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约翰·库缇斯来自于澳大利亚，他没有双腿，身高只有2尺6寸，却以拒绝死亡来挑战医学观念。他的演讲雄伟壮丽，他有清晰的头脑，很好的幽默感，并乐于付出他的时间和才能。约翰先后到过200多个国家向千千万万热情的人们演讲，获得了“激励大师”的称号。让我们来听听他是怎么看待自己的人生……
MC: People stare at John Coutis every time he steps out of his house. He certainly looks very different. He only has half a body. He knows his appearance is confronting, but we suspect you’ll admire him as much as anyone who’s ever met him. Marguerite McKinnon has his story.
John Coutis is used to people staring at him. He knows they have questions. Why does he have only half a body? How did he have a child? And, is that his wife? The reality is so much more extraordinary than anything anyone could imagine.
John: I was meant to be dead the day I was born. The doctors told my mom and dad, “He’s gone.” There’s no explanation why it happened, or how it happened. You know, people thought it might have been 1)thalidomide, or things like that.
From day one John’s legs were useless. The lower
part of his 2)spine didn’t develop, a severe disability doctors didn’t understand, let alone those around him. John was determined to prove that having half a body didn’t mean living half a life.
John: I think the elder generation, even still today, they see that I’ve got no legs and think that I’m a 3)spastic as well. People from overseas, they come here for holidays or just maybe might see me on my skateboard, and run up and give me money, think that I’m begging.
For the record, John has all his organs. He could use a wheelchair, but prefers a skateboard. It’s easier to get around. He can’t use 4)prosthetic legs because his hips won’t support them. And, if you’re curious about an often-asked question about his toilet habits …
John: The same way you do. My brothers used to always leave the toilet seat up, always. I remember as a kid and I used to go to the toilet and the toilet seat was up in the dark, I’d climb on to go to the loo there’s no seat and I’d fall in.
Leanne: He’s so handsome, and he’s a 5)spunk. You know he’s a good-looking guy. As I said, he has a presence. You can pass a dozen people in the street and there’ll be always that one person that you’ll look at and think, “Gosh, I’d like to get to know them.” I got to know John. Yeah, I’m lucky. I am the lucky one, actually.
John and Leanne were married six years ago.
John: A family friend actually brought me around to see Leanne, and the rest is history. I came around here for morning tea and it all went from there, didn’t it really? It was lovely. It was really, really nice.
Leanne: Sometimes, like if John’s in front of me and I’ve stopped, as you do, check out clothes racks, or whatever else. And then John’s kept going, as I’m catching up to John you do see people walk past and stop and, “Did you see that? What happened?” You know, all these sorts of comments. And I just sort of think, “There’s my 6)hubby. It’s cool.”
John: And I know people think, “What is she doing with that?” You can feel that. I mean, it doesn’t bother me, I know what she’s doing with me.
Leanne: I do get those comments, like, “How come you chose somebody to be with, you had a choice to back out when you first met. Why did you continue having a relationship with somebody like John?” And, I mean, the simple answer was, yet again, he’s the person that he is. He’s who he is and that’s who I fell in love with. I didn’t fall in love with somebody with no limbs, I fell in love with John. I mean, what do you love with, your heart. Your heart’s up here, not down below.
John’s positive outlook has made him one of the world’s most popular motivators. In Asia, he’s a superstar. Tickets for his live show are snapped up in minutes. Audience often number fifty thousand.
John: I like to offer people hope, resolution, you know. I like to show them that if I can do it, anyone can do it, you know.
He’s shared the stage with some of the world’s most influential people: Nelson Mandela, 7)Ge-neral Norman Schwarzkopf, and 8)Steve Waugh. But John’s hero is closer to home. This is his stepson, Clayton. Born with 9)cerebral palsy, 10)fluid on the brain and 11)autism,mom Leanne was told he’d never walk, talk, eat, or drink. But it soon became clear, Clayton was brilliant. This video was taken when he was five. He’s teaching his teachers
about a new computer program they’ll use to educate other children. Clayton is now thirteen. He calls John “Dad,” John calls him “son.”
John: To see Clayton the way he was, and the way he is now. Holy cow! Absolutely 12)mind-blowing.
Clayton feels the same way about his dad.
Clayton: I think that dad’s just absolutely amazing. That he has the courage to say, “This is what I’ve got, let’s face it.”
John’s about to start a nine-week national speaking tour. It’ll be the longest time he’s been apart from his family. If you see him in your city, and find yourself staring, that’s OK, but John would rather you come up and say hello.
John: If I had legs even for an hour, and there were three things I could do, you know what I’d do? I’d take my wife dancing. And go and play “footy” with my son. Wouldn’t care about anything else. That’d be the only two things I would do. ’Cause I know my wife likes dancing, and I know my son likes kicking a ball around.
