Good afternoon faculty students parents and friends.
I am truly honored and grateful to speak at the commencement for the University of Maryland, Class of 2017.
People often ask me: Why did you come to the University of Maryland?
I always answer: Fresh air.
Five years ago, as I step off the plane from China, and left the terminal at Dallas Airport. I was ready to put on one of my five face masks, but when I took my first breath of American air. I put my mask away.
The air was so sweet and fresh, and oddly luxurious.
I was surprised by this. I grew up in a city in China, where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside, otherwise, I might get sick.
However, the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport.
No more fog on my glasses, no more difficult breathing, no more suppression.
Every breath was a delight. As I stand here today, I cannot help, but recall that feeling of freedom.
At the University of Maryland, I would soon feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful — the fresh air of free speech.
Before I came to United States, I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence, but these words had no meaning to me— Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.
I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades.
These words sounded so strange, so abstract and so foreign to me, until I came to University of Maryland.
I have leaned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in American.
Each day in Maryland, I was encouraged to express my opinions on controversial issues.
I could challenge a statement made by my instructor. I could even rate my professors online.
But nothing prepared me for the culture shock I experienced when I watched a university production of the play— Twilight: Los Angeles.
Twilight is a play by Anna Deavere Smith about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
The riots followed acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King.
For six days, the city was in chaos as citizens took to the streets.
In Twilight, the student actors were openly talking about racism, sexism and politics.
I was shocked, I never saw such topic could be discussed openly.
The play was my first taste of political storytelling, one that makes the audience think critically.
I have always had a burning desire to tell these kinds of stories, but I was convinced that only authorities own the narrative, only authorities could define the truth.
However, the opportunity to immerse myself in the diverse community at the University of Maryland exposed me to various, many different perspectives on truth.
I soon realized that here I have the opportunity to speak freely.
Civil engagement is not a task just for politicians. I have witnessed this when I saw my fellow students marching in Washington DC, voting in the presidential election and raising money for support various causes.
I have seen that everyone has a right to participate and advocate for change.
I used to believe that one individual participation could not make a difference, but here we are, United Terps.
Together, we can push our society to be more just open and peaceful.
Class of 2017, we are graduating from a university that embraces a liberal arts education that nurtures us to think critically, and also to care and feel for humanity.
We are equipped with the knowledge of various disciplines and we are ready to face to the challenges of our society.
Some of us may go to graduate school, some us may step into professions and some of us may begin a journey of exploration.
But no matter what we do, remember, democracy and free speech should not be taken for granted.
Democracy and freedom are the fresh air that is worth fighting for.
Freedom is oxygen. Freedom is passion. Freedom is love.
And as a French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre once said: freedom is a choice, our future is dependent on the choices we make today and tomorrow.
We are all playwrights of the next chapters of our lives. Together, we write the human history.
My friends, enjoy the fresh air and never let it go.
老师们，同学们，家长们，和朋友们，大家下午好。我非常荣幸也很感激，能向马里兰大学2017届的毕业生们讲话。
五年前，当我走出从中国启程的飞机，离开达拉斯航站楼，我准备好要拿出一只口罩戴上，我总共带了五只口罩。但当我第一次闻到美国的空气，我放下了口罩。
我很惊讶。在我成长的中国城市，每当我外出时我都必须戴上口罩，不然我可能会生病。
但是，当我呼吸到机场外空气的那一瞬间，我感受了到自由。
我的眼镜上不再有雾，我的呼吸不再困难，压抑感也不复存在。
每一次呼吸都是一种愉悦。此时此刻，我站在这里，也不禁回忆起那种自由的感觉。
在马里兰大学，我马上又感受到另外一种新鲜空气，它使我永远心存感激，那就是言论自由的新鲜空气。
来美国之前，我在历史课上学到过《独立宣言》的内容，但是那些字眼，生命、自由、对幸福的追求等概念，对我来说没有任何实际含义。
对我而言，这些词听起来如此陌生，如此抽象，如此"舶来"，直到我来到了马里兰大学。
在马里兰，我每天都受到鼓励，去表达我对一些有争议问题的看法。
但是有一件事给我带来的文化冲击是最大的，就是我观看学校排演戏剧《暮光：洛杉矶》的经历。
《暮光》是由安娜·迪佛·史密斯所著的一部剧作(注：安娜·迪佛·史密斯，美国马里兰人，剧作家、演员，代表作《费城故事》曾被排成电影)，讲的是1992年的洛杉矶暴乱。
这次暴乱，始于四位警察，他们在拘捕过程中殴打了罗德尼·金，整个过程被录像记录，而法庭宣判这些警察无罪。(注：1992年洛杉矶暴乱，导火线为该年4月29日当地陪审团宣判四名被控"使用过当武力"的警察无罪释放，导致上千名对此判决不满的非裔与拉丁裔上街抗议，最终引发一连串暴动，波及包括亚裔--特别是居于城中的韩裔--在内的各社群。事件本身为三名欧洲裔白人警察和一名拉丁裔白人警察殴打涉嫌交通违规的一名黑人罗德尼·金。根据事后统计，整起暴乱造成各方约10亿美元的财产损失，并有约53人于暴动中死亡，数千人受轻重伤)
在《暮光》中，学生演员们公开讨论了种族歧视，性别歧视和政治话题。
这部剧作是我在政治叙事上的第一次体验，它让观众们辩证思考。
我一直都有热切的，想要讲述这类故事的愿望。但是，我以前一直深信只有当权者才有叙事权力，只有当权者才能定义真相。
但是，在深入马里兰大学多元的学生社群过程中，我接触到各种各样、迥然不同的对于真相的视角。
公民参与不仅是政治家的任务。我目睹了我的同学们在华盛顿街头的游行，见证了他们在总统选举中投票，以及为支持各种事业举办的募捐活动。
以前，我以为，个体的参与并不能带来改变。但马里兰的学生们，我们就是在这么做的!
2017届的同学们，我们就要从一个重视人文学科，培养我们辩证思考、关心与感受他人的学校毕业了。
我们学到了许多不同学科的知识，我们已经准备好去面对社会上的挑战。
我们当中有些人会读研深造，有些人会进入职场，有些人会开始全新的探索旅程。
但不管我们会做什么，请记住，民主和言论自由都不应该被视作是理所应当的。
法国哲学家萨特曾说过：自由是一种选择，我们的未来取决于我们在今日和明日做出的选择。
我们都是自己人生下一章节的剧作家。我们一起，可以书写人类的历史。
我的朋友们，请尽情享受新鲜的空气，永远别让它被夺走。
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