VOA标准英语2009-Obama Delivers Inspirational Message to Class of

U.S. President Barack Obama has delivered his first commencement address since taking office, a speech to the graduating class of Arizona State University, in the American southwest. The president has a lot of advice for the class of 2009.
　
President Barack Obama speaks at the Arizona State University commencement ceremony at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., Wednesday, 13 May 2009

The president says the class of 2009 is leaving college at a time of economic uncertainty¹. But he urges these new graduates to seize the opportunity to make the world a better place.

"I know starting your careers in troubled times is a challenge," President Obama said. "But it is also a privilege. Because it is moments like these that force us to try harder, to dig deeper, to discover gifts we never knew we had -- to find the greatness that lie within each of us."

In many ways, it was a classic commencement address.

There were no new pronouncements of policy. Instead, there were words meant to inspire.

President Obama told the graduating class at Arizona State that what drives them through life should not be money, celebrity² or power, but a higher calling.

"A willingness to follow your passions, regardless of whether they lead to fortune or fame," Mr. Obama said. "A willingness to question conventional wisdom and rethink the old dogmas."

The president talked about what he calls the selfishness and irresponsibility on Wall Street and in Washington that resulted in a national economic crisis. He says it is time to do things differently.

"That is why we are going to need your help," the president said. "We'll need young people like you to step up. We need your daring and your enthusiasm and your energy."

Mr. Obama got a warm welcome in this university in the desert. This was the first of three commencement addresses the president is scheduled to deliver this month.

The reception is likely to be far different on Sunday, when he arrives at the University of Notre Dame³ in the Midwestern state of Indiana.

Notre Dame has ties to the Roman Catholic church, which has taken a strong anti-abortion⁴ stand. And, protesters have vowed⁵ to make their presence know when the president, who supports abortion rights, arrives on campus.

1 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

2 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

3 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

4 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

5 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。