Space Odyssey

Barack Obama: ‘What I Want for You — and Every Child in America’ (Letter to his daughters)

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.

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.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings 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 Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality 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 obligation 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 hitch your wagon 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 into compassionate, 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, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

Thomas Friedman最近撰文，呼吁美国政府以投资教育的方式刺激经济。他援引了2005年的一份报告，称美国应该在数学和其他科学领域进行长远的投资，并加大引进国外的高素质学生，完善美国的法律使其更利于创新，这样美国才能保持在世界上的竞争力。

他说，如果我们把一万亿美元用在修高速公路和桥梁上，我们的孩子会感谢我们－因为我们的努力使得他们更方便快捷地到达失业办公室，或者取得一些平庸的职位。我们应该考虑的是，如何产生更多的Google，苹果，微软等公司。

政府可以大量地印刷钞票，但教育一代人需要十二年的时间。肯尼迪把美国人送到了月球，现在是奥巴马把他们送回学校的时间了。

当然，这需要钱。你去修桥修路也需要钱。桥只是桥，路就是路，一旦建成，你的刺激计划就结束了。如果一个学生本来对科学没有兴趣，但有更好的老师来启迪他，有更好的科研条件来培养他，我们就可以指望另一个Bill Gates或者Steves Jobs的出现。

Thomas Friedman的见解代表了不少知识分子的心声，美国政府也已经拨款数十亿美元给研究机构。

美国的媒体称他们的八零后为行动的一代-The take-action generation ，因为越来越多的中学生以志愿者的身份参与到社会中去。根据2006年的一项研究，同1989年相比，16到19岁的年轻人从事志愿者的人数在2005年翻了一番。2004年有一千五百五十万的八零后为社会贡献了13亿个小时的服务。

Nancy Lublin认为，美国的八零后与前辈的不同之处在于，他们是发自内心的热情，而非强迫性地参与这些活动。86%的美国高中都提供社区服务的项目。

当然，志愿者的经历有助于申请大学。美国的大学对申请者的社区经历有了更高的要求，他们会拒绝那些仅仅为了应付申请的志愿者，更愿意接受那些对社区服务有真正的理解和热情的人。

美国人认为，通过参与到志愿者的队伍，可以培养出下一代的领袖。奥巴马就是一个例子