ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Eric Liu - Civics educator
Eric Liu is founder of Citizen University, which teaches the art of powerful citizenship, and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship & American Identity Program.

Why you should listen

Eric Liu is an author, educator and civic entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Citizen University, which promotes and teaches the art of great citizenship through a portfolio of national programs, and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship and American Identity Program.

Liu's books include the national bestsellers The Gardens of Democracy, and The True Patriot, co-authored with Nick Hanauer. His most recent book is A Chinaman's Chance, published in July, 2014. His first book, The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, was a New York Times Notable Book featured in the PBS documentary "Matters of Race." His other books include Guiding Lights: How to Mentor – and Find Life's Purpose, the Official Book of National Mentoring Month; and Imagination First, co-authored with Scott Noppe-Brandon of the Lincoln Center Institute, which explores ways to unlock imagination in education, politics, business and the arts.

Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President's deputy domestic policy adviser. After the White House, he was an executive at the digital media company RealNetworks. In 2002 he was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow, and in 2010 he was awarded the Bill Grace Leadership Legacy Award by the Center for Ethical Leadership.

Liu lives in Seattle, where he teaches civic leadership at the University of Washington and hosts Citizen University TV, a television program about civic power. In addition to speaking regularly at venues across the country, he also serves on numerous nonprofit and civic boards. He is the co-founder of the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility. A board member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, he is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.

