Class of 2020, ‘You don't have to accept the world as it is'

2020年的畢業生們，你們不必接受世界本來的樣子

Given the?ongoingcovid-19?pandemic, schools across the country have canceled their?in-person?commencement exercises. To celebrate the graduates whose final years of school have been?upended?, former first lady Michelle Obama and former president Barack Obama are?taking part in?a YouTube special. This is President Obama's address to the Class of 2020.?

Language Point:

?

【ongoing】continuing to exist or develop?持續存在的；仍在進行的；不斷發展的

【pandemic】a disease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world?（全國或全球性）流行病；大流行病。區別于【epidemic】a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the same time in a particular community?流行病

【in?person】if you do sth in person, you go somewhere and do it yourself, instead of doing it by letter, asking sb else to do it, etc.?親自；親身；in-person?親自的，親身的；本人的，現場的，實況的.

【commencement exercises】畢業典禮、學位授予典禮

【commence】to begin/to happen; to begin sth?開始發生；開始；著手

【upend】to turn sb/sth upside down?翻倒；倒放；使顛倒；

【take part in】be involved in/participate,參與

鑒于covid-19疫情的持續，美國各地的學校都取消了他們的畢業典禮活動。前第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬和前總統巴拉克·奧巴馬在YouTube上舉辦了一場特別節目，慶祝畢業生最后一個學年的畢業典禮活動被顛覆。這是奧巴馬總統對2020屆畢業生的演講。

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! Some of you have graduated already; some of you still have?finals; all of you should be very proud.

?

Language Point:

【finals】the last exams taken by university students at the end of their final year?大學畢業考試to sit/take your finals

祝賀2020屆的畢業生們!有些人已經畢業了;有些人還有期末考試;你們所有人都應該感到非常自豪。

Graduation is a big achievement under any circumstances. Yours comes as the world is?turned upside downby a pandemic, and by a country that has been?swept up?by protest.

Language Point:

【upside down】in or into a position in which the top of sth is where the bottom is normally found and the bottom is where the top is normally found?顛倒；倒轉；翻轉

【turn sth upside down】1.?to make a place untidy when looking for sth?把…翻得亂七八糟；使凌亂不堪2. to cause large changes and confusion in a person's life?給（某人生活）造成大的變化（或混亂）

【sweep up】?1.掃除，清掃；掃去，撣去(灰塵等)：After the party,I will have to stay and clean up.聚會結束之后，我得留下來打掃衛生。2.掃集；吹集：Wind swept the snow up into a mound.風把雪吹集成了一堆。3.飛快地抱起：to sweep one's cat up飛快地抱起愛貓

在任何情況下，畢業都是一個很大的成就。你們的到來正值世界被一場大流行病和一個被抗議席卷的國家搞得天翻地覆。

I can barely imagine how?head-spinningthese last few months have been for you. Just as winter was?thawingand you were thinking about spring break, those of you who were away at college were either?whisked?home or stayed behind on a?shutteredcampus. Most of you had to finish semesters online?—?which had its?ups and downs.?You didn't have to worry about what you wore to class, but watching your teachers and professors try to work Zoom wasn't always pretty either. Either way, none of this is how any of you imagined finishing your final spring at school.

Language Point:

【head-spinning】confused?暈頭轉向的

【thaw】of ice and snow (冰雪) to turn back into water after being frozen?（結冰后）解凍，融化，融解,關系緩和，變暖

【whisk】1.?to mix liquids, eggs, etc. into a stiff light mass, using a fork or special tool?攪打，攪動（液體、雞蛋等），打蛋器/攪拌器2.?to take sb/sth somewhere very quickly and suddenly?匆匆帶走；迅速送走

【shutter】百葉窗，shuttered?關閉的， ?bring/?put down the shuttersto stop letting sb know what your thoughts or feelings are; to stop letting yourself think about sth?掩藏自己的思想感情；鎖上心扉；不再想某件事

【ups and downs.】the mixture of good and bad things in life or in a particular situation or relationship?浮沉；興衰；榮辱

。

我簡直無法想象這幾個月你有多頭暈目眩。就在冬天開始融化，你們想到春假的時候，那些離開學校的人要么被趕回家，要么留在封閉的校園里。你們中的大多數人必須在網上完成整個學期——這有好有壞。你不必擔心你在課堂上穿什么，但看著你的老師和教授試著工作Zoom也不總是那么美好。不管怎樣，這一切都不是你們想象中的在學校完成春季學期的樣子。

Even if we can't all gather in person, I want you to remember that a graduation ceremony doesn't celebrate just a moment in time. It's the?culmination?of all your years of learning?—?about the world and about yourself. The friends and family who supported you every step of the way?—?they aren't celebrating a piece of paper. They're celebrating you: how you've grown, the challenges you've overcome and the experiences you've shared. You can see that love in all the amazing ways that families have come up with their own at-home graduations, from drive-by parades to handmade yard signs.

