文｜中華時報社長 曾曉輝
2026 年 7 月 4 日
歷史從來是最公正的審判官，盛世典禮照見治世初心，隆重紀念折射國家底色。二百五十年前，《美國獨立宣言》字字錚錚，以自由平等為旗、以制衡公義為綱，終結王權專斷，開啟近代立國範式。時至今日，美國迎來建國二百五十周年歷史節點，這場舉世矚目的國家盛典，本該凝聚全民共識、撫平社會分歧、傳承立國精神，卻徹底淪為政客個人造勢的獨角戲。法國《世界報》社論一針見血：這一莊嚴的公共國家紀念，已然蛻變為特朗普的個人慶典，赤裸裸暴露了當下美國社會難以彌合的深層撕裂、制度悖論，更與海外戰火、跨國喪禮形成極具諷刺的全球對照。
英國史學家阿克頓有句亙古警言：「權力趨於腐化，絕對的權力帶來絕對的腐化。」美國開國元勳華盛頓亦在告別演說中諄諄告誡國民：「黨派私慾是共和體制最大的隱患，執政者一旦挾公權謀私利，必將破壞國家團結、動搖立國根基。」百年箴言，照見今日美國內政與外交的雙重困局。為掌控歷史話語權、塑造個人執政光環，特朗普於 2025 年私自組建獨立的二百五十周年慶典籌備委員會，與 2016 年兩黨共組的官方權威機構分庭抗禮，執意篩選、「淨化」美國歷史叙事，只頌功績、回避缺憾。
真正的大國胸懷，從非執著於粉飾太平、美化歷史。哲人曾言：「一個民族的偉大，不在於擁有輝煌的過往，而在於擁有直面缺憾、自我革新的勇氣。」刻意割裂公共記憶、篡改全民歷史，將國家記憶淪為個人政治工具，不僅無法凝聚民心，更會持續放大社會對立，讓美國建國以來積澱的包容、制衡、共治精神逐漸消解。
縱觀整場周年慶典，私域綁定公器、私欲取代公義的悖象隨處可見。特朗普將個人八十歲壽辰與國家級紀念活動強行捆綁，在白宮南草坪搭建專業格鬥賽場，舉辦由其親信把控、牟利豐厚的商業綜合格鬥賽事，讓國家公共場域淪為個人商業與政治造勢的舞台；即便深陷對伊朗軍事打擊的國際輿論困境，他仍執意於 7 月 4 日獨立日發表長篇個人演講，執意藉立國盛典吹噓「讓美國再次偉大」的執政標榜。美國思想家愛默生曾說：「國家的尊嚴，藏在萬民的公意之中，而非一人的榮耀之上。」當國家盛典不再屬於全體國民，而是服務於政客的個人野心與政治選情，《獨立宣言》所倡導的公義、平等、全民共治，便淪為空洞的口號與偽飾的標籤。
這份虛偽的執政標榜，在大洋彼岸的中東土地上迎來最鋒利的戳破。回溯 2024 年總統競選期間，特朗普多次向選民鄭重承諾，若入主白宮將拒絕發動海外戰爭、避免美國捲入無休止的域外衝突，自詡為「阻止戰爭的領導人」。可僅僅上任數月，他便在 2 月 28 日聯合以色列發動跨境軍事襲擊，造成伊朗最高領袖哈梅內伊遇刺身亡，耗資近 290 億美元的軍事行動徹底撕碎競選諾言，事後他甚至公開改口，否認曾作出不開戰的承諾，前後矛盾的言行讓美國民眾與國際社會大失所望。
諷刺至極的是，當華盛頓鋪張鋪陳二百五十周年獨立歡慶、出動曾參與空襲伊朗的戰機飛越白宮上空炫耀武力之時，伊朗同步啟動為期整整一周、橫跨兩國五城的跨國國葬，與美國喜慶盛典形成悲喜對峙的強烈反差。按照伊朗官方公布的完整日程，悼念活動自 7 月 4 日正式啟幕，靈柩先後途經伊朗德黑蘭、庫姆、馬什哈德三座核心聖城，隨後跨境抵達伊拉克納杰夫、卡爾巴拉兩座全球什葉派精神聖地，全程連綿七日，官方預計將有數百萬乃至上千萬民眾自發走上街頭參與送葬，三十餘國政要、近百國宗教代表專程赴伊弔唁，規模為近代罕見。
這場橫跨兩國的盛大喪禮從非單純的宗教悼念，更是德黑蘭政權面向全球釋放的清晰外交訊息：縱使遭遇美國聯合以色列的致命軍事打擊，伊朗政權依舊穩固存續，全國民眾將永遠銘記遇刺領袖為國家韌性與抵抗精神的永恆象徵，向所有敵人昭示不屈的底線與團結的力量。一邊是美國借立國紀念大肆宣揚軍事霸權、吹噓單邊武力行動；一邊是數百萬民眾以肃穆國葬回應域外軍事暗殺，同一天、兩種截然不同的國家儀式，道盡特朗普外交失信、單邊動武釀下的地區裂痕，也讓其「和平執政」的口號顯得蒼白可笑。
輿論界將特朗普喻為政壇「破壞球」，恰是對其執政風格最精准的定義。自 2015 年涉足政壇以來，其施政向來橫衝直撞、顛覆規則，不斷衝擊美國百年構建的政治制衡體系、社會秩序與國際信譽。皮尤研究中心權威調查數據佐證現實：近年來美國全球形象持續崩塌，國際社會不再將其視為自由民主的燈塔，更不再認可其所謂的世界秩序維護者身份。極具諷刺的是，今日特朗普高調頌揚《獨立宣言》反對王權獨裁、抵制權力濫用的精神，美國最高法院卻在此時不斷擴張總統行政特權，突破憲法設定的行政、立法、司法三權制衡底線；與此同時，執政集團借權斂財、積聚巨額私富的黑幕接連曝光，對權力與財富無止境的貪欲，早已背離開國先賢建國立業的初心，足以讓華盛頓、傑斐遜等元勳為之愕然。
公共治理的荒謬，更在細節中展露無遺。面對席卷全球的氣候變化危機，全球各國皆積極應對、共謀減排，唯特朗普政府消極抵賴，持續打壓氣候科研、封鎖公共討論，無視全人類與本國民眾的生存權益。今年 7 月 4 日，美國首都華盛頓遭遇極端高溫酷暑，熾熱的天氣直觀戳破其否認氣候變化的荒謬謊言。與此同時，特朗普執意借立國紀念之名大興土木、打造政績工程，耗巨資改造首都核心區：超預算興建白宮超級宴會廳、投入 1310 萬美元翻新的林肯紀念堂倒影池剛竣工便出現設施損毀、藻類泛濫等質量問題，更執意推進美式凱旋門、二百五十座雕像英雄花園等爭議地標項目。諸多耗資龐大的公共工程深陷資金爭議、司法訴訟與輿論質疑，所謂的國家建設，終究只是政客想要青史留名的個人算計。
最為深刻的矛盾，在於其施政理念與《獨立宣言》立國精神的徹底背離，構成歷史性的黑色反諷。二百五十年前，北美先賢奮起反抗，痛斥英王剝削移民、壟斷貿易、無稅妄征的獨裁行徑，以平等自由為立國根本；而今，特朗普政府的諸多政策，盡數顛覆立國初心。其推出的限制落地公民權行政令，被美國最高法院以 5:4 裁定違憲，違背「人人生而平等」的核心信條；其以極端保守的移民政策為政治基石，動用軍事化執法力量大規模驅逐移民，與當年反抗排外專制的立國精神背道而馳；其強推的單邊關稅壁壘、貿易保護政策，隨意割裂全球經貿往來、肆意加征稅費，最終同樣被司法體系判定違憲。昔日先賢反抗的專制弊端，竟成為今日美國執政者的施政常態，歷史的諷刺，莫過於此。
私權獨大、公器失位的後果，便是社會徹底撕裂、民心逐漸離散。當黨派私利凌駕國家公義，當個人野心取代全民福祉，美國社會的兩極對立日趨激烈，年輕一代的國家認同感與歸屬感持續崩塌。皮尤民調顯示，美國青年普遍對國家未來持悲觀態度，預測未來政治對立只會愈發嚴重、社會環境愈發動盪；福克斯新聞民調更直指核心，三十歲以下年輕選民中，高達三成民眾直言不願留居本國，對這場包裝宏大、本質私化的國家盛典徹底冷漠、毫無認同。一代人的集體失望，正是一個國家精神撕裂、初心失守的最真實寫照。
愛默生曾感慨：「一個國家的偉大，不在宏偉的建築與盛大的典禮，而在於萬民同心、公道昭彰。」立國二百五十周年，是回望初心、彌合分歧、團結民心的歷史契機，而非政客個人造神、撈取政治資本的舞台。當國家紀念脫離公共屬性、公共資源淪為私人工具、立國精神被肆意曲解踐踏，競選承諾輕易撕毀、單邊戰火撕裂地區和平，再盛大的典禮、再華麗的工程，都無法掩蓋制度的裂痕、社會的對立、民心的離散與全球層面的道義虧損。
歲月流轉，初心為重；立國之本，在公不在私。二百五十年滄桑變遷，《獨立宣言》的平等、制衡、共治精神，從不是用來標榜門面的政治標語，而是支撐國家長治久安的根本基石。今日華盛頓的炙熱高溫，恰似美國社會積聚已久的對立躁動；同步於世的跨國國葬，則照見單邊霸權帶來的深遠對抗。若美國執政者始終執迷於個人政治算計，漠视歷史、違背初心、背棄競選諾言、撕裂民心、濫用武力，執意將國家公器淪為私權玩物，那麼所謂的「美國偉大」，終將只是一場虛幻短暫的政治幻夢。
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Private Power Overriding Public Good, Grand Ceremony Tearing National Soul
