 for all of the cousins表兄弟
242
701171
2526
他们对所有表亲
11:59
and the extended扩展 family家庭 of immigrants移民 that lived生活 in the South Bronx布朗克斯,
243
703697
3583
甚至住在
南布朗克斯的远亲移民都有所期许
12:03
but they had more than just expectations期望 for us.
244
707280
3159
但他们对我们的期许不仅于此
12:06
They stuck卡住 into our hearts心中 like a dagger匕首
245
710439
3911
他们将羞耻心
彷佛匕首般地刺进我们心坎
12:10
a sense of shame耻辱: "Don't you shame耻辱 this family家庭."
246
714350
4862
“别让家族蒙羞”
12:15
Sometimes有时 I would get in trouble麻烦,
247
719212
1663
有时我会惹麻烦
12:16
and my parents父母 were coming未来 home,
248
720875
1843
我父母会连忙赶回家
12:18
and I was in my room房间 waiting等候 for what's going to happen发生,
249
722718
3481
我待在自己房间里,等待后续发展
12:22
and I would sit there saying to myself, "Okay, look,
250
726199
2211
我独自坐着,对自己说,“好”
12:24
take the belt and hit击中 me, but, God, don't give me that 'shame'耻辱 the family'家庭' bit again."
251
728410
4775
“拿起皮带狠狠打我一顿,但-”
天哪,别再说什么‘让家族蒙羞’了”
12:29
It devastated满目疮痍 me when my mother母亲 did that to me.
252
733185
2757
当母亲这么对我说时,总是令我大受打击
12:31
And I also had this extended扩展 network网络.
253
735942
2164
我也拥有一个广大的网络
12:34
Children孩子 need a network网络. Children孩子 need to be part部分 of a tribe部落,
254
738106
2988
孩子需要一个网络,孩子需要成为族群
12:36
a family家庭, a community社区.
255
741094
1881
家庭和小区的一份子
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.
256
742975
4224
以我的情况来说
就是住在所有廉价公寓中的阿姨
12:43
I don't know how many许多 of you are New Yorkers纽约人,
257
747199
1856
我不知道在座有多少是纽约人
12:44
but there were these tenement房屋 buildings房屋,
258
749055
1921
但纽约市有些廉价公寓
12:46
and these women妇女 were always hanging out one of the windows视窗,
259
750976
3213
这些女人总是望着窗外
12:50
leaning on a pillow枕头.
260
754189
1622
倚着枕头
12:51
They never left. (Laughter笑声)
261
755811
2759
她们从不离开(笑声)
12:54
I, so help me God, I grew成长 up walking步行 those streets街道,
262
758570
3034
老天保佑,我在这些街道上长大
12:57
and they were always there.
263
761604
1482
她们总是存在
12:58
They never went to the bathroom浴室. They never cooked. (Laughter笑声)
264
763086
2874
她们从不上厕所、从不煮饭(笑声)
13:01
They never did anything.
265
765960
2546
她们什么也不干
13:04
But what they did was keep us in play.
266
768506
2713
但她们所做的就是让我们守法守分
13:07
They kept不停 us in play.
267
771219
2286
她们不断地让我们守法守分
13:09
And they didn't care关心
268
773505
2258
她们不在乎
13:11
whether是否 you became成为 a doctor医生 or a lawyer律师 or a general一般,
269
775763
4747
你是否成为医生、律师或将军
13:16
and they never expected预期 any generals将军 in the family家庭,
270
780510
3093
她们不曾期望家族中出个将军
13:19
as long as you got an education教育 and then you got a job工作.
271
783603
3860
只要你接受教育,然后找一份工作
13:23
"Don't give us any of that self-actualization自我实现 stuff东东.
272
787463
1991
“别跟我们谈什么自我实现的理想”
13:25
You get a job工作 and get out of the house.
273
789454
2815
“只要找份工作,搬出家门”
13:28
We don't have time to waste浪费 for that.
274
792269
2478
“我们没时间浪费在那种事上”
13:30
And then you can support支持 us. That's the role角色 of you guys."
275
794747
3575
“之后你就可以支持我们
这就是你们这些孩子的责任”
13:34
And so, it's so essential必要 that we kind of put this culture文化
276
798322
5522
因此,这是相当重要的一点
我们应该将这种文化
13:39
back into our families家庭, all families家庭.
