美国总统42 巴拉克奥巴马.docx

美国总统42巴拉克奥巴马BarackObama:Africa11-AmericanVOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.OfficialportraitofPresidentBarackObamaintheOvalOffice,Dec.6z2012.TodaywearetalkingaboutBarackObama.Hefirsttookofficein2009andwasre-electedin2012.Becausehispresidencyissorecent,thisprogramwillnottrytoofferahistoricalperspective.Butonepartofhislegacyisalreadyclear.ObamaistheUnitedStates'firstAfrican-Americanpresident.HisfatherwasablackmanfromKenya;hismotherwasawhiteAmericanfromtheMidwesternstateofKansas.FormanyAmericans,Obama'spresidencywasanimportantsymbolinacountrythatpermittedblackpeopletobeenslaved.And,evenaftertheU.S.Constitutionofficiallybannedslaveryin1865,African-Americanshavebeenextremelyunder-representedintheU.S.government.By2009zonlyfiveAfrican-AmericanshadeverservedintheU.S.Senate-andObamawasoneofthem.EvenmanypeoplewhodidnotvoteforObamasaidhiselectiontothecountry'shighestofficemadethemproudorhopeful.ApublicopinionsurveyimmediatelyafterElectionDayfoundthattwo-thirdsofAmericansbelievedthatthecountry'sracialconflictscouldberesolved.EarlylifeObama'sparentsmetasstudentsattheUniversityofHawaii.Hisfatherhadwonascholarshiptostudyeconomics.Hismotherwentontoearnadegreeinmaththere,aswellasagraduatedegree.Thetwomarriedandhadason,whomtheynamedafterhisfather:BarackHusseinObama,Jr.Butthecouplesoonseparated.TheolderBarackObamareturnedtoKenya,wherehelaterdiedinacaraccident.Barack'smotherwentontomarryanotherman.HewasfromIndonesia.ThefamilymovedtoJakarta,andthecouplehadadaughternamedMaya.BarackObamawithhismotherathishighschoolgraduationWhenBarackwas10zhismothersenthimbacktoHawaiitolivewithherparents.Shewantedhimtogetagoodeducation.BarackfinishedhighschoolinHawaii,thenwentontoOccidentalCollegeinLosAngeles.Aftertwoyears,hetransferredtoColumbiaUniversityinNewYork.There,hecompletedadegreeinpoliticalscience.ButObamasaidthebesteducationhereceivedwasinoneofhisfirstjobs.HeworkedasacommunityorganizerinChicago.Hehelpedpeoplewholivedinpublichousingputpressureonthecitygovernmenttoimprovetheirconditions.Obamalatersaidtheworkshowedhimhowimportantitwastounderstandthelegalprocess.SoheenteredHarvardLawSchool.Overthenextyears,Obamaworkedasalawyer,wroteabookabouthisexperienceasapersonofmixedracezandmarriedMichelleRobinson,awomanheworkedwithatalawfirm.SheandBarackObamasettledinChicagoandhadtwodaughters,MaliaandSasha.TheObamafamilyin2011Whenhewasinhismid-30s,Obamabeganhispoliticalcareer.HewaselectedthreetimestotheIllinoisstatesenate.After10yearsthere,hewonaseatintheU.S.Senateinalandslidevictory.Thatsameyear,ObamaattendedtheDemocraticNationalConvention-themeetingwherethepartyofficiallynominatesapresidentialcandidate.Obamawasnotoneofthecandidates.ButtheDemocratsaskedhimtomakeanimportantspeech.Init,ObamafamouslytalkedabouthowhislifestorywasanAmericanstory.HesaidhewasconfidenttheU.S.couldovercomeitsdivisionsandachieveunity."There'snotaliberalAmericaandaconservativeAmerica,"hesaid.".There'snotablackAmericaandwhiteAmericaandLatinoAmericaandAsianAmerica.There'saUnitedStatesofAmerica."Onlyfouryearslater,Obamawouldbeelectedits44thpresident.mKellyJeanKelly.KellyJeanKellywrotethisstoryforLearningEnglish.HaiDowastheeditor.WordsinThisStoryperspective-n.awayofthinkingaboutandunderstandingsomethingfirm-n.abusinessorganizationliberal-adj.believingthatgovernmentshouldbeactiveinsupportingsocialandpoliticalchangeconservative-adj.believinginthevalueofestablishedandtraditionalpracticesinpoliticsandsociety