“我”的世界 - 我的政治有效性
American Political Efficacy


每日一语：

True liberty consists in the privilege of enjoying our own rights, not in the destruction of the rights of others. --- George Pinckard

真正的自由在于我们享受自身的权利，而不在于毁灭他人的权利。 --- George Pinckard

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Dear Visitors:

There is no such word in Chinese as "Efficacy". Political efficacy is one prominent feature in American culture, which I have yet to experience it in any other cultures. I now translate this phrase "Political Efficacy" into Chinese as “个人自感政治有效性”。

This is a concept alien to many other cultures, especially to those without concept of individual, self, ego, responsibility.．．． The Chinese are especially alien to such a concept. Efficacy is a concept that individuals in a society feel that they as individuals do count in the political process, and one's own individual vote is very important to the health of such a process. They indeed are the masters of their own society, their own future, their own government, their own culture....
　
Such a high degree of political efficacy from individuals in America often is taken for granted. But if you dwell on such a concept a little deeper, you will marvel with great relish what a great mind-set this is, and how difficult a country can foster and instill such a great mind-set in its citizens. And then you realize that only a country with a high degree of individualism can have such a mind-set and value their own individual rights to vote，and to voice their own views and opinions.

When I first came to America, I was shocked to hear people telling me: "He is MY　ｌａｗｙｅｒ，　ｏｒ　ｈｅ　ｉｓ　ＭＹ　ｄｏｃｔｏｒ，　ｏｒ　ｈｅ　ｉｓ　ＭＹ　ａｇｅｎｔ．．．．＂　Ｉ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｗｈｏ　ｓａｙ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｍｕｓｔ　ｂｅ　ｒｉｃｈ　ａｎｄ　ｐｏｗｅｒｆｕｌ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｌｙ　ｏｗｎｅｄ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｒｖｅ　ｈｉｍ　ｏｎｌｙ．　　Ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ｗｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｔｒａｎｓｌａｔｉｏｎ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｓｏｕｎｄ：　他是我的律师。　他是我的医生。　他是我的代理人。　Ｂｕｔ　ｉｎ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｅａｎｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｓｕｃｈ　ｐｈｒａｓｅｓ　ｅｎｔａｉｌ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓｏｍｅｏｎｅ　ｉｓ　ｅｘｃｌｕｓｉｖｅｌｙ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｅ．　　Ｙｅｔ　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｉｔ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｍｅａｎｓ　ａ　ｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｃｏｎｔｒａｃｔ．　　Ｂｕｔ　ｉｎ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｄ　＂ＭＹ＂ｉｓ　ｔｏ　ｉｎｄｉｃａｔｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ａｒｅ　ｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　＂Ｉ＂，ｒｅｌａｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　＂Ｍｅ＂．　Ｓｕｃｈ　ａｎ　ｅｘｐｒｅｓｓｉｏｎ　ｇｉｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌ　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｐｏｗｅｒ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｏｎｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｅｓｃａｐａｂｌｅ　ｅｎｔｉｔｙ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｓ　ｏｒ　ｈｅｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｄｅｃｉｓｉｏｎｓ．　　Ｏｎｅ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｕｓ　ａｎ　ａｃｔｉｖｅ　ｐａｒｔｉｃｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｈａｐｐｅｎ．　　Ｐｏｓｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ　ｉｓ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｔｏｗａｒｄ　ｍａｔｅｒｉａｌ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ，　ｎｏｔ　ｔｏｗａｒｄ　ｈｕｍａｎ．　　＂Ｍｙ　ｄｏｃｔｏｒ＂ｄｏｅｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｍｅａｎ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｏｗｎ　ａｎｙｂｏｄｙ．　　

Ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌ　ｍｉｎｄ－ｓｅｔ，ｅｎｄｏｗｅｄ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ，　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｓｐｅａｋｉｎｇ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓ，　ｐａｒｔｉｃｕｌａｒ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａ，　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｈｉｇｈｅｒ　ｄｅｇｒｅｅ　ｏｆ　ａｗａｒｅｎｅｓｓ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌ　ｅｆｆｉｃｔｉｖｅｎｅｓｓ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅｆｏｒｅ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｖｉｅｗ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ，　ｉｎｓｅｐａｒａｂｌｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｒｉｇｈｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｓｅｎｓｅ　ｏｆ　ｃｉｖｉｃ　ｄｕｔｙ．　　

