第2章关于梦想(2)

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Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills， and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.

Barack，s grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank…and she moved quickly up the ranks…but like so many women， she hit a glass ceiling.

And for years， men no more qualified than she was men she had actually trained were promoted up the ladder ahead of her， earning more and more money while Barack，s family continued to scrape by.

But day after day， she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus…arriving at work before anyone else…giving her best without complaint or regret.

And she would often tell Barack， “So long as you kids do well， Bar， that，s all that really matters.”

Like so many American families， our families weren，t asking for much.

They didn，t begrudge anyone else，s success or care that others had much more than they did…in fact， they admired it.

They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that， even if you don，t start out with much， if you work hard and do what you，re supposed to do， then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.

That，s how they raised us…that，s what we learned from their example.

We learned about dignity and decency that how hard you work matters more than how much you make…that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.

We learned about honesty and integrity that the truth matters…that you don，t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules…and success doesn，t count unless you earn it fair and square.

We learned about gratitude and humility that so many people had a hand in our success， from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone，s contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Those are the values Barack and I and so many of you are trying to pass on to our own children.

That，s who we are.

And I didn，t 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.

I love that he，s never forgotten how he started.

I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he，s going to do， even when it，s hard especially when it，s hard.

I love that for Barack， there is no such thing as “us” and “them” he doesn，t care whether you，re a Democrat， a Republican， or none of the above…he knows that we all love our country…and he，s always ready to listen to good ideas…he，s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.

And I love that even in the toughest moments， when we，re all sweating it when we，re worried that the bill won，t pass， and it seems like all is lost 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 Barack，s 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 steadfast love…because time and again， they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.

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 country，s 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 young preacher 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 the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.

That is what has made my story， and Barack，s story， and so many other American stories possible.

Because today， I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters， and all our sons and daughters…if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise…if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility that belief that here in America， there is always something better out there if you，re willing to work for it.

Thank you， God bless you， and God bless America.

成为诸位的第一夫人，是我的荣耀和幸运……但当我们四年前首次聚在一起的时候，我仍对我们即将展开的旅程心怀疑虑。

对我丈夫心中的祖国愿景，我满怀信心……对他将成为一位出色的总统，我也深信不疑……但是就像所有的母亲一样，我也曾担心如果他当选，这对我们的女儿们意味着什么。

身处万众瞩目的聚光灯下，我们要如何让她们保持脚踏实地？

说实话，我爱我们为女儿们所创造的生活……我深爱和我一起创造这生活的男人……而且我不愿意让这一切因为他当了总统而发生变化。

我爱的就是贝拉克原来的样子。

你们瞧，即便当时贝拉克已经是一名参议员兼总统候选人了……对我而言，他仍是那个开着辆锈迹斑斑的破车来接我去约会的男子，我几乎都能透过乘客这侧车门上的破洞看到飞逝而过的路面……他仍是那个把一张从垃圾箱里翻出来的咖啡桌当作自己最了不起的财产的男子，那个仅有的一双体面的鞋子比自己的脚还小了半号的男子。

然而，当贝拉克开始向我讲述他的家庭时——就在那一刻，我明白我遇到了一个志同道合的灵魂。他的价值观和成长经历与我惊人地相似。

贝拉克成长在一个单亲家庭里，他的母亲依靠努力工作来维持家庭生活，在她实在无力支持的时候，祖父母也会伸出援手。

贝拉克的祖母最初在社区银行当秘书……她升职很快……但就和其他许多女性一样，她的升职最终还是受到了性别限制。

数年间，那些不如她有能力的男性员工——事实上，还是她亲手培训的男性员工——都被提升到了比她高的职位，挣的钱越来越多，而与此同时，贝拉克一家只能勉强度日。

但一天又一天，她仍然早起去赶公车……比其他任何人都早到公司……她总是做到最好，从不抱怨，从不懊悔。