Michelle Obama was asked on Wednesday why it's important to speak up in her position and her jovial answer to a group of African first spouses highlighted many men have come to realize over time: Women are smarter than men as a whole. "Women are smarter than men," Obama quipped to a chorus of laughs at the African Leaders Spousal Summit in Washington. "And the men can't complain because you're outnumbered today." The event, co-sponsored by the Bush Institute, brought together first spouses throughout Africa who are in Washington for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit. Former First Lady Laura Bush joined Obama on-stage and fielded questions from journalist Cokie Roberts. This is the second time Obama and Bush have appeared on stage together. The two also joined forces last year in Tanzania at the African First Ladies Summit. Obama and Bush discussed women's rights issues from around the world, saying those problems must be addressed before other major issues – like climate change, disease and famine – are addressed. "Men, leaders, women, until we value women and girls, we won't tackle those other problems," Obama said. "Until we prioritize our girls and understand that they are important and that their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do." Bush echoed that sentiment. "Only countries where all people are involved can be successful," she said. "When we look around the world and see countries where half of the population is marginalized or left out, then we usually see countries that are failing," Bush added. President George W. Bush has been praised by Democrats and Republicans alike for his considerable focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Bushes have continued that effort since leaving office and expanded it to include health screenings for women. The former president was also in the audience on Wednesday, saying he was joining because he's a "spouse." With just over two years left of her time in the White House, Obama was asked what she wants to leave behind while also looking at opportunities for the future. "There is nothing wrong with thinking about legacy and what we want to leave for the world," Obama said. "I don't think we should be afraid as women to have those conversations. It's too soon for me to do it now but the time will come and I will embrace that." In the meantime, Obama said, the fight for women's rights and especially girls continues. "We have to fight for our girls," Obama concluded. "There should never be a girl in this world who has to fear getting educated. That should be something that is intolerable to us. |
據(jù)美國(guó)有線新聞網(wǎng)(CNN)報(bào)道,在華盛頓舉行的非洲領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人配偶峰會(huì)上,米歇爾稱:“女性比男性聰明。”米歇爾這一玩笑似的言論引起了陣陣笑聲?!岸夷腥藗儫o(wú)從抱怨,因?yàn)槿缃竦内厔?shì)是女多男少?!?/p> 在非洲多國(guó)的第一配偶們隨元首參加華盛頓美非領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人峰會(huì)之際,她們也受邀參加了這場(chǎng)非洲第一夫人峰會(huì)。布什研究所是此活動(dòng)的聯(lián)辦方之一。 美國(guó)前第一夫人羅拉·布什(Laura Bush)與米歇爾同臺(tái),并即席回答了美國(guó)著名記者科基·羅伯茨(Cokie Roberts)的一連串問(wèn)題。這也是兩位第一夫人的第二次同臺(tái)。兩人首次同臺(tái)是在2013年于坦桑尼亞舉辦的非洲第一夫人峰會(huì)上。 米歇爾和羅拉共同討論了全球的女權(quán)議題,并表示應(yīng)給予女權(quán)問(wèn)題足夠重視,先妥善處理這一問(wèn)題,才能談如何解決氣候變化、疾病、饑荒等其他問(wèn)題。 “各位先生女士、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)政要們,要想解決其他重大問(wèn)題,女性首先得得到尊重?!泵仔獱栒f(shuō),“如果我們能優(yōu)先考慮女性問(wèn)題,并且意識(shí)到女孩和她們的受教育權(quán)利與男孩一樣重要,那么,我們才有望解決其他問(wèn)題?!?/p> 羅拉也呼應(yīng)這番號(hào)召:“人人平等的國(guó)家才能走向成功?!?/p> “那些有一半以上的人們被忽視或邊緣化的國(guó)家,往往會(huì)走向衰落?!绷_拉補(bǔ)充道。 前任美國(guó)總統(tǒng)喬治·布什在解決非洲艾滋病問(wèn)題中給予了極大重視,受到了國(guó)內(nèi)民主黨和共和黨的一致好評(píng)。即使已經(jīng)卸任的布什政府仍不遺余力,并增添了女性的健康體檢,使更多女性受益。布什也出現(xiàn)在當(dāng)天的觀眾席中,笑稱他以“配偶”的身份與會(huì)。 米歇爾距離卸任第一夫人還有兩年多。她被問(wèn)及在僅剩的兩年里,在為未來(lái)尋找新契機(jī)的同時(shí),想把什么延續(xù)下去。 “其實(shí)思考要為世界留下什么并沒(méi)錯(cuò),”她回答,“我不覺(jué)得作為女性,我們就必須回避這類問(wèn)題。對(duì)我而言,現(xiàn)在談這些問(wèn)題甚早,但是那天終究會(huì)來(lái),我也會(huì)以平常心去接受?!?/p> 米歇爾還說(shuō),女權(quán)運(yùn)動(dòng)尤其是保護(hù)女孩的權(quán)益將薪火相傳。 “我們必須為女孩的權(quán)益而奮斗,”米歇爾總結(jié)道,“任何一個(gè)女孩都不應(yīng)為了接受教育而擔(dān)驚受怕。我們不應(yīng)容忍這樣的事情發(fā)生?!?/p> 掃一掃,關(guān)注微博微信
(編譯:林怡 ) |