在这个意义上,我认为该片应该比那部印度片更有资格拿最佳影片。
The Reader (2008)
It’s been just a little over a month since former President George W. Bush moved out of the White House and back home to Texas, and already some people don’t recognize him.
The former commander in chief popped up this morning at an elementary school in Dallas, sticking his head into classrooms here and there, The Morning News reports.
In one room, Bush asked: "Hey, kids, do you know who I am?"
The young ones all gasped. Then one answered, "George Washington!"
POTUS #43 did not miss a beat. “That’s right!” he said. "George Washington Bush!"
It was open house at Pershing Elementary this morning, a time when neighborhood parents in the Preston Hollow area check out the public school prospects for their children.
But the day's most prominent visitors didn't have any kids in tow. Only Secret Service.
George and Laura Bush have mostly been rumors and fleeting glimpses through the passenger windows of black Suburbans the last few weeks. But the kids got a first-hand look this morning when their new neighbors took a tour.
The Bushes were scheduled to visit three classes, but they ended up popping in on any room with an audience.
Ducking in one room, Bush asked, "Hey kids, do you know who I am?"
Gasps all around, and then someone blurted, "George Washington!"
"That's right!" the visitor said. "George Washington Bush!"
Well, the middle initial was the same, anyway.
A little later, at an ESL class, Bush tried introducing himself in Spanish. Only it was a little too West Texas for the Spanish speakers. He tried again. Blank looks. Even held up three fingers. You know, a 'W." Still nothing.
Finally, Pershing's innovative, energetic principal, Margie Hernandez, stepped in with a Spanish introduction.
Ohhhhhhh.
The kids laughed at the confusion. The former president laughed. The principal laughed, out of relief, mostly.
In a fourth-grade class, a student asked what he did as president to make the world a better place. Among other things, Bush cited aid to hungry children around the world and efforts to stress education, a theme for the day. In each class, he asked kids to make a commitment to spend more time reading than they spend watching TV. A few classes even took him up on it.
Once he finished his tour, he addressed a school assembly, where he related his favorite question of the morning:
"Why did you come here?"
Bush told the kids he came because he saw signs that welcomed him, and it made him feel good, and he wanted to say thanks. He then made some general observations, none more poignant than the first.
"You can be president," he said. "Can you believe that?"
We do now.
He asked for a show of hands as to how many kids wanted to go to college. A room full of arms shot into the air to applause from the adults on hand. He told them that meant they were setting goals for themselves, and if they set goals, they have to work hard to achieve them.
The kids seemed to take it to heart, anyway. Other than clapping, they hardly made a peep.
He told them it was just as important to listen to their teachers.
"I didn't always do that," he said, grimacing.
After his five-minute speech _ he turned to Laura once to ask if he left anything out _ he
thanked the kids, teachers and principal, then filed past the dignitaries, including the superintendent, Michael Hinojosa, and headed out to the hallway.
Outside he was presented with a book on presidents to be dedicated in his honor to the school library. Pershing's lovely PTA president handed him a couple of gift bags that included Pershing's extremely loud tie-dyed T-shirts, which are recognizable at 100 yards, at least.
When I suggested he wear one the next time he goes biking, he said he'd do that. In fact, he's checking out a trail this afternoon.
He thanked everyone for inviting him. He seemed to have such a good time that I told him we could use him for the Dad's Club Haunted House.
"I'd make a good ghost," he said, grinning.
Before the cadre of Secret Service agents swept him out the side door, I asked if he was going to spring training.
"Noooooo," was all he said.
Hope it wasn't something Tom Hicks said over the back fence.
Come back any time, Mr. President. Next time, make it a Monday. Chicken nugget day in the cafeteria. My kids recommend it highly.