试论“美国文明”的若干特征

Trying to Examine Some Specific Features of the “American Civilization”

美国文明具有鲜明的优长和弊端两方面的特征，主要有：开拓进取与对外扩张、面向世界与全球干涉、重视国家利益与美国至上、倡导民主自由与个人主义、注重实效与实用主义、富于创新与标新立异。优长的一面使美国在200多年的时间里超越群雄，跃为世界头号强国；弊端则是它在世界上越来越受到强烈的抵制、引发阵阵反美浪潮的根源。

The American civilization carries distinct features of advantages and malpractices at the same time. They are manifested mainly in the following ways: the U.S. always keeps forging ahead with an enterprising spirit and external expansion; it is oriented to the world and opted for global intervention; it thinks highly of national interests and puts America above all else; it initiates democracy and freedom and promotes individualism; it attaches importance to practical results and promotes pragmatism; it is full of innovations and always tries to start something new just in order to be different. This side of the U.S. advantages has made it preeminent and gained ascendancy to the status of the world’s No. 1 great power within a period of more than 200 years. The negative effects or malpractices are that the U.S. has been under strong pressures from the international community, giving rise to a burst of anti-Americanism.