主持：约翰•库缇斯每次走出家门时，人们都盯着他看。他看起来的确与众不同。他只有半截身体。他知道自己的样子让人看着不舒服，但我们猜你会同其他所有认识他的人一样，对他敬佩不已。请看玛格丽特•麦金农的报道。
约翰•库缇斯已经习惯了人们盯着他看。他知道他们会满腹疑问：他为什么只有半截身子？他怎么还能生孩子？还有，那是他妻子吗？而事实远比人们想象的要更加奇特。
约翰：我出生那天本来就应该死了。医生对我父母说：“他已经去了。”无法解释这一切为什么会发生，或者是如何发生的。你知道，人们认为可能是撒利多胺剂或类似的药物惹的祸。
自出生的那天起，约翰的腿就没用了。他的下半段脊柱没有发育，连医生都无法理解如此严重的残疾是如何发生的，更不用说他身边的人了。但约翰下定决心要证明，只有半截身体并不意味着只有残缺的人生。
约翰：我觉得老一辈的人，甚至到现在，一见到我没有腿就认为我也是个大脑性麻痹患者。那些从外国来这里度假的人可能看到我坐在滑板上，就跑过来给我钱，认为我是在乞讨。
必须澄清的是，约翰的器官是齐全的。他可以使用轮椅，但他更喜欢滑板，因为滑板更容易四处活动。他不能使用义肢，因为他的臀部无法支撑。也许你也像其他人一样，会对他的如厕习惯感到好奇……
约翰：和你们是一样的。我的兄弟们以前用完马桶后，总是把坐圈提起来，总是这样。我记得小时候曾经晚上去上厕所，在黑暗中看不见坐圈被提起来了，等爬上马桶后没有坐圈，结果我就掉进去了。
莉安：他非常帅，而且还很勇敢。你知道，他其实很帅。就像我曾说过的，他气度不凡。你会在大街上与许多人擦肩而过，但总有些人会引起你注意，想着：“天啊，我想要认识他们。”于是我认识了约翰。是的，我很幸运。实际上，认识他是我的幸运。
六年前，约翰和莉安喜结良缘。
约翰：其实是我家的一位朋友带我来见莉安的，接下来的事大家都知道了。我来这里喝早茶，一切就这样开始了，对吗？那很棒。真的、真的很好。
莉安：有时候我和约翰一起逛街，他走在前面，而我不时停下来，像你一样进服装店挑挑衣服或者别的什么。约翰继续向前走。当我赶上约翰的时候，的确会看到一些路人停下来说：“你看到了吗？那是怎么回事？”你知道，诸如此类的议论。而我只会想：“这是我丈夫。这没什么。”
约翰：我知道人们会想：“她这是何苦呢？”你能感受到人们的非议。我是说，我才不在乎呢。我知道她为什么和我在一起。
莉安：我的确听到过人们的非议，比如“你怎么会选择跟这样的人在一起？你们刚认识的时候，你可以选择离开的。为什么你要继续和约翰这样的人发展呢？”我是说，答案很简单，但可以再强调一次：他就是他自己。他就是他，就是我爱上的人。我爱上的不是一个没有腿的人，我爱的是约翰。我的意思是，人是以心相爱的。心长在上面，不是长在下面的。
约翰积极的人生观使他成为世界上最受欢迎的励志家之一。在亚洲，他是一位巨星。他现场演讲的门票在几分钟内就被抢购一空，观众人数经常超过五万人。
约翰：我喜欢给人们以希望和决心。我喜欢让人们看到：如果我能做到的事情，每个人都能做到，你知道。
他曾与世界上最有影响力的名人同台演讲，如尼尔森•曼德拉，诺曼•史瓦兹柯夫将军和史蒂夫•沃。但约翰在家时更像一名英雄。这就是他的继子克莱顿，他天生患有大脑性麻痹、脑积水和孤独症。母亲莉安被告知他可能永远无法走路、说话、吃饭或喝水。但很快就证明了，克莱顿其实很聪明。这卷录像是在他五岁时拍的。他正在教他的老师们使用一种新的电脑程序，他们将使用它来教育其他孩子。克莱顿现在已经十三岁了。他管约翰叫“爸爸”，而约翰管他叫“儿子”。
约翰：看看克莱顿以前的样子，再看看他现在的样子。天哪！绝对震撼人心！
而克莱顿也是这样看待他爸爸的。
克莱顿：我觉得爸爸真的很厉害。他有勇气说：“我就是这个样子，让我们去面对吧。”
约翰即将展开一场历时九周的全国巡回演讲。这将是他离开家人时间最长的一次旅程。如果你在你的城市里见到约翰，发现自己正禁不住盯着他看，那没关系。但约翰更希望你能走过去跟他打招呼。
约翰：如果我能长出腿来，即使只有一个小时，而且我能够做三件事情，你知道我会做什么吗？我会带我妻子去跳舞，然后陪我儿子踢足球。别的事我都不在乎。我只想做这两件事。因为我知道我妻子喜欢跳舞，而我儿子喜欢踢球。
MC: People stare at John Coutis every time he steps out of his house. He certainly looks very different. He only has half a body. He knows his appearance is confronting, but we suspect you’ll admire him as much as anyone who’s ever met him. Marguerite McKinnon has his story.
