美國副總統在海軍學院畢業典禮上的講話：新冠后的世界我們更加相互依存

（全文翻譯）

早上好！

尊敬的代理海軍部長Thomas Harker，David Burger將軍（海軍陸戰隊司令），Mike Gilday上將（海軍作戰部司令），Sean Buck校長，TR Buchanan上校（見習軍官司令），各位教師和員工，感謝你們培養出了如此出色的隊伍！校友們，感謝你們多年來對偉大母校的支持！我自己的軍事顧問Frank Machniak少校也是2004年的畢業生，也感謝你今天能來。

畢業生的父母和朋友們，感謝你們目前和未來要為此做出的犧牲！

也向Kim Johnson和John Johnson致以哀悼，你們的愛子走得太早了，他不會被遺忘（注：這指的是畢業班中一位因故遇難的學員）。

（畢業生們）： 看看你們不平凡的征程：你們完成了早5點半的體能訓練和嚴格的考試，你們在體育和學術上雙優異， 你們享受生活。你們挽起袖子接種疫苗，你們終于等到了這畢業的一天！

今天這一天不單單是畢業日，這更是接受任務的日子。再過幾分鐘，你們就要舉行宣誓禮，這是和我就任副總統時所宣讀的同樣的誓言，去捍衛我們的憲法和抵御任何的敵人。這一誓詞源于我們的立國之本。不管我們的世界發生什么樣的變化，這個誓言的呼召是不變的。當你走進這個世界的時候，你必須牢記這一點。

這是因為這個世界變化快。我們正處在一個時代的轉折點。看看過去的幾個月吧，我想你當然知道我在說什么，然后再看看我們國家歷史上的幾個關鍵時刻作為參照。

想一想，在1929年經濟大蕭條之前和之后的世界是不同的；1941年珍珠港被襲之前的世界，和那以后的世界；1964年我國民權法案之前的世界，和那以后的世界；冷戰結束和柏林墻倒塌之前的世界，和那之后的世界。在這些關鍵的歷史時刻，我們的國家不得不嚴正地審視我們的優先和選擇，我們對危機的準備。

另一個轉折點是20年前的9/11恐怖襲擊，被劫客機撞擊了世貿大廈和五角大樓，93號航班墜毀于賓夕法尼亞。那一天重塑了我們的生活和我們的國家。那個事件測試了我們的系統，我們的結構，和我們在這個世界上的定位。

好吧，畢業生們，見習海軍軍官們，我們現在進入了下一個時代，一個有著新試煉，新挑戰和新際遇的新的紀元。

我們經歷的這次新冠危機，加速了本來已經發生的一切，把我們的世界加速進入了這個新的時代。它永遠地影響了這個世界，它永遠地改變了我們的視角。如果我們以前還不明白的話，我們現在應該懂了，我們的世界是相互聯系的，是相互依存的，我們的世界也是脆弱的。

想一想，一場致命的流行病在幾個月就席卷全球；幾個電腦黑客就能打斷一整片海岸線的燃料供應，單獨一個國家的碳排放就能威脅整個地球的可持續發展。見習官們，這就是我們生活的時代，一個和以往截然不同的時代。

我們目前的挑戰，就是如何構建一條現代的防御體系來應對這些現代的威脅。

讓我分享一些個人體驗。幾年前我還在參議院的時候，我參觀了我們的洛杉磯級潛水艇Scranton號，它就停泊在加州圣地亞哥，當時我是參院情報委員會成員。所以我問船員：怎樣應對網絡和信息攻擊？船員們告訴我：很簡單，就是靠設備和專才。

所以說，見習官們，在我的眼里，你們就是這些專才。外國敵對勢力會把目光盯在我們的軍事技術上，知識產權上，甚至干擾選舉，染指我們的關鍵性基礎設施。本月發生的勒索軟件攻擊事件就是警訊，像這樣的警報很多。

我們必須保衛我們的國家免遭這樣的威脅。同時，我們必須充分利用我們正在學到的東西，比如量子計算，人工智能，機器人，這些能把國家放在優勢地位的關鍵性技術。這些誰來做？就是你們。你們承擔這個責任，因為美國軍隊是世界上最好的，最勇的，最杰出的。

想想看，海軍原來用對講機，現在是衛星導航。美軍向來是在研發和技術創新的第一線。這是美國的驕傲。我現在看到你們，就知道你們會繼承這樣的領先地位。

還有氣候變化，這是對國家安全的切實威脅，你們將是應對這個危機的專家。你們當中有海洋工程師，將把航船駛過變薄的冰層；你們當中有機械工程師，將負責加固下沉的軍事基地；你們當中有電子工程師把太陽能和風能轉化為戰斗力。