Language Point:

【culmination】the highest point or end of sth, usually happening after a long time?頂點；巔峰；高潮；終點

【parade】1. public celebration?公共慶典?2. a formal occasion when soldiers march or stand in lines so that they can be examined by their officers or other important people?檢閱；閱兵?3.a series of things or people?一系列（人或事）e.g. Each generation passes through a similar parade of events.

?即使我們不能親自聚在一起，我也希望你們記住，畢業典禮并不是為了慶祝某個時刻。這是你多年來學習的頂峰——了解世界，了解自己。支持你每一步的朋友和家人——他們慶祝的不是一張紙。他們在慶祝你:你是如何成長的，你克服的挑戰和你分享的經驗。你可以在所有家庭為自己的家庭畢業典禮想出的令人驚奇的方式中看到愛，從行駛汽車里的檢閱到手工制作的庭院標志。

The point is, don't let the lack of a big, crowded ceremony?take anything away fromwhat your graduation signifies. Go ahead and?bask inthe glory of your achievement. And wherever you are, take lots of photos?—?although when I look at my graduation pictures, the main thing I realize is that I should have gotten a haircut more often.

Language Point:

【take away from sth】to make the effort or value of sth seem less?減少；減弱；貶低

【bask】to enjoy sitting or lying in the heat or light of sth, especially the sun?曬太陽；取暖

【bask in sth】to enjoy the good feelings that you have when other people praise or admire you, or when they give you a lot of attention?沉浸，沐浴（在贊美、關注等中）

關鍵是，不要因為缺少盛大、擁擠的典禮而影響你畢業典禮的意義。盡情享受你的成就所帶來的榮耀吧。無論你在哪里，都要拍很多照片——盡管當我看著我的畢業照時，我意識到我應該經常剪頭發。

Now, as was true for generations before you, graduation marks your final passage into adulthood?—?the time when you're expected to fully?take charge of?your life's direction. It's when you get to decide what's important to you. The career you want to pursue. The values you want to?live by. Who you want to build a family with. That can be intimidating even under normal circumstances. And given the current state of things, let's face it?—?it can be?downright?scary.

Language Point:

【take charge of sth】接管；掌管，看管；負責?(照料、保管、監視等)

【live by】to follow a particular belief or set of principles?按照（某信念或原則）生活

【downright】used as a way of emphasizing sth negative or unpleasant（強調負面的或令人不快的事物）徹頭徹尾的，十足的，完全的

現在，就像在你們之前的幾代人一樣，畢業標志著你們進入成年的最后一段旅程——也就是你們被期望完全掌控自己人生方向的時候。當你決定什么對你來說是重要的時候。你想從事的職業。你想要生活的價值觀。你想和誰一起組建家庭。即使在正常情況下，這也可能令人生畏。考慮到目前的情況，讓我們面對它——它可能十分可怕。

It's fair to say that your generation is graduating into a world that faces more profound challenges than any generation in decades. It can feel like everything's up for grabs right now. A lot of this uncertainty is the direct result of covid-19?—?the 100,000 lives it's taken from us, the economic?disruption?it's caused. No can say for sure how much longer the crisis will last?—?a lot of that will depend on the choices we make as a country. But it will eventually end. Vaccines and treatments will emerge. The economy will begin to heal. Life will start returning to normal?—?and you'll still have your whole life ahead of you.

