A Letter to My Daughters---What I Want For You and Every Child

Obama reveals in an emotional letter his hopes and dreams for daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

Lee Li :

新世紀已進入第10年了，我終於看到了234年前"美國獨立宣言"的精神與內涵被Obama再一次闡述出來，其靈魂應有的內涵與精神彰顯無遺。

Obama在信中說明他參選美國第44任總統的原因，在於「我要妳們以及這個國家的每個小孩過得更好」。Obama說：他年輕時認為人生以追求自我為主，但在生了Malia與Sasha兩個小孩後， 他才體悟到「除非我能確保妳們擁有人生中的每個快樂與實踐的機會，否則我的生命根本沒意義」。Obama說，他要每個小孩都能上「符合其潛力的學校 」，「就算雙 親不富有」，也有機會上大學及找到好工作。

Obama信中也勾勒出對未來的願景，包括不要受到已發現事物慣性的侷限，要在有生之年看到改善人類生活及使地球更乾淨與安全的新科技和發明…「我要我們突破人類自身侷限，以便超越橫亙於種族、地域、性別與宗教之間的隔閡，讓我們看到對方身心靈上的優點」。

Obama回顧其白人外祖母Madeleine的教誨，敘述外祖母在他跟兩個女兒差不多年紀時，對他朗讀美國獨立宣言的前文(板主節錄：「我們認為下面這些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物者賦予他們若干不可剝奪的權利，其中包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人類 才在他們之間建立政府，而政府之正當權力，是經被治理者的同意而產生的。當任何形式的政府對這些目標具破壞作用時，人民便有權力改變或廢除它，以建立一個 新的政府；其賴以奠基的原則，其組織權力的方式，務使人民認為唯有這樣才最可能獲得他們的安全和幸福。為了慎重起見，成立多年的政府，是不應當由於輕微和 短暫的原因而予以變更的。過去的一切經驗也都說明，任何苦難，只要是尚能忍受，人類都寧願容忍，而無意為了本身的權益便廢除他們久已習慣了的政府。但是， 當追逐同一目標的一連串濫用職權和強取豪奪發生，證明政府企圖把人民置於專制統治之下時，那麼人民就有權利，也有義務推翻這個政府，並為他們未來的安全建 立新的保障－－這就是這些殖民地過去逆來順受的情況，也是它們現在不得不改變以前政府制度的原因。當今大不列顛國王的歷史，是接連不斷的傷天害理和強取豪 奪的歷史，這些暴行的唯一目標，就是想在這些州建立專制的暴政。為了證明所言屬實，現把下列事實向公正的世界宣佈－－」)；他呼籲兩名愛女要持續改正直覺所看到的錯誤，協助他人也擁有她們倆曾有的機會；他希望愛女與所有小孩都能在「夢想不受限制、成就沒有藩籬的世界中長大，成為一個具有同情心與使命感、願意協助打造世界的女性」。

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The letter titled, “A Letter To My Daughters---What I Want For You and Every Child”, the soon to be 44th President of the United States of America writes:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have 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 puppy, it doesn’t make up for all the time we’ve been apart. I know how much I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. He continues, 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 things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation. I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity…....