Do we want this bromance?
conversation by discussing the Super Bowl and the golfing prowess of Sir Bob Charles as ‘‘setting the tone for an amicable conversation’’.
It is essential New Zealand is able to deal amicably with the world’s greatest superpower and our most powerful ally. However, it’s a path that English will have to negotiate carefully.
Whether you agree with his politics or not, it’s obvious that Trump is a strong-willed leader and a man who is used to getting his own way. The only thing worse than the schoolyard bully is the weakling that suckles up beside them.
The classic stereotype character in virtually any story involving a bully, the weakling is almost always found out – usually when they fall out of favour with, or especially when they try to stand up to, their rather nasty protector.
The last thing you’d want to do is set yourself up in that particular role. The reports noted that English’