John Coutis is used to people staring at him. He knows they have questions. Why does he have only half a body? How did he have a child? And, is that his wife? The reality is so much more extraordinary than anything anyone could imagine.
John: I was meant to be dead the day I was born. The doctors told my mom and dad, “He’s gone.” There’s no explanation why it happened, or how it happened. You know, people thought it might have been 1)thalidomide, or things like that.
From day one John’s legs were useless. The lower
part of his 2)spine didn’t develop, a severe disability doctors didn’t understand, let alone those around him. John was determined to prove that having half a body didn’t mean living half a life.
John: I think the elder generation, even still today, they see that I’ve got no legs and think that I’m a 3)spastic as well. People from overseas, they come here for holidays or just maybe might see me on my skateboard, and run up and give me money, think that I’m begging.
For the record, John has all his organs. He could use a wheelchair, but prefers a skateboard. It’s easier to get around. He can’t use 4)prosthetic legs because his hips won’t support them. And, if you’re curious about an often-asked question about his toilet habits …
John: The same way you do. My brothers used to always leave the toilet seat up, always. I remember as a kid and I used to go to the toilet and the toilet seat was up in the dark, I’d climb on to go to the loo there’s no seat and I’d fall in.
Leanne: He’s so handsome, and he’s a 5)spunk. You know he’s a good-looking guy. As I said, he has a presence. You can pass a dozen people in the street and there’ll be always that one person that you’ll look at and think, “Gosh, I’d like to get to know them.” I got to know John. Yeah, I’m lucky. I am the lucky one, actually.
John and Leanne were married six years ago.
John: A family friend actually brought me around to see Leanne, and the rest is history. I came around here for morning tea and it all went from there, didn’t it really? It was lovely. It was really, really nice.
Leanne: Sometimes, like if John’s in front of me and I’ve stopped, as you do, check out clothes racks, or whatever else. And then John’s kept going, as I’m catching up to John you do see people walk past and stop and, “Did you see that? What happened?” You know, all these sorts of comments. And I just sort of think, “There’s my 6)hubby. It’s cool.”
John: And I know people think, “What is she doing with that?” You can feel that. I mean, it doesn’t bother me, I know what she’s doing with me.
Leanne: I do get those comments, like, “How come you chose somebody to be with, you had a choice to back out when you first met. Why did you continue having a relationship with somebody like John?” And, I mean, the simple answer was, yet again, he’s the person that he is. He’s who he is and that’s who I fell in love with. I didn’t fall in love with somebody with no limbs, I fell in love with John. I mean, what do you love with, your heart. Your heart’s up here, not down below.
John’s positive outlook has made him one of the world’s most popular motivators. In Asia, he’s a superstar. Tickets for his live show are snapped up in minutes. Audience often number fifty thousand.
John: I like to offer people hope, resolution, you know. I like to show them that if I can do it, anyone can do it, you know.
He’s shared the stage with some of the world’s most influential people: Nelson Mandela, 7)Ge-neral Norman Schwarzkopf, and 8)Steve Waugh. But John’s hero is closer to home. This is his stepson, Clayton. Born with 9)cerebral palsy, 10)fluid on the brain and 11)autism,mom Leanne was told he’d never walk, talk, eat, or drink. But it soon became clear, Clayton was brilliant. This video was taken when he was five. He’s teaching his teachers
about a new computer program they’ll use to educate other children. Clayton is now thirteen. He calls John “Dad,” John calls him “son.”
John: To see Clayton the way he was, and the way he is now. Holy cow! Absolutely 12)mind-blowing.
Clayton feels the same way about his dad.
Clayton: I think that dad’s just absolutely amazing. That he has the courage to say, “This is what I’ve got, let’s face it.”
John’s about to start a nine-week national speaking tour. It’ll be the longest time he’s been apart from his family. If you see him in your city, and find yourself staring, that’s OK, but John would rather you come up and say hello.
John: If I had legs even for an hour, and there were three things I could do, you know what I’d do? I’d take my wife dancing. And go and play “footy” with my son. Wouldn’t care about anything else. That’d be the only two things I would do. ’Cause I know my wife likes dancing, and I know my son likes kicking a ball around.
