觀讀聽 29/6/08

電影只看了《哭泣的駱駝》（The Story of the Weeping Camel）(7/10)，倒是看了不少Wimbledon賽事和歐洲國家杯精華。這是我近三十年來首屆沒有收看任何一場歐洲國家杯直播賽事。不過，明天早上還是會看德國對西班牙的決賽直播。

書讀了Andrew Kohut和Bruce Stokes合著的《America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked》，還有郭伯南的《飯後茶餘談文化：賞心樂事》。

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Andrew Kohut, Bruce Stokes 《America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked》:

The authors examine how America and the Americans are different (American exceptionalism), and why they are disliked (anti-Americanism), based on survey results from the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project over the years.

Here I quote the last two paragraphs from the book:

"In the end, American exceptionalism, all that it is and all that it isn't, is what shapes attitutes toward the United States around the world. Much of what fuels current anti-American sentiment around the world - perceptions of American nationalism and religiosity - is misinformed. A better understanding of the American people could change that. Many American attitudes that frustrate foreigners, particularly a propensity to act unilaterally, are dependent on the times and leadership. They too can change. But much of what makes Americans distinctive - their individualism - will not change.

Thus, in conclusion, American exceptionalism and anti-Americanism are inextricably related. And if Americans are to find some modus vivendi with their critics, both the world and Americans will have to adapt."