More profile about the speaker
Eric Liu | Speaker | TED.com
TEDNYC

Eric Liu: There's no such thing as not voting

劉柏川: 沒有「不投票」這種事

Filmed:
919,957 views

許多人都會談論投票有多重要,是公民的義務、成人的責任。這些劉柏川都同意,但他也認為該是把喜悅帶回投票所的時候了。這位前任的政治演講撰稿人分享了他及他的團隊如何在2016美國選舉中促進投票文化,並針對為什麼每個有資格投票的人都應該在選舉日出面,做出強大的分析,來為這場演說作結。
- Civics educator
Eric Liu is founder of Citizen University, which teaches the art of powerful citizenship, and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship & American Identity Program. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:13
Why bother?
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何必麻煩呢?
00:16
The game遊戲 is rigged非法操縱的.
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反正選舉被操縱了。
00:18
My vote投票 won't慣於 count計數.
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我的選票不算數。
00:20
The choices選擇 are terrible可怕.
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候選人都很糟。
00:22
Voting表決 is for suckers吸盤.
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笨蛋才去投票。
00:25
Perhaps也許 you've thought
some of these things.
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也許你有過這些想法。
00:27
Perhaps也許 you've even said them.
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也許你甚至說過這樣的話。
00:29
And if so, you wouldn't不會 be alone單獨,
and you wouldn't不會 be entirely完全 wrong錯誤.
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如果這樣,你並不孤單,
你也不是完全錯的。
00:33
The game遊戲 of public上市 policy政策 today今天
is rigged非法操縱的 in many許多 ways方法.
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在許多面向上,現今的
公共政策是被操縱的沒錯。
00:38
How else其他 would more than half
of federal聯邦 tax breaks休息
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不然怎麼會有一半以上的
聯邦所得稅寬減額
00:42
flow up to the wealthiest富有
five percent百分 of Americans美國人?
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都跑到美國前 5% 最有錢的人那裡?
00:45
And our choices選擇 indeed確實 are often經常 terrible可怕.
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我們有的選擇通常也的確都很糟。
00:48
For many許多 people
across橫過 the political政治 spectrum光譜,
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對許多人而言,不論政治傾向,
00:50
Exhibit展示 A is the 2016
presidential總統 election選舉.
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證物 A 就是 2016 總統大選。
但在任何一年,
你都可以看看候選人名單,
00:54
But in any year, you can look
up and down the ballot選票
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00:57
and find plenty豐富 to be uninspired平庸 about.
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找到許多不鼓舞人的選擇。
01:01
But in spite儘管 of all this,
I still believe voting表決 matters事項.
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僅管如此,我仍然相信
投票是有意義的。
01:05
And crazy as it may可能 sound聲音,
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雖然聽起來很瘋狂,
01:06
I believe we can revive復活 the joy喜悅 of voting表決.
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但我相信我們可以
重新恢復投票的喜悅。
01:09
Today今天, I want to talk
about how we can do that, and why.
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今天我想談的是我們要如何
做到這點,以及為什麼。
01:14
There used to be a time
in American美國 history歷史 when voting表決 was fun開玩笑,
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美國歷史上曾經有段時間,
投票是有趣的,
01:18
when it was much more than just
a grim嚴峻 duty義務 to show顯示 up at the polls民意調查.
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那時投票不只是一定要出現
在投票所的討厭義務。
01:22
That time is called
"most of American美國 history歷史."
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那段時間叫做
「美國歷史上大部份的時間」。
01:24
(Laughter笑聲)
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(笑聲)
01:25
From the Revolution革命
to the Civil國內 Rights Era時代,
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從革命到民權時代,
01:28
the United聯合的 States狀態 had a vibrant充滿活力,
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美國有種充滿生氣、
01:30
robustly穩健 participatory參與
and raucous沙啞 culture文化 of voting表決.
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堅定參與、熱鬧的投票文化。
01:35
It was street theater劇院, open-air露天 debates辯論,
fasting禁食 and feasting燈紅酒綠 and toasting敬酒,
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選舉期間有街頭戲劇、
露天辯論、禁食、盛宴和乾杯、
01:39
parades遊行 and bonfires篝火.
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遊行和篝火。
01:41
During the 19th century世紀,
immigrants移民 and urban城市的 political政治 machines
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在十九世紀,移民和都市政治機器
01:45
helped幫助 fuel汽油 this culture文化 of voting表決.
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都助長了這種投票文化。
01:47
That culture文化 grew成長 with each
successive連續 wave of new voters選民.
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隨著一波接一波的新選民,
那文化不斷成長。
01:53
During Reconstruction重建,
when new African-American非裔美國人 voters選民,
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在美國重建時期,
新的非裔美國選民,
01:56
new African-American非裔美國人 citizens公民,
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新的非裔美國公民,
01:58
began開始 to exercise行使 their power功率,
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開始行使他們的權力,
02:00
they celebrated著名 in jubilee歡樂 parades遊行
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他們在狂歡遊行中慶祝,
02:02
that connected連接的 emancipation解放
with their newfound新發現 right to vote投票.
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把解放和他們新獲得的
投票權連結起來。
02:06
A few少數 decades幾十年 later後來, the suffragettes女權運動
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數十年後,女權運動者
02:09
brought a spirit精神
of theatricality戲劇性 to their fight鬥爭,
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把戲劇性的精神
帶到他們的戰鬥當中,
02:12
marching行軍 together一起 in white白色 dresses禮服
as they claimed聲稱 the franchise專營權.
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穿著白色一起遊行抗議,
索求其公民權。
02:16