By Zeng Xiaohui, President of China Times
July 4, 2026
History is the fairest judge. Grand national ceremonies reflect the original aspiration of governance, and solemn commemorations reveal the fundamental essence of a nation. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the United States Declaration of Independence was written with resolute convictions, upholding freedom and equality, advocating checks and balances and justice, ending monarchical autocracy, and pioneering a modern model of nation-building. Today, as the United States marks its 250th founding anniversary, this globally anticipated national ceremony should have united public consensus, healed social divisions, and inherited the founding spirit. Instead, it has completely degenerated into a one-man political show staged by politicians. As pointed out in a stern editorial by France’s Le Monde, this solemn public national commemoration has turned into a personal celebration for Donald Trump, laying bare the irreconcilable deep-seated rifts and institutional paradoxes in contemporary American society, alongside a stark ironic global contrast with overseas warfare and cross-border state funerals.British historian Lord Acton left an eternal warning: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” George Washington, the founding father of the United States, also cautioned his nation in his Farewell Address: “Factional selfishness is the greatest hidden danger to the republican system. Once rulers wield public power for private gain, they will destroy national unity and shake the foundation of the country.” Centennial maxims perfectly mirror America’s dual predicament in domestic governance and foreign affairs today. To dominate historical discourse and polish his personal governing aura, Trump privately established an independent 250th Anniversary Celebration Preparatory Committee in 2025, rivaling the official authoritative bipartisan committee founded in 2016. He insists on screening and purifying American historical narratives, glorifying only achievements while ignoring national flaws.The mind of a great nation never lies in whitewashing peace and beautifying history. As a philosopher once said: “The greatness of a nation lies not in its glorious past, but in its courage to face deficiencies and pursue self-renewal.” Deliberately splitting public memory, distorting national history, and reducing collective memory to a tool for personal politics can never unite the people. On the contrary, it continuously amplifies social confrontation and erodes the inclusive, balanced and co-governance spirit accumulated throughout America’s founding history.Throughout the anniversary celebrations, paradoxes of private interests overriding public welfare can be seen everywhere. Trump tied his 80th birthday closely to national commemorative events, building a professional arena on the South Lawn of the White House to host profitable commercial MMA competitions controlled by his close associates, turning national public spaces into a stage for personal commercial and political promotion. Even trapped in international public opinion dilemmas caused by military strikes on Iran, he insisted on delivering a lengthy personal speech on Independence Day, boasting his political slogan