The Pure Wedding of a Former American Princess

Published in Zaobao
(Singapore) on 1 August 2010
by Qi Xiniao (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Michelle Deeter. Edited by Diana Baik.
American society is one that Chinese people do not understand.

When the children of high-level management in Chinese companies get married, the managers' superiors are usually invited to attend. It is seen as a great honor if the superiors attend the wedding. Moreover, it is expected that parents have the power to invite some of the guests.

On July 31, Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former United States President Bill Clinton, was married, and a grand ceremony was held. There were hundreds of guests, and, in order to protect the former president, the government designated the location of the wedding as a no-fly zone.

Former President Clinton has felt less pressure since he has been out of office and did not feel the need to request current President Barack Obama's presence; thus, he did not invite him.

Chelsea Clinton, the bride, is part of a generation younger than Obama, and naturally did not think of inviting Obama.

Chelsea's mother, Hillary Clinton, the current Secretary of State, and Obama's valuable aide, was in a more awkward position. Hillary is an important official in Obama's administration, and she probably gave Obama's invitation a lot of thought.

According to etiquette, due to the fact that she works directly below Obama, she should have invited him to the wedding. According to a vulgar worldview, it should be a great honor for the American president to attend Chelsea's wedding.

After the wedding plans were revealed, many international media outlets guessed that Obama would attend Chelsea's wedding.

On July 31, a surprising thing happened. Obama was suddenly unable to attend Chelsea's wedding.

According to media reports, Chelsea is 30 years old this year, and last year she was engaged to Marc Mezvinsky, a 32-year-old investment banker. The wedding was held on the evening of July 31. On July 29, Obama confirmed on the television talk show “The View” that he did not receive an invitation to Chelsea's wedding.

This is just brutal.

Furthermore, Obama was not upset, saying, “I was not invited to the wedding because I think Hillary and Bill, properly, want to keep this thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband.” Obama even indicated that he would do the same thing for his daughters’ weddings.

Who was the person who did not invite Obama? Bill and Hillary Clinton most likely did not make that decision. The answer is clear. It was Chelsea who decided not to invite Obama.

This means that the status of Hillary and Bill Clinton is extremely high and that they hold their daughter’s decision in high esteem. This embodies the American spirit of equality, even between parents and children. The fact that Hillary went so far as to go along with Chelsea's plans, and calmly did not invite her Obama, her superior, attests to the high level of equality between individuals in America.

Obama did not feel that his reputation was injured and told his country publicly on television that he did not receive an invitation, displaying his likability.

The fact that Obama did not receive a wedding invitation from the daughter of his top assistant makes it clear that interpersonal relationships in the United States are relatively relaxed, unlike in Asian societies, where people have to carry too many social burdens. I am afraid that this is one of the reasons for which America holds contempt for the rest of the world and also why the United States is ahead of the world in every measure of competitiveness.


美国是个让中国人看不懂的社会。

  中国职场高阶主管的子女结婚,一般会主动邀请自己的上级莅临。如果上级能够光临捧场,则被视为重大荣耀。婚姻当中的嘉宾,父母应该有权力邀请其中一部分。

  7月31日,美国前总统克林顿的千金结婚,举行盛大婚礼,参与的嘉宾数以百计,美国政府为了保护前总统的安全,将切尔西的婚礼举办地列为禁飞区。

  前总统克林顿因为无官一身轻,没必要看奥巴马的脸色行事,自然没必要主动邀请奥巴马。

  婚礼的女主角切尔西,跟奥巴马不是一代人,自然也没有邀请奥巴马的想法。

  比较尴尬的角色是切尔西的母亲,美国现任国务卿,奥巴马总统的左右手,希拉里。希拉里作为奥巴马政府的重要官员,在是否邀请奥巴马总统参与女儿婚礼上,应该是颇废了一番心思。

  作为奥巴马的直接重量级下属,希拉里从礼节上,应该主动邀请奥巴马总统参与婚礼;按照某种庸俗的世界观,如果美国总统能够参加切尔西的婚礼,将是切尔西本人以及克林顿家族的巨大荣耀。

  婚礼计划曝光以后,国际媒体多猜测奥巴马会出席切尔西的婚礼。

  今天,也就是7月31日,让人惊讶的事情发生了。奥巴马总统竟然无法参加克林顿女儿的婚礼。

  据媒体报道:

  “切尔西现年30岁,去年与马克·梅兹文斯基订婚。梅兹文斯基现年32岁,是投资银行家。两人的婚礼定于31日晚间举行。奥巴马29日参加美国广播公司日间访谈节目《视点》时证实,他没有获邀参加切尔西的婚礼。”

  这实在太酷了。

  而奥巴马也没有懊恼的感觉,他说,我没有获得邀请,我想,这可能是因为希拉里和比尔希望确保婚礼主角是切尔西和她的新郎。”奥巴马甚至表示,等他嫁女时,也将这么做。

  不邀请奥巴马总统的决定是谁做出的?克林顿和希拉里应该不至于。答案很明显,是切尔西决定不邀请奥巴马。

  这说明希拉里和克林顿地位再高,也高度尊重女儿的决定。这体现了美国人父母与子女高度平等的精神。

  而希拉里竟然听从女儿切尔西的安排,坦然不邀请自己的上司奥巴马,也说明了美国人在人格精神上的高度平等。

  奥巴马总统丝毫不感到面子被损,在电视台上公开向全美国人宣称自己未获邀请,也显示了奥巴马的可爱。

  美国总统未获下属女儿婚礼邀请的事实说明,美国人与人之间的关系相对轻松,不会像东方社会那样需要承担太大的人情负担,这恐怕是美国各方面竞争力傲世全球的原因之一吧!
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