BabaraBushchoicesandchange分析和总结分析和总结.docx

BarbaraPierceBush

CommencementAddressatWellesleyCollege

delivered1June1990

Thankyouvery,verymuch,PresidentKeohane.Mrs.Gorbachev,Trustees,faculty,parents,andIshouldsay,JuliaPorter,classpresident,andcertainlymynewbestfriend,ChristineBicknell--and,ofcourse,theClassof1990.Iamreallythrilledtobeheretoday,andveryexcited,asIknowallofyoumustbe,thatMrs.Gorbachevcouldjoinus.

These--Theseareexcitingtimes.TheyreexcitinginWashington,andIhavereallylookedforwardtocomingtoWellesley.Ithoughtitwasgoingtobefun.Ineverdreamtitwouldbethismuchfun.So,thankyouforthat.

Morethantenyearsago,whenIwasinvitedheretotalkaboutourexperiencesinthePeoplesRepublicofChina,Iwasstruckbyboththenaturalbeautyofyourcampusandthespiritofthisplace.

Wellesley,yousee,isnotjustaplacebutanidea--anexperimentinexcellenceinwhichdiversityisnotjusttolerated,butisembraced.Theessenceofthisspiritwascapturedinamovingspeechabouttolerancegivenlastyearbyastudentbodypresidentofoneofyoursistercolleges.SherelatedthestorybyRobertFulghumaboutayoungpastor,findinghimselfinchargeofsomeveryenergeticchildren,hitsuponthegamecalledGiants,Wizards,andDwarfs.Youhavetodecidenow,thepastorinstructedthechildren,whichyouare--

agiant,awizard,oradwarf?Atthat,asmallgirltuggingathispantsleg,asked,Butwheredothemermaidsstand?Andthepastortellshertherearenomermaids.Andshesays,Ohyesthereare--theyare.Iamamermaid.

Nowthislittlegirlknewwhatshewas,andshewasnotabouttogiveuponeitherheridentity,orthegame.Sheintendedtotakeherplacewherevermermaidsfitintotheschemeofthings.Wheredothemermaidsstand?Allofthosewhoaredifferent,thosewhodonotfittheboxesandthepigeonholes?Answerthatquestion,wroteFulghum,Andyoucanbuildascho