of “Make America Great Again” against the backdrop of the national founding ceremony. American thinker Ralph Waldo Emerson stated: “The dignity of a nation resides in the public will of all people, not the glory of one individual.” When a national celebration no longer belongs to all citizens but serves a politician’s personal ambition and electoral interests, the justice, equality and universal governance advocated by the Declaration of Independence are reduced to empty slogans and false labels.This hollow governing rhetoric is sharply debunked in the Middle East across the ocean. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to voters that if he took office, he would refuse to launch overseas wars and spare the United States from endless foreign conflicts, styling himself a “leader who stops wars”. Yet mere months after assuming power, he launched a cross-border military raid alongside Israel on February 28, resulting in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The military operation costing nearly 29 billion US dollars completely shattered his campaign promises. Afterwards, he even publicly retracted his words, denying he had ever vowed to avoid war. This blatant contradiction disappointed the American public and the international community alike.The irony reaches its peak: while Washington stages lavish 250th Independence Day festivities, dispatching warplanes that participated in the Iran airstrikes to fly over the White House to flaunt military might, Iran simultaneously launches a week-long cross-border state funeral spanning two countries and five cities, forming a stark emotional counterpoint of joy and mourning with America’s celebratory gala. According to Iran’s official full schedule, mourning activities officially kick off on July 4. The leader’s bier will travel through three core holy cities in Iran: Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, before crossing the border to reach Najaf and Karbala, the two global spiritual shrines of Shia Islam in Iraq. The seven-day procession is expected to draw millions upon millions of spontaneous mourners to the streets; more than thirty countries have sent senior officials, and religious representatives from nearly one hundred nations have traveled to Iran to pay their respects, on a scale rarely seen in modern history.This grand cross-border funeral is far more than a religious tribute; it delivers a clear diplomatic message from Tehran to the entire world: despite a fatal military strike jointly carried out by the United States and Israel, Iran’s regime remains firmly intact. Its people will forever remember the slain leader as an eternal symbol of national resilience and resistance, sending a signal of unyielding unity to all adversaries. On one side, the United States leverages its founding commemoration to aggressively showcase military hegemony and boast about unilateral armed operations; on the other, millions of mourners respond to the cross-border political assassination with a solemn state funeral. Two entirely distinct national ceremonies unfold on the same day, laying bare the regional rifts sown by Trump’s broken foreign policy pledges and unilateral military adventurism, rendering his slogan of “peaceful governance” utterly hollow.Public opinion aptly describes Trump as a