歡迎閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!歡迎閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!感謝閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!感謝閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!歡迎閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!感謝閱讀本文檔，希望本文檔能對您有所幫助!英語演講稿自然是我們的母親dyacelebrity,iwouldhavetodonadisguiseoffatsuit,wig,beardandglassesandwewouldspendthedayinthesuburbsofsoutherncalifornia,goingdoor-to-doorormakingtheroundsofshoppingmalls,distributingourwatchtowermagazine.ilovedtosetfootinallthoseregularsuburbanhousesandcatchsightoftheshagrugsandla-z-boyarmchairswithkidsplayingmonopolyandgrandmasbaby-sittingandallthosewonderful,ordinaryandstarryscenesofeverydaylife.many,iknow,wouldarguethatthesethingsseemlikenobigdeal.buttometheyweremesmerizing.

iusedtothinkthatiwasuniqueinfeelingthatiwaswithoutachildhood.ibelievedthatindeedtherewereonlyahandfulwithwhomicouldsharethosefeelings.whenirecentlymetwithshirleytempleblack,thegreatchildstarofthe1930sand40s,wesaidnothingtoeachotheratfirst,wesimplycriedtogether,forshecouldshareapainwithmethatonlyotherslikemyclosefriendselizabethtaylorandmccauleyculkinknow.

idonottellyouthistogainyoursympathybuttoimpressuponyoumyfirstimportantpoint:itisnotjusthollywoodchildstarsthathavesufferedfromanon-existentchildhood.today,it'sauniversalcalamity,aglobalcatastrophe.childhoodhasbecomethegreatcasualtyofmodern-dayliving.allaroundusweareproducingscoresofkidswhohavenothadthejoy,whohavenotbeenaccordedtheright,whohavenotbeenallowedthefreedom,orknowingwhatit'sliketobeakid.

todaychildrenareconstantlyencouragedtogrowupfaster,asifthisperiodknownaschildhoodisaburdensomestage,tobeenduredandusheredthrough,asswiftlyaspossible.andonthatsubject,iamcertainlyoneoftheworld'sgreatestexperts.

oursisagenerationthathaswitnessedtheabrogationoftheparent-childcovenant.psychologistsarepublishinglibrariesofbooksdetailingthedestructiveeffectsofdenyingone'schildrentheunconditionallovethatissonecessarytothehealthydevelopmentoftheirmindsandcharacter.andbecauseofalltheneglect,toomanyofourkidshave,essentially,toraisethemselves.theyaregrowingmoredistantfromtheirparents,grandparentsandotherfamilymembers,asallaroundustheindestructiblebondthatoncegluedtogetherthegenerations,unravels.

thisviolationhasbredanewgeneration,generationoletuscallit,thathasnowpickedupthetorchfromgenerationx.theostandsforagenerationthathaseverythingontheoutside–wealth,success,fancyclothingandfancycars,butanachingemptinessontheinside.thatcavityinourchests,thatbarrennessatourcore,thatvoidinourcentreistheplacewheretheheartoncebeatandwhichloveonceoccupied.

andit'snotjustthekidswhoaresuffering.it'stheparentsaswell.forthemorewecultivatelittle-adultsinkids'-bodies,themoreremovedweourselvesbecomefromourownchild-likequalities,andthereissomuchaboutbeingachildthatisworthretaininginadultlife.

love,ladiesandgentlemen,isthehumanfamily'smostpreciouslegacy,itsrichestbequest,itsgoldeninheritance.anditisatreasurethatishandeddownfromonegenerationtoanother.previousagesmaynothavehadthewealthweenjoy.theirhousesmayhavelackedelectricity,andtheysqueezedtheirmanykidsintosmallhomeswithoutcentralheating.butthosehomeshadnodarkness,norweretheycold.theywerelitbrightwiththeglowofloveandtheywerewarmedsnuglybytheveryheatofthehumanheart.parents,undistractedbythelustforluxuryandstatus,accordedtheirchildrenprimacyintheirlives.

