12歲少女演講轟動美民主黨全國大會

[music]http://www.ywhc.net/download/aud/speech/20040727_ilana_wexler_dnc.mp3[/music]

Ilana Wexler:

My name is Ilana Wexler. I'm 12 years old, and I am the founder of "Kids for Kerry."

Kids for Kerry is a grassroots organization of kids that support John Kerry, want to help their futures, and get active in politics.

When my parents went to see Teresa Heinz Kerry speak, they told me that she was amazing! -- and that they thought John Kerry would make a great President. I decided to find out more about John Kerry. I talk about what I learned by using my ABCs.

"A" is America. John Kerry is a hero to America, and he will help our futures. He is a great and positive role model.

"B" is Better education. John Kerry wants to make class sizes smaller, so that children get the best part out of learning. He wants to help teachers because being a teacher is educating children, and letting them out into the world to do good things.

"C" is Compassion towards children. John Kerry wants to make sure that health care is not a privilege, but it is something that we can all afford.

This summer, I was supposed to go to my favorite camp. But instead, I decided to go to the John Kerry office every day. Kids can really help!

On KidsforKerry.org, we have an interactive presidential quiz. There are 270 questions for the electoral votes John Kerry will win. Plus, 25 questions to make up for Florida from the last election.

Our next goal is to have a petition for "National No Name-Calling Day," a day that the candidates don't say anything negative about one another. When our Vice President had a disagreement with a Democratic senator, he used a REALLY BAD word.

If I said that -- If I said that word, I would be put in a "time-out."

I think he should be put in a time-out.

The last time I saw John Kerry, he grabbed my arm and said, "See you at the convention." And here I am!

What will be even more amazing will be the inauguration in January, when we have a new President, knowing that kids have made a difference in this election.

To summarize, Teresa Heinz Kerry: Inspirational, amazing!

John Kerry: American hero, next President.

Kids need -- Kids need positive -- Kids need positive role models in politics. And our Vice President deserves a longgggggg time-out.

Kids -- Kids, this is about our futures. Make sure all adults you know get out and vote.

We can have a voice today!

Thank you!

我叫伊阿娜-懷克斯勒，今年12歲。我是「兒童支持克里」組織的創辦人。「兒童支持克里」是一個由孩子們組成的基層組織，我們支持約翰-克里，以求改善我們的未來，並積極參與到政治生活中。

　　我父母聽完特里薩-海因茨-克里的演講回來，告訴我說她棒極了—他們還認為，約翰-克里可以成為一個偉大的總統。於是我決定多了解克里的情況。我會用ABC開頭，談談我的認識。

　　A代表美國(America)。約翰-克里是美國的英雄，他將為我們開創美好的未來。他是一個偉大、正面的榜樣。

　　B 代表更好的(Better)教育環境。約翰-克里希望縮小課堂規模，從而使孩子們……從而使孩子們得到最佳的學習效果。他希望幫助老師，因為老師的職責是教育孩子，引導孩子們走進社會去做好事。

　　C 代表對兒童的憐恤(Compassion)。約翰-克里希望做到：享受醫療保健不再只是某些人的特權，而是我們所有人都能負擔得起的。

　　今年夏天，我本來是要參加自己最喜愛的夏令營的。不過，我後來決定每天都到克里的競選辦公室去。兒童的確出得上力！

　　在KidsforKerry.org這個網站上，我們設置了一個大選的互動測驗。270個問題，代表著克里將贏得的270張選舉人票；另有25個問題，是為了補償上屆大選時在佛羅里達州失去的25張。

　　我們下一個目標是為「全國無辱罵日」請願，不再讓候選人互相指責對方的不是。當我們的副總統與一個民主黨參議員意見不合的時候，他用了一個很髒的字眼。

　　如果我那樣說話……如果我說出那個字眼，我會被罰出場外的。我認為他應該被罰出場外。

　　上一次我見到約翰-克里的時候，他按著我的手臂說：「大會上見。」所以我來了！更神奇的，將是明年一月份的就職典禮，那時候我們會有一位新總統，而這裡面，會有孩子們的一份功勞。一句話：特里薩-海因茨-克里，鼓舞人心、棒極了！

　　小孩們需要……小孩們需要正面……小孩們需要政治生活中的正面榜樣。而我們的副總統應該被長時間罰出場。

　　小孩們——小孩們，大選關係著我們的未來。要確保讓你認識的所有大人都走上街頭、參與投票。我們今天可以發出自己的聲音了！謝謝大家！

後生可畏！