美國真正的可怕是什麼?

美國真正的可怕是可以把國旗當褲衩




美國雖然有著世界上最強大的軍隊，最先進的科技，但我認為這並不可怕。據說它的隱形飛機來去中國很自由，但這也沒有什麼可怕的。它可怕的東西不是這些。

1972 年我在武漢大學讀書，上政治課，一個政治老師講："美國是腐朽、沒落的資本主義國家的代表，已經日薄西山，氣息奄奄了。"我，工農兵大學生，一身軍裝，立即站起來，反駁："老師，我覺得你說得不對。美國雖然不象中國一樣，是早晨89點鐘噴薄而出的太陽，但它也不是什麼夕陽，而是正午的太陽。"

老師氣白了臉，結結巴巴地說："你這個同學，怎麼敢說這話！"他沒有問我為什麼要說這話，卻用了一個"敢" 字。其間心態，一眼看穿。就是這個腐朽、沒落的資本主義國家，卻在上世紀九十年代領導了世界上最新的一場科技革M。我大學畢業后，正逢改革開放。

我又有一個觀點：美國是由千千萬萬不愛自己祖國的人組成的國家、但他們都很愛美國。那時很多領導人，一邊罵美國，一邊把子女往美國送。反差巨大！講了半天，美國可怕之處何在呢？

我自己感覺有三點：第一，美國的精英體制不可小覷。他的幹部制度，他的競選機制，能夠確保決策者是一批精英。我們中國的悲劇，大到國家，小到一個單位，多數的情況是，有思想的人不決策，決策的人沒有思想。有腦子就沒位子，有位子就沒腦子。美國正好相反，他的寶塔尖體制，正好把一批精英弄上去了。

此，第一，他不犯錯誤，第二，他少犯錯誤，第三，犯了錯誤他能很快改正錯誤。我們是犯錯誤，這是第一。第二，常犯錯誤。第三，犯了錯誤很難改正錯誤。美國用一個小小的台灣牽制了中國整整半個世紀。他把這個棋子走活了，走神了，一個台灣，改變了東亞的國際政治生態。我最擔心的中國新世紀發展的戰略框架因為台灣而扭曲。

現在對強勢民族來說，領土的重要性大大下降，已經變追求領土為追求國勢。美國人對任何國家都沒有領土要求。它不在乎領土，它在二十世紀的全部作為都是造勢，什麼叫造勢？除了經濟強大以外，民心啊！有了民心國家就有凝聚力，失去的領土可以回來；沒有民心，你擁有的土地肯定會失去。有的國家領導只看一步。美國行事往往看十步。因為如此，所以二次世界大戰結束后發生的每一次重大的全球性事件都在加強美國的地位。

如果我們被它牽著走，就可能丟掉所有的戰略籌碼。我一再講，美國的戰略重心不會移到亞洲來，但不意味著它不包圍中國。很多同志只看到美國在軍事上包圍中國，就象很多人只看到中美雙方在科技和武器裝備方面的差距，而沒有看到在大戰略、尤其是外交層次上比裝備落後更嚴重的失衡。我們的對美外交，要麼有措施沒有境界，要麼有細節沒有全局。 "9.11" 之後，美國迅速在兩個月之內拿下阿富汗，從西面包抄中國。日本、台灣、印度的軍事壓力也未減輕。看起來我們從"9.11"中得到了一些眼前的利益，但這些利益不出一兩年可能就會消失。我認為對我國的戰略包圍是另外一種，不是軍事，超乎軍事。

你看，近些年，我國周圍的國家紛紛改變社會制度，變成所謂的"民主 "國家，俄羅斯、蒙古變了，哈薩克變了。再加上原先的韓國、菲律賓、印度尼西亞，再加上台灣。這種威脅對我國而言比軍事威脅更厲害。軍事威脅或許是短期效應，而被所謂的"民主"國家包圍則是長期效應。第二，美國的大氣與寬容。你要到歐洲去，再去美國，你會發現一個重大差異：歐洲早晨大街上沒有什麼人，而美國早晨大街小巷有很多健身的人，甚至全天如此。我有句言論：健身是一種品質。健身代表一種蓬勃向上的文化。一個國家有沒有朝氣，看看它有多少人健身就知道了。

