爱国谚语两则 —— 浅谈爱国主义

谚语

• Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. - Samuel Johnson¹

爱国主义是流氓最后的避难所。

• Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.²

异议是最高形式的爱国。

解读

这两句话并不矛盾，因为它们描述的对象并不一致。

第一句话中的「爱国主义」，是恶棍口中的「爱国主义」，是虚无缥缈且不可信的，只是被当作犯下错误的挡箭牌。这句话既针对流氓，在我看来也针对政府官员。盲目爱国不可取，鼓吹盲目爱国也同样不可取。政府官员仅仅是替人民 (people) 代为行使并不独属于自己的权力。当他们为了自身利益或政党利益而违法乱纪时，拿「爱国主义」作为幌子鼓吹「民粹主义」是行不通的。

第二句话中的「爱国」，是公民 (citizen) 口中的「爱国」，是真挚的，而不囿于行政力量对于「爱国主义」的解读。理性的公民发出异议，出发点是希望国家能变得更好，基于对国家有所期望而不得的失落，不能依照「流氓」的定性一棍子打死。

谚语部分原文

1

Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apothegm, at which many will start: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self-interest. I maintained, that certainly all patriots were not scoundrels. Being urged (not by Johnson,) to name one exception, I mentioned an eminent person, whom we all greatly admired.

JOHNSON. “Sir, I do not say that he is not honest; but we have no reason to conclude from his political conduct that he is honest.”

2

If what your country is doing seems to you practically and morally wrong, is dissent the highest form of patriotism?