赖斯的演讲keynotespeech.docx

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赖 斯 的 演 讲 k eyn o te sp eec h f o rme r U. S. Sec reta ry o f Sta t e Co
n dol eezza R ic e a t th e
late than never, Klaus. I spoke at the Forum by vid
pleasure last year of receiving a group of Young Gl
. Policy Summit. And so I understand that some
of them are here today. It ’s a wonderful legacy that you ’ re leaving, Klaus, i
n bringing these young people in.
I was thinking about what I was going to say tonight, and I ’ve been watch
ing the news and I ’ve been looking at the images on television and I ’ve refl
ected on the events of the day. And of course, what comes front and center f
or all of us is the turbulence – political and economic –in our world:
The violence in Kenya. The tragic assassination of Mrs.
tan. The ongoing and at times halting efforts of Iraqis
eaceful, functioning governments. The looming danger
forecasts of market woes and economic troubles. Even

Benazir Bhutto
in
Pakis
and Afghans
to
build p
of
climate change.
The
a
growing
concern
abo
ut globalization itself – a sense that increasingly it is something that is happe
ning to us, not controlled by us.
* *
As I took a look at all of this, I decided to do something risky: I want to talk
about the importance of ideals and I want to talk about the need for optimis
m in their power.
Now,
I
know that
whenever
Americans start
talking
about
idealism
and
optimi
sm,
international
audiences
groan.
Perhaps
there
is a little
concern
that
you ’r
e going
to hear
a long, moralizing
lecture.
Well,
I
promise
not to
do that.
And another common concern when Americans talk of idealism and optimism
is, “ Well, there they go again, ” the innocents abroad. Indeed, there is a long
international tradition of viewing America as kind of young and na ?ve.