2025年1月20日特朗普就任美國第47屆總統，並繞開國會秒簽近百行政命令涉及全球緊急措施。
美國總統四年一換，瘋人首領重出江湖，世局風雲再起，東西何去浮沉：察其本質、血型未改、基因依然、文化解密。
美國文化及其本質
從北美殖民始於500多年前1，美國侵佔歷史樹英雄文化，牛仔勇俠和狂放不覊構建形象。或者這可解釋了為什麼特朗普能夠在美國社會被選為總統的理由之一。「勝者全取」（The Winner Takes It All）是合情合理，特朗普狂言便是「讓美國再次偉大」，包括整個北美都成為美國一部分；拜登則要制止「中國愈來愈大的趕超美國的雄心」2，看似全球必須臣服美國之下是其政府管治世界的目標！
以這樣的心態、這樣的基因和文化來與全人類相處，（戰術上）或可贏一世，但（戰略上）又怎可維持百年千戴？
東西方比較，亦看看這邊廂「中華民族偉大復興」的中華文化，這裏借助「禮儀之邦」之「禮」略作解說。
中國文化禮儀之邦
「禮」源出於祭祀。「禮」古作「豐」，甲骨文「豐」字（如上圖所示）上有兩串代表豐盛的植物，下為豆形的器皿盛載，富足之意，以示獻於神主，祈求福祐；往後演變於「豐」字旁加上「示」成為「禮」字。「禮」重於祭，本義是敬事神靈以求福。
承繼原始社會的殷商朝代（距今約近四千年）3，保留「率民以事神」、尊神重巫的習俗，人們以卜筮協助活動的決定，舉行祭祀表示對神靈的敬意。這便是最初的禮。
到了周朝，禮的內涵進一步被發揮，逐漸從祭祀的儀式擴至政治和倫理道德領域。周公（周文王第四子）「制禮作樂」的社會制度規範了人民行為取向，成為今天中華文化的基礎。
「周禮」的尊禮制度隨後有所淡化（禮崩樂壞），約五百年後的孔子有感社會秩序混亂，畢生致力「克己復禮」，期望重建井然有序的周禮制度、以禮調和社會，進一步的演繹樹立了儒家思想。
修身、齊家、治國、平天下
「禮」的演繹和應用記載於《論語》，包括「不學禮，無以立」、「約之以禮」、「博文約禮」，鼓勵修身達至「仁、義、智、信」等而成為「君子」，做好個人的「修身、齊家、治國、平天下」（《禮記．大學》），倡議「為國以禮」，故在宋代被喻為「半部論語治天下」。
至今稱中國為「禮儀之邦」，具有高尚的道德準則、完整的禮儀規範和優秀的傳統文化和美德。
總括而言，中華文化強調「為政以德」、「人而無信，不知其可也」、「以和為貴」（《論語》）等，國與國的關係才是真正平等和諧共處。借中美文化來瞻眺風雨後的世界，無論目前如何，明天不難猜測。
註：
- 美國成立約在250年前（1776），脫離英國殖民統治；而英國在當地建立殖民地開始於528年前（1497）。
- 2021年2月4日，拜登總統發表他上任後的首次外交政策講話：「American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States」
- 殷商或商朝開始於公元前約1600年前，是繼夏朝（公元前2070年前）的第二個朝代。
After the rain, the world looks different: thoughts on Trump’s return
The U.S. Presidential Election happens every four years. And this time, the leader changes: A man some consider mad returns to power, the world is becoming turbulent again, and it is unclear how the relationship between East and the West will go.
But we should look at the essence of things. Blood types have not changed, the genes remain the same, and our cultures can provide clues as to what will happen.
Essence of American culture
In the 500 years after the European colonization of North America, the United States established its culture as one of machismo through its history of occupation. It has constructed its image as brave but unruly in the manner of the cowboy.
This may explain why Trump was able to be elected president in American society. “Winner Takes It All” is a key concept in such a culture. The message of Trump’s rhetoric is that they must “Make America Great Again”, and he wants the whole of the northern Americas becoming part of the United States. Other nations must not be allowed to catch up. President Joe Biden felt that “China is the biggest challenge facing the US.”
The message is that the whole world must submit to the United States, and the goal of its government is to govern the planet!
If all mankind had such a mentality, built into their genes and culture, we may be able to win for a while (tactically), but how could we maintain such a stance for thousands of years (strategically)?
We can compare the East and the West, so let’s also look at the Chinese culture of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”. Here I will briefly explain it with the help of the “Rites” in the “a state of ceremonies”.
Culture and etiquette
“Ritual” originated from sacrifice. The ancient Chinese character for “Ritual” is “Rich”.
The oracle bone script for the word “Rich” has two strings of plants on top, representing abundance, and a bean-shaped container below, meaning abundance. It was used to make offerings to the gods and pray for blessings.
Later, Adding “示” to the side of “Rich” makes it “Ritual”.
“Ritual” is more important than sacrifice, and its original meaning is to respect gods and spirits in order to seek blessing.
The Shang Dynasty (whose leaders ruled nearly 4,000 years ago), inherited a primitive society, retained the custom of “leading the people to serve the gods” and respecting gods and witches. People used divination to assist in making decisions on activities and held sacrifices to show their respect for the gods. This was the original gift.
In the Zhou Dynasty, the connotation of etiquette was further developed, gradually expanding from sacrificial rituals to the fields of politics and ethics. The social system of “establishing rituals and music” by Duke Zhou (the fourth son of King Wen of Zhou) regulated people’s behavior and became the foundation of today’s Chinese culture.
The interpretation and application of “ritual” is recorded in “The Analects of Confucius”. Consider these lines.
“If you don’t learn propriety / ritual, you will have no structure “, (16.13)
“…disciplines himself with propriety / ritual”, (6.27)
“Through learning and temperance to virtue” (link here.)
Encouraging self-cultivation to achieve “benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and trustworthiness”, he became a “gentleman” and did a good job of “Self-Cultivation, Family Regulation, State Governance, Bringing Peace to All Under Heaven” (The Book of Rites. Great Learning). He advocated “governing the country with rites”, so in the Song Dynasty he was described as “governing the country with half of the Analects”.
To this day, China is known as a “country of etiquette”, with lofty moral standards, complete etiquette norms, and excellent traditional culture and virtues.
In summary, Chinese culture emphasizes “governing with virtue”, “a man without trust is not worthy of trust”, “harmony is the most precious” (The Analects of Confucius), etc., and the relationship between countries is truly equal and harmonious. Co-existence: Using Chinese and American culture to look forward to the world after the storm, no matter what the present is like, it is not difficult to guess what tomorrow will be like.
中文原刊於《大公文滙》，英文原刊於「Fridayeveryday.com」本報獲作者授權轉載。