277
803844
4282
导回我们的家庭,所有家庭
13:44
And it is so important重要 that all of you here today今天
278
808126
3335
这十分重要,在座各位
13:47
who are successful成功 people,
279
811461
2676
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孙子,
280
814137
4555
我相信你们都拥有美好的家庭和子孙
13:54
it's not enough足够. You've got to reach达到 out and back
281
818692
1738
这并不足够,你们必须伸出援手
13:56
and find kids孩子 like Mr先生. Cruz克鲁兹
282
820430
2651
帮助像Cruz先生这样的孩子
13:58
who can make it if you give them the structure结构体,
283
823081
3370
他们可以有所成就,如果你们给予他们结构
14:02
if you reach达到 back and help, if you mentor导师,
284
826451
1987
如果你们伸出援手,如果你们提供指导
14:04
if you invest投资 in boys男孩 and girls女孩 clubs会所,
285
828438
2374
如果你们资助男女童军
14:06
if you work with your school学校 system系统,
286
830812
1891
如果你们和学校系统携手合作
14:08
make sure it's the best最好 school学校 system系统,
287
832703
1274
确保它成为最佳的学校系统
14:09
and not just your kid's孩子的 school学校, but the school学校 uptown住宅区 in Harlem哈林,
288
833977
4823
不仅是你们孩子的学校
还有那些位于哈林区的学校
14:14
not just downtown市中心 Montessori蒙特梭利 on the West西 Side.
289
838800
2822
不仅是位于西区市中心的蒙特梭利学校
14:17
All of us have to have a commitment承诺 to do that.
290
841622
4153
我们每个人都该致力于这方面的贡献
14:21
And we're not just investing投资 in the kids孩子.
291
845775
2650
我们投资的不仅是孩子
14:24
We're investing投资 in our future未来.
292
848425
2053
我们投资的是我们的未来
14:26
We're going to be a minority-majority少数民族占多数 country国家
293
850478
2821
再过一个世代
14:29
in one more generation.
294
853299
1993
我们将成为以少数族群为主的国家
14:31
Those that we call minorities少数民族 now are going to be the majority多数.
295
855292
3369
现在我们称为
少数族群的人,将会变成多数人口
14:34
And we have to make sure that they are ready准备 to be the majority多数.
296
858661
2580
我们必须确保他们
为成为多数人口做好准备
14:37
We have to make sure they're ready准备 to be the leaders领导者
297
861241
2231
我们必须确保他们准备好
14:39
of this great country国家 of ours我们的,
298
863472
2952
成为这个伟大国家的领袖
14:42
a country国家 that is like no other,
299
866424
3476
一个与众不同的国家
14:45
a country国家 that amazes惊讶 me every一切 single day,
300
869900
1685
一个每天都带给我惊喜的国家
14:47
a country国家 that's fractious易怒的. We're always arguing争论 with each other.
301
871585
2620
一个充满纷争的国家,我们总是争论不休
14:50
That's how the system's系统 supposed应该 to work.
302
874205
2972
这就是这个系统的运作方式
14:53
It's a country国家 of such这样 contrasts对比, but it's a nation国家 of nations国家.
303
877177
3579
这是一个
充满对立的国家,但它是国中之国
14:56
We touch触摸 every一切 nation国家. Every一切 nation国家 touches触摸 us.
304
880756
3996
我们和每个国家息息相关
每个国家也和我们息息相关
15:00
We are a nation国家 of immigrants移民.
305
884752
1685
我们是移民国家
15:02
That's why we need sound声音 immigration移民 policy政策.
306
886437
3144
这就是为什么我们需要健全的移民政策
15:05
It's ridiculous荒谬 not to have a sound声音 immigration移民 policy政策
307
889581
3235
这是十分荒谬的事-
没有健全的移民政策
15:08
to welcome欢迎 those who want to come here and be part部分 of this great nation国家,
308
892816
3083
欢迎那些想来这里
成为这个伟大国家一份子的人
15:11
or we can send发送 back home with an education教育
309
895899
2153
或者我们可以给予他们教育机会
15:13
to help their people rise上升 up out of poverty贫穷.
310
898052
3381
帮助他们的人民脱离贫困
15:17
One of the great stories故事 I love to tell is about my love
311
901433
3843
其中一个让我津津乐道的精采故事是
15:21
of going to my hometown家乡 of New York纽约
312
905276
1397
我喜欢返回纽约故居
15:22
and walking步行 up Park公园 Avenue大街 on a beautiful美丽 day
313
906673
1794
在晴朗的日子沿着公园大道散步
15:24
and admiring欣赏 everything and seeing眼看 all the people go by
314
908467
2481
欣赏周遭一切,观察与我擦肩而过
15:26
from all over the world世界.
315
910948
1454
来自世界各地的人
15:28
But what I always have to do is stop at one of the corners角落
316
912402
3638
但我必定会做的事
就是在其中一个转角停下
15:31
and get a hot dog from the immigrant移民 pushcart手推车 peddler小贩.
317
916040
3386
在移民手推车摊贩买热狗
15:35
Gotta总得 have a dirty water dog. (Laughter笑声)
318
919426
3151
非得吃个脏兮兮的热狗不可(笑声)
15:38
And no matter where I am or what I'm doing,
319
922577
2980
无论我身处何方或正在做什么
15:41
I've got to do that.
320
925557
1275
都非得做这件事不可
15:42
I even did it when I was Secretary秘书 of State.
