雙語暢銷書《我是馬拉拉》第25章:尾聲(10)
On my sixteenth birthday I was in New York to speak at the United Nations.
16歲生日當天,我在紐約,在聯合國發表講話。Standing up to address an audience inside the vast hall where so many world leaders have spoken before was daunting, but I knew what I wanted to say.
在衆多世界領袖都曾發表過言論的寬廣大廳中,面對觀衆發言,不免令人緊張,但是,我清楚地知道自己想說些什麼。'This is your chance Malala,' I said to myself. Only 400 people were sitting around me, but when I looked out, I imagined millions more.
“馬拉拉,這是你的好機會。”我對自己說。四百個人環繞着我,迎面而坐,但當我的視線往前望去,我想象自己的眼前坐着數百萬的聽衆。
I did not write the speech only with the UN delegates in mind;
我沒有預先準備講稿,只記下了聯合國代表們的姓名。I wrote it for every person around the world who could make a difference.
這次講話,是要講給在這世上每一個能夠改變現況的人。I wanted to reach all people living in poverty, those children forced to work and those who suffer from terrorism or lack of education.
我想要觸及所有生活貧苦的人、那些被迫工作的孩子,以及那些因恐怖主義而受苦受難,或是缺乏教育資源的人。Deep in my heart I hoped to reach every child who could take courage from my words and stand up for his or her rights.
在我內心深處,我希望每一個孩子都能因爲我的言談而激起他們的勇氣,起來捍衛屬於他們自己的權利。I wore one of Benazir Bhutto's white shawls over my favourite pink shalwar kamiz and I called on the world's leaders to provide free education to every child in the world.
我把一件貝·布托的白色披巾披在我最鍾愛的粉紅紗麗克米茲上,我呼籲所有的世界領袖爲世界上的每個孩子提供免費的教育。'Let us pick up our books and our pens,' I said. 'They are our most powerful weapons.
“讓我們拾起我們的書本和我們的筆,”我說,“那是我們最強大的武器。One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.'
一個孩子,一名教師,一本書和一支筆,就可以改變這個世界。”I didn't know how my speech was received until the audience gave me a standing ovation.
我不知道人們對我的演講詞有何感想,直到我看到聽衆們紛紛起立、鼓掌。My mother was in tears and my father said I had become everybody's daughter.
我的母親滿面淚水,父親則說我現在成了所有人的女兒。