米歇尔演讲稿.doc

20140322D skypeD? ?2009100000?3000rhodescholarshipDDDD first lady michelle obama:barack thats why barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.barack so in the end, for barack, these issues arent political C theyre personal. because barack knows what it means when a family struggles. he knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.barack knows the american dream because hes lived it.and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where were from, or what we look like, or who we love.and he believes that when youve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity.you do not slam it shut behind you.you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.hes the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.thats the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.i see the concern in his eyes.and i hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, you wont believe what these folks are going through, michelle.its not right. weve got to keep working to fix this. weve got so much more to do.i see how those stories C our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams C i see how thats what drives barack obama every single day.and i didnt think it was possible, but today, i love my husband even more than i did four years ago.even more than i did 23 years ago, when we first met.23 i love that hes never forgotten how he started.i love that we can trust barack to do what he says hes going to do, even when its hard C especially when its hard.i love that for barack, there is no such thing as us and them C he doesnt care whether youre a democrat, a republican, or none of the above.he knows that we all love our countryand hes always ready to listen to good ideas.hes always looking for the very best ineveryone he meets. and i love that even in the toughest moments, when were all sweating it C when were worried that the bill wont pass, and it seems like all is lost C barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward.with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace. and he reminds me that we are playing a long game here.and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.but eventually we get there, we always do.we get there because of folks like my dad.folks like baracks grandmother.men and women who said to themselves, i may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will.maybe my grandchildren will., .so many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfastlove.because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.so today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming C or even impossible C let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation.its who we are as americans.its how this country was built.and if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us.if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button.then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.and if so many brave men and women could wear our countrys uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights.then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights.surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on election day.if farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire.if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores.if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote.if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time.if a youngpreacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream.and if proud americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love.then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great american dream.because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country C the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle. that is what has made my story, and baracks story, and so many other american stories possible.and i say all of this tonight not just as first lady.and not just as a wife. you see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still mom-in-chief.my daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. but today, i have none of those worries from four years ago about whether barack and i were doing whats best for our girls.ni-hao. it is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university.thank you so much for having me.and before i get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, i just want to say a few very brief words about malaysian airlines flight 370.as my husband has said, the united states is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search.and please know that we are keeping all the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.and with that, i want to start by recognizing our new ambassador to china, ambassador baucus.president wang.chairman zhu.vice president li.director cueller, professor oi and the stanford center.president sexton from new york university which has an excellent study abroad program in shanghai. and john thornton, director of the global leadership program at tsinghua university. .thank you all so much for joining us.and most of all, i want to thank all of the students for being here today. .and i particularly want to thank eric schafer and zhu xuanhao for that extraordinary english and chinese introduction.that was such a powerful symbol of everything i want to talk with you about today.you see, by learning each others languages - and by showing such curiosity and respect for each others cultures - mr. schafer and ms. zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that lead to so much more.and im here today because i know that our future depends on connections like these among oeoole like you across the globe.because we believe that relationships between nations arent just about relationships betweenthats why when my husband and i travel abroad,we dont just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state.because we believe that relationships between nations arent just about relationships betweengovernments or leaders.theyre about relationships between people, particularly our young people. so we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students. but also as a vital part of americas foreign policy.you see, through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before. ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button.because getting ahead in todays workplaces isnt just about getting good grades or test scores in school.its also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders -experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.or, as the chinese saying goes: it is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.but lets be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future - its also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.no one country can confront them alone. .the only way forward.that?s why its so important for young people like you to live and study in each others countries.because that?s how you develop that habit of cooperation you do it by immersing yourself in someone elses culture.by learning each others storiesand by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.and thats how you realize that we all have a stake in each others success - that cures discovered here in beijing could save lives in america. ? .that clean energy technologies from silicon valley in california could improve the environment here in china.that the architecture of an ancient temple in xian could inspire the design of new buildings in dallas or detroitand thats when the connections you make as classmates or labmates can blossom into something more.thats what happened when abigail coplin became an american fulbright scholar here at peking university.she and her colleagues published papers together in top science journals. .and they built research partnerships that lasted long after they returned to their home fessor niu ke from peking university was a fulbright scholar in the u.s. last year.and he reported, and i quote, ?the most memorable experiences were with my american friends.these lasting bonds represent the true value of studying abroad. .and i am thrilled that more and more students are getting this opportunity.