Just six months ago，the Tunisian revolution began，leading rapidly and inexorably to fundamental change across North Africa and the Middle East.Could this have happened without digital social media，or without heightened correlation of food prices across time and space？Could this have happened just 10years ago，with the same preconditions but a different degree of connectivity？Can you imagine what the next 10years will bring？The next 50？
In the time even before Friendster succumbed to Facebook，our world went through phases of transformation，and Harvard graduates，students，faculty，and commencement speakers have been key actors，writers，and chroniclers of those changes.In 1947，U.S.Secretary of State George Marshall stood in this very Yard before a graduating class such as this one to announce the plan to salvage Europe after the devastation caused by the Second World War：
He began，“I need not tell you，gentlemen，（I don’t know where the ladies were）that the world situation is very serious.But to speak more seriously”-Marshall said as he went on to advocate the well-known Marshall Plan.In time，we saw a rebounded Europe，and the subsequent rise of East Asia，have been the catalyzing forces behind Africa‘s own recent progress.
When President John F.Kennedy，another Harvard graduate，spoke to this audience in 1956as the junior senator from Massachusetts，he analyzed the tension between politicians and intellectuals.Of the politicians，Kennedy said，“We need both the technical judgment and the disinterested viewpoint of the scholar，to prevent us from becoming imprisoned by our own slogans.”In newly democratic societies，where ballots are marked with distinctive icons as well as names since many voters remain illiterate，the danger of sloganeering political populism is only greater，and can lead down the road of war，not just bad policy choices.Kennedy，of course，would go on to launch the Peace Corps，which has impacted the lives of millions throughout the world by bringing Americans across the ocean，teaching students and training teachers，and making our world a smaller place.
Ralph Ellison，speaking at the 1974Commencement，told the graduates and alumni：“Let us not be dismayed，let us not lose faith simply because the correctives we have set in motion，and you have set in motion，took a long time.”Ellison believed that despite the challenge，the chance for national regeneration was there.
In the more recent past，Bill Gates，a famous Harvard attendee，has made our world smaller still by having all of us speak the same dialect，by connecting us electronically and opening doors that just one generation ago seemed to belong to the realm of science fiction.Today，because of him，we are closer to living in a global village.
With the election of Harvard graduate Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States，the face of American politics has been altered for good.In the sea change that his election represents，let me remind you，America，that Liberia has you beat on one score：We elected our first female president，perhaps 11years before the United States might do so.
Today，I share more than a Harvard background with you.In a way，this is also a commencement year for me.Just as you end one journey today and begin the next，so do I in November.As my first term as the president of Liberia comes to an end，I will be standing for re-election.The person who claims to be the strongest opposition contender is a Harvard graduate.But I want you to know that the incumbent，who is also a Harvard graduate，is determined to win.The relationship between Harvard and Liberia is thus secured and in good hands！
Harvard Graduates，Class of 2011：I urge you to be fearless about the future.Just because something has not been done yet，doesn’t mean it can‘t be.I was never deterred from running for president just because there had never been any females elected head of state in Africa.Simply because political leadership in Liberia had always been a“boys’club”didn‘t mean it was right，and I was not deterred.Today，an unprecedented number of women hold leadership positions in our country，and we intend to increase that number.
As you approach your future，there will be ample opportunity to become jaded and cynical，but I urge you to resist cynicism-the world is still a beautiful place and change is possible.As I have noted here today，my path to the presidency was never straightforward or guaranteed.Prison，death threats，and exile provided every reason to quit，to forget about the dream，yet I persisted，convinced that my country and people are so much better than our recent history indicates.Looking back on my life，I have come to appreciate its difficult moments.I believe I am a better leader，a better person with a richer appreciation for the present because of my past.
The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.If your dreams do not scare you，they are not big enough.If you start off with a small dream，you may not have much left when it is fulfilled because along the way，life will task your dreams and make demands on you.I am，however，bullish about the future of our world because of you.We share one defining characteristic that prepares us to transform our world-we are all Harvard University graduates.When we add to that the traditional quests for excellence for which we are known，there is no telling what we can accomplish.
Go forth and embrace a future that awaits you.
译文参考
失败同成功一样重要
——埃伦·约翰逊·瑟利夫在哈佛大学的演讲
德鲁·吉尔平·福斯特校长，哈佛监管理事会的各位理事，哈佛社团的各位成员，各位教工，各位同学以及校友，还有2011级的各位毕业生，及其亲友们，各位贵宾，先生们，女士们，朋友们：
我感到非常荣幸，不仅因为担任了母校第360届毕业典礼的演讲嘉宾，还因为赶上了哈佛大学——这个美国最早的高等学府的375周年校庆。福斯特博士，您是哈佛历史上第一位女校长，谢谢您邀请我来此，在此请接受我对您的祝贺。能够成为哈佛大学辉煌历史的一部分，我感到莫名的荣耀。哈佛大学成就了一批杰出人才，如总统、首相、联合国秘书长、政商界的领袖、宗教领袖。但是最重要的是，哈佛培养了数以万计能维系我们社会正常运转的的各型各色的杰出人才——法律先锋，医生、商人、公务员、设计师、教育家、心理指导师和思想家。
