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美國建國歷史不久，政治頗開明，遵行民主制度，選舉有才德者為領袖，不愧為泱泱大國。不過，智者千慮，必有一失。況且民主國家，非每人皆有智慧，其失當在所難免也。甘迺迪總統受教育於哈佛大學，為突出人物。惜勇有餘，而謀不足。如古巴事件，欲以武力解決，嚇退蘇聯潛置火箭，連夜撤走。美古戰爭，遂告平息。但馭下不謹，行動情報外演，遂導致被刺。含恨黃泉。彼如明行避人之原則，臨無此失矣！
註解：
現在評論甘迺迪總統。這位總統是美國很年輕的總統，所謂「少年得志」。美國這國家也很年輕，所以說「美國建國歷史不久，政治頗開明」：它的政治很開明，很合一般老百姓的口味。「遵行民主制度」：什麼事情都取決於老百姓。「選舉有才德者為領袖」：他們選舉有能力的，不負眾望的人來作他們的領袖。「不愧為泱泱大國」：這個國度是很文明的泱泱大國，很令世界人佩服。
「不過」，雖然說是這麼好，但是「智者千慮，必有一失」。有智慧的人想得太多；想多就叫千慮，想得很週到的。可是，太多了也會有漏洞，也會有想不到的，就失敗了。「況且民主國家，非每人皆有智慧」：講民主的國家，老百姓不是每一個人都有智慧，都聰明。老百姓有很多愚癡的，什麼事情都不懂。隨幫唱影，人云亦云；人家怎麼樣他就怎麼樣，所以同流合污這種人，也不管什麼的。「其失當在所難免也」：做得不對的地方也很多，不能避免的。
甘迺迪總統受教育在哈佛大學。據我所知道，在和甘迺迪當時同學的這一般青年，都是一些個走極端的份子，都是想要「出乎其類，拔乎其萃」、「急功好利」的。他就沒有深謀遠慮，沒有「知己知彼」的這種思想。甘迺迪是在哈佛大學讀「政府與國際關係」，和一些個關於新聞的這種課。他當時在大學裏頭也就很出風頭，很突出的，樣樣都要做人的領袖。在學校裏他也是佼佼者，可是很可惜，他的勇氣很夠，也很活動，很活潑，但是缺少「知己知彼」的能力。
那時候，尼克森為他的競選總統的對手。本來艾森豪宣佈不競選了，副總統尼克森來和他競選。可是艾森豪沒注意著，也沒有預先給尼克森加一點汽油，加一點力量，以為副總統和一個有錢的子弟來競選，一定會選到總統，不會失敗。可是這個很民主的甘迺迪，要和尼克森在電視上來辯論。艾森豪一見甘迺迪在電視上的這種活潑天真，很有創造性的態度，就大驚，說想不到他這麼樣子活潑。這樣甘迺迪把這個尼克森給辯論輸了，於是乎就當選了總統。
當選總統之後，那時候蘇聯偷偷地把核子武器和火箭之類放到古巳那裏去，預備偷偷地進攻美國，可是美國那時候也消息很靈通。甘迺迪就下定決心要和古巴開戰，一定要逼蘇聯把這個核子武器撤退了；如果不撤退就開戰，軍隊預備好了，枕戈待旦想要進攻去。赫魯雪夫當時一看，這個美國真是認真和他打上來。那個時候蘇聯核子武器還贏不了美國，所以就把所有的核子武器都給撤退了。由這一點證明甘迺迪當機立斷，還有點勇氣，有點判斷力。
可是他「謀不足」：雖然他把蘇聯偷著放的這些武器給嚇退走了，把蘇聯狂妄的行為給嚇怕了，連夜把武器也給撤退了，古巴和美國的這個戰爭也沒有了，可是他「馭下不謹」：他下邊人處理事情不夠謹慎。本來他的行動不應該老早就叫人知道，因為他不知道這種的方法，所以他的行動秘密早洩漏了；消息洩漏了，所以導致被刺。因為他不知道「明哲保身」，不知道「防微杜漸」，不知道「害人之心不可有；防人之心不可無」這種的哲學。
甘迺迪總統
President John F. Kennedy |
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古來孟子、孔子都說你這個人真正要為老百姓謀幸福的話，你就是一舉一動都不需要叫人知道，你可以行「避人」，避免叫人家先先知道你的消息「可也」，這也可以的。這因為如果你有什麼意外，對老百姓會不利。他就不懂得這些，這叫「謀不足」，他的智謀不夠。他要明白「明哲保身」，「謹慎行動」這種的智慧；不是怕，就是不要那麼樣什麼也不顧忌，他就「諒無此失矣」。諒就是大約，我度量這麼想，就沒有失敗的這個事情發生了。
待續
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Essay:
America is a young country, and its national policy has always been open and democratic. Those endowed with ability and virtue are elected as its leaders, and so it rightly deserves to be called a great country. However, it's said that although a sagacious person might entertain a thousand deliberations, he's certain to make one mistake. Besides, it's not the case that everyone in a democratic country is endowed with wisdom! Therefore, occasional mistakes are unavoidable.
