Barack Obama on Fatherhood
奧巴馬在父親節(jié)上的演講(2008年)[節(jié)選]
【學習下面的英語前:我們作為子女,應該反省過去一年是否做到孝敬、關心父母,2013年你會如何做?你在長大,但你的父母在變老】
本次分2段:
一、
Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives,we are reminded today that family is the most important。And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation。They are teachers and coaches。They are mentors and role models。They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it。
今天我們要記起來的是,在我們生活的基石中,家庭是最重要的。我們需要認識和贊頌每一位父親對這個基礎所起的關鍵作用。父親既是老師又是教練;既是導師又是模范;既是成功的榜樣,又是不斷推動我們走向成功的人。
I say this knowing that I have been an imperfect father—knowing that I have made mistakes and will continue to make more;wishing that I could be home for my girls and my wife more than I am right now。I say this knowing all of these things because even as we are imperfect,even as we face difficult circumstances,there are still certain lessons we must strive to live and learn as fathers —whether we are black or white ;rich or poor。
我在講這些話時,心里明白我并非一個盡善盡美的父親———我知道我犯過錯誤,并且還可能會犯更多錯誤;我希望我能比現(xiàn)在有更多的時間在家里陪伴我的女兒和太太。我心里明白這一切,因為我們縱然我們?nèi)秉c多多,縱然我們面對重重困難,但有某些教訓是我們身為人父者應該盡可能去體會與學習的———不管我們是黑人還是白人;富人還是窮人。
1、 在我們生活的基石中 Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives
2、rock plants 巖石植物。rock music 搖滾樂。on the rocks :(1)[指船]觸礁;(2)[指人]拮據(jù);[婚姻、生意等]瀕臨失敗。
3、remind vt使想起;提醒。
The music reminds me of my childhood 這音樂使我想起了童年時光
Please remind him to post the letters 請?zhí)嵝阉男?/p>
4、mentor n. 指導者,良師益友,導師。
5、model n. 模型;典型;模范;模特兒;樣式 。 the model of a ship 一只船的模型
adj. 模范的;作模型用的 。 a model student 模范學生
6、constant adj不變的;經(jīng)常的;持續(xù)不斷的;堅定的;有恒心的。
n.[C]<數(shù)學、物理>常數(shù);恒量。
7、constancy n.[U]堅定不移;恒心;堅貞:constancy of faith信心堅定。
8、 circumstance n. (1)[常用復數(shù)]情況;環(huán)境;情形: under(in) the circumstances 在這種情形下
(2)詳情;細節(jié);事實:There is one important circumstance you have not mentioned
有一個重要的事實,你沒有提到。
(3)[用復數(shù)] 經(jīng)濟情形;境況:be in good [bad] circumstances 境況好[不好]。