political “wrecking ball”, a precise definition of his governing style. Since entering politics in 2015, his policies have been reckless and rule-breaking, constantly impacting America’s century-old political checks-and-balances system, social order and international reputation. Authoritative surveys by the Pew Research Center confirm the reality: America’s global image has continued to collapse in recent years. The international community no longer regards it as a beacon of liberal democracy, nor recognizes its self-proclaimed identity as a guardian of world order. Ironically, while Trump highly praises the Declaration of Independence’s spirit of opposing monarchical dictatorship and power abuse, the U.S. Supreme Court has continuously expanded presidential administrative privileges, breaking the constitutional bottom line of checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Meanwhile, scandals of the ruling group amassing huge private wealth through power have been exposed one after another. Their insatiable greed for power and wealth has deviated completely from the original aspirations of the founding fathers, astonishing visionaries such as Washington and Jefferson.The absurdity of public governance is fully revealed in trivial details. Faced with the global climate change crisis, countries worldwide are actively responding and cooperating in emission reduction efforts. In contrast, the Trump administration denies climate change passively, continuously suppressing climate research and blocking public discussions, ignoring the survival rights of humanity and its own people. On July 4 this year, Washington D.C. suffered from extreme high temperatures, vividly exposing the absurd lies of its climate denial policies. At the same time, Trump insists on launching large-scale construction projects for political achievements in the name of national commemoration. He has promoted massive renovations of core capital areas, including an over-budget super banquet hall in the White House. The $13.1 million renovated Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial suffered facility damage and algae outbreaks shortly after completion. He also pushes forward controversial landmarks such as an American-style Arc de Triomphe and a national hero garden with 250 statues. These costly public projects are mired in funding disputes, judicial lawsuits and public doubts. The so-called national construction is ultimately nothing but a politician’s personal calculation for eternal fame.The most profound contradiction lies in the complete deviation of his governing philosophy from the founding spirit of the Declaration of Independence, forming a historic dark irony. Two hundred and fifty years ago, North American pioneers rose up to resist, denouncing the British monarchy for exploiting immigrants, monopolizing trade and imposing arbitrary taxes, establishing equality and freedom as the foundation of the nation. Today, however, most policies of the Trump administration subvert the founding aspirations entirely. His executive order restricting birthright citizenship was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote, violating the core tenet that “all men are created equal”. Taking extreme conservative immigration policies as his political cornerstone, he deploys militarized