321
926832
2665
即使担任国务卿时也不例外
15:45
I'd come out of my suite套房 at the Waldorf华尔 Astoria道夫
322
929497
2901
我会走出Waldorf Astoria酒店套房
15:48
— (Laughter笑声) —
323
932398
3080
(笑声)
15:51
be walking步行 up the street, and I would hit击中 around 55th Street
324
935478
3311
沿着街道前进,然后在第55街转角
15:54
looking for the immigrant移民 pushcart手推车 peddler小贩.
325
938789
2311
寻找移民手推车摊贩
15:57
In those days, I had five bodyguards保镖 around me
326
941100
2199
当年我身边跟着五个保镳
15:59
and three New York纽约 City police警察 cars汽车 would roll alongside并肩
327
943299
2894
三辆纽约市警车沿途护送
16:02
to make sure nobody没有人 whacked疲惫不堪 me while I was going up Park公园 Avenue大街. (Laughter笑声)
328
946193
4820
确保我沿着公园大道前进时不会遭到攻击
(笑声)
16:06
And I would order订购 the hot dog from the guy,
329
951013
1668
我会向小贩买个热狗
16:08
and he'd他会 start开始 to fix固定 it, and then he'd他会 look around
330
952681
2446
他会开始制作,然后环顾四周
16:11
at the bodyguards保镖 and the police警察 cars汽车 --
331
955127
1677
看见那些保镳和警车
16:12
"I've got a green绿色 card! I've got a green绿色 card!" (Laughter笑声)
332
956804
2082
“我有绿卡!我有绿卡!”(笑声)
16:14
"It's okay, it's okay."
333
958886
4336
“没事、没事”
16:19
But now I'm alone单独. I'm alone单独.
334
963222
2448
但现在我独自一人,独自一人
16:21
I've got no bodyguards保镖, I've got no police警察 cars汽车. I've got nothing.
335
965670
2791
没有保镳,没有警车,什么也没有
16:24
But I gotta总得 have my hot dog.
336
968461
2662
但还是得吃热狗
16:27
I did it just last week. It was on a Tuesday星期二 evening晚间
337
971123
3764
我上星期才买过,那是某个星期二傍晚
16:30
down by Columbus哥伦布 Circle.
338
974887
2300
就在哥伦布圆环附近
16:33
And the scene现场 repeats重复 itself本身 so often经常.
339
977187
2855
这是司空见惯的场景
16:35
I'll go up and ask for my hot dog,
340
980042
3354
我上前买热狗
16:39
and the guy will fix固定 it, and as he's finishing精加工,
341
983396
2362
那个小贩开始制作,即将完成时
16:41
he'll地狱 say, "I know you. I see you on television电视.
342
985758
2702
他说,“我认得你,我在电视上见过你”
16:44
You're, well, you're General一般 Powell鲍威尔."
343
988460
1894
“你是…嗯…你是鲍威尔将军”
16:46
"Yes, yes.""Oh ... "
344
990354
2690
“是、是”
“喔…”
16:48
I hand him the money.
345
993044
1151
我把钱递给他
16:50
"No, General一般. You can't pay工资 me. I've been paid支付.
346
994195
4925
“不,将军
你不能付我钱,我已得到报偿”
16:55
America美国 has paid支付 me. I never forget忘记 where I came来了 from.
347
999120
3763
“美国已经给了我报偿
我永远不会忘记自己来自何方”
16:58
But now I'm an American美国. Sir先生, thank you."
348
1002883
3190
“但我现在是美国人,长官,谢谢”
17:01
I accept接受 the generosity慷慨, continue继续 up the street,
349
1006073
2268
我接受他的好意,继续沿着街道前进
17:04
and it washes over me, my God,
350
1008341
2229
脑海里浮现一个念头,天哪
17:06
it's the same相同 country国家 that greeted欢迎 my parents父母 this way 90 years年份 ago.
351
1010570
4018
这就是九十年前
以同样方式欢迎我父母的国家
17:10
So we are still that magnificent华丽的 country国家,
352
1014588
2187
因此,这依然是当年那个泱泱大国
17:12
but we are fueled燃料 by young年轻 people coming未来 up
353
1016775
2775
但来自世界各地的年轻人
17:15
from every一切 land土地 in the world世界,
354
1019550
3004
为这个国家贡献心力
17:18
and it is our obligation义务 as contributing贡献 citizens公民
355
1022554
3527
我们的义务是
17:21
to this wonderful精彩 country国家 of ours我们的
356
1026081
1786
成为对这个美好国家有所贡献的公民
17:23
to make sure that no child儿童 gets得到 left behind背后.
357
1027867
3147
确保没有任何孩子会被遗忘
17:26
Thank you very much.
358
1031014
2078
十分感谢
17:28
(Applause掌声)
359
1033092
12107
(掌声)
Translated by illusion Hung
Reviewed by Maria Liu

▲Back to top

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