asyouallknow,ourtwocountriesbrokefromeachotheroverwhatthomasjeffersonreferredtoas"certaininalienablerights".andwhileweamericansandbritishmightdisputethejusticeofhisclaims,whathasneverbeenindisputeisthatchildrenhavecertaininalienablerights,andthegradualerosionofthoserightshasledtoscoresofchildrenworldwidebeingdeniedthejoysandsecurityofchildhood.

iwouldthereforeliketoproposetonightthatweinstallineveryhomeachildren'suniversalbillofrights,thetenetsofwhichare:

1.therighttobelovedwithouthavingtoearnit

2.therighttobeprotected,withouthavingtodeserveit

3.therighttofeelvaluable,evenifyoucameintotheworldwithnothing

4.therighttobelistenedtowithouthavingtobeinteresting

5.therighttobereadabedtimestory,withouthavingtocompetewiththeeveningnews

6.therighttoaneducationwithouthavingtododgebulletsatschools

7.therighttobethoughtofasadorable–(evenifyouhaveafacethatonlyamothercouldlove).

friends,thefoundationofallhumanknowledge,thebeginningofhumanconsciousness,mustbethateachandeveryoneofusisanobjectoflove.beforeyouknowifyouhaveredhairorbrown,beforeyouknowifyouareblackorwhite,beforeyouknowofwhatreligionyouareapart,youhavetoknowthatyouareloved.

abouttwelveyearsago,wheniwasjustabouttostartmybadtour,alittleboycamewithhisparentstovisitmeathomeincalifornia.hewasdyingofcancerandhetoldmehowmuchhelovedmymusicandme.hisparentstoldmethathewasn'tgoingtolive,thatanydayhecouldjustgo,andisaidtohim:"look,iamgoingtobecomingtoyourtowninkansastoopenmytourinthreemonths.iwantyoutocometotheshow.iamgoingtogiveyouthisjacketthatiworeinoneofmyvideos."hiseyeslitupandhesaid:"youaregonnagiveittome?"isaid"yeah,butyouhavetopromisethatyouwillwearittotheshow."iwastryingtomakehimholdon.isaid:"whenyoucometotheshowiwanttoseeyouinthisjacketandinthisglove"andigavehimoneofmyrhinestonegloves–andineverusuallygivetherhinestoneglovesaway.andhewasjustinheaven.

butmaybehewastooclosetoheaven,becausewhenicametohistown,hehadalreadydied,andtheyhadburiedhiminthegloveandjacket.hewasjust10yearsold.godknows,iknow,thathetriedhisbesttoholdon.butatleastwhenhedied,heknewthathewasloved,notonlybyhisparents,butevenbyme,anearstranger,ialsolovedhim.andwithallofthatloveheknewthathedidn'tcomeintothisworldalone,andhecertainlydidn'tleaveitalone.

ifyouenterthisworldknowingyouarelovedandyouleavethisworldknowingthesame,theneverythingthathappensinbetweencanhedealtwith.aprofessormaydegradeyou,butyouwillnotfeeldegraded,abossmaycrushyou,butyouwillnotbecrushed,acorporategladiatormightvanquishyou,butyouwillstilltriumph.howcouldanyofthemtrulyprevailinpullingyoudown?foryouknowthatyouareanobjectworthyoflove.therestisjustpackaging.

butifyoudon'thavethatmemoryofbeingloved,youarecondemnedtosearchtheworldforsomethingtofillyouup.butnomatterhowmuchmoneyyoumakeorhowfamousyoubecome,youwillstillfellempty.whatyouarereallysearchingforisunconditionallove,unqualifiedacceptance.andthatwastheonethingthatwasdeniedtoyouatbirth.

friends,letmepaintapictureforyou.hereisatypicaldayinamerica–sixyouthsundertheageof20willcommitsuicide,12childrenundertheageof20willdiefromfirearms–rememberthisisaday,notayear–399kidswillbearrestedfordrugabuse,1,352babieswillbeborntoteenmothers.thisishappeninginoneoftherichest,mostdevelopedcountriesinthehistoryoftheworld.