And the Civil國內 Rights Movement運動,
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還有民權運動,
02:18
which哪一個 sought追捧 to redeem贖回
the promise諾言 of equal等於 citizenship國籍
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目的是要兌現平等公民權的承諾,
02:21
that had been betrayed背叛 by Jim吉姆 Crow烏鴉,
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因為吉姆克勞法案背叛了它,
而這些運動的中心就是投票。
02:23
put voting表決 right at the center中央.
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02:26
From Freedom自由 Summer夏季 to the march遊行 in Selma塞爾瑪,
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從自由之夏到塞爾瑪的遊行抗議,
02:28
that generation of activists活動家
knew知道 that voting表決 matters事項,
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那一世代的激進分子
知道每一票都很重要,
02:32
and they knew知道 that spectacle場面
and the performance性能 of power功率
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他們也知道要能真正
獲得權力的關鍵在於
02:35
is key to actually其實 claiming自稱 power功率.
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壯觀場面和權力的履行。
02:38
But it's been over a half century世紀
since以來 Selma塞爾瑪 and the Voting表決 Rights Act法案,
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現在距離塞爾瑪遊行
及選舉法案已經半個世紀了,
02:42
and in the decades幾十年 since以來,
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而在那時代的幾十年過後,
02:44
this face-to-face面對面 culture文化 of voting表決
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投票的面對面文化
02:47
has just about disappeared消失.
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已經幾乎消失。
02:49
It's been killed殺害 by television電視
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殺害它的兇手是電視,
02:51
and then the internet互聯網.
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接著是網路。
02:52
The couch長椅 has replaced更換 the commons公地.
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沙發取代了公共地。
02:55
Screens屏幕 have made製作
citizens公民 into spectators觀眾.
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螢幕讓市民變成了旁觀者。
在社交媒體上分享政治笑話是很好,
02:58
And while it's nice不錯 to share分享
political政治 memes模因 on social社會 media媒體,
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03:01
that's a rather quiet安靜 kind of citizenship國籍.
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但那是種比較安靜的公民權。
03:04
It's what the sociologist社會學家 Sherry雪莉酒 Turkle特克爾
calls電話 "being存在 alone單獨 together一起."
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這就是社會學家雪利特克爾
所謂的「在一起孤獨」。
03:09
What we need today今天
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我們現今所需要的,
03:10
is an electoral culture文化
that is about being存在 together一起 together一起,
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是一種選舉文化,
重點在於「在一起在一起」,
03:14
in person,
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親身參與,
03:15
in loud and passionate多情 ways方法,
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用大聲又熱情的方式,這麼一來,
03:18
so that instead代替 of being存在
"eat your vegetables蔬菜" or "do you duty義務,"
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投票的感覺就不是被逼著
「吃蔬菜」或「盡公民之責」,
03:22
voting表決 can feel more like "join加入 the club俱樂部"
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而更像是「加入俱樂部」。
03:25
or, better yet然而, "join加入 the party派對."
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或更好的說法:「加入派對」。
03:28
Imagine想像 if we had,
across橫過 the country國家 right now,
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想像一下,如果現在在全國各地
03:31
in local本地 places地方 but nationwide全國,
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每個當地地區,
03:34
a concerted一致 effort功夫
to revive復活 a face-to-face面對面 set of ways方法
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都協商好要努力要恢復面對面的方式
03:38
to engage從事 and electioneerelectioneer:
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來參與及從事競選活動:
03:40
outdoor戶外 shows節目 in which哪一個 candidates候選人
and their causes原因 are mocked嘲笑
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戶外的活動,在這類活動中,
候選人和他們的理念
03:44
and praised稱讚 in broad廣闊 satirical諷刺 style樣式;
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會被用很挖苦風格來嘲笑或讚賞;
03:47
soapbox肥皂盒 speeches演講 by citizens公民;
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公民在臨時表演臺上的演說;
03:49
public上市 debates辯論 held保持 inside pubs酒吧;
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在酒吧內舉辦的公開辯論;
03:53
streets街道 filled填充 with political政治 art藝術
and handmade手工製造 posters海報 and murals壁畫;
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滿是政治藝術、手做海報、
和壁畫的街道;
03:58
battle戰鬥 of the band concerts音樂會 in which哪一個
competing競爭 performers表演者 rep代表 their candidates候選人.
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參賽者代表候選人的樂團音樂競賽。
04:04
Now, all of this may可能 sound聲音
a little bit 18th century世紀 to you,
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你們可能覺得這些聽起來
像是十八世紀的東西,
04:08
but in fact事實, it doesn't have to be
any more 18th century世紀
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但事實上,它並不需要比…比如
04:11
than, say, Broadway's百老匯的 "Hamilton漢密爾頓,"
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百老匯的《漢密爾頓》…更十八世紀,
04:15
which哪一個 is to say vibrantly充滿活力 contemporary現代的.
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它被認為是很鮮明的當代作品。
04:17
And the fact事實 is that all around the world世界,
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事實是,現今,全世界各地
04:19
today今天, millions百萬 of people
are voting表決 like this.
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有數百萬人都是用這種方式在投票。
04:23
In India印度, elections選舉 are colorful華美,
communal公社 affairs事務.
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在印度,選舉是
多采多姿的公共事務。
04:27
In Brazil巴西, election選舉 day
is a festive歡樂的, carnival-type狂歡式 atmosphere大氣層.
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在巴西,選舉日是節慶,
有著嘉年華式的氣氛。
04:32
In Taiwan台灣 and Hong香港 Kong,