主持：约翰•库缇斯每次走出家门时，人们都盯着他看。他看起来的确与众不同。他只有半截身体。他知道自己的样子让人看着不舒服，但我们猜你会同其他所有认识他的人一样，对他敬佩不已。请看玛格丽特•麦金农的报道。
约翰•库缇斯已经习惯了人们盯着他看。他知道他们会满腹疑问：他为什么只有半截身子？他怎么还能生孩子？还有，那是他妻子吗？而事实远比人们想象的要更加奇特。
约翰：我出生那天本来就应该死了。医生对我父母说：“他已经去了。”无法解释这一切为什么会发生，或者是如何发生的。你知道，人们认为可能是撒利多胺剂或类似的药物惹的祸。
自出生的那天起，约翰的腿就没用了。他的下半段脊柱没有发育，连医生都无法理解如此严重的残疾是如何发生的，更不用说他身边的人了。但约翰下定决心要证明，只有半截身体并不意味着只有残缺的人生。
约翰：我觉得老一辈的人，甚至到现在，一见到我没有腿就认为我也是个大脑性麻痹患者。那些从外国来这里度假的人可能看到我坐在滑板上，就跑过来给我钱，认为我是在乞讨。
必须澄清的是，约翰的器官是齐全的。他可以使用轮椅，但他更喜欢滑板，因为滑板更容易四处活动。他不能使用义肢，因为他的臀部无法支撑。也许你也像其他人一样，会对他的如厕习惯感到好奇……
约翰：和你们是一样的。我的兄弟们以前用完马桶后，总是把坐圈提起来，总是这样。我记得小时候曾经晚上去上厕所，在黑暗中看不见坐圈被提起来了，等爬上马桶后没有坐圈，结果我就掉进去了。
莉安：他非常帅，而且还很勇敢。你知道，他其实很帅。就像我曾说过的，他气度不凡。你会在大街上与许多人擦肩而过，但总有些人会引起你注意，想着：“天啊，我想要认识他们。”于是我认识了约翰。是的，我很幸运。实际上，认识他是我的幸运。
六年前，约翰和莉安喜结良缘。
约翰：其实是我家的一位朋友带我来见莉安的，接下来的事大家都知道了。我来这里喝早茶，一切就这样开始了，对吗？那很棒。真的、真的很好。
莉安：有时候我和约翰一起逛街，他走在前面，而我不时停下来，像你一样进服装店挑挑衣服或者别的什么。约翰继续向前走。当我赶上约翰的时候，的确会看到一些路人停下来说：“你看到了吗？那是怎么回事？”你知道，诸如此类的议论。而我只会想：“这是我丈夫。这没什么。”
约翰：我知道人们会想：“她这是何苦呢？”你能感受到人们的非议。我是说，我才不在乎呢。我知道她为什么和我在一起。
莉安：我的确听到过人们的非议，比如“你怎么会选择跟这样的人在一起？你们刚认识的时候，你可以选择离开的。为什么你要继续和约翰这样的人发展呢？”我是说，答案很简单，但可以再强调一次：他就是他自己。他就是他，就是我爱上的人。我爱上的不是一个没有腿的人，我爱的是约翰。我的意思是，人是以心相爱的。心长在上面，不是长在下面的。
约翰积极的人生观使他成为世界上最受欢迎的励志家之一。在亚洲，他是一位巨星。他现场演讲的门票在几分钟内就被抢购一空，观众人数经常超过五万人。
约翰：我喜欢给人们以希望和决心。我喜欢让人们看到：如果我能做到的事情，每个人都能做到，你知道。
他曾与世界上最有影响力的名人同台演讲，如尼尔森•曼德拉，诺曼•史瓦兹柯夫将军和史蒂夫•沃。但约翰在家时更像一名英雄。这就是他的继子克莱顿，他天生患有大脑性麻痹、脑积水和孤独症。母亲莉安被告知他可能永远无法走路、说话、吃饭或喝水。但很快就证明了，克莱顿其实很聪明。这卷录像是在他五岁时拍的。他正在教他的老师们使用一种新的电脑程序，他们将使用它来教育其他孩子。克莱顿现在已经十三岁了。他管约翰叫“爸爸”，而约翰管他叫“儿子”。
约翰：看看克莱顿以前的样子，再看看他现在的样子。天哪！绝对震撼人心！
而克莱顿也是这样看待他爸爸的。
克莱顿：我觉得爸爸真的很厉害。他有勇气说：“我就是这个样子，让我们去面对吧。”
约翰即将展开一场历时九周的全国巡回演讲。这将是他离开家人时间最长的一次旅程。如果你在你的城市里见到约翰，发现自己正禁不住盯着他看，那没关系。但约翰更希望你能走过去跟他打招呼。
约翰：如果我能长出腿来，即使只有一个小时，而且我能够做三件事情，你知道我会做什么吗？我会带我妻子去跳舞，然后陪我儿子踢足球。别的事我都不在乎。我只想做这两件事。因为我知道我妻子喜欢跳舞，而我儿子喜欢踢球。