yes,inmycountrythereisanepidemicofviolencethatparallelsnootherindustrializednation.thesearethewaysyoungpeopleinamericaexpresstheirhurtandtheiranger.butdon'tthinkthatthereisnotthesamepainandanguishamongtheircounterpartsintheunitedkingdom.studiesinthiscountryshowthateverysinglehour,threeteenagersintheukinflictharmuponthemselves,oftenbycuttingorburningtheirbodiesortakinganoverdose.thisishowtheyhavechosentocopewiththepainofneglectandemotionalagony.

inbritain,asmanyas20%offamilieswillonlysitdownandhavedinnertogetheronceayear.onceayear!andwhataboutthetime-honoredtraditionofreadingyourkidabedtimestory?researchfromthe1980sshowedthatchildrenwhoarereadto,hadfargreaterliteracyandsignificantlyoutperformedtheirpeersatschool.andyet,lessthan33%ofbritishchildrenagestwotoeighthavearegularbedtimestoryreadtothem.youmaynotthinkmuchofthatuntilyoutakeintoaccountthat75%oftheirparentsdidhavethatbedtimestorywhentheywerethatage.

clearly,wedonothavetoaskourselveswhereallofthispain,angerandviolentbehaviorcomesfrom.itisself-evidentthatchildrenarethunderingagainsttheneglect,quakingagainsttheindifferenceandcryingoutjusttobenoticed.thevariouschildprotectionagenciesintheussaythatmillionsofchildrenarevictimsofmaltreatmentintheformofneglect,intheaverageyear.yes,neglect.inrichhomes,privilegedhomes,wiredtothehiltwitheveryelectronicgadget.homeswhereparentscomehome,butthey'renotreallyhome,becausetheirheadsarestillattheoffice.andtheirkids?well,theirkidsjustmakedowithwhateveremotionalcrumbstheyget.andyoudon'tgetmuchfromendlesstv,computergamesandvideos.

thesehard,coldnumberswhichforme,wrenchthesoulandshakethespirit,shouldindicatetoyouwhyihavedevotedsomuchofmytimeandresourcesintomakingournewhealthekidsinitiativeacolossalsuccess.

ourgoalissimple–torecreatetheparent/childbond,renewitspromiseandlightthewayforwardforallthebeautifulchildrenwhoaredestinedonedaytowalkthisearth.

butsincethisismyfirstpubliclecture,andyouhavesowarmlywelcomedmeintoyourhearts,ifeelthatiwanttotellyoumore.weeachhaveourownstory,andinthatsensestatisticscanbecomepersonal.

theysaythatparentingislikedancing.youtakeonestep,yourchildtakesanother.ihavediscoveredthatgettingparentstore-dedicatethemselvestotheirchildrenisonlyhalfthestory.theotherhalfispreparingthechildrentore-accepttheirparents.

wheniwasveryyoungirememberthatwehadthiscrazymuttofadognamed"blackgirl,"amixofwolfandretriever.notonlywasn'tshemuchofaguarddog,shewassuchascaredandnervousthingthatitisawondershedidnotpassouteverytimeatruckrumbledby,orathunderstormsweptthroughindiana.mysisterjanetandigavethatdogsomuchlove,butweneverreallywonbackthesenseoftrustthathadbeenstolenfromherbyherpreviousowner.weknewheusedtobeather.wedidn'tknowwithwhat.butwhateveritwas,itwasenoughtosuckthespiritrightoutofthatdog.

alotofkidstodayarehurtpuppieswhohaveweanedthemselvesofftheneedforlove.theycouldn'tcarelessabouttheirparents.lefttotheirowndevices,theycherishtheirindependence.theyhavemovedonandhavelefttheirparentsbehind.

thentherearethefarworsecasesofchildrenwhoharboranimosityandresentmenttowardtheirparents,sothatanyoverturethattheirparentsmightundertakewouldbethrownforcefullybackintheirface.