Ｉｎ　ｓｈａｒｐ　ｃｏｎｔｒａｓｔ，　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓ　ｌｉｋｅ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｌａｃｋ　ｓｕｃｈ　ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ　ｅｆｆｉｃａｃｙ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｓｏｍｅｈｏｗ　ｓｅｐａｒａｔｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｅｘｉｓｔｅｎｃｅｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ＇ｓ　ｗｅｌｌ　ｂｅｉｎｇ．　　Ｙｅｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｂｌａｍｅ　ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｃａｐｅｇｏａｔ，　ａｓ　ｉｆ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｎｏｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｅｓ　ｗｈｏ　ａｒｅ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｌｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｉｔ．　　

Ｙｅｓ，　ｉｎｄｅｅｄ，　ｉｎ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｏｖｅｒｎｍｅｎｔ，　（ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｉｖｅ）　ｏｐｐｒｅｓｓｅｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ．　　Ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｓｅｎｓｅ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｌａｖｅｓ．　　Ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ，　ｂｙ　ｓｈｉｒｋｉｎｇ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ　ａｓ　ｐｒｉｖａｔｅ　ｃｉｔｉｚｅｎｓ，　ａｓ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｒｅｔｅｎｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｃｕｓｅｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｐｏｗｅｒｌｅｓｓ，　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ　ｉｎ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ａｒｅ　ａｃｔｉｖｅｌｙ　ｃｒｅａｔｉｎｇ　ａ　ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ　ｅｎｔｉｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｖｅｒ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｓｋｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｔｏ　ｅｓｃａｐｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｃｈｏｉｃｅｓ　ｏｒ　ｃｈｏｉｃｅｌｅｓｓｎｅｓｓ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｕｓｅ　ｓｕｃｈ　ａ　ｇｏｖｅｒｎｍｅｎｔ，　ｓｕｃｈ　ａ　ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ　ａｓ　ａ　ｓｈｉｅｌｄ，　ａｓ　ａ　ｄｉｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｅｓｃａｐｅ　ｔｈｅｍｓｅｌｖｅｓ　－－　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ．　　Ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｓｅｎｓｅ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｈｏｒｅｓ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｓｌａｖｅｓ　ｗｈｏ　ａｒｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｗｈｏｒｅｓ　ｓｅｌｌｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｓｏｕｌｓ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｍｏｒｓｅｌ　ｏｆ　ｆｏｏｄ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｕｇｌｉｅｓｔ　ｂｅｉｎｇｓ　ａｍｏｎｇ　ｍａｎｋｉｎｄ，　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｏｎｅ－ｅｘｉｓｔｅｎｃｅｓ．　

Ｉｆ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｃａｎ　ｅｖｅｒ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｎｙ　ｈｏｐｅ　ｔｏ　ｅｎｔｅｒ　ａ　ｍｏｄｅｒｎ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ，　ｔｈｉｓ　＂ｓｌａｖｅ－ｗｈｏｒｅ　ｃｏｍｐｌｅｘ＂　ｍｕｓｔ　ｂｅ　ａｄｄｒｅｓｓｅｄ　ｅｆｆｅｃｔｉｖｅｌｙ　ａｎｄ　ｆａｃｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｐｅｎ．　　Ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｍｕｓｔ　ｂｅ　ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔｅｄ　ａ　ｍｉｒｒｏｒ　ｏｆ　ｍｏｒａｌｉｔｙ，　ｂｙ　ｎｏｎｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｉａｎ　ｖａｌｕｅｓ　ａｎｄ　Ｃｈｒｉｓｔ　ｔｅａｃｈｉｎｇｓ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｍｕｓｔ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｈｏｗ　ｕｇｌｙ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ａｎｙ　ｐｏｓｉｔｉｖｅ　ｃｈａｎｇｅｓ　ｃａｎ　ｈａｐｐｅｎ．　　

Ｉ　ｈｏｐｅ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｒｕｍ　ａｄｄｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｍｉｒｒｏｒ　ｏｆ　ｍｏｒａｌｉｔｙ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｍｏｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｗｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｓ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ　ｃａｎ　ｄｏ　ｔｏ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｔｈｅｍｓｅｌｖｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｅｎｓｌａｖｅｄ　ｍｉｎｄ－ｓｅｔ．　　

Ｂｅｓｔ．　　Ｋａｉ　Ｃｈｅｎ　　陈凯