我們都不知道,到底美國人會選誰當他們的下一任總統。
在時局不明時,我個人喜歡看看有洞見的知識分子,尤其是能融會貫通歷史的學者,怎麼分析。聽聽他們的說法,也看看有沒有自己漏掉的角度。
結果不一定對,但光是看人家怎麼思考,都能學到很多。
Niall Ferguson 是英國訓練的歷史學者,目前在美國哈佛工作,國籍美國,是典型的保守派知識分子,學問淵博,且頗有洞見。
這個專訪應該是在拜登家族醜聞爭議之前做的,記者問他,認為誰會當選。
即使他很不喜歡這麼說,但他認為是拜登。
主要原因是,川普做了四年,支持群眾沒有增加,而其核心支持者,教育程度不高的白人,也逐漸在流失支持中。而希拉蕊比較討人厭,但拜登還好。
對於美國今天的狀況,他認為,如果當初歐巴馬只當一任,第二次競選由共和黨羅姆尼當選,今天的美國,不會撕裂得這麼嚴重。
他說,如果當初羅姆尼當選,共和黨的成熟穩健路線就可以維持,避免四年後的川普崛起,美國社會不會被撕裂得這麼嚴重。
至於拜登當選之後,他認為目前的二次冷戰,很有可能被轉換為第三次世界大戰。
這是他根據歷史歸納的,如果民主黨因為國內議題上台之後,就常會在海外造成戰爭。包括:Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson.
而拜登被拖入第三次世界大戰的引爆點,他認為是台灣。
因為拜登已經承諾了許多國內經濟振興方案,需要大量的金錢與精力,一旦注意力放在這邊,習近平就會把握機會攻擊台灣,而第三次世界大戰可能從這裡引爆。
我想這樣的分析,目前台灣的政府也會考慮到。
如果真的拜登當選,美國在二次冷戰決定收手,並在亞洲缺席,而讓中國擴張主義得逞,我們必須有足夠好的國防,能夠擋住第一波攻勢,取得與國際串連的機會。
與日本的關係要保持好,印度、澳洲等國也要有直接的聯繫。
自己的戰備、自己的潛艇、戰鬥機、軍隊動員,都必須準備好。撐到中國在周邊跟其他國家也有衝突,就能繼續保持我們想要的生活狀態。
- Niall Ferguson: “America would be a lot less torn if Obama had been a one-term president” / Pledge Times
https://bit.ly/3o86HjR
更新:原文不明原因移除,這裡是另一個轉載版本,內容一樣。
https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5100598/Niall-Ferguson-Biden-is-going-to-win-I-don%E2%80%99t-see.html
Joe Biden is a much less unpopular figure than Hillary Clinton. The economy is in a hole and, of course, the president has made a major botch with covid-19. So I think Joe Biden is going to win.
I have observed over a century of American history that often, when Democratic presidents are elected with an important domestic agenda, they end up waging great wars. It happened to Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson. And almost Jimmy Carter too, but he avoided going to war in Afghanistan. It is only in the recent past that Democrats have been inclined to avoid wars, in the cases of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. You could see a scenario where the Biden Administration comes to power ready to do all kinds of spending on social services, education, raising taxes, doing those usual things, and it runs into a crisis over Taiwan. I think China is going to force that issue at some point. And the smart time to do so would be right at the beginning of a Biden presidency. The Second Cold War is structural, it is not of any specific presidency, it is a structural strategic rivalry like the First Cold War, and Biden’s main problem is that the Second Cold War will not leave him alone to do his domestic agenda. You have to look closely at what is happening in Taiwan, what Xi does to legitimize his position and exploit the weaknesses he sees.
同時也有1部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過30萬的網紅吳鳳Rifat,也在其Youtube影片中提到,各國有自己的教育制度,有的算好,有的效率不夠好。這次問外國人他們覺得台灣的上課時間怎麼樣?其實很多答案很有意義,記得參考。...
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taiwan education problem 在 美國在台協會 AIT Facebook 八卦
AIT在全台偏鄉啟動「AIT希望學程」!在11和12月我們已分別於台東東海國中、新生國中、豐田國中和桃源國中為120位師生舉辦了創客課程,包括用奈米銀墨導電貼紙完成電路,組裝雷切小木屋,再用陶磁壓電片完成組裝雷切小車,並進一步了解陶磁壓電片在許多領域的運用。與此同時,國務院前英語教育研究員Robert “Bubba” Powell與傅爾布萊特英語教學助理,帶著吉他前往孩子的書屋,藉由音樂和歌唱,與學生分享學習美語的樂趣,也在過程中體驗一點美國文化。AIT致力於推廣理工科學藝術 (STEAM) 教育和美語教育,「AIT希望學程」期望全台灣更多偏鄉的孩子透過做中學了解新科技,培養解決問題的能力,同時增強雙語能力並拓展國際視野! #孩子的書屋 #FulbrightETAProgram #AmericanEnglish #STEAMEducation #ExperientialLearning
*傅爾布萊特英語教學助理計畫(Fulbright ETA Program)為台東縣政府與學術交流基金會及「台塑企業暨王長庚公益信託」共同合作
We are so excited about AIT’s new “Learning for Hope Project” in rural Taiwan! So far, we have held four maker programs in Taitung Donghai, Hsinsheng, Fengtien and Taoyuan Junior High Schools, where students learned about new technology through hands-on projects that utilized conductive stickers, creative circuit, laser cut wood and piezoelectric energy. U.S. State Department English Language Fellow alumnus Robert “Bubba” Powell and Fulbright English Teaching Assistants showed up with their guitars to the Kid’s Bookhouse to share the fun of learning English and a little bit of American culture too! The “Learning for Hope Project” is part of AIT’s on-going support of STEAM and English language education in Taiwan. We are proud of AIT’s role in helping children in Taiwan’s rural areas develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while enhancing their English proficiency and their global vision!
