中英文稿

我的最好朋友最近生了一個孩子。?當(dāng)我遇到他時，?我對目睹這個美麗的小人兒 進(jìn)入我們的生活感到敬畏。?我也意識到， 他不只是進(jìn)入我們的生活，?他正在進(jìn)入這個世界——?這個瘋狂的世界，特別是現(xiàn)在， 讓人感到難以置信的充滿挑戰(zhàn)。?我在工作上花費(fèi)了很多時間 和人交流我們是誰，?我們必須是誰，?和我們情感的愈合是什么樣子。

我第一次抱著他，?我已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好了該說什么。?我想讓他知道我們是通過挑戰(zhàn)?才獲得了力量。?我想讓他知道， 我們都可以做一些大事，?積少成多。?我想讓他知道， 每個人都可以比自己想象的?更堅(jiān)強(qiáng)，更有韌性。?圖片是我抱著小小的特洛紐斯。?我低頭看著他，?心都要融化了：?他是一個嬰兒。

他不會理解我對他說的任何一個字。?所以，如果我回家寫下來?可能更好。?這是給成年人的，?但也是給特洛紐斯的，?當(dāng)他年紀(jì)大到可以閱讀時：

世界會對你說，?“做一個更好的人?！?不要害怕說“是的”。?從做一個更好的傾聽者開始。?從在街上走一走開始。?看看周圍的人，?跟他們問好。?問問他們在做什么， 聽聽他們說什么。?開始做一個更好的朋友，?一個更好的家長，一個更好的孩子；?一個更好的兄弟姐妹， 一個更好的情人，一個更好的伴侶。?開始成為一個更好的鄰居。?認(rèn)識一個你不認(rèn)識的人，并了解他們。

世界會對你說，?“你要做什么事？”?不要害怕說，?“我知道我不能做所有事情，?但我可以做一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)。 ”?走進(jìn)更多的房間說，?“我是來幫忙的。”?變得親切慷慨。?給你可以給的東西， 做你能做的事情。?給美元，給美分，給你的時間，?給你的愛，?奉獻(xiàn)你的心，奉獻(xiàn)你的精神。

世界會對你說，?“我們需要和平?！?在內(nèi)心找到你的和平，?保持它神圣，?無論你走到哪里都要帶著它。?和平只能從人的內(nèi)心產(chǎn)生，?不能與他人分享或創(chuàng)造。

世界會對你說，?“他們是敵人?！?愛會讓你知道，?持有不同意見的人，?并不一定是你的敵人。?你可能不會贏得爭論，?你未必能改變別人的意向，?但如果你選擇這么做，?你總是可以獲得 同理心的徹底勝利 ——?對心的理解。

世界會對你說，?“我們需要公正?！?調(diào)查一下。?發(fā)現(xiàn)你所講的故事之外的真相，?發(fā)現(xiàn)事情似乎超出事實(shí)的真相。?問，“為什么？”?問：“這公平嗎？”?問：“我們怎么到這里來的？”?用同情心來做這件事，?用寬恕心來做這件事。?學(xué)會原諒別人，?先開始正確地學(xué)習(xí)如何原諒自己。?我們不僅是我們的錯誤，?也不僅是昨天的我們。?我們都應(yīng)該得到尊嚴(yán)。?通過別人看見你自己。?認(rèn)識到你的公正就是我的公正，?而我的也是你的。?如果其他人得不到自由， 我們?nèi)魏我粋€人都不能得到解放。

世界會對你說，?“我很暴力?！?可以這樣回應(yīng)，?“我不是。?我的話和我的行為都不暴力。 ”

世界會對你說，?“我們需要治愈這個星球?！?回答說：“不，謝謝。 我不需要塑料袋。 ”?回收，再利用。?從你的街區(qū)揀起一塊垃圾開始。

世界會對你說，?“問題太多了?！?不要害怕成為解決方案的一部分。?從討論問題開始。?我們無法戰(zhàn)勝我們忽視的東西。?我們越談?wù)撌虑椋?我們看到的問題就越多，?因?yàn)槲覀兿嗷ヂ?lián)系著。

世界會對你說，?“我們需要結(jié)束種族歧視?！?先從自己的家庭治愈開始。

世界會對你說，?“我們怎么解決偏見和偏執(zhí)？?首先在自己的餐桌上 進(jìn)行第一次談話。

世界會對你說，?“有太多的仇恨?！?獻(xiàn)身于愛。?愛自己，才可以?沒有偏見，沒有歧視的愛別人。?當(dāng)世界向我們提出需要 重大答案的重大問題時，?我們有兩個選擇。?一：感到不知所措或者不能勝任， 我們什么都不做。?二：從一個小小的行為 開始，并肯定自己。?我是國家安全局局長，?你也是。?也許沒有人任命我們， 沒有參議院的確認(rèn)，?但我們可以保護(hù)一個國家。?當(dāng)你幫助讓一個人更安全時，?一個國家才會更安全。?只用伸出一只手說：“你還好嗎？?我在這里，?我們可以將不安全轉(zhuǎn)化成為安全。”