law enforcement forces to expel immigrants on a large scale, running counter to the anti-autocratic and inclusive founding spirit. His unilateral tariff barriers and trade protection policies arbitrarily sever global economic and trade connections and impose reckless taxes, and were finally judged unconstitutional by the judicial system. The autocratic drawbacks resisted by ancient pioneers have become the normal governance practices of today’s American rulers — no irony is more profound than this.The dominance of private power and the loss of public welfare have led to thorough social division and declining public support. When partisan selfishness overrides national justice and personal ambition replaces public well-being, political polarization in America has intensified day by day, and young people’s national identity and sense of belonging have collapsed continuously. Pew polls show that American youth are generally pessimistic about the country’s future, predicting increasingly severe political confrontation and social unrest. Fox News polls further point out the core problem: up to 30% of voters under 30 explicitly refuse to stay in the United States, remaining completely indifferent and unrecognized toward this grand yet privately controlled national celebration. The collective disappointment of a generation is the truest portrayal of a nation’s spiritual division and lost founding aspiration.Emerson once remarked: “The greatness of a nation consists not in stately buildings and splendid ceremonies, but in the unity of its people and the prevalence of justice.” The 250th founding anniversary is a historical opportunity to revisit original aspirations, bridge divisions and unite the people, rather than a stage for politicians to deify themselves and accumulate political capital. When national commemoration loses its public attributes, public resources are reduced to private tools, the founding spirit is arbitrarily misinterpreted and trampled upon, campaign promises are casually broken, and unilateral wars tear regional peace apart, no grand ceremonies or magnificent projects can cover up institutional rifts, social confrontation, public alienation and moral deficits on the global stage.Time changes, yet original aspirations endure; the foundation of nation-building lies in public justice rather than private interests. After 250 years of vicissitudes, the spirit of equality, checks and balances and co-governance in the Declaration of Independence has never been a political slogan for superficial display, but the fundamental cornerstone of long-term national stability and prosperity. The extreme heat sweeping Washington today symbolizes the accumulated confrontation and restlessness of American society; the concurrent cross-border state funeral halfway across the globe lays bare the profound antagonism spawned by unilateral hegemony. If American rulers remain obsessed with personal political calculations, ignore history, betray founding ideals, renege on campaign pledges, split public opinion and abuse military force, insisting on turning national public power into a plaything of private interests, the so-called “Greatness of America” will ultimately be nothing but a fleeting and illusory political dream.
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