there is a spectacle場面,
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在台灣和香港,選舉的街頭戲劇
04:35
eye-popping令人瞠目, eye-grabbing眼斂 spectacle場面
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有著醒目又令人驚異
04:37
to the street theater劇院 of elections選舉.
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的壯觀場面。
04:40
You might威力 ask, well,
here in America美國, who has time for this?
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你可能會問,在美國,
誰有時間做這些?
04:44
And I would tell you
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我會告訴各位,
04:45
that the average平均 American美國
watches手錶 five hours小時 of television電視 a day.
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美國人平均每天看電視五小時。
04:50
You might威力 ask, who has the motivation動機?
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你可能會問,誰有動力這樣做?
04:52
And I'll tell you,
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我會告訴各位,
04:53
any citizen公民 who wants to be seen看到 and heard聽說
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任何想要被看見、聽見的公民,
04:57
not as a prop支柱, not as a talking point,
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不是被當支持者,不是被當話題,
05:00
but as a participant參加者, as a creator創造者.
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而是當參與者、當創造者。
05:03
Well, how do we make this happen發生?
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我們要如何讓這情況發生?
05:06
Simply只是 by making製造 it happen發生.
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就是讓它發生。
05:08
That's why a group of colleagues同事 and I
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那就是為什麼我和一群同事
05:10
launched推出 a new project項目
called "The Joy喜悅 of Voting表決."
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發起了一個新的專案計畫
叫「投票的喜悅」。
05:14
In four cities城市 across橫過 the United聯合的 States狀態 --
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在美國的四個城市-
05:17
Philadelphia費城, Miami邁阿密,
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費城、邁阿密、
俄亥俄州的亞克朗市、
以及堪薩斯州的威奇托-
05:19
Akron阿克倫, Ohio俄亥俄州, and Wichita威奇托, Kansas堪薩斯 --
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05:21
we've我們已經 gathered雲集 together一起
artists藝術家 and activists活動家,
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我們集結了藝術家、激進份子、
05:24
educators教育工作者, political政治 folks鄉親,
neighbors鄰居, everyday每天 citizens公民
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教育家、政治相關人士、
鄰居、日常公民,
05:28
to come together一起 and create創建 projects項目
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一起合作來創造專案計畫,
05:30
that can foster培育 this culture文化
of voting表決 in a local本地 way.
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來促成這個地方性方式投票的文化。
05:34
In Miami邁阿密, that means手段
all-night徹夜 parties派對 with hot DJsDJ們
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在邁阿密,這就意味著
整晚的派對搭配紅牌 DJ,
只有已登記投票的人才能入場。
05:37
where the only way to get in
is to show顯示 that you're registered註冊 to vote投票.
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05:41
In Akron阿克倫, it means手段 political政治 plays播放
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在亞克朗,這意味著政治劇
05:44
being存在 performed執行
in the bed of a flatbed平板 truck卡車
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在平板拖車的平板上演出,
05:46
that moves移動 from neighborhood鄰里
to neighborhood鄰里.
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拖車則在鄰坊間巡迴。
05:49
In Philadelphia費城,
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在費城,
05:51
it's a voting-themed投票為主題 scavenger清道夫 hunt打獵
all throughout始終 colonial殖民 old town.
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是在整個殖民老鎮中
玩投票主題的尋寶遊戲。
05:55
And in Wichita威奇托, it's making製造
mixtapes混音帶 and live生活 graffiti塗鴉 art藝術
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在威奇托,則是在北區做音樂合輯
以及現場塗鴉藝術,來鼓勵投票。
06:00
in the North End結束 to get out the vote投票.
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06:02
There are 20 of these projects項目,
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有二十個專案計畫,
06:04
and they are remarkable卓越
in their beauty美女 and their diversity多樣,
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它們的妙處和多樣性都很了不起,
06:07
and they are changing改變 people.
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它們在改變人。
06:08
Let me tell you about a couple一對 of them.
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讓我告訴各位其中幾個例子。
06:10
In Miami邁阿密, we've我們已經 commissioned委託 and artist藝術家,
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在邁阿密,我們委託了一位藝術家,
06:12
a young年輕 artist藝術家 named命名 AtomicoAtomico,
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一位年輕藝術家,名叫亞湯米可,
06:14
to create創建 some vivid生動 and vibrant充滿活力 images圖片
for a new series系列 of "I voted" stickers貼紙.
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請他為一系列新的「我已投票」
貼紙來創作生動鮮明的影像。
06:19
But the thing is, AtomicoAtomico had never voted.
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但重點是,亞湯米可從來沒有投票過。
06:23
He wasn't even registered註冊.
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他甚至沒有登記。
06:24
So as he got to work on creating創建
this artwork藝術品 for these stickers貼紙,
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所以因為他得要為這些貼紙來創作,
06:29
he also began開始 to get over
his sense of intimidation恐嚇 about politics政治.
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他也開始克服政治帶給他的威嚇感。
06:33
He got himself他自己 registered註冊,
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他去做了登記,
06:35
and then he got educated博學
about the upcoming即將到來 primary election選舉,
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接著他接受了關於
即將進行之初選的教育,
06:38
and on election選舉 day he was out there
not just passing通過 out stickers貼紙,
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在選舉日,他不只出去發貼紙,
