首先我要问大家一个问题： 上一回别人说你幼稚是什么时候？ 像我这样的小孩， 可能经常会被人说成是幼稚。 每一次我们提出不合理的要求， 做出不负责任的行为， 或者展现出有别于 普通美国公民的惯常行为之时， 我们就被说成是幼稚。 这让我很不服气。 首先，让我们来回顾下这些事件： 帝国主义和殖民主义， 世界大战，小布什。 请你们扪心自问下：这些该归咎于谁？是大人。
Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called childish? For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish, which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these events: Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself: Who's responsible? Adults.
而小孩呢，做了些什么？ 安妮·弗兰克(Anne Frank)对大屠杀强有力的叙述 打动了数百万人的心。 鲁比·布里奇斯为美国种族隔离的终结作出了贡献。 另外，最近还有一个例子， 查理·辛普森（Charlie Simpson）骑自行车 为海地募得 12万英镑。 所以，这些例子证明了 年龄与行为完全没有关系。 "幼稚"这个词所对应的特点 是常常可以从大人身上看到， 由此我们在批评 不负责和非理性的相关行为时， 应停止使用这个年龄歧视的词。
Now, what have kids done? Well, Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust, Ruby Bridges helped end segregation in the United States, and, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti on his little bike. So, as you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. The traits the word childish addresses are seen so often in adults that we should abolish this age-discriminatory word when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking.
话说回来，谁能说 我们这个世界不正是需要 某些类型的非理性思维吗？ 也许你以前有过宏大的计划， 但却半途而废，心想： 这个不可能，或代价太高 或这对我不利。 不管是好是坏，我们小孩子 在思考不做某事的理由时，不太受这些考量的影响。 小孩可能会有满脑子的奇思妙想 和积极的想法， 例如我希望没有人挨饿 或者所有东西都是免费的，有点像乌托邦的理念。 你们当中有多少人还会有这样的梦想 并相信其可能性？ 有时候对历史 及对乌托邦的了解， 可能是一种负担， 因为你知道假如所有东西都是免费的， 食物储备会被清空， 而缺失将会导致混乱。 另一方面， 我们小孩还对完美抱有希望。 这是件好事，因为 要将任何事情变为现实， 你首先得心怀梦想。
Then again, who's to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren't exactly what the world needs? Maybe you've had grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking: That's impossible or that costs too much or that won't benefit me. For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry or that everything were free kind of utopia. How many of you still dream like that and believe in the possibilities? Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of utopian ideals can be a burden because you know that if everything were free, that the food stocks would become depleted, and scarce and lead to chaos. On the other hand, we kids still dream about perfection. And that's a good thing because in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.
我感谢你们今天听我演讲， 因为你们会倾听我， 这证明你们真的在乎。 但小孩比大人强得多的这幅乐观图景 是存在一个问题的。 小孩会长大并变成像你们一样的大人。 跟你们一样，真的吗？ 我们的目标不是让小孩变成你们这样的大人， 而是比你们强的大人。 考虑到你们都这么了不起， 这可能颇具挑战性。 但进步 是因新的一代人和新的时期而发生， 不断的进步和发展，并超越之前的年代。 这就是为什么我们不再处于黑暗时代。 不管在生活中你的位置在哪里， 你必须给孩子创造机会。 这样他们才能成长并让你扬眉吐气。
I appreciate your attention today, because to show that you truly care, you listen. But there's a problem with this rosy picture of kids being so much better than adults. Kids grow up and become adults just like you. Or just like you, really? The goal is not to turn kids into your kind of adult, but rather better adults than you have been, which may be a little challenging considering your guys credentials, but the way progress happens is because new generations and new eras grow and develop and become better than the previous ones. It's the reason we're not in the Dark Ages anymore. No matter your position of place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities for children so that we can grow up to blow you away.
参考资料：http://www.doc88.com/p-689404068517.html