President Kennedy received his education at Harvard University, and was hailed as an outstanding young person. However, it was a shame that although he was bold and daring, he lacked foresight and prudence. An example of such faults can be seen during the Cuban Crisis, which he tried to settle through military confrontation. The Soviet Union had secretly installed missiles in Cuba, but President Kennedy managed to intimidate his opponent into withdrawing his arms overnight. Thus, the Cuban-American crisis came to a rest. However, in matters of government policy, the President did not exercise enough caution. News of his activities leaked out, resulting in his assassination, and so he died resentfully. If he had understood the art of avoiding over-exposure, he probably would have escaped such a mishap.
Commentary:
Among all the American presidents, John F. Kennedy was one of the youngest. He enjoyed huge success even at a very young age.
America is a young country. Its history is very short,
and its national policy has always been relatively
open and fair, adopting a democratic system. It accords with the aspirations of its people. The government is democratic in nature, and the policy is decided by the citizens.
Those endowed with ability and virtue are elected as leaders. Those who are able, who win the people's admiration, are chosen to be the country's leaders,
and so it rightly deserves to be called a great country. The policy of this country is very civilized, and rightly deserves the respect and praise of all those in the world.
However, it's said that although a sagacious person might entertain a thousand deliberations, he's certain to make one mistake. Although this nation's system has admirable qualities, no one is infallible. It's said that even a very wise person who takes into account all aspects of matters sometimes over-reaches himself and misses certain points. One will even suffer defeat at times.
Besides, it's not the case that everyone in a democratic country is endowed with wisdom. Not everyone in the United States is intelligent and wise. In fact, many of its citizens are quite stupid and ignorant. They go along with the crowd and repeat what others say. Many of them roll with the tide and get involved with corruption.
And therefore, occasional mistakes are unavoidable. That being the case, it's hard to avoid occasional errors.
President Kennedy received his education at Harvard University. As far as I know, many of his schoolmates were extremists. These young people wanted to be outstanding and surpass their peers. They were eager to be successful and were fond of immediate advantage. They lacked far-sightedness and discretion. They did not truly recognize their own position or the position of others. President Kennedy majored in government and International Relations and attended journalism courses at Harvard. He distinguished himself in many aspects, striving to be the leader in his circle. He was tops.
However, it was a shame that although he was bold and daring, he lacked foresight and prudence. He had plenty of courage and audacity, and he was very active. Nixon was his opponent during the presidential elections. After President Eisenhower announced he was not going to run for the presidency, he endorsed Vice-President Nixon as the Republican candidate. However, he did not put in any muscle to help him out, to give Nixon a boost. Basically, in a race between an acting Vice-President and a rich man's son, the Vice-President has very good chances of winning. Nixon should not have lost. Because of the democratic nature of America's policy, Kennedy asked for a public debate with Nixon to be broadcast on television. When Eisenhower saw Kennedy's lively, vibrant and creative style on television, he was taken by surprise. He exclaimed, "I didn't know that he had so much flair and vivacity!" The result of that debate was that Nixon lost, and thereupon Kennedy was elected president.
An example of this fault—the flaw in Kennedy's character—can be seen in the Cuban Crisis, which he tried to settle through military confrontation. The Soviet Union had secretly installed missiles in Cuba. Russia had secretly shipped nuclear arms and missiles to Cuba, planning to launch a surprise attack on America. However, America got the news pretty quickly, and Kennedy was determined to open fire on Cuba. This forced Russia to recall all of her nuclear arms. Otherwise, America was going to open fire on Cuba. United States military forces were prepared to go to war at any moment. Khrushchev saw that the United States was serious about fighting. At that time, Russian nuclear arms were probably not as sophisticated as those of the United States; therefore Khrushchev ordered the withdrawal of all of his nuclear weapons. This was proof that Kennedy was able to make quick decisions in the face of a crisis, that he had daring and the power of judgment.
President Kennedy managed to intimidate his opponent—Khrushchev—into withdrawing his arms overnight. Thus, the Cuban-American crisis came to a rest. That put an end to the possibility of a Cuban-American war.
However, in matters of government policy, the President did not exercise enough caution. He was not careful enough. Basically he should never have let others know of his comings and goings ahead of time.
News of his activities leaked out, resulting in his assassination. He did not know how to be "wise and prudent, so as to protect himself," how to nip trouble in the bud. Basically, it's said that although you should never entertain thoughts of harming others, on the other hand you must take precautions to protect yourself. He did not understand this kind of philosophy,
and so he died resentfully. He was assassinated.
If he had understood the art of avoiding over-exposure. The ancients, such as Confucius and Mencius, remarked that if you are truly dedicated to serving the people, then you should not draw attention to yourself. You should avoid over-exposure. Don't let others know too much about your comings and goings, and then it will be okay. It will be okay because in such a case, one is dedicated to serving the citizens. If a leader ran into some kind of calamity, it would be to the disadvantage of the nation and its entire populace. Kennedy's shortcoming was with his lack of foresight and prudence. If he had known to be wise and cautious and to protect himself—this doesn't mean he had to be afraid—if he hadn't been so uninhibited, knowing no restraint,
he probably would have escaped such a mishap.
"Probably" means that it is my guess that such an accident
would not have happened.
To be continued |
