Now, don't get me wrong: scientific skepticism is healthy
别误解我的意思 科学怀疑主义是有好处的
But there is a world of difference between scientific skepticism that seeks out more
但是寻找更多证据的科学怀疑主义同意识形态上
evidence and ideological stubbornness that shuts it out
拒绝科学证据的顽固不化是有本质差别的
Given the general attitude of many elected officials toward science
这么多民选官员针对科学都是这种态度
it's no wonder that the federal government has abdicated its responsibility
联邦政府没能尽到自己的职责
to invest in scientific research, much of which occurs at our universities
在大学等机构投资科学研究也就毫不奇怪了
Today, federal spending on research and development as a percentage of GNP
如今 GNP中用于研究和开发的联邦支出百分比
is lower than it has been in more than 50 years
是五十余年间最低的
which is allowing the rest of the world to catch up
这让世界其它国家有机会赶上
and even surpass the US in scientific research
甚至超过美国的科学研究
The federal government is flunking science, just as many state governments are
联邦政府在科学上是不及格的 就像很多州政府一样
We must not become a country that turns our back on science, or on each other
我们美国不应该背离科学 内部也不应该相互仇视
Now I get to the class of 2014. You graduates must help lead the way
回到2014届毕业生来 你们必须引领前路
On every issue
每个问题上
we must follow the evidence where it leads
我们都应当遵循证据的指引
and listen to people where they are
倾听人们的意见
If we do that, there is no problem we cannot solve
只要我们这样做 就没有什么问题解决不了
No gridlock we cannot break
没有解不开的死结
No compromise we cannot broker
没有谈不妥的和解
The more we embrace a free exchange of ideas
思想交流越自由
and the more we accept that political diversity
政治多样性越强
the healthier we are, the stronger our society will be
我们就越健康 社会就会越强大
Now I know this has not been a traditional commencement speech
我知道 我并没有按照传统方式做毕业典礼演讲
and in fact it may
实际上
keep me from passing a dissertation defense in the humanities department
这甚至可能让我在人文系的论文答辩上无法通过
but there is no easy time to say hard things
不过讲这些麻烦事时总不会轻松
Graduates, throughout your lives
毕业生们 在你们一生中
do not be afraid of saying what you believe is right
不要害怕说出自己认为正确的东西
no matter how unpopular it may be
无论它有多么不受欢迎
especially when it comes to defending the rights of others
特别是在捍卫他人权利的时候
Stand up for the rights of others
捍卫他人权利
and in some ways it's even more important than standing up for your own rights
有时比捍卫自身权利更为重要
Because when people seek to repress freedom for some
因为当人们寻求抑制其他人自由的时候
and you remain silent
你可能会保持沉默
you are complicit in that repression
这样你将会助长这种抑制
and you may well become its victim
哪天你可能也会成为受害者
Do not be complicit, and do not follow the crowd
不要沆瀣一气 不要人云亦云
Speak up, and fight back
大声说出来 有力地回击
You will take your lumps, I can assure you of that
我敢肯定 你会受到批评
You will lose some friends and make some enemies, I can assure you of that too
我敢肯定 你还会失去一些朋友 树立一些敌人
But the arc of history will be on your side
但历史会站在你这一边
and our nation will be stronger for it
我们的国家也会因此更加强盛
Now all of you graduates have earned today's celebration
所有毕业生都经过努力获得了今天的成就
You have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be grateful for
你们可以很自豪 很感激
So tonight, as you leave this great university behind
今晚 在你们离开这所伟大的大学之前
have one last Scorpion Bowl at the Kong on second thought, don't
可能会去香港餐厅来一大碗蝎子碗大杂烩
and tomorrow, get back to work
明天 你们需要开始行动起来
making our country and our world freer for ever, freer for everyone
让我们的国家和世界对每个人都更自由 并永远自由下去
God bless and good luck
上帝保佑你们好运
