追求利益而不是价值是共和党失败的原因
Not Pursuing Values Dooms This Election

每日一语：

美国既不是一个经济的国度，也不是一个政治的国度， 更不是一个科学的国度。 美国，说到底，是一个对人类终极价值信仰与追求的国度。 抛弃了这个基点，美国就失去了其独特的意义与使命。 --- 陈凯

America is not about economics, not about politics, not about science either.... America, to the end, is about a tireless pursuit of eternal values of mankind -- Truth, Justice, Liberty and Human Dignity. Without such a pursuit, America will lose its own unique meaning. --- Kai Chen

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Dear Visitors:

This morning after Obama was elected as the next president of the United States, I have many thoughts. I knew MacCain would lose this election for he was never up to the challenge in the post USSR world. (He came from a privileged background and only those years in Vietnam's prison had taught him a little about himself and reality. I actually voted for Palin for she is a self-made woman.)

Without the stark contrast of USSR, many in the world have soon forgot the horror of socialism/communism inflicted upon the world population by the left. The lingering romantic utopia presented by the leftist ideologies now starts to make a come back, manifested by this election. It seems America needs to relive the horror of socialism to understand the consequences of their own choices.

The incremental loss of focus for many Americans started from the end of the cold war and the passing of the Reagan years. Self-made man like Reagan is hard to come by nowadays. The ability to articulate American values and uniqueness has not been manifested by anyone for many years. President Bush's visit to Beijing for the Summer Olympics 2008 was only one more such example of moral confusion on the part of American conservatives. Suddenly it is as though some form of socialism/communism, like that in China, is an acceptable form of governance. In this sense, the insidious Chinese communist regime has successfully invaded/infiltrated America, in the spiritual and moral realms.

As an immigrant, I came to America not just because of the economic opportunities, not just for the fresh air and a peaceful living. I came to America to express myself fully, to unleash my creative impulses/ability, to create, to construct, to produce, to communicate, to rejoice.... I came to America not for some government handout, for some social benefit at the cost of others, for the so-called redistribution of wealth by high government taxations, for seeking out an omnipotent savior in the government to fulfill my sense of existence. I came to America for the freedom it promises to all of us. I came to America so I could fulfill my life with meaning and accomplishment defined only by God.

I deplore the lack of genuine politicians nowadays in America - those with vision and values like President Reagan. Now I can see only some second stringers with no vision and values, only ambition for power and fame. When the economic woes struck recently, somehow government has become the only source that people look up to for solutions. No one, absolutely no one has come forth to articulate about the fundamentals of this great country - the moral characters of American people. The unique moral characters of American people is really what attracted me to America in the first place. Individualism, creativity, audacity to walk a path no one has walked, self-made men, open free market for talent selection, strong faith in goodness and God, government as servant, not as savior/master..., all of these and more, composed the exceptional unique characters of American people.

I came to America because I was already American when I was in China. I only came home to materialize my spiritual and moral pursuit. I have fulfilled my American dream and more, much more than what I anticipated/expected: I live as a free being.

Beijing Olympics, Obama, Mao's Kitchen, 2008 election, all are bundled together to give me a sense of a moral and spiritual crisis in America. Is America lost? Do I still live in my beloved America where all the oppressed people yearn to come from all over the world? My weakness tells me that I want a better man to emerge to take the helms from those small beings that hijacked this great country. But my strength and convictions told me that I can and have to do my duty to bring this country on the right track. I, as an immigrant, will have to tell the native-born Americans what this country is about, seeing them wandering into dangerous woods of big government with small, slave-like beings all around yearning for some handout, yearning to be saved by a God-like state.

"Why do you not send someone here, God, to save me from the misery and despair?" Someone asks God. "Indeed I have done that, my child." God answers, "I have sent YOU."

May God bless you and this great country of America. Best. Kai Chen 陈凯