每天一点英文 16 a letter to my daughters

A letter to My Daughters-Barrack Obama

Dear Malia and Sashar,

I know the you both had a lot fun in the last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and stay fairs,eating all sorts of the junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't let you have. but I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and mom. And that as excited as you both are about that new puppy¹, it doesn't make up for all the time we had been apart. I know how much I missed you these past two years and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided² to take our family on this journey.

When i was a young man, i thought life was all about me about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful and get the thing I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all you curiosity and mischief³ and those smiles never fail to filled my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plan for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon find that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. and i realized that my own life wouldn't counts for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. in the end, girls that why I run for president because what Iwant for you and for every child in this nation.I want all of the children to go to school worthy⁴ of their potential, school that challenge them, inspired them,and instilled⁵ in them a sense of wonder about the world around them, I want them to have a chance to go to college even their parents aren't rich, then i want them to get good jobs, job pay them well and give then benefit like health care, jobs that can spend time with their own kid and retired⁶ with dignity.

I want us to push the boundary of discovery so that you will live to see new techonology and invention that improved our life and make our planet cleaner and safer,and i want us to push our own human boundary reach beyond the devides of race and region,gender and religion that keep us from seeing best in each other. Sometime we have to sent our young man and woman into war and other danger situation to protect our country.but when we do, i want to make sure that it's only for very good reason that we try our best to settled our difference with others peacefully and the we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe.

.And I want every child to understand that the blessings⁷ these brave Americans fight for are not free—that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility. That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration⁸ of Independence

of this nation and telling me about the men and women who marched forequality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something. She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better—and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us.

It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be. I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had.

　Not just because you have an obligation⁹ to give something back to this country that has given our family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself.

Because it is only when you hitch¹⁰ your wagon¹¹ to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach,and to grow to compassionate¹², committed women who will help build that world.

And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise¹³, grace,and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the WhiteHouse.

Love Dad.

1 puppy   

n.小狗，幼犬

参考例句：

• You must school your puppy to obey you.你要训练你的小狗服从你。
• Their lively puppy frisks all over the house.他们的小狗在屋里到处欢快地蹦跳。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

4 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

5 instilled   

v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Nature has instilled in our minds an insatiable desire to see truth. 自然给我们心灵注入了永无休止的发现真理的欲望。 来自辞典例句
• I instilled the need for kindness into my children. 我不断向孩子们灌输仁慈的必要。 来自辞典例句

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

7 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

9 obligation   

n.（法律、道德上的）义务，责任

参考例句：

• Every player is under an obligation to keep the rules.每个选手都必须遵守这些规则。
• It is the obligation of citizens to perform military service.服兵役是每个公民的义务。

10 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

11 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

12 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

13 poise   

vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信

参考例句：

• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
• Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.芭蕾课对培养优雅的姿仪非常重要。