Would it be possible, an envious(嫉妒的) Europe sometimes wonders, for it to have its own version of Silicon Valley—but without the messianic robber barons(弥赛亚式强盗大亨) who confuse money with moral authority(混淆金钱与道德权威)? Could a way be found to transplant to the east side of the Atlantic the indomitable frontier spirit(不屈不挠的边疆精神) that drives America, sans(没有，不带) its cowboy individualism(牛仔个人主义) and hostility to government? Might Europeans one day be able to build up military capabilities to match the awesome might of their western partner, while sidestepping(避开，规避) its irrepressible habit(难以抑制的习惯) of getting bogged down in bloody misadventures in far-flung corners(遥远的角落) of Asia?
有时候，满怀嫉妒的欧洲会暗自思忖：自己能否也拥有一个硅谷，但不要那些将金钱与道德权威混为一谈的弥赛亚式强盗大亨？能否将驱动着美国的那股不屈不挠的边疆精神移植到大西洋东岸，而不附带其牛仔个人主义和反政府倾向？欧洲人是否有朝一日能建立起堪与西方伙伴强大军力匹敌的军事能力，同时避开其那种总是陷入亚洲遥远角落血腥冒险的难以抑制的习性？
As Europe ponders the 250th birthday of its prodigal child(浪子回头般的子女), it is racked(折磨，使痛苦) by questions. What was the secret that made a success out of this unpromising venture(无前途的事业), a republic founded by the old world’s religious oddballs(宗教怪人), then populated by its destitute(赤贫的，穷困的) farmers and the refugees from its wars? It would be absurd not to look for lessons from such a winning historical experiment. And yet. Plenty, especially on the European left, treat America as a cautionary tale(警示故事), a land of savage inequalities(野蛮的不平等) where police are unfailingly(总是，不例外地) brutal and racial fault-lines(种族裂痕) unbridgeable. If you can’t beat 'em, such Europeans think, sneer at 'em. Yes, America succeeds, they grudgingly(勉强地，不情愿地) concede, but at a cost we would never impose on ourselves.
当欧洲思忖着这个浪子回头般的孩子迎来250岁生日时，种种问题折磨着它。是什么秘密让这个本无前途的事业走向成功——一个由旧世界的宗教怪人创立，继而由其贫困农民和战争难民居住的共和国？不从这个成功的实验（胜利的历史实验）中汲取教训将是荒谬的。然而。很多人，尤其是欧洲左翼，将美国视为一个警示故事：一片野蛮不平等的土地，警察残暴成性，种族裂痕无法弥合。打不败他们，就嘲笑他们——这是某些欧洲人的想法。是的，美国成功了，他们勉强承认，但代价是我们永远不会施加于自身的。
In some cases they have a point(说得有道理): the American variant of capitalism has plenty of rough edges(粗糙之处，瑕疵). In others they are off-base(错误的，离谱的); there is no reason why importing America’s good qualities must entail(必然引起，使必要) importing its bad ones. The urge(强烈的欲望，冲动) to dismiss(不予理会，否定) the place is often prompted by a reluctance to admit that Europe must change. Instead, Europeans should treat America as their great foil(绝佳的衬托物/参照)—a country to look to not defensively, but in search of inspiration(以寻求灵感而非防御的心态看待).
在某些方面他们的说法有道理：美国式的资本主义确实有许多粗糙之处。但在其他方面他们则大错特错；没有理由认为引进美国的优点就必然要连其缺点也一并引进。那种急于否定美国的心态，往往源自不愿承认欧洲必须变革。相反，欧洲人应将美国视为一面伟大的镜子——一个国家，应被当作寻求灵感而非防御性审视的对象。
A more perfect envy
一种更完美的嫉妒