06:41
but chatting聊天的 up voters選民
and encouraging鼓舞人心的 people to vote投票,
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還和投票者親切交談,
鼓勵人們去投票,
06:44
and talking about
the election選舉 with passersby路人.
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和路人談論選舉。
06:47
In Akron阿克倫, a theater劇院 company公司
called the Wandering流浪 Aesthetics美學
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在亞克朗,一間叫
「漂泊美感」的劇院公司
06:51
has been putting on
these pickup撿起 truck卡車 plays播放.
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一直在演映一些小貨車劇。
06:54
And to do so, they put out
an open打開 call to the public上市
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為了做這些,他們公開向大眾喊話,
06:57
asking for speeches演講,
monologues獨白, dialogues對話, poems,
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請求大家提供演說、
獨白、對話、詩、
07:00
snippets片段 of anything
that could be read aloud高聲
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任何可以被大聲朗讀出來
07:03
and woven編織 into a performance性能.
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並編成戲劇的素材。
07:05
They got dozens許多 of submissions提交.
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他們收到許多人提交的作品。
07:07
One of them was a poem
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其中一件是一首詩,
07:09
written書面 by nine students學生們 in an ESLESL class,
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是由英語課的九個學生所寫的,
07:12
all of them Hispanic西班牙 migrant農民 workers工人
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他們都是西班牙移民的工作者,
07:14
from nearby附近 HartvilleHartville, Ohio俄亥俄州.
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來自附近俄亥俄州的哈特維爾。
07:17
I want to read to you from this poem.
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我想把這首詩讀給大家聽。
07:21
It's called "The Joy喜悅 of Voting表決."
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它叫「投票的喜悅」。
07:24
"I would like to vote投票 for the first time
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「我第一次想要去投票,
因為對西班牙人而言,改變在發生。
07:27
because things are changing改變 for Hispanics西班牙人.
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07:30
I used to be afraid害怕 of ghosts.
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我以前會害怕鬼。
07:32
Now I am afraid害怕 of people.
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現在我害怕的是人。
07:34
There's more violence暴力 and racism種族主義.
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人有更多的暴力和種族主義。
07:36
Voting表決 can change更改 this.
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投票能改變這個狀況。
07:39
The border邊境 wall is nothing.
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邊界的牆不值得注意。
07:41
It's just a wall.
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它只是一道牆。
07:44
The wall of shame恥辱 is something.
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羞恥的牆就值得注意了。
07:47
It's very important重要 to vote投票
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投票非常重要,
07:49
so we can break打破 down this wall of shame恥辱.
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這樣我們才能拆掉羞恥的牆。
07:53
I have passion in my heart.
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我的心中有著熱情。
07:55
Voting表決 gives me a voice語音 and power功率.
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投票給予我聲音和力量。
07:58
I can stand up and do something."
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我可以站起來做出行動。」
08:02
"The Joy喜悅 of Voting表決" project項目
isn't just about joy喜悅.
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「投票的喜悅」計畫
重點並不只是喜悅。
08:05
It's about this passion.
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它的重點是這種熱情。
08:07
It's about feeling感覺 and belief信仰,
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它的重點是感受和信念,
08:09
and it isn't just our organization's組織的 work.
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它不只是我們這個組織的工作。
08:12
All across橫過 this country國家 right now,
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現在,全國各地的
08:14
immigrants移民, young年輕 people, veterans老兵,
people of all different不同 backgrounds背景
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移民、年輕人、退伍軍人、
各種不同背景的人,
08:17
are coming未來 together一起 to create創建
this kind of passionate多情, joyful快樂 activity活動
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都一起合作創造這種
關於選舉的熱情、
08:21
around elections選舉,
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喜悅的活動,
08:22
in red and blue藍色 states狀態,
in urban城市的 and rural鄉村 communities社區,
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不論偏紅或偏藍的州、
市區和鄉村社區,
08:25
people of every一切 political政治 background背景.
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各種政治背景的人都參與了。
08:27
What they have in common共同 is simply只是 this:
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他們的共同點很單純,就是:
08:30
their work is rooted in place地點.
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他們所做的都根植在地方。
08:34
Because remember記得,
all citizenship國籍 is local本地.
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因為,切記,所有的
公民權都是地方性的。
08:37
When politics政治 becomes
just a presidential總統 election選舉,
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當政治變成只是總統選舉時,
08:41
we yell叫喊 and we scream驚叫 at our screens屏幕,
and then we collapse坍方, exhausted.
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我們對著螢幕大叫大喊,
接著我們崩潰了、累壞了。
08:45
But when politics政治 is about us
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但當政治變成是讓我們、
08:49
and our neighbors鄰居
and other people in our community社區
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我們的鄰居,和社區中的其他人
08:52
coming未來 together一起 to create創建 experiences經驗
of collective集體 voice語音 and imagination想像力,
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同心協力一起創造
集體聲音和想像的經驗時,
