the.world.is.flat-第123章
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in that direction。 I think my friend David Rothkopf； the former Commerce Department
official and now a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace； said
it best： 〃The answer for us lies not in what has changed； but in recognizing what
has not changed。 Because only through this recognition will we begin to focus on the
truly critical issues…an effective multilateral response to weapons of mass
destruction proliferation； the creation of real stakeholders in globalization among
the world's poor； the need for reform in the Arab world and a style of U。S。 leadership
that seeks to build our base of support worldwide by getting more people to voluntarily
sign onto our values。 We need to remember that those values are the real foundation
for our security and the real source of our strength。 And we need to recognize that
our enemies can never defeat us。 Only we can defeat ourselves； by throwing out the
rule book that has worked for us for a long； long time。〃
I believe that history will make very clear that President Bush shame
lessly exploited the emotions around 9/11 for political purposes。 He used those 9/11
emotions to take a far…right Republican domestic agenda on taxes； the environment；
and social issues from 9/10…an agenda for which he had no popular mandate…and drive
it into a 9/12 world。 In doing so； Mr。Bush not only drove a wedge between Americans；
and between Americans and the world； he drove a wedge between America and its own
history and identity。 His administration transformed the United States into 〃the
United States of Fighting Terrorism。〃 This is the real reason； in my view； that so
many people in the world dislike President Bush so intensely。 They feel that he has
taken away something very dear to them…an America that exports hope； not fear。
We need our president to restore September 11 to its rightful place on the calendar…as
the day after September 10 and before September 12。 We must never let it become a
day that defines us。 Because ultimately September 11 is about them…the bad guys…not
about us。
We're about the Fourth of July。 We're about 11/9。
Beyond trying to retain the best of our own imaginations； what else can we do as
Americans and as a global society to try to nurture the same in others？ One has to
approach this question with great humility。 What leads one person to the joy of
destruction and what leads another to the joy of creation； what leads one to imagine
11/9 and another to imagine 9/11； is surely one of the great mysteries of contemporary
life。 Moreover； while most of us might have some clue about how to nurture a more
positive imagination for our own kids； and maybe…maybe…for our fellow citizens； it
is presumptuous to think that we can do it for others； particularly those of a
different culture； speaking different languages； and living half a world away。 Yet
9/11； the flattening of the world； and the continuing threat of world…disrupting
terrorism suggest that not thinking about this is its own kind of dangerous naivete。
So I insist on trying to do so； but I approach this issue with a keen awareness of
the limits of what any outsider can know or do。
Generally speaking； imagination is the product of two shaping forces。 One is the
narratives that people are nurtured on…the stories and myths
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they and their religious and national leaders tell themselves…and how those
narratives feed their imaginations one way or another。 The other is the context in
which people grow up； which has a huge impact on shaping how they see the world and
others。 Outsiders cannot get inside and adjust the Mexican or Arab or Chinese
narrative any more than they can get inside the American one。 Only they can reinterpret
their narrative； make it more tolerant or forward looking； and adapt it to modernity。
No one can do thatfor them or even with them。 But one can think about how to collaborate
with others to change their context…the context within which people grow up and live
their daily lives…to help nurture more people with the imagination of 11/9 than 9/11。
Let me offer a few examples。
eBay
Meg Whitman； the CEO of eBay； once told me a wonderful story that went like this：
〃We took eBay public in September 1998； in the middle of the dot…com boom。 And in
September and October our stock would go up eighty points and down fifty in a single
day。 I thought； 'This is insane。' Anyway； one day I am minding my own business； sitting
in my own cubicle； and my secretary runs over and says to me； 'Meg； it's Arthur Levitt
＇chairman＇ of the SEC on the phone。'〃 The Securities and Exchange Commission oversees
the stock market and is always concerned about issues of volatility in a stock and
whether there is manipulation behind it。 In those days； for a CEO to hear that 〃Arthur
Levitt is on the line〃 was not a good way to start the day。
〃So I called my general counsel；〃 said Whitman； 〃who came over from his cubicle； and
he was white like a sheet。 We called Levitt back together and we put him on the
speakerphone； and I said； 'Hi； it's Meg Whitman of eBay。' And he said； 'Hi； it's Arthur
Levitt of the SEC。 I don't know you and have never met you but I know that you just
went public and I want to know： How did it go？ Were we ＇the SEC＇ customer…friendly？'
And so we breathed a sigh of relief； and we talked about that a
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little bit。 And then ＇Levitt＇ said； 'Well； actually； another reason that I am calling
is that I just got my tenth positive feedback on eBay and have earned my yellow star。
And I am so proud。' And then he said； 'I am actually a collector of Depression…era
glass； post…1929； and so I have bought and sold on eBay and you get feedback as a
buyer and seller。 And I thought you would just like to know。'〃
Every eBay user has a feedback profile made up of comments from other eBay users who
have done transactions with him or her； relating to whether the goods bought or sold
were asexpected and the transaction went off smoothly。 This constitutes your official
〃eBay reputation。〃 You get ＋1 point for each positive comment； 0 points for each
neutral comment； and …1 for each negative comment。 A colored star icon is attached
to your user ID on eBay for ten or more feedback points。 My user ID on eBay might
be TOMF （50） and a blue star； which means that I have received positive feedback
comments from fifty other eBay users。 Next to that is a box that will tell you whether
the seller has had 100 percent positive feedback comments or less； and also give you
the chance to click and read all the buyers' comments about that seller。
The point； said Whitman； is that 〃I think every human being； Arthur Levitt or the
janitor or the waitress or the doctor or the professor； needs and craves validation
and positive feedback。〃 And the big misconception is to think that it has to be money。
〃It can be really small things；〃 said Whitman； 〃telling someone； 'You did a really
great job； you were recognized as doing a great history paper。' Our users say to us
＇about eBay's star system＇； 'Where else can you wake up in the morning and see how
much people like you？'〃
But what is so striking； said Whitman； is that the overwhelming majority of feedback
on eBay is positive。 That's interesting。 People don't usually write Wal…Mart managers
to compliment them on a fabulous purchase。 But when you are part of a community that
you feel ownership in； it is different。 You have a stake。 〃The highest number of
feedback we have is well over 250；000 positive comments； and you can see each one；〃
said Whitman。 〃You can see the entire history of each buyer and seller； and we have
introduced the ability to rebut。 。 。 You cannot be anony
mous on eBay。 If you are not willing to say who you are； you should not be saying
it。 And it became the norm of the community really fast。 。 。 We are not running an
exchange…we are running a community。〃 Indeed； with 105 million registered users from
190 countries trading more than 35 billion in products annually； eBay is actually
a self…governing nation…state…the V。R。e。； the Virtual Republic of eBay。
And how is itgoverned？ EBay's philosophy
