公眾人物畢業(yè)演講第19期:邁克爾·彭博哈佛大學2014畢業(yè)典禮演講(11)

Now, don't get me wrong: scientific skepticism ishealthy

別誤解我的意思 科學懷疑主義是有好處的

But there is a world of difference between scientificskepticism that seeks out more

但是尋找更多證據(jù)的科學懷疑主義同意識形態(tài)上

evidence and ideological stubbornness that shuts itout

拒絕科學證據(jù)的頑固不化是有本質(zhì)差別的

Given the general attitude of many elected officials toward science

這么多民選官員針對科學都是這種態(tài)度

it's no wonder that the federal government has abdicated its responsibility

聯(lián)邦政府沒能盡到自己的職責

to invest in scientific research, much of which occurs at our universities

在大學等機構(gòu)投資科學研究也就毫不奇怪了

Today, federal spending on research and development as a percentage of GNP

如今 GNP中用于研究和開發(fā)的聯(lián)邦支出百分比

is lower than it has been in more than 50 years

是五十余年間最低的

which is allowing the rest of the world to catch up

這讓世界其它國家有機會趕上

and even surpass the US in scientific research

甚至超過美國的科學研究

The federal government is flunking science, just as many state governments are

聯(lián)邦政府在科學上是不及格的 就像很多州政府一樣

We must not become a country that turns our back on science, or on each other

我們美國不應(yīng)該背離科學 內(nèi)部也不應(yīng)該相互仇視

Now I get to the class of 2014. You graduates must help lead the way

回到2014屆畢業(yè)生來 你們必須引領(lǐng)前路

On every issue

每個問題上

we must follow the evidence where it leads

我們都應(yīng)當遵循證據(jù)的指引

and listen to people where they are

傾聽人們的意見

If we do that, there is no problem we cannot solve

只要我們這樣做 就沒有什么問題解決不了

No gridlock we cannot break

沒有解不開的死結(jié)

No compromise we cannot broker

沒有談不妥的和解

The more we embrace a free exchange of ideas

思想交流越自由

and the more we accept that political diversity

政治多樣性越強

the healthier we are, the stronger our society will be

我們就越健康 社會就會越強大

Now I know this has not been a traditional commencement speech

我知道 我并沒有按照傳統(tǒng)方式做畢業(yè)典禮演講

and in fact it may

實際上

keep me from passing a dissertation defense in the humanities department

這甚至可能讓我在人文系的論文答辯上無法通過

but there is no easy time to say hard things

不過講這些麻煩事時總不會輕松

Graduates, throughout your lives

畢業(yè)生們 在你們一生中

do not be afraid of saying what you believe is right

不要害怕說出自己認為正確的東西

no matter how unpopular it may be

無論它有多么不受歡迎

especially when it comes to defending the rights of others

特別是在捍衛(wèi)他人權(quán)利的時候

Stand up for the rights of others

捍衛(wèi)他人權(quán)利

and in some ways it's even more important than standing up for your own rights

有時比捍衛(wèi)自身權(quán)利更為重要

Because when people seek to repress freedom for some

因為當人們尋求抑制其他人自由的時候

and you remain silent

你可能會保持沉默

you are complicit in that repression

這樣你將會助長這種抑制

and you may well become its victim

哪天你可能也會成為受害者

Do not be complicit, and do not follow the crowd

不要沆瀣一氣 不要人云亦云

Speak up, and fight back

大聲說出來 有力地回擊

You will take your lumps, I can assure you of that

我敢肯定 你會受到批評

You will lose some friends and make some enemies, I can assure you of that too

我敢肯定 你還會失去一些朋友 樹立一些敵人

But the arc of history will be on your side

但歷史會站在你這一邊

and our nation will be stronger for it

我們的國家也會因此更加強盛

Now all of you graduates have earned today's celebration

所有畢業(yè)生都經(jīng)過努力獲得了今天的成就

You have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be grateful for

你們可以很自豪 很感激

So tonight, as you leave this great university behind

今晚 在你們離開這所偉大的大學之前

have one last Scorpion Bowl at the Kong on second thought, don't

可能會去香港餐廳來一大碗蝎子碗大雜燴

and tomorrow, get back to work

明天 你們需要開始行動起來

making our country and our world freer for ever, freer for everyone

讓我們的國家和世界對每個人都更自由 并永遠自由下去

God bless and good luck

上帝保佑你們好運