tonight,idon'twantanyofustomakethismistake.that'swhyi'mcallinguponalltheworld'schildren–beginningwithallofusheretonight–toforgiveourparents,ifwefeltneglected.forgivethemandteachthemhowtoloveagain.

youprobablyweren'tsurprisedtohearthatididnothaveanidyllicchildhood.thestrainandtensionthatexistsinmyrelationshipwithmyownfatheriswelldocumented.myfatherisatoughmanandhepushedmybrothersandmehard,fromtheearliestage,tobethebestperformerswecouldbe.

hehadgreatdifficultyshowingaffection.heneverreallytoldmehelovedme.andheneverreallycomplimentedmeeither.ifididagreatshow,hewouldtellmeitwasagoodshow.andifididanokshow,hetoldmeitwasalousyshow.

heseemedintent,aboveallelse,onmakingusacommercialsuccess.andatthathewasmorethanadept.myfatherwasamanagerialgeniusandmybrothersandioweourprofessionalsuccess,innosmallmeasure,totheforcefulwaythathepushedus.hetrainedmeasashowmanandunderhisguidanceicouldn'tmissastep.

butwhatireallywantedwasadad.iwantedafatherwhoshowedmelove.andmyfatherneverdidthat.heneversaidiloveyouwhilelookingmestraightintheeye,heneverplayedagamewithme.henevergavemeapiggybackride,heneverthrewapillowatme,orawaterballoon.

butirememberoncewheniwasaboutfouryearsold,therewasalittlecarnivalandhepickedmeupandputmeonapony.itwasatinygesture,probablysomethingheforgotfiveminuteslater.butbecauseofthatmomentihavethisspecialplaceinmyheartforhim.becausethat'showkidsare,thelittlethingsmeansomuchtothemandforme,thatonemomentmeanteverything.ionlyexperienceditthatonetime,butitmademefeelreallygood,abouthimandtheworld.

butnowiamafathermyself,andonedayiwasthinkingaboutmyownchildren,princeandparisandhowiwantedthemtothinkofmewhentheygrowup.tobesure,iwouldlikethemtorememberhowialwayswantedthemwithmewhereveriwent,howialwaystriedtoputthembeforeeverythingelse.buttherearealsochallengesintheirlives.becausemykidsarestalkedbypaparazzi,theycan'talwaysgotoaparkoramoviewithme.

sowhatiftheygrowolderandresentme,andhowmychoicesimpactedtheiryouth?whyweren'twegivenanaveragechildhoodlikealltheotherkids,theymightask?andatthatmomentipraythatmychildrenwillgivemethebenefitofthedoubt.thattheywillsaytothemselves:"ourdaddydidthebesthecould,giventheuniquecircumstancesthathefaced.hemaynothavebeenperfect,buthewasawarmanddecentman,whotriedtogiveusalltheloveintheworld."

ihopethattheywillalwaysfocusonthepositivethings,onthesacrificesiwillinglymadeforthem,andnotcriticizethethingstheyhadtogiveup,ortheerrorsi'vemade,andwillcertainlycontinuetomake,inraisingthem.forwehaveallbeensomeone'schild,andweknowthatdespitetheverybestofplansandefforts,mistakeswillalwaysoccur.that'sjustbeinghuman.

andwhenithinkaboutthis,ofhowihopethatmychildrenwillnotjudgemeunkindly,andwillforgivemyshortcomings,iamforcedtothinkofmyownfatheranddespitemyearlierdenials,iamforcedtoadmitthatmemusthavelovedme.hedidloveme,andiknowthat.

therewerelittlethingsthatshowedit.wheniwasakidihadarealsweettooth–wealldid.myfavoritefoodwasglazeddoughnutsandmyfatherknewthat.soeveryfewweeksiwouldcomedownstairsinthemorningandthereonthekitchencounterwasabagofglazeddoughnuts–nonote,noexplanation–justthedoughnuts.itwaslikesantaclaus.