我們發(fā)現(xiàn)自己對世界說，?“我該怎么辦？” “我們應(yīng)該做什么？”?更好的問題可能是：?“我怎么現(xiàn)身？”?我要求世界和平，?但是當(dāng)我看到家人和朋友 的時候是否平和？?我要求世界結(jié)束仇恨，?但是我是否會攜愛出現(xiàn)， 不僅僅是為我認(rèn)識的人，?還有那些我不認(rèn)識的人？?我是否能包容與我自己 的觀點(diǎn)相沖突的人？?我要求世界結(jié)束痛苦，?但我是否能幫助那些 在我的街角上受苦的人呢？

我們對世界說，?“請改變，我們需要改變。”?但是，我們怎樣才能 改變自己的生活呢？?我們?nèi)绾胃纳?我們社區(qū)人民的生活呢？

詹姆斯·鮑德溫說：“現(xiàn)在的一切， 我們必須假設(shè)在我們自己的手中；?我們無權(quán)有另外的決擇。 ”?這一直是真實(shí)的。

沒有人告訴哈莉特·塔布曼?她的勇氣、目的和使命。?她沒有說：“我不是國會議員?或者美國總統(tǒng)，?那么我怎可能參與到 一個像奴隸制一樣大的制度?的廢除斗爭中呢？”?她花了十年的時間，出行十九次，?解放了300人，?一次只解放一小群人。?想想這300個人的?孫子孫女，曾孫子孫女等等。?我們的正義行為 在無盡的正義之河中，?激蕩著層層波瀾。

無論是卡特麗娜颶風(fēng)，哈維， 厄瑪還是瑪麗亞，人們都沒有說，?“有太多的傷害。我該怎么辦？ ”?他們必須努力工作。?那些有船的人進(jìn)了他們的船，?并開始裝載他們遇到 的每一個孩子，女人和男人。?無論遠(yuǎn)近，人們都給了他們美元，?給了他們美分，?給了他們的心，?給了他們的精神。

我們花了這么多時間，?認(rèn)為我們沒有改變世界的力量。?但我們忘記了改變別人生活 的力量總是在我們手中。?變革并不屬于一個群體，?它屬于我們所有人。?你不必等待任何人告訴你，?加入進(jìn)來。?開始吧。?從做你所能做的事情開始，?不論你在哪里，?用你自己的方式去做。

我們不必成為英雄，?穿制服，?稱自己是積極分子?或者當(dāng)選參加。?我們必須有足夠的勇氣去關(guān)心別人。

在特洛紐斯出生的時候，?我去參加過一個叫 基因?莫雷蒂的人的生日派對。?這是他的100歲生日，?這意味著他經(jīng)歷過大蕭條， 第二次世界大戰(zhàn)，?爭取工人權(quán)利的斗爭，?實(shí)現(xiàn)婦女的選舉權(quán)，?民權(quán)運(yùn)動，?首次登月，越南戰(zhàn)爭，?以及第一位黑人總統(tǒng)當(dāng)選 的所有重大歷史事件。?我和他坐在一起，我說：?“基因，你已經(jīng)在美國生活了100年。?你對現(xiàn)狀有什么建議嗎？ ”?他笑了，簡單地對我說：“是的。?盡可能對更多的人做更好的事。 ”?他和我母親跳舞，?順便說一下，她的年齡是他的一半，?在一個充滿了幾代人 的家庭和數(shù)百人的房間里，?他們中的許多人 從千里之外去為他慶祝。?我意識到，他不只是給了我建議，?他給了我第一步，?如果我們想要對我們周圍的世界?產(chǎn)生真正的、全心全意的影響， 現(xiàn)在，我們每個人?都有能力邁出第一步。

“盡可能對更多的人做更好事。”

謝謝。

?

My best friend recently had a baby.?And when I met him,?I was in awe of witnessing this tiny, beautiful being enter into our lives.?I also had this realization that he wasn't just entering our lives,?he was entering the world --?this crazy world that, especially now, feels so incredibly challenging.?I spend a lot time in my work talking to people about who we are,?who we must be?and what our healing looks like.

So the first time I held him,?I had my pep talk ready.?You know, I wanted him to know that the way we find our strength?is through our challenges.?I wanted him to know that we can all do something big?when we start small.?I wanted him to know that each of us is more resilient?than we could ever imagine.?So here I am holding little Thelonious.?I look down at him,?and it hits me:?he's a baby.

He's not going to understand a single word I say to him.?So instead, I thought it would probably be a better idea?if I went home and wrote.?So, this is for grownups,?but it's also for Thelonious,?when he's old enough to read it:

The world will say to you,?"Be a better person."?Do not be afraid to say, "Yes."?Start by being a better listener.?Start by being better at walking down the street.?See people.?Say, "Hello."?Ask how they are doing and listen to what they say.?Start by being a better friend,?a better parent, a better child to your parents;?a better sibling, a better lover, a better partner.?Start by being a better neighbor.?Meet someone you do not know, and get to know them.