Language Point:

【up for grabs】available for anyone who is interested?提供的；可供爭奪的

【disrupt】to make it difficult for sth to continue in the normal way?擾亂；使中斷；打亂. disruption?中斷

公平地說，你們這一代即將畢業進入一個幾十年來面臨最深刻挑戰的世界。感覺好像一切都是可以爭取的。這種不確定性很大程度上是covid-19的直接后果——它奪走了10萬人的生命，造成了經濟破壞。沒有人能肯定地說這場危機還會持續多久——這在很大程度上取決于我們作為一個國家所做的選擇。但它最終會結束。疫苗和治療方法將會出現。經濟將開始復蘇。生活將開始恢復正常——而且你的整個生活仍然在你面前。

The thing is, Class of 2020, what these past few weeks have shown us is that the challenges we face?go?well?beyond?a virus, and that the old normal wasn't good enough?—?it wasn't working. In a lot of ways, the pandemic just brought into focus problems that have been growing for a very long time, whether it's widening economic inequality, the lack of basic health care for millions of people, the continuing?scourgeof?bigotryand sexism, or the?divisionsand?dysfunctionthat?plague?our political system. Similarly, the protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and Nina Pop aren't simply a reaction to those particular tragedies, as heartbreaking as they are.?They?speak to decades worth of anguish and frustration over unequal treatment and a failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system.

Language Point:

【the thing is】(informal) used to introduce an important fact, reason or explanation?事實是；主要原因是

【go beyond】to be more than sth?超過（或超出）某事

【scourge】1. a person or thing that causes trouble or suffering?禍害；禍根；災害?2. to cause trouble or suffering to sb?折磨；使受苦難；使痛苦

【bigotry】?the state of feeling, or the act of expressing, strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions?頑固盲從；偏執

【division】a disagreement or difference in opinion, way of life, etc., especially between members of a society or an organization?分歧；不和；差異

【dysfunction】1.(medical?醫學) the fact of a part of the body not working normally?（身體）功能障礙?2.the situation when the relationships within a society, family, etc. are not working normally?（社會、家庭等內部的）關系失衡

【plague】Verb 1.~ sb/sth (with sth) to cause pain or trouble to sb/sth over a period of time?給…造成長時間的痛苦（或麻煩）；困擾；折磨；使受煎熬?2.~ sb (with sth) to annoy sb or create problems, especially by asking for sth, demanding attention, etc.?糾纏；纏磨；纏擾?Noun:瘟疫，avoid sb/sth like the plague?(informal) to try very hard not to meet sb, do sth, etc.?像避瘟疫似的躲著某人（或某事物）；盡量避開某人（或某事物）

【speak to sth】1.?to discuss or comment on a topic, problem or situation?討論；評論2. to be evidence that sth exists or is true?證實；說明

事實是，2020年的畢業生們，過去的幾周告訴我們，我們面臨的挑戰遠不止是病毒，舊的常規并不足夠好——它不起作用。在很多方面，這場大流行使長期以來不斷增長的問題成為人們關注的焦點，不管是經濟上的不平等,對于數以百萬計的人來說的基本醫療不足,持續的偏見和性別歧視,抑或困擾我們的政治體制的分歧和障礙。同樣，針對喬治·弗洛伊德、布倫娜·泰勒、阿貝里和妮娜·波普被殺的抗議活動也不僅僅是對那些令人心碎的悲劇的反應。他們說出了數十年來對不平等待遇以及對警察慣例和更廣泛的刑事司法體系改革的失敗的痛苦和沮喪。

These shocks to the system that we are seeing right now?—?just as you prepare to go out into the world?—?they remind us that we can't?take things for granted, that we have to work to make things better. They also remind us that our individual well-being depends on the?well-being?of the community that we live in, and that it doesn't matter how much money you make if everyone around you is hungry and sick. It reminds you that our country and our democracy only function when we think not just about ourselves, but also about each other.

?

Language Point:

【take sth for granted】1 : to assume as true, real, or expected 2 : to value too lightly

【well-being】general health and happiness?健康；安樂；康樂

這些對我們現在所看到的體制的沖擊——就在你準備踏入社會的時候——它們提醒我們，我們不能想當然，我們必須努力使事情變得更好。他們還提醒我們，我們個人的幸福取決于我們所生活的社區的幸福，如果你周圍的人都在挨餓和生病，你賺了多少錢并不重要。它提醒你們，我們的國家和我們的民主只有在我們不僅為自己著想，而且為彼此著想的時候才能發揮作用。

So as scary and uncertain as these times may be, they are also a?wake-up call, and they are an incredible opportunity for your generation. Because you don't have to accept what was considered normal before. You don't have to accept the world as it is. You can make it into the world as it should be and could be. You can create a new normal, one that is fairer, and gives everyone opportunity, and treats everyone equally, and builds bridges between people instead of dividing them. Just as America overcame slavery and civil war,?recessionsand?depression,?Pearl Harborand 9/11 and all kinds of social?upheaval, we can?emerge from?our current circumstances stronger than before. Better than before.

