美國第一夫人米歇爾：女性比男性更聰明

Michelle Obama was asked on Wednesday why it's important to speak up in her position and her jovial answer to a group of African first spouses highlighted many men have come to realize over time: Women are smarter than men as a whole.

"Women are smarter than men," Obama quipped to a chorus of laughs at the African Leaders Spousal Summit in Washington. "And the men can't complain because you're outnumbered today."

The event, co-sponsored by the Bush Institute, brought together first spouses throughout Africa who are in Washington for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit.

Former First Lady Laura Bush joined Obama on-stage and fielded questions from journalist Cokie Roberts. This is the second time Obama and Bush have appeared on stage together. The two also joined forces last year in Tanzania at the African First Ladies Summit.

Obama and Bush discussed women's rights issues from around the world, saying those problems must be addressed before other major issues – like climate change, disease and famine – are addressed.

"Men, leaders, women, until we value women and girls, we won't tackle those other problems," Obama said. "Until we prioritize our girls and understand that they are important and that their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do."

Bush echoed that sentiment. "Only countries where all people are involved can be successful," she said.

"When we look around the world and see countries where half of the population is marginalized or left out, then we usually see countries that are failing," Bush added.

President George W. Bush has been praised by Democrats and Republicans alike for his considerable focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Bushes have continued that effort since leaving office and expanded it to include health screenings for women. The former president was also in the audience on Wednesday, saying he was joining because he's a "spouse."

With just over two years left of her time in the White House, Obama was asked what she wants to leave behind while also looking at opportunities for the future.

"There is nothing wrong with thinking about legacy and what we want to leave for the world," Obama said. "I don't think we should be afraid as women to have those conversations. It's too soon for me to do it now but the time will come and I will embrace that."

In the meantime, Obama said, the fight for women's rights and especially girls continues.

"We have to fight for our girls," Obama concluded. "There should never be a girl in this world who has to fear getting educated. That should be something that is intolerable to us.據美國有線新聞網（CNN）報道，在華盛頓舉行的非洲領導人配偶峯會上，米歇爾稱：“女性比男性聰明。”米歇爾這一玩笑似的言論引起了陣陣笑聲。“而且男人們無從抱怨，因爲如今的趨勢是女多男少。”

在非洲多國的第一配偶們隨元首參加華盛頓美非領導人峯會之際，她們也受邀參加了這場非洲第一夫人峯會。布什研究所是此活動的聯辦方之一。

美國前第一夫人羅拉·布什（Laura Bush)與米歇爾同臺，並即席回答了美國著名記者科基·羅伯茨(Cokie Roberts)的一連串問題。這也是兩位第一夫人的第二次同臺。兩人首次同臺是在2013年於坦桑尼亞舉辦的非洲第一夫人峯會上。

米歇爾和羅拉共同討論了全球的女權議題，並表示應給予女權問題足夠重視，先妥善處理這一問題，才能談如何解決氣候變化、疾病、饑荒等其他問題。

“各位先生女士、領導政要們，要想解決其他重大問題，女性首先得得到尊重。”米歇爾說，“如果我們能優先考慮女性問題，並且意識到女孩和她們的受教育權利與男孩一樣重要，那麼，我們纔有望解決其他問題。”

羅拉也呼應這番號召：“人人平等的國家才能走向成功。”

“那些有一半以上的人們被忽視或邊緣化的國家，往往會走向衰落。”羅拉補充道。

前任美國總統喬治·布什在解決非洲艾滋病問題中給予了極大重視，受到了國內民主黨和共和黨的一致好評。即使已經卸任的布什政府仍不遺餘力，並增添了女性的健康體檢，使更多女性受益。布什也出現在當天的觀衆席中，笑稱他以“配偶”的身份與會。

米歇爾距離卸任第一夫人還有兩年多。她被問及在僅剩的兩年裏，在爲未來尋找新契機的同時，想把什麼延續下去。

“其實思考要爲世界留下什麼並沒錯，”她回答，“我不覺得作爲女性，我們就必須迴避這類問題。對我而言，現在談這些問題甚早，但是那天終究會來，我也會以平常心去接受。”

米歇爾還說，女權運動尤其是保護女孩的權益將薪火相傳。

“我們必須爲女孩的權益而奮鬥，”米歇爾總結道，“任何一個女孩都不應爲了接受教育而擔驚受怕。我們不應容忍這樣的事情發生。”