The world will say to you,?"What are you going to do?"?Do not be afraid to say,?"I know I can't do everything,?but I can do something."?Walk into more rooms saying,?"I'm here to help."?Become intimate with generosity.?Give what you can give, and do what you can do.?Give dollars, give cents, give your time,?give your love,?give your heart, give your spirit.

The world will say to you,?"We need peace."?Find your peace within,?hold it sacred,?bring it with you everywhere you go.?Peace cannot be shared or created with others?if we cannot first generate it within.

The world will say to you,?"They are the enemy."?Love enough to know?that just because someone disagrees with you,?it does not make them your enemy.?You may not win an argument,?you may not change a mind,?but if you choose to,?you can always achieve the triumph of radical empathy --?an understanding of the heart.

The world will say to you,?"We need justice."?Investigate.?Find truth beyond the stories you are told.?Find truth beyond the way things seem.?Ask, "Why?"?Ask, "Is this fair?"?Ask, "How did we get here?"?Do this with compassion.?Do this with forgiveness.?Learn to forgive others.?Start by truly learning how to forgive yourself.?We are all more than our mistakes.?We are all more than who we were yesterday.?We are all deserving of our dignity.?See yourself in others.?Recognize that your justice is my justice,?and mine is yours.?There can be no liberation for one of us if the other is not free.

The world will say to you,?"I am violent."?Respond by saying,?"I am not.?Not with my words and not with my actions."

The world will say to you,?"We need to heal the planet."?Start by saying, "No, thank you. I don't need a plastic bag."?Recycle, reuse.?Start by picking up one piece of trash on your block.

The world will say to you,?"There are too many problems."?Do not be afraid to be a part of the solutions.?Start by discussing the issues.?We cannot overcome what we ignore.?The more we talk about things,?the more we see that the issues are connected?because we are connected.

The world will say to you,?"We need to end racism."?Start by healing it in your own family.

The world will say to you,?"How do we speak to bias and bigotry?"?Start by having the first conversation at your own kitchen table.

The world will say to you,?"There is so much hate."?Devote yourself to love.?Love yourself so much that you can love others?without barriers and without judgment.?When the world asks us big questions that require big answers,?we have two options.?One: to feel so overwhelmed or unqualified, we do nothing.?Two: to start with one small act and qualify ourselves.?I am the director of national security,?and so are you.?Maybe no one appointed us and there were no senate confirmations,?but we can secure a nation.?When you help just one person to be more secure,?a nation is more secure.?With just one outstretched hand that says, "Are you OK??I am here for you,"?we can transform insecurity into security.

We find ourselves saying to the world,?"What should I do?" "What should we do?"?The better question might be:?"How am I showing up?"?I ask the world for peace,?but do I show up with peace when I see my family and friends??I ask the world to end hatred,?but do I show up with love not only for those I know,?but those I don't know??Do I show up with love for those whose ideas conflict with my own??I ask the world to end suffering,?but do I show up for those who are suffering on my street corner??We say to the world,?"Please change; we need change."?But how do we show up to change our own lives??How do we show up to change the lives of the people in our communities?

James Baldwin said, "Everything now, we must assume is in our own hands;?we have no right to assume otherwise."?This has always been true.

No one nominated Harriet Tubman to her purpose,?to her mission, to her courage.?She did not say, "I'm not a congressman?or the president of the United States,?so how could I possibly participate in the fight to abolish?a system as big as slavery?"?She instead spent 10 years making 19 trips,?freeing 300 people,?one group of people at a time.?Think about the children of those 300 people,?the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren and beyond.?Our righteous acts create immeasurable ripples?in the endless river of justice.

Whether it's Hurricane Katrina, Harvey, Irma or Maria, people did not say,?"There is so much damage. What should I do?"?They got to work on what they could do.?Those with boats got in their boats?and started loading in every woman, man and child they came across.?Near and far, people gave their dollars,?they gave their cents,?they gave their hearts,?they gave their spirit.

We spend so much time?thinking we don't have the power to change the world.?We forget that the power to change someone's life is always in our hands.?Change-making does not belong to one group of people;?it belongs to all of us.?You don't have to wait on anyone to tell you?that you are in this.?Begin.?Start by doing what you can with what you've got,?where you are?and in your own way.

We don't have to be heroes,?wear a uniform,?call ourselves activists?or get elected to participate.?We just have to be brave enough to care.

Now, around the time Thelonious was born,?I went to the birthday party of a man named Gene Moretti.?It was his 100th birthday,?which means he lived in the United States through the Depression, World War II,?the struggle for workers' rights,?the achievement of a woman's right to vote,?the Civil Rights Movement,?a man on the moon, the Vietnam War?and the election of the first black president.?I sat with him, and I said,?"Gene, you have lived in America for 100 years.?Do you have any advice during these current times?"?He smiled and said to me simply, "Yes.?Be good to as many people as possible."?And as he danced with my mother,?who is, by the way, half his age,?in a room full of generations of his family and hundreds of people,?many of whom traveled thousands of miles to be there to celebrate him,?I realized that he had not just given me advice,?he had given me the first step?that every single one of us is capable of making?if we want to create a real, wholehearted impact?on the world around us, right now.

"Be good to as many people as possible."

Thank you.

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