美國人可以把國旗當褲衩穿在身上。我在美國買過一條星條旗褲衩。我常穿。我穿它是為了蔑視它，是出氣，是一種心理的渲泄和滿足。美國人穿則是一種調侃。本質不同。美國人可以在大街上焚燒自己的國旗。戴旭（作者朋友，《空軍軍事學術》編輯）說：如果一個國家連自己的國旗都可以燒的話，你還有什麼理由去焚燒它呢？第三，精神和道德的偉大力量。這是最可怕的。"9.11"是一場災難。當災難襲來時，最先倒下的是軀體，但站的是靈魂。有的民族逢災難，軀體未倒，靈魂已繳械。"9.11"事件中發生了三件事，都可以讓我們從中看到美國人的力量。第一件，世貿大樓頂部被飛機撞擊之後，烈焰奔騰，形勢千鈞一髮。

樓上的人們通過EXIT向下逃生的時候，並不特別慌亂。人往下走，消防隊員往上沖。互相讓道，並不衝突。有婦女、小孩、盲人到時，人們都自動地讓出一條道來，讓他們先走。甚至還給一條寵物小狗讓道。一個民族的精神不強悍到一定的程度，斷然做不出這種舉動。面對死亡，冷靜如斯，恐怕不是聖人也接近聖人了吧。第二件事，"9.11"的第二天，世界就知道這是阿拉伯KB分子所為。很多阿拉伯商店、餐館被憤怒的美國人砸了。一些阿拉伯商人也受到襲擊。這個時刻，有相當一批美國人自發地組織起來，到阿拉伯人的商店、飯館為他們站崗。到阿拉伯人居住區巡邏，阻止悲劇的進一步發生。這是一種怎樣的精神啊。

我們自古就有報復的傳統。我住在成都。鄧艾破成都后，龐德的兒子把關羽一家老幼全殺光了。血腥報復，斑斑點點，不絕於史籍。第三件事，在美國賓夕法尼亞墜毀的那架767 客機，本來是要撞向白宮的。後來機上乘客與KB分子搏鬥，才使飛機墜毀。因為當時他們已經知道世貿大樓、五角大樓被撞的消息，他們決定，不能無所作為，要和KB分子進行殊死鬥爭。即便是在這種情況下，他們還做了一件事：決定投票通過，是不是要和KB分子作鬥爭。在這麼一個生死悠關的時刻，我都不把我的意志強加給別人。後來全體同意，才去與劫機者搏鬥。什麼叫民主，這就是民主。民主的理念已經深入到他們的生命中、血液里、骨髓中。

這樣的民族，他不興盛誰興盛；這樣的民族，他不統治世界，誰能統治世界。我常作奇想：世界最尖端的武器、最新的科學技術、最強大的武裝力量，掌握在這些人手中，還是挺合適的。總比掌握在日本人手中強吧，總比掌握在利比亞、伊拉克人手中強吧？就是掌握在我們手中，我們能做出些什麼，也未可知。美國這個國家有很多成功的經驗，值得我們學習的借鑒。

言過其實。美國正在制定國旗法，到時候再發議論不遲。

這帖子太老，好幾年前就拜讀過，請不要吵冷飯吸引眼球。

對於最後一段，我的簽名就是很好的反駁。

寫這篇文章的人天生就有一種奴性，就喜歡美國人給他當主人，自己當個小奴隸就很知足了！所以就沒什麼好說的了！（和變態說話是醫生的責任了）

Hi Luo Zhu:

Are you being sarcastic or serious?

Do you live in Europe but just travel to the States for once or twice?

Don't say something that you have slightest idea. Hold your horses till you really know what are saying.

Meiguo is every bit opposit to what you are saying. To me, it resembles in many places the self-destructing Qing Dynasty of more than one hundred years ago.

