Now, don't get me wrong: scientific skepticism ishealthy

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 scientificskepticism 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 itout

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