美國(guó)長(zhǎng)大，我(和所有美國(guó)人一樣)一直被灌輸美國(guó)例外論。盡管我就讀于美國(guó)最好的學(xué)校之一，但我上的任何一門課都沒(méi)有對(duì)美國(guó)及其獨(dú)特的新自由資本主義和民主國(guó)家在世界各地利大于弊的觀點(diǎn)提出實(shí)質(zhì)性的挑戰(zhàn)。對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，當(dāng)我開(kāi)始了解和探訪那些至今仍能感受到美帝主義影響的國(guó)家時(shí)，對(duì)偉大的美帝主義這個(gè)核心信念終于破滅了。

例如，幾年前我訪問(wèn)韓國(guó)梨泰院地區(qū)時(shí)（韓國(guó)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)踩踏事故那個(gè)區(qū)域），我對(duì)大量美國(guó)士兵的存在感到震驚。這些士兵身穿軍裝，駐扎在附近的美軍基地龍山基地。盡管這些士兵像往常一樣過(guò)著他們的日子，但他們出現(xiàn)在本來(lái)應(yīng)只屬于韓國(guó)人的環(huán)境中，這鮮明的象征不斷地提醒人們，美國(guó)有能力把自己的意志強(qiáng)加給敵人——以及“朋友”。事實(shí)上，這個(gè)軍事基地只是美國(guó)在80個(gè)國(guó)家持續(xù)運(yùn)作的750多個(gè)基地之一!

我的埃及之行是另一次顛覆我對(duì)美國(guó)印象的經(jīng)歷。在我計(jì)劃行程的過(guò)程中，我得知東部地區(qū)(靠近加沙地帶)持續(xù)的暴力活動(dòng)使該國(guó)許多地區(qū)日常市民和旅客無(wú)法進(jìn)入，我深感悲痛。共和黨人和民主黨人對(duì)以色列的堅(jiān)定支持公然與美國(guó)所謂的對(duì)人權(quán)的承諾相矛盾，出于某種原因，這種承諾似乎并沒(méi)有延伸到巴勒斯坦人。即使在國(guó)會(huì)中對(duì)巴勒斯坦表達(dá)最低限度的支持，也足以讓幾位進(jìn)步派代表被譴責(zé)為反猶主義者。當(dāng)我終于有機(jī)會(huì)旅訪埃及時(shí)，脫離了書(shū)本和新聞，親眼目睹了大多數(shù)公民的破舊生活條件時(shí)，我意識(shí)到美國(guó)(還有英國(guó)和法國(guó))帝國(guó)主義的遺產(chǎn)是不可否認(rèn)地存在。

今天的美國(guó)是一個(gè)大國(guó)(在強(qiáng)大的意義上)，但如果沒(méi)有歷史上曾經(jīng)和正在進(jìn)行的對(duì)較小國(guó)家的征服和侵入，它就不會(huì)接近今天的地位。沒(méi)有埃及和巴勒斯坦，就沒(méi)有美國(guó)。

是的，對(duì)美國(guó)的負(fù)面想法你們可能日常有很多，而同樣也會(huì)來(lái)自于一個(gè)成長(zhǎng)和生活在美國(guó)的我。

如果有興趣，歡迎繼續(xù)看以下鏈接：

美國(guó)人對(duì)“侮美”什么態(tài)度

KK.akida 原創(chuàng)，轉(zhuǎn)載需聯(lián)系授權(quán)，侵權(quán)行為將進(jìn)行法律追究

作者：Kenton?常春藤達(dá)特茅斯大學(xué)，美國(guó)華裔

修譯: Gemini K

Has the image of the United States ever collapsed in your mind, and if so, when, why and how?

Growing up in the U.S., I (along with all Americans) was fed a steady dose of American exceptionalism. Even though I attended some of the best schools in the nation, not a single class I took substantively challenged the idea that the U.S. and its particular brand of neoliberal capitalism and democratic nation-building have done more good than harm across the world. For me, this core belief was finally shattered when I started learning about and visiting countries where the impact of America’s imperialist projects can be felt to this day.

For instance, when I visited the Itaewon district in South Korea several years ago, I was struck by the heavy presence of American?soldiers. Clad in military uniform, these soldiers were stationed at nearby Yongsan Garrison, a former U.S. military base that has since been relocated. Though?the soldiers?carried about their day as usual, their very presence in the midst of what would otherwise have been a typical scene in South Korea was a stark and constant reminder of America’s ability to impose its will on foes--as well as “friends.” In fact, that military base was just one of over 750 bases that the U.S. continually operates across 80 countries!

My trip to Egypt was another experience that subverted my image of the U.S. During my trip planning, I was deeply saddened to learn about the ongoing violence in the eastern region (due to its proximity to the Gaza Strip) that rendered many parts of the country inaccessible. Staunch support for Israel from both Republicans and Democrats alike blatantly contradicts the U.S.’s alleged commitment to human rights, which for some reason doesn’t seem to extend to Palestinians. Even voicing minimal support for Palestine in Congress was enough to cause several progressive representatives to be decried as?anti-Semitic. And when I finally visited Egypt and witnessed firsthand the decrepit conditions under which most citizens live, I realized that the legacy of American (and also British and French) imperialism is undeniable.

The U.S. today is a great (in the sense of strong) power, but it wouldn’t be close to what it is today without its historical and ongoing subjugation of lesser powers. There is no U.S. without Egypt or Palestine.