美国国家公共电台 NPR StoryCorps: A Father's Advice: Starting A Family Is 'An Act Of Hope'

 

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

NOEL KING, HOST:

It's StoryCorps time. Jessica Kibblewhite's dad, Edward Kibblewhite, was an astronomer¹. One of his inventions lets scientists take clear pictures of stars. Last year, Jessica and her husband were having a hard time deciding whether to have a kid, so she brought her dad to StoryCorps in Chicago and asked him to help her see more clearly.

JESSICA KIBBLEWHITE: Dad, I was hoping that you could share some advice. I'm finally at an age where I can appreciate much of what you share. So my husband and I are thinking about having a child. And we obviously² know that the world right now is in a very difficult place. How do you stay optimistic³?

EDWARD KIBBLEWHITE: I think how much advice you can give to the next generation is actually rather small. But I grew up after the war. We used to have a missile⁴ site five miles from our school, and you could actually touch the warhead of the hydrogen⁵ bomb. We were pretty sure that these missiles⁶ would be fired. And I had a whole plan. I had worked out...

J KIBBLEWHITE: (Laughter) Of course you did.

E KIBBLEWHITE: ...The underground place to go. And, you know, I mean, the whole population believed we would be burnt to death. So the fears of today are, as far as I can see, nothing compared to the fears that we were brought up.

J KIBBLEWHITE: I think that just to say that fear is unfounded...

E KIBBLEWHITE: That's not what I'm saying.

J KIBBLEWHITE: OK.

E KIBBLEWHITE: Well, perhaps it is.

J KIBBLEWHITE: But I do feel scared for the future.

E KIBBLEWHITE: What's the alternative⁷?

J KIBBLEWHITE: Not having a kid in the 21st century.

E KIBBLEWHITE: I think if you do not have children because you fear the future, that is to misunderstand what it means⁸ to be human. Having you as a daughter was a very moving experience. And in the case of my parents - World War II started on September the 1, 1939 - my sister was born the next year. So having children is an act of hope. And if you do not have children because of fear, then you have given up hope for the future.

J KIBBLEWHITE: Maybe it's a choice to feel hope. Also, you and mom will make great grandparents (laughter).

E KIBBLEWHITE: Well, probably not (laughter).

J KIBBLEWHITE: You will (laughter).

KING: That was Jessica Kibblewhite and her father, Edward Kibblewhite.

1 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

2 obviously   

adv.显然；明白地

参考例句：

• Obviously they were putting him to a severe test.显然他们是在给他以严峻的考验。
• Obviously he was lying.显然他是在撒谎。

3 optimistic   

adj.乐观的，乐观主义的，乐天的

参考例句：

• She is not optimistic about the outcome.她对结果并不乐观。
• I have this image of you as always being cheerful and optimistic.你留给我的印象总是快活和乐观。

4 missile   

n.导弹，投射物

参考例句：

• The missile curved gracefully towards its target.导弹呈优美的曲线状飞向目标。
• We got a fix on the missile launching site.我们确定了导弹发射场的位置。

5 hydrogen   

n.氢元素，氢气

参考例句：

• Water is made up of atoms of hydrogen and oxygen.水由氢和氧的原子构成。
• A chemist can isolate the oxygen from the hydrogen in water.一个化学家能把水中的氧和氢分解。

6 missiles   

导弹( missile的名词复数 )； 投射物

参考例句：

• More than ten missiles were decoyed away from targets. 十多枚导弹受骗未命中目标。
• The angry crowd at the football match threw bottles and other missiles at the players. 愤怒的观众向足球队员丢瓶子和其他东西。

7 alternative   

n.两者挑一的，可供选择的；adj.选择性的，二中择一的

参考例句：

• There was no alternative for them to vote in favor.他们别无选择，只有投票赞成。
• She had no alternative but to ask for a few days'leave.实在不得已，她只好请几天假。

8 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。