隨便問任何一個海軍陸戰隊員，她是愿意背20磅重的電池呢還是輕便可卷起的太陽板，我肯定她選擇太陽板。男的也一樣。

美國人民依賴你們，最優秀，最勇敢，最杰出的戰士。即使在這次疫情中美國人民也看到了我們的軍隊是如何幫助給全國接種疫苗，因為你們深刻理解流行病傳染病這樣的生物威脅是這個時代另一種威脅。你們在應對這個威脅。我們的軍方研發了使疫苗成為可能的關鍵技術；海軍科研人員找到了如何使用三維編織機生產口罩；海軍實驗室監控了疾病的擴散。海軍和海軍陸戰隊研究了流行病和未來軍隊的醫學準備之間的關聯。

2021的畢業班，對于這一切你們做好了準備嗎！你們為未來的時代和挑戰做好了準備。這不僅僅是你們學到和將要學習的知識和技能，還有更重要的內在因素，那就是你們每一個人，和你們團結一致的集體。

我的講話即將結束，但我想講講你們。作為副總統，我對海軍學院開始比較了解了。每一天我身邊的同事都有海軍和陸戰隊的成員，和你們的歷史和傳統。我今天來乘坐的是“陸戰二號”直升機；我的官邸位于美國海軍天文臺；我在白宮辦公室有一張桌子的木料來自我國早期名艦憲法號，是一位海工程師親手打的；副總統辦公司過去是海軍部長的辦公地點；我曾給你們的士官旅長頒發肩章。

士官們，你們不知疲倦，你們充滿雄心，你們作戰勇猛，你們充滿理想，你們是美國精神的化身。保持住這些，因為在未來的職業中，你們也會目擊最惡的人性，但是請承諾你們永不忘記最好的自己，你們永遠不能忘記你們代表的理想，責任和忠誠。

為這些理想和民主而奮斗。記住，我們的憲法不單單是我們所要捍衛的，它也是我們的指引。它是你們服役的指引。它的開頭就是三個簡單的單詞：We the People， 是我們而不是我。我們的國家一開始就被設計成了一個集體項目，我們同舟共濟。

最后，我想說說我來到這個場館的路上，我停下來在海軍學院的墓地向我以前的一位同事默哀致敬，他是一位偉大和有勇氣的美國人，麥凱恩參議員（海軍學院校友）。大部分人都不知道，麥凱恩的遺愿是葬在自己在海軍學院的最好的同學Chuck Larson上將身邊，這是集體精神終極的榜樣。

在整個的美國歷史中，美國海軍和陸戰隊的軍官們曾犧牲一切來保衛我們的自由。今天，你們即將宣誓做出同樣的承諾。你們是海軍偉大鏈條的下一個環節。

見習軍官們，當你們站起來宣讀誓言的時候，當你們向這個新時代啟程的時候，拜登總統和我，以及全國都你們都有強烈信念，對你們非常自豪。

再次感謝，愿上帝保佑！

（英文）

Acting Secretary Thomas Harker, General David Berger, Admiral Mike Gilday, looking out at these midshipmen, I know we are all filled with pride. Vice Admiral Sean Buck, Captain TR Buchanan, faculty and staff, thank you for educating such a fine crew. Alumni, thank you for the support you have shown over these years to this great institution. And to my military aid, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Machniak, who graduated in 2004, I’m very proud to have you with me here today.

Family and friends of these graduates, thank you for the sacrifices you have already made and will make.

And I also want to acknowledge Kim and John Johnson. Your son was taken far too soon and I promise you that he will not be forgotten.

And finally, to the class of 2021, congratulations. Congratulations.

And look how far you’ve come. So you endured 05:30 PT and PRONO exams. You excelled on athletic fields and in academic exercises. You enjoyed the fair at Dillows. I know. Karaoke at Harvest. You guys rolled up your sleeves and you got vaccinated and you made it to this day. You made it to this day.

And this day, this day that is not only a commencement, this day that is a commissioning. And in a few minutes, you will take an oath. And it’s actually the same oath I took as Vice President, an oath to support our Constitution and defend it against all enemies, an oath that has its roots in the founding of our nation. And no matter what changes in our world, the charge in this oath is constant.

Remember that as you walk out into the world, because the world you all are walking into is rapidly changing. In fact, we are at a significant turning point. Just look at the last several months and you know what I’m talking about. And look at several moments in our nation’s history for perspective.

Think about it. There was the world before the stock market crashed in 1929, and the world after, the world before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the world after, the world before the Civil Rights Act in 1964, and the world after, the world before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the world after.

At some of these critical moments, our nation was compelled to take a hard look at both our priorities and our preparedness.

And another turning point was September 11th, 20 years ago this year, when airplanes hit the twin towers and our Pentagon, when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. That day shaped your entire life and it shaped our entire nation. It tested our systems, our structures, our very standing in the world.

Well, midshipmen, we are now entering the next era, a new age, a new epoch with its own tests, with its own challenges, and with its own opportunities.