sometimesiwouldthinkaboutstayinguplateatnight,soicouldseehimleavethemthere,butjustlikewithsantaclaus,ididn'twanttoruinthemagicforfearthathewouldneverdoitagain.myfatherhadtoleavethemsecretlyatnight,soasnoonemightcatchhimwithhisguarddown.hewasscaredofhumanemotion,hedidn'tunderstanditorknowhowtodealwithit.buthedidknowdoughnuts.

andwheniallowthefloodgatestoopenup,thereareothermemoriesthatcomerushingback,memoriesofothertinygestures,howeverimperfect,thatshowedthathedidwhathecould.sotonight,ratherthanfocusingonwhatmyfatherdidn'tdo,iwanttofocusonallthethingshediddoandonhisownpersonalchallenges.iwanttostopjudginghim.

ihavestartedreflectingonthefactthatmyfathergrewupinthesouth,inaverypoorfamily.hecameofageduringthedepressionandhisownfather,whostruggledtofeedhischildren,showedlittleaffectiontowardshisfamilyandraisedmyfatherandhissiblingswithanironfist.whocouldhaveimaginedwhatitwasliketogrowupapoorblackmaninthesouth,robbedofdignity,bereftofhope,strugglingtobecomeamaninaworldthatsawmyfatherassubordinate.iwasthefirstblackartisttobeplayedonmtvandirememberhowbigadealitwaseventhen.andthatwasinthe80s!

myfathermovedtoindianaandhadalargefamilyofhisown,workinglonghoursinthesteelmills,workthatkillsthelungsandhumblesthespirit,alltosupporthisfamily.isitanywonderthathefounditdifficulttoexposehisfeelings?isitanymysterythathehardenedhisheart,thatheraisedtheemotionalramparts?andmostofall,isitanywonderwhyhepushedhissonssohardtosucceedasperformers,sothattheycouldbesavedfromwhatheknewtobealifeofindignityandpoverty?

ihavebeguntoseethatevenmyfather'sharshnesswasakindoflove,animperfectlove,tobesure,butlovenonetheless.hepushedmebecausehelovedme.becausehewantednomanevertolookdownathisoffspring.

andnowwithtime,ratherthanbitterness,ifeelblessing.intheplaceofanger,ihavefoundabsolution.andintheplaceofrevengeihavefoundreconciliation.andmyinitialfuryhasslowlygivenwaytoforgiveness.

almostadecadeago,ifoundedacharitycalledhealtheworld.thetitlewassomethingifeltinsideme.littledidiknow,asshmuleylaterpointedout,thatthosetwowordsformthecornerstoneofoldtestamentprophecy.doireallybelievethatwecanhealthisworld,thatisriddledwithwarandgenocide,eventoday?anddoireallythinkthatwecanhealourchildren,thesamechildrenwhocanentertheirschoolswithgunsandhatredandshootdowntheirclassmates,liketheydidatcolumbine?orchildrenwhocanbeatadefenselesstoddlertodeath,likethetragicstoryofjamiebulger?ofcourseido,oriwouldn'tbeheretonight.

butitallbeginswithforgiveness,becausetohealtheworld,wefirsthavetohealourselves.andtohealthekids,wefirsthavetohealthechildwithin,eachandeveryoneofus.asanadult,andasaparent,irealizethaticannotbeawholehumanbeing,noraparentcapableofunconditionallove,untiliputtoresttheghostsofmyownchildhood.

andthat'swhati'maskingallofustodotonight.liveuptothefifthofthetencommandments.honoryourparentsbynotjudgingthem.givethemthebenefitofthedoubt.

thatiswhyiwanttoforgivemyfatherandtostopjudginghim.iwanttoforgivemyfather,becauseiwantafather,andthisistheonlyonethati'vegot.iwanttheweightofmypastliftedfrommyshouldersandiwanttobefreetostepintoanewrelationshipwithmyfather,fortherestofmylife,unhinderedbythegoblinsofthepast.

inaworldfilledwithhate,wemuststilldaretohope.inaworldfilledwithange