taiwan education problem 在 謙預 Qianyu.sg Facebook 八卦
【一切的失敗和不足,都是最美好的安排】
All Failures & Lacks Are The Best Things to Happen to Us
三個月前,收到來自台灣客人的這封電郵時,開心和心酸交織著在心裡。
開心,因為這是一年前通過Zoom視訊的客人。他居然在我們看八字的一週年,特地寫了封感謝函給我,真有心!
心酸,因為他寫在電郵裡的低落心情,我完完全全明白。
他的經歷,是我的曾經。我當初也是很難,很久才能走出來。
有一回,我為一位芳華正茂的女子批八字時,她很用心的寫下我說的話。
論寫筆記的完整,她是我客人當中的佼佼者。
寫到一半,我注意到她的右手開始微微顫抖。我以為是空調的風太大了,冷到她,便問她要不要披巾。
她說,是她的焦慮症發作。
「我沒在兇你,也沒對你嚴厲,你為何突然焦慮?」
「我.....打從今年疫情打亂了我的計畫,我就一直很焦慮。我覺得我很沒用,同學們都前進了,只有我現在什麼都不是,亂糟糟的。我就一直很緊張,萬一我一直都是這樣,怎麼辦?」
說著,她眼眶一紅,眼淚像斷了線的珍珠鏈似的灑下來。
我的媽呀!是我的樣子長得很催淚,還是我的聲音聽起來很虐心?怎麼客人,不分男女老少,東南西北,看到我好像都很容易哭?
我抓起一張紙巾遞給她。
「所以,我不是來了嗎?你來找我,就是要問個明路,而你很幸運那麼快就看到我啦!你看你的筆記寫得多工整,多齊全。我很多客人都不如你啊!我今天的工作,就是來給你答案的。我沒有把握,也不會接你這份差事。我接了,就代表還可以補救。你照著我的指示去做,一定柳暗花明又一村。」
又另一回,一位四十多歲的媽媽請我看兒子的八字。
我在批著八字時,這位媽媽點頭認同,然後就聲淚俱下。
我轉頭看著她沈默不語的先生。我說錯了什麼嗎?太太哭成淚人,你怎麼連紙巾也不拿給她啊?
「我是個沒有用的母親,很不稱職的母親。我沒有辦法教好孩子。我很愛他,可是很多時候我都不知道要怎麼做,我就會對他發脾氣,說狠話,過後我又後悔。我忍下來,可是後來還是會一樣!」
我沒打斷她,等她的哭聲逐漸小聲後,我柔柔的說:「我來啦!我坐在你前面了。你已經看到我,就是有辦法了。你知道你自己不行,會去找辦法,就代表你願意去學習做個好媽媽啊!」
我把紙巾遞給她,再說:「不要哭了,要不然,別人看了以為是我不要借你錢,才把你弄得那麼傷心。」
曾幾何時,我們都會以外在所擁有的,來定義自己的人生是否值得自己喜歡。
從原生家庭、樣貌、健康、身型、智力、天賦等,到後來的學歷、友情、事業、財富、婚姻、子女......
哪一樣沒有,而偏偏是我們最想要的,我們就會認定自己失敗的一塌糊塗。
我認為這就是普通教育最大的問題所在。父母老師都是這樣把我們「分門別類」的。值不值得父母疼愛或向親朋戚友炫耀,也離不開那幾點。
久而久之,我們也只會以「成功」來定義自己是否有價值,甚至來衡量自己是否有活下去的勇氣。
我比較喜歡佛法的定義。我們每個人都是一尊佛,六道眾生皆有佛性,只因一時的迷,因此墮落在苦輪不停的輪迴。
可正因為我們有佛性,我們都有無窮無盡的可能。每個人的內在有著很強大的力量,等著我們遇到明師後,去發掘、探索和了解。
而這天生俱來的力量,就是你改命立命的資本。
如果人生順風順水,我們永遠不會想要出離,誤把人間當極樂,所以一定要有苦,我們才會意識到,為什麼我們會在這鬼地方?要怎麼樣才可以離開這鬼地方去到極樂?
