It is widely believed that the revelations by Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, have dented US moral hegemony. America will no longer be able to criticise states that subordinate civil liberties to reasons of state. But the muted domestic political response to the revelations threatens to damage US standing further. Genuine American patriots are left wondering whether the nation still has the critical vigilance to restore passion to its ideals.
人們普遍認(rèn)為，美國(guó)國(guó)家安全局(NSA)前合同工愛德華?斯諾登(Edward Snowden)的爆料打擊了美國(guó)的道德霸權(quán)。美國(guó)將不再有資格批評(píng)那些將公民自由置于國(guó)家利益之下的政府。但美國(guó)政界對(duì)斯諾登的爆料保持沉默，有可能使美國(guó)的處境進(jìn)一步惡化。美國(guó)真正的愛國(guó)者會(huì)疑惑：美國(guó)是否已喪失了一種關(guān)鍵的警覺意識(shí)、沒有意識(shí)到自己現(xiàn)在急需重新喚起民眾對(duì)理想的熱情？