A new school year in the United States has begun with a touch of controversy. It surrounds a welcome back speech to students from President Barack Obama that was seen in classrooms around the country. In some communities, parents staged a boycott of the president's address - an example of how politically divided the nation has become.
美国的新学年在一些争议声中开始了。这些争议围绕着奥巴马总统对学生们发表的新学期讲话，这个讲话在全美各地的教室中播放。一些社区中的家长发起了抵制总统演讲的行动，显示出整个美国在政治上的分歧之大。
The president's message to students was simple: study hard, pay attention in class and embrace the opportunity to learn.
奥巴马总统向学生们传达的信息很简单：努力学习、专心听讲、珍惜学习的机会。
"We can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world. And none of it will make a difference; none of it will matter, unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities," Mr. Obama said.
他说：“我们可以拥有最献身事业的老师，最鼎力支持的家长和世界上最好的学校。然而如果你们不履行你们自己的责任，这些都不会起作用，都没有关系。”
It was a presidential pep talk delivered at a time of economic uncertainty for many American families. Mr. Obama said he understands the tensions many students face.
在目前美国许多家庭的经济状况不稳定的情况下，这是奥巴马总统发出的一番鼓舞士气的讲话。 奥巴马说，他清楚许多学生所面临的压力。
"The circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher or cutting class or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying," he said
他说：“你的生活状况，包括你的外表如何、你来自哪里、你有多少钱、你家里发生了什么事，这些都不是你不做功课或者在学校态度不好的借口。你没有任何借口跟老师顶嘴，旷课或是辍学。没有任何借口不努力。”
Mr. Obama spoke at a high school in Arlington, Virginia - a short drive from the White House - where the student body is ethnically and economically diverse. His message was broadcast far beyond the campus of Wakefield High to classrooms around the country on the Internet and cable television.
奥巴马总统在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿的韦克菲尔德高中发表了讲话。这所学校离白宫很近。学校的学生来自不同种族和不同经济条件的家庭。奥巴马总统的讲话通过有线电视和互连联网被传播到全美各地的教室中。
Critics of the president denounced the speech as an effort by the White House to promote the president's domestic agenda. Some parents told their children to boycott the address.
奥巴马总统的批评人士指责说，这次讲话是白宫为了宣传总统国内议程所做的努力。一些家长要他们的子女抵制这个讲话。
This Colorado student stayed away.
一位科罗拉多州的学生没有收听讲话。
"It's just a family decision to not come. I think our parents should be the ones to push us more in our education and what not than the president," the student said.
她说：“不来(听讲话)只是家里的决定。我认为我的父母应该是督促我们学业的人，而不是总统。”
But this mother in North Carolina said she thought the speech could have a positive impact.
但是北卡罗莱纳州的一位母亲说，她认为讲话可能会产生积极的影响。
"When kids get to hear something about motivation from someone like that, it's fantastic," she said.
她说：“当孩子们可以从总统这样的人口中听到鼓励的话时，这是一件非常棒的事。”
The White House took the unusual step of posting the president's remarks on its website 24 hours before the speech was delivered. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the address was simply meant to give students a boost at the start of a new school year.
在奥巴马发表演讲前24小时，白宫将讲话的内容发布在白宫的网站上，这是不同寻常的举动。发言人吉布斯说，这个讲话只是为了在新学期的开始让学生们振奋精神。 |