On the other hand, there is only one thing that is constantly in the forefront of the upper crust's mind since as early as this country was founded, namely, to keep the most wealth of the country in the hands of the smallest number of people.

how do you compare US and Qing dynasty. the US Constitution alone will keep this country strong, just, and peaceful for a very long time, at least longer than the Communist party will exist. By the way, when do you think the communist goverment will let the people "VOTE" for their own mayors,councilmen,comgressmen,senators,and their presidents?

The US constitution doesn't keep the country from going to stupid wars, doesn't keep the country from being detested by the whole world, doesn't keep Bush, Cheney from accumulating wealth while the whole country suffers the war either.

Do you think the president in this country was really chosen by people?

If so, why didn't the current president do something for people? OR you give me an example or two to show Bush really do something good for the people?

What common people really get from war except they have to send their sons and daughters to die in Iraq? Don't forget, the common people pay tax so that the country has the ability to go into war.

Watch Micheal Moore's "Fahrenheit 911"?

I don't trust communists, but it's naive to believe this so-called democratic country is really democratic.

Have you ever thought why "people's own" mayors, councilmen, congressmen, enators, and presidents in the States happened always to be from rich families, which count only small part of the population? (Even they come from  commom people, they don't work for them any more once elected.) The laws of probability (fair play), don't work here. That is because the propaganda machines of this country has always been in the hands of rich people. People can never have their "own" president in reality. In this sense, this democratic country is as bad as communist ones, or they are birds of the same feather.   

When you realize this, the debate about whether communist or capitalist has  lost its meaning. Any government is as bad as can be.

Let's forget communist or capitalist, the topic is out of date long time ago. The question now is what government can lead the country to the road of pride, power, and prosperity.

After 30 0r 40 years read your own above comment again. Communists or capitalist, I believe Chinese people are more sincere, hard-working, and intellegent, and most likely to uphold justice. The future of world belongs to China and Chinese. It is safe too to trust the world to Chinese.

By the way, when I compare US to the Qing Dynasty, I didn't compare their political systems, but the controlling class's attitude.

i can see where you are coming from. on the side of michael moore. i was talking about the comparison of the country USA and CHINA as a whole, who is talking about bush or his republicans, all chinese would hope you are right about what is going to transpire with china being the strongest and most just country in the world. for now you can keep being skeptical about the freedom,lawfulness,compassion, and the american way of life. I have lived in this country for more than 2 decades, and I have witnessed and experience the good and the bad of this country. you can call me naive! bush, michael moore, no matter which side they are on, they are all americans.when you ask me which country to trust, i will still firmly tell you there is no doubt in my mind. I trust freedom, justice, and the constitution of this great nation!!

When a white professor teaching Chinese history for 20 years at MIT insisted that it was nothing wrong to show the pictures of Japs killing Chinese, do you feel it is justice? When US troops go to other countries to catch their leaders and kill their people, is it justice?

Election is only a procedure to choose the leaders of a country. It is not the only way, and it is not the perfect way either. Wasn't Bush elected. Wasn't Clinton elected? Are they the best? I couldn't agree that. Election doesn't ensure the country to have the right leaders. Other ways may not necessarily make the best leaders away.

Don't forget, Hitler was elected too.
  
Even Constitution is good, it is a mute document. According to constitution, Bush should declare war before sent troops to another country, but Bush didn't declare war on Iraq. This is an example that the constitution was violated.

on the other hand, Constitution can be wrong too. In 1950s, it was still very  constitutional that Black people had no right to sit in the same bus with white people, and earlier, women, by constitution, didn't have right to vote.

It's fair to say that US has the great aspiration to grant freedom, justice to every citizen, but it is naive to think every citizen has always been granted freedom and justice as the constitution states. E.g, right now, racial discrimination is unconstitutional, do you think black people, plus Chinese, are treated equally with white people?  

A Chinese can live in US 1 million years, he or she will still be Chinese, White people will never consider a Chinese their own.

Are you Chinese? If you are not, I have nothing to talk with you.

I also live in US for almost 20 years, but for me, I will always be a Chinese. I will always be happy when China puts herself on par with its rival powers.

We got nothing to be scared of, nothing hold us in awe by this country. For some reasons, US at present is leading the world, but it won't last forever. It has its own incurable problems.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the wealth, convenience, and all other good things of this country, but I can't change my heart, which is always belonging to China.

It is a half-full, half empty issue, it all depends on how you look at it.
Democratic system in US, real or not, is not perfect. Nothing will ever be. But it is the best we have got so far.  

Because of its democracy, different opinions can be heard. Read all those articles anywhere about the opposition to the war, and listen to the republicans about their fear to lose the mid-term election because of the opposition to the war and the high gas price, you then will really appreciate the beauty of this system.

In all systems, less-favored populations or groups are treated unfairly. Rich and powerful always get special treatment. However, in a democratic system, poor people has one power weapon, their votes. If the government's behavior negatively impacted a significant proportion of the population, then they can vote the government out when the elction comes and achieve a change in the issues that affected them.

I agree with the notion that election is not everything, but does democracy only means election? Is there something more profound than that?

I found it puzzling to compare US to Qing Dynesty. Maybe I miss something, but where is the similarity?  I think if anything, China now a days resembles Qing Dynesty more. And in my opinion, it is doing a lousy job than the emporers.   

I grew up in china and think I know chinese people. But as a country, are we as just and rightous as mythologist as preclaimed? When US started the evil war in Iraq, where is China? did they voice one opposition and render any support, even morally, to the Irapi people?  The stupid Bush is messing with Iran now, again, did Chinese government voice any opposition?

We started a war that is unjust too, remember the war against Vietnam in 1979? Can someone explain to me where the just is? Besides, did anyone ever thought about that this is could be a wrong war back then? Why not? Because we were brain washed by the CCP government. Because the political system is closed and we people are always left in the dark. True then, still true now.

American has its problem, however the democratic system will finally make the correction. I am a believer of the principle that a good system, whatever it is for, is better than good people.  As long as we can have a good system, we will make better results and  less mistakes.  History has proven that a country with a good political system such as the one US has, will do better.   It is not perfect, but it is the best we have ever got.  I have high hope of this country and I belive it will be the greatest country of this and next century.

China has the potential to become a great country, but only after they have adopted a better poplitical system, not necessarily the one US has,  but one that is open, fair  and just.  Achieving that is not easy, I think major social turmoil will happen when the change comes and I think people will not win without a fierce fight. Why? CCP government will not easily let go its power, they know very well that if that happens all of them will be punished but the people for their crimes and wrong doings.
They will do anything to prevent that from happening.

As for the issues of racial discrimination, I think US has done a great job to protect people's right.  Again, it is not perfect, nothing will ever be, it is much better than any where else.  I think everybody knows how things go back in China and I will save some typing here.      Discrimination is still there, and always will be but do you honestly think anybody else in this world can do anything better?

As the world progresses to some extend, it is meaningless to talk about political systems.

In China, as the economy develops, there haven't been signs that warrent a revolution. Later when situation demandes political changes, the changes desired will definitely take place.

To transplant everything American to China will do demage more than benifit, because the two countries are quite diffenent. Don't forget, that notorious communism idea comes out of no where than the west. We pick up a radical idea too fast for once, not the second times. As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. (As Bush says, 'fool me twice...we are not going to be fooled.')

Since the current government has lead China to the current state, which caught the world quite a shock, I trust there is no problem for it to lead the great country on.

Instead of being scared the hell out oneself by other countries, I prefer giving a kudo to the victories Chinese have achieved by far. No other reasons than I am a Chinese. Anything wrong with it?

Johndoe: about election, it was an answer to jjhu. For you I have more.

Qing dynastry adopted a close-door policy, and isolated itself to the world and lead it to distruction. The current US, consides itself the "big one," throws its weights about and went into unjust wars that drain the country's wealth. If it continues, how far can it go? How long can it last? Even if it doesn't destruct itself, it will be lagging behind. In fact, I wouldn't spend my time to oppose US going to another war, perhaps with Iran, what is next, North Korean, perhaps...that will give us some time to catch up.

On the other hand, the crime of invading a sovereign country can not be compared with showing no military support to the victimized country.