Historical role models - Amy Bissetta

历史人物模范 - Amy Bissetta

翻译人员: Yunxi Liu 校对人员: Simon Sun

We all know that there are certain virtues

众所周知，有一些美德

that are good for us.

对于我们来说很棒。

Intelligence,

睿智

wisdom,

聪颖

bravery,

justice,

勇气

公平

respect,

尊重

responsibility,

责任感

honesty,

诚实

unselfishness,

无私

compassion,

patience,

同情心

耐心

and perseverance

以及坚持

always have been and always will be positive virtues.

过去和将来都是优良的美德。

Think of some people who have those traits.

想想一些拥有这些美德的人，

Maybe it's Martin Luther King

也许有马丁路德金，

or Abraham Lincoln

或者亚伯拉罕 林肯

or George Washington.

或者是乔治 华盛顿

I bet you know a lot of facts

我确信你一定知道很多

about these historical figures,

关于这些历史人物的传奇，

but maybe you've never taken the time

但是也许你从未抽出时间

to think about their character.

来想想他们的品格。

Let's talk about Sybil Ludington.

现在我们来讨论西比尔路丁顿。

She's a little-known revolutionary figure,

她是一个并非很出名的改革家，

but boy, was she something!

但她真是一个特别的人，

She rode 40 miles through the damp, cold night

在一个阴暗潮湿又寒冷的晚上，她骑马狂奔了四十英里路，

of April 26, 1777

那天是1777年4月26日，

to alert the colonial militia of a British attack.

目的是提醒那些殖民地的民兵：英国人来攻击了。

Her action was similar to that of Paul Revere,

她的这一举动跟时维尔有相似之处

only she rode twice as far

唯一不同的是

and was only 16 years old.

她骑了两倍远并且当时只有16岁。

That takes some real guts!

这需要真正的勇气！

Beriah Green?

那么比利亚格林呢？

Anyone ever heard of Beriah Green?

有人听说过比利亚格林吗？

He was president of the first integrated school

他在美国第一个取消种族隔离的学校

in the United States.

担任校长。

He also spent the majority of his life

他也花了大量的时间

fighting for the immediate abolition of slavery.

争取当时奴隶制的废除。

He used his voice,

他用他的声音、

pen,

笔、

and good deed to fight slavery.

以及一些很勇敢的举动来对抗奴隶制。

Beriah Green was fiercely devoted to abolition

比利亚格林狂热地投入到奴隶制的废除行动中

before it was popular

在这一废除行动变得普遍之前，

because he believed it was the right thing to do.

因为他坚信这是一件正确的事情。

And then there's Abraham Lincoln.

之后便有了亚伯拉罕 林肯，

You know he was president during the Civil War.

你们都知道他是南北战争时期的总统。

He wrote the Emancipation Proclaimation

他写了独立宣言，

and is credited with freeing the slaves.

并且因为解放了奴隶而受到称赞。

He went to war with the South to save the Union.

他对抗了南方挑起的战争来拯救美国。

He helped the country get through

他帮助了美国

one of its most difficult times.

度过了它最困难的时期之一。

He kept the United States united.

他使美国回归和平。

But, above all that,

但是，最值得一提的，

Abraham Lincoln showed great leadership.

是亚伯拉罕 林肯表现出的超凡的领导能力。

Could any of these people

有没有这样的一些人

have done the deeds they're famous for

他们做出他们那些卓越的功劳

without bravery,

可是却并未拥有勇气、

compassion,

恻隐之心、

dedication,

奉献精神、

or wisdom?

以及智慧这些品质？

No!

当然没有这样的人！

History can teach us much more than just the facts.

历史不仅能给我们带来既定事实。

It's full of examples of how to live better.

它给我们提供了鲜活的例子关于如何活得更出彩

And for you,

even if you're not freeing the slaves

而对于你，

即使你不能废除奴隶制

or riding 40 miles on horseback,

或者在马背上骑40英里路，

bravery and wisdom will help you get an A on that test,

勇气和智慧会帮助你得一个A,

ask out that cute boy,

邀约那个可爱的男孩子，

and get that great job.

得到那份好工作。