反過來,我們都應該感恩自己遇到的挫折,因為從這些苦中,我們才能生出智慧。
沒有一個八字是完美的。一切的失敗和不足,都是最美好的安排,如此你才會有出離心,返本歸源。
_______________________
3 months ago, when I received this email from my Taiwan client, there was this feeling of bittersweetness.
I was happy because this was the client I did a Zoom consultation last June. He sent me this email on the one-year anniversary date of our Zoom call, to express his gratitude. How sweet!
On the other hand, I could relate to the emotional turmoil he felt at that point in his life.
His experience was my past. It also took me a very long time to walk out from my gloominess.
Once, I analysed the Bazi of a very young lady. She was meticulously jotting down notes as I spoke.
Her detailed note-taking skills easily took the top place among my clients.
Halfway through, I noticed her right hand was trembling slightly. I thought it was due to the cold draft from the air conditioning, so I asked if she needed a shawl.
She replied that it was her anxiety disorder acting up.
“I was not fierce or strict with you. What caused your sudden anxiety?”
“I…ever since the pandemic disrupted my plans, I have been in this state of anxiety. I kept feeling useless. All my classmates are progressing expect me. I have nothing to show for and my life is in a mess. I am very anxious. What if I continue to be like this? What am I going to do?”
As she spoke, her eyes turned red and tears started rolling down like a broken strand of pearl necklace scattering onto the ground.
Oh dear! I am beginning to wonder if I have a tear-jerker face or a heart-tormenting voice. Why do my clients, regardless of gender and age, North South or East West, seem to cry easily when they see me?
I grabbed a piece of tissue and handed it to her.
“Ain’t I here already? You came to me for a roadmap and you are very lucky to see me so soon. Look at how precise and neat your notes are! Many of my clients aren’t even on par with you. My job today is to give you answers. If I didn’t have the confidence, I would not have taken up your request. Now that I did, that means there is still hope. If you follow my instructions, you will see things looking up very soon.”
On another occasion, a mother in her forties came to me for her son’s Bazi consultation.
As I was analysing, the mother nodded her head in agreement. The next thing I know, she started weeping loudly.
I turned to look at her husband, who had been silent all along. Did I say something wrong? And hello, your wife was crying. Why weren’t you gentleman enough to give her a tissue paper?
“I am a useless mother. I am incompetent. I do not know how to teach my son well. I love my son very much. But many times, I do not know what to do and thus I flare up at him and speak harshly. I always regret afterwards. I tried enduring but it still ends badly!”
I did not interrupt her and waited for her cries to soften, before speaking gently, “I’m here! I’m already sitting in front of you. You are looking at me now and that means help is here. You know that you are incompetent, so you went looking for solutions. That means you are willing to learn how to be a better mother!”
I handed a piece of tissue and said, “Don’t cry anymore, otherwise, other patrons will think that it’s because I refuse to lend you money.”
Since young, we have been using external possessions to define whether our lives are worth liking.
The family we are born into, our looks, health, body shape, intellect, talents, and then we move on to compare our academics, friendships, career, wealth, marriage and children.
If we are lacking in the area we covet most, we grade our lives as a failure.
I think this is the biggest problem in societal education. Our parents and teachers categorized us that way. Whether we as children are worthy of their love and bragging, depends on the few points above too.
Thus over time, we can only use the term “success” to determine whether we are of value, for some people, whether they should live on to take their next breath.
I very much prefer the definition in Buddhism. We are all Buddhas. Each and every sentient being in the six realms has a Buddha nature in them. But they got lost momentarily and fell into the endless wheel of reincarnation.
Yet, because of our Buddha nature, we have an unlimited source of potential. Every one of us has a very powerful strength inside us. It is just waiting for us to meet an accomplished teacher, so that we have the tools to explore and understand it:
And this strength that we are born with is the capital for us to transform and establish our own destiny.
If life is smooth-sailing, we would never want to leave and would mistake this mortal realm for Pureland. Thus, we all need sufferings, to realise that we should break out of this hell of a place. There has to be a better world somewhere. So how we get there?
We should, in fact, be grateful for all the setbacks and failures we have. Because it is from these sufferings, our wisdom arise:
No single Bazi is perfect. Every failure and lack we experience is the best arrangement for us, so that the heart of renunciation will arise in us and we will return to where we came from.
taiwan education problem 在 吳鳳Rifat Youtube 的評價
各國有自己的教育制度,有的算好,有的效率不夠好。這次問外國人他們覺得台灣的上課時間怎麼樣?其實很多答案很有意義,記得參考。
taiwan education problem 在 Taiwan's English Education System has a BIG Problem and I ... 的八卦
Taiwan's English Education System has a BIG Problem and I Have the Answer! ... 融入美國口說日常!和莫彩曦學英文慣用語募資期間優惠 ... ... <看更多>