08:57
then we begin開始 to remember記得
that this stuff東東 matters事項.
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我們就會開始記起它的重要性。
09:00
We begin開始 to remember記得
that this is the stuff東東 of self-government自治政府.
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我們會開始記得,這就是自治。
09:05
Which哪一個 brings帶來 me back to where I began開始.
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這就回到一開始的問題。
09:07
Why bother?
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何必麻煩呢?
09:09
There's one way to answer回答 this question.
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這個問題,有種方式可以回答。
09:12
Voting表決 matters事項 because it is
a self-fulfilling自我實現 act法案 of belief信仰.
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投票是有意義的,
因為它是信念的自我實現行為。
09:17
It feeds供稿 the spirit精神 of mutual相互 interest利益
that makes品牌 any society社會 thrive興旺.
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它支撐著相互利益的精神,
而正是這種精神讓社會興盛。
09:22
When we vote投票, even if it is in anger憤怒,
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當我們投票時,即使是出於憤怒而投,
09:25
we are part部分 of a collective集體,
creative創作的 leap飛躍 of faith信仰.
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我們也是那個做出
信心一躍的集體的一部份。
09:29
Voting表決 helps幫助 us generate生成
the very power功率 that we wish希望 we had.
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投票協助我們產生出
我們希望能擁有的力量。
09:34
It's no accident事故
that democracy民主 and theater劇院
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在古雅典,民主和戲劇
09:37
emerged出現 around the same相同 time
in ancient Athens雅典.
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大約在同時期出現,並不是巧合。
09:40
Both of them yank猛拉 the individual個人
out of the enclosure附件 of her private私人的 self.
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兩者都把人們從他們
個人的圍欄中給拉出來。
09:45
Both of them create創建 great
public上市 experiences經驗 of shared共享 ritual儀式.
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兩者都創造了很棒的公眾經驗,
共同儀式的經驗。
09:50
Both of them bring帶來 the imagination想像力 to life
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兩者都讓想像能活起來,
09:52
in ways方法 that remind提醒 us
that all of our bonds債券 in the end結束
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提醒我們,我們所有的束縛
最終都只是想像的,
09:56
are imagined想像, and can be reimagined重新想像.
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因此能夠被重新想像。
10:02
This moment時刻 right now,
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現在這個時刻,
10:04
when we think about
the meaning含義 of imagination想像力,
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當我們去思考一下想像的意義,
10:08
is so fundamentally從根本上 important重要,
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它在根本上的重要性非常高,
10:12
and our ability能力 to take that spirit精神
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而我們能夠擁有那種精神的能力,
10:15
and to take that sense
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意識到外面還有
10:17
that there is something greater更大 out there,
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更偉大的東西的能力,
10:19
is not just a matter
of technical技術 expertise專門知識.
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並不只是技術專長的問題。
10:23
It's not just a matter of making製造 the time
or having the know-how知識.
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它不只是騰出時間
或擁有知識的問題。
10:26
It is a matter of spirit精神.
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它是精神的問題。
對於「何必麻煩呢?」這個問題,
讓我給各位一個答案。
10:28
But let me give you an answer回答
to this question, "Why bother?"
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10:31
that is maybe a little less spiritual精神
and a bit more pointed.
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這個答案可能比較不是
精神性的,比較尖銳一點。
10:36
Why bother voting表決?
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何必麻煩去投票呢?
10:38
Because there is
no such這樣 thing as not voting表決.
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因為沒有所謂「不投票」這件事。
10:41
Not voting表決 is voting表決,
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不投票就是一種投票,
10:43
for everything that you
may可能 detest憎恨 and oppose反對.
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投給你所厭惡、反對的一切。
10:45
Not voting表決 can be dressed連衣裙的 up
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不投票可以被包裝成
10:47
as an act法案 of principled原則,
passive被動 resistance抵抗性,
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有原則之被動抗拒的行為,
10:50
but in fact事實 not voting表決
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但事實上,不投票
10:52
is actively積極地 handing移交 power功率 over
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就是主動把權力交給
10:54
to those whose誰的 interests利益
are counter計數器 to your own擁有,
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那些利益和你相反的人,
10:57
and those who would be very glad高興
to take advantage優點 of your absence缺席.
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那些會非常高興你不出席
讓他們能佔你便宜的人。
11:00
Not voting表決 is for suckers吸盤.
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笨蛋才不去投票。
想像一下這個國家會變什麼樣子,
11:04
Imagine想像 where this country國家 would be
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11:06
if all the folks鄉親 who in 2010
created創建 the Tea Party派對
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如果在 2010 年茶黨的創建人
11:09
had decided決定 that,
you know, politics政治 is too messy,
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覺得政治太亂七八糟了,
11:12
voting表決 is too complicated複雜.
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投票太複雜了。
11:13
There is no possibility可能性
of our votes adding加入 up to anything.
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我們的投票不可能
有機會造成任何影響。
11:17
They didn't preemptively先發製人
silence安靜 themselves他們自己.
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但他們並沒有先讓自己沉默。
11:19
They showed顯示 up,
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他們露面了,
11:21
and in the course課程 of showing展示 up,
they changed American美國 politics政治.
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在他們露面的這個過程中,
他們改變了美國政治。
11:25
Imagine想像 if all of the followers追隨者
of Donald唐納德 Trump王牌 and Bernie伯尼 Sanders桑德斯
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想像唐納川普
和伯尼桑德斯的所有追隨者
11:30
had decided決定 not to upend翻倒
the political政治 status狀態 quo現狀
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都決定不要顛覆政治現況,
11:34
and blow打擊 apart距離 the frame
of the previously先前 possible可能
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並打破美國政治上本來
11:37
in American美國 politics政治.
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有可能的架構。
11:38
They did that by voting表決.
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他們是透過投票辦到的。
11:43
We live生活 in a time right now,
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我們現在生活的時代
11:45
divided分為, often經常 very dark黑暗,
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是分裂的,且經常是很黑暗的,
11:47
where across橫過 the left and the right,
there's a lot of talk of revolution革命
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不論左派或右派,
都有很多關於革命的言論,
11:51
and the need for revolution革命
to disrupt破壞 everyday每天 democracy民主.
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以及需要革命來阻止日常民主的言論。
11:55
Well, here's這裡的 the thing:
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重點是這個:
11:56
everyday每天 democracy民主 already已經
gives us a playbook劇本 for revolution革命.
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日常民主已經給了我們革命的劇本。
12:00
In the 2012 presidential總統 election選舉,
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在 2012 總統大選時,
12:02
young年輕 voters選民, Latino拉丁美洲人 voters選民,
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年輕投票者、拉丁裔投票者、
12:04
Asian-American亞裔美國人 voters選民, low-income低收入 voters選民,
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亞裔美國人投票者、低收入投票者、
12:06
all showed顯示 up at less than 50 percent百分.
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出來投票的都不到半數。
12:11
In the 2014 midterm期中考試 elections選舉,
turnout結果發現 was 36 percent百分,
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在 2014 中期選舉,出席率是 36%,
12:15
which哪一個 was a 70-year-年 low.
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這是七十年來的新低。
12:17
And in your average平均 local本地 election選舉,
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在一般的地方選舉,
12:19
turnout結果發現 hovers懸停
somewhere某處 around 20 percent百分.
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出席率大約在 20% 上下。
12:23
I invite邀請 you to imagine想像 100 percent百分.
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我想請各位想像一下 100%。
12:27
Picture圖片 100 percent百分.
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描繪一下 100%。
12:30
Mobilize調動 100 percent百分,
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若能動員 100%,
12:32
and overnight過夜, we get revolution革命.
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我們就能在一夕之間造成革命。
12:35
Overnight過夜, the policy政策 priorities優先
of this country國家 change更改 dramatically顯著,
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一夕之間,這個國家的
政治優先順序就會有顯著改變,
12:39
and every一切 level水平 of government政府
becomes radically根本 more responsive響應
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每個層級的政府都要很徹底地
12:42
to all the people.
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對所有人更負責。
12:45
What would it take
to mobilize動員 100 percent百分?
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要怎麼做才能動員 100%?
12:48
Well, we do have to push back
against反對 efforts努力 afoot在進行中
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我們得要去阻止現在全國各地
12:51
all across橫過 the country國家 right now
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在進行中的那些讓投票
12:52
to make voting表決 harder更難.
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更困難的事。
12:54
But at the same相同 time,
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同時,
12:56
we have to actively積極地 create創建
a positive culture文化 of voting表決
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我們得要主動創造投票的正面文化,
12:59
that people want to belong屬於 to,
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讓人們想要隸屬這種文化,
13:00
be part部分 of, and experience經驗 together一起.
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想成為它的一部份,想一起體驗它。
13:03
We have to make purpose目的.
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我們得要創造目的。
13:05
We have to make joy喜悅.
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我們得要創造喜悅。
13:07
So yes, let's have that revolution革命,
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所以,是的,咱們來革命吧,
13:09
a revolution革命 of spirit精神, of ideas思路,
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關於精神、想法、
13:12
of policy政策 and participation參與,
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政策及參與的革命。
13:14
a revolution革命 against反對 cynicism玩世不恭,
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對抗憤世嫉俗的革命,
13:16
a revolution革命 against反對 the self-fulfilling自我實現
sense of powerlessness無力感.
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對抗無權之自我實感的革命。
13:20
Let's vote投票 this revolution革命 into existence存在,
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咱們用投票讓這個革命能成真,
13:23
and while we're at it,
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且當我們這麼做時,
13:25
let's have some fun開玩笑.
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也要找點樂子。
13:26
Thank you very much.
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非常謝謝。
13:28
(Applause掌聲)
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(掌聲)
Translated by Lilian Chiu
Reviewed by Adrienne Lin