?

Language Point:

【wake-up call】1?a telephone call that you arrange to be made to you at a particular time, for example in a hotel, in order to wake you up?催醒電話；叫早電話2.an event that makes people realize that there is a problem that they need to do sth about?讓人警醒的事

【recession】a difficult time for the economy of a country, when there is less trade and industrial activity than usual and more people are unemployed?經濟衰退；經濟萎縮

【depression】a period when there is little economic activity and many people are poor or without jobs?蕭條期；（經濟）衰退；不景氣

【Pearl Harbor】珍珠港

【upheaval】a big change that causes a lot of confusion, worry and problems劇變；激變；動亂；動蕩

【emerge from】to survive a difficult situation or experience?（從困境或苦難經歷中）幸存下來，擺脫出來

因此，盡管這些時代可能令人恐懼和不確定，但它們也是一記警鐘，也是你們這一代人的一個不可思議的機會。因為你不必接受以前被認為是正常的事情。你不必接受世界的本來面目。你可以讓世界成為它應該成為和可能成為的樣子。你們可以創造一種新常態，一種更公平的、給每個人機會、平等對待每個人的新常態，一種在人們之間搭建橋梁而不是分裂他們的新常態。正如美國克服了奴隸制和內戰、經濟衰退和蕭條、珍珠港事件和9/11事件以及各種社會動蕩一樣，我們也可以從當前的環境中走出來，變得比以前更強大.比以前更好。

But, as has always been true at key moments in history, it's going to depend on young people like you to go out there and rewrite what's possible.

但是，就像歷史上的關鍵時刻一樣，這將取決于你們這樣的年輕人來走出去并改寫一切可能。

Now, I'll admit that it's a little unfair to lay such a heavy burden on you. I wish that my generation had done more to solve some of our country's big problems so you didn't have to. But the good news is that I know you're?up to?the challenge. You're the best-educated generation in history?—?and a whole lot more technologically?savvy. You've been exposed to more knowledge and perspectives than my generation ever was; you're more tolerant and?empathetic,?entrepreneurial?and environmentally conscious. Even before graduation, many of you have already started to make your mark?—?feeding the hungry,?mentoring?kids, fighting racial injustice, helping veterans, battling climate change. And now, to see so many of you participating in peaceful protests, to see so many of you of every race and backgroundraise up?your voices?on behalf ofjustice for all?—?well, it's been unbelievably inspiring.

Language Point:

【up to】physically or mentally capable of sth?（體力或智力上）能勝任

【savvy】noun. practical knowledge or understanding of sth?實際知識；見識；了解. adj. having practical knowledge and understanding of sth; having?common sense有見識的；懂實際知識的；通情達理的

【empathetic】involving, characterized by, or based on?empathy有同情心的

【entrepreneurial】having to do with the creation and development of economic ventures : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suited to an entrepreneur?企業家的，創業者的

【mentor】an experienced person who advises and helps sb with less experience over a period of time?導師；顧問. Verb

【on behalf of】as the representative of sb or instead of them?代表（或代替）某人

現在，我承認把這么沉重的負擔加在你身上有點不公平。我希望我們這一代能做得更多來解決我們國家的一些大問題，這樣你們就不必這樣做了。但好消息是，我知道你能接受挑戰。你們是歷史上受教育程度最高的一代，而且在技術上更有悟性。你們比我們這一代接觸到更多的知識和觀點;你更寬容，更有同情心，更有創業精神，更有環保意識。甚至在畢業之前，你們中的許多人就已經開始做出自己的貢獻——為饑餓的人提供食物、指導孩子、與種族不平等作斗爭、幫助退伍軍人、與氣候變化作斗爭。現在，看到你們這么多人參與和平抗議，看到你們這么多人，不論種族和背景，為了所有人的正義而大聲疾呼——這是令人難以置信的鼓舞。

You make me optimistic about our future.

你們讓我對我們的未來感到樂觀！

以上詞匯解析來自

《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典第九版》

《21世紀大英漢詞典》

《柯林斯高階英漢雙解詞典》

《韋氏詞典》

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