奥巴马在即将上任之际，写了封公开信给两个尚未成年的女儿。
亲爱的玛丽亚和萨莎：
这些是我想要让你们得到的东西：在一个梦想不受限制、无事不能成就的世界中长大，长成具慈悲心、坚持理想，能帮忙打造这样一个世界的女性。我要每个孩子都有和你们一样的机会，去学习、梦想、成长、发展。这就是我带领我们一家开始这趟大冒险的原因。我深以你俩为荣，你们永远不会明白我有多爱你们，在我们准备一同在白宫开始新生活之际，我没有一天不为你们的忍耐、沉稳、明理和幽默而心存感激。
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
When I was a young man, I thought life was all
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
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
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
相关单词：puppy
puppy解释：n.小狗，幼犬
puppy例句：
You must school your puppy to obey you.你要训练你的小狗服从你。
Their lively puppy frisks all over the house.他们的小狗在屋里到处欢快地蹦跳。
相关单词：decided
decided解释：adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
decided例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词：mischief
mischief解释：n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹
mischief例句：
Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
相关单词：worthy
worthy解释：adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
worthy例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
相关单词：gender
gender解释：n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性
gender例句：
French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。
相关单词：blessings
blessings解释：n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福
blessings例句：
Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：declaration
declaration解释：n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报
declaration例句：
We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。
相关单词：obligation
obligation解释：n.（法律、道德上的）义务，责任
obligation例句：
Every player is under an obligation to keep the rules.每个选手都必须遵守这些规则。
It is the obligation of citizens to perform military service.服兵役是每个公民的义务。
相关单词：hitch
hitch解释：v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉
hitch例句：
They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。
相关单词：wagon
wagon解释：n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车
wagon例句：
We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
相关单词：compassionate
compassionate解释：adj.有同情心的，表示同情的
compassionate例句：
She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。
相关单词：poise
poise解释：vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信
poise例句：
She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
Ballet classes are