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Eric Liu - Civics educator
Eric Liu is founder of Citizen University, which teaches the art of powerful citizenship, and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship & American Identity Program.

Why you should listen

Eric Liu is an author, educator and civic entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Citizen University, which promotes and teaches the art of great citizenship through a portfolio of national programs, and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship and American Identity Program.

Liu's books include the national bestsellers The Gardens of Democracy, and The True Patriot, co-authored with Nick Hanauer. His most recent book is A Chinaman's Chance, published in July, 2014. His first book, The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, was a New York Times Notable Book featured in the PBS documentary "Matters of Race." His other books include Guiding Lights: How to Mentor – and Find Life's Purpose, the Official Book of National Mentoring Month; and Imagination First, co-authored with Scott Noppe-Brandon of the Lincoln Center Institute, which explores ways to unlock imagination in education, politics, business and the arts.

Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President's deputy domestic policy adviser. After the White House, he was an executive at the digital media company RealNetworks. In 2002 he was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow, and in 2010 he was awarded the Bill Grace Leadership Legacy Award by the Center for Ethical Leadership.

Liu lives in Seattle, where he teaches civic leadership at the University of Washington and hosts Citizen University TV, a television program about civic power. In addition to speaking regularly at venues across the country, he also serves on numerous nonprofit and civic boards. He is the co-founder of the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility. A board member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, he is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.

More profile about the speaker
Eric Liu | Speaker | TED.com