The global pandemic you see, of course, has accelerated what was happening before and it has accelerated our world into a new era. It has forever impacted our world. It has for ever influenced our perspective. And if we weren’t clear before, we know now our world is interconnected, our world is interdependent, and our world is fragile.

Just think, a deadly pandemic can spread throughout the globe in just a matter of months, a gang of hackers can disrupt the fuel supply of a whole seaboard. One country’s carbon emissions can threaten the sustainability of the whole earth. This, midshipmen, is the era we are in and it is unlike any era that came before.

So the challenge now, the challenge before us now is how to mount a modern defense to these modern threats.

So let me share with you, for example, a personal experience. A few years ago when I was in the United States Senate, I visited the USS Scranton. It was outside of San Diego, California. And at the time, I was also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. So when I was aboard the vessel, I asked the officers, I said, “Hey, tell me, what does it take to protect such a valuable asset against cyber attacks?” And they told me, “You know, it’s pretty simple, equipment and experts.”

Well, the way I see it, midshipmen, you, you, you are those experts on the issue of cybersecurity. Foreign adversaries have their sights set on our military technology, our intellectual property, our elections, our critical infrastructure. The ransomware attack by criminal hackers earlier this month, well, that was a warning shot. In fact, there have been many warning shots.

So we must defend our nation against these threats. And at the same time, we must make advances in things that you’ve been learning, things like quantum computing and artificial intelligence and robotics, and things that will put our nation at a strategic advantage, and you will be the ones to do it. You will be the ones to do it because the United States military is the best, the bravest, and the most brilliant.

And just think, from walkie talkies to the internet, to satellite navigation, the United States military has been on the forefront of research, development and technological advancement. That is a point of American pride. And as I look out at all of you, I know you will build on that leadership.

And then of course there is climate change, which is a very real threat to our national security. And I look at you and I know you are among the experts who will navigate and mitigate this threat. You are ocean engineers who will help navigate ships through thinning ice. You are mechanical engineers who will help reinforce sinking bases. You are electrical engineers who will soon help convert solar and wind energy into power, convert solar and wind energy into combat power.

And just ask any Marine today, would she rather carry 20 pounds of batteries or a rolled up solar panel, and I am positive she will tell you a solar panel, and so would he.

The American people are depending on you, the best, the bravest, the most brilliant. We saw this during COVID-19 when Americans watched how members of our military helped vaccinate our nation, because you know biological threats like pandemics and infectious diseases are yet another threat in this era. And you are confronting this threat. Our military helped develop the technology that made the vaccine possible. Naval researchers also figured out how to use 3D knitting machines to make masks. Naval labs monitored the spread of the disease. And the Marine Corps and the Navy are leading on making the connection between the pandemic and medical readiness of our fighting forces for the future.

Class of 2021, you are prepared for all of this. You are prepared for any threat and you are prepared for this new era. And it is not only because of the knowledge and the skills you gained here or those you will continue to learn, but it’s because of something more. It’s because of who each of you is. It is because of who collectively you are.

So as I conclude today, that’s what I want to talk about. I want to talk about you. As Vice President, I’ve come to know the United States Navy quite well. Every day, in fact, I’m surrounded by sailors and Marines and your tradition and your history. And I mean that literally. So I often travel on Marine Two. In fact, that’s how I arrived today. My residence is on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory. My west wing office features a desk built by [inaudible 00:13:55] from timbers of the USS Constitution. My ceremonial office was once occupied by the Secretary of the Navy, and displayed there, I have placed the shoulder boards of your brigade commander, Midshipman Sydney Barber.

And so here’s what I know. Midshipmen, you are tireless. You are ambitious. You are a fierce fighting force. You are idealists in the truest sense. You are the embodiment of American aspiration. So hold on to that, because in your career, you may witness some of the worst of humanity, but promise that you will never forget the best of who we are, that you will never forget the ideals you stand for, duty, honor, loyalty.

Fight for those ideals and fight for our democracy. And remember, our Constitution is not only something to defend, it is a guide. It is a guide for your service. It begins with three simple words, We the People, not I, we. Our nation was designed to be a team sport and we are in this together.

So finally, I’ll just share with you on my way to the stadium this morning, I stopped by the cemetery to pay my respects to my dear former colleague, a great and courageous American, Senator John McCain. Yes. So most people don’t know he wanted to be buried next to his best friend who he met on the yard, Admiral Chuck Larson. That is the ultimate example of what I mean, in it together.

So midshipmen, throughout our history, officers in the United States Navy, officers in the United States Marine have risked everything to defend our freedoms. Today, you will swear to do the same. You are the next links in the chain.

And so, midshipmen, when you stand to take the oath, I want you to know that as we embark on this new era, President Joe Biden and I, our entire nation have great faith in you and we are proud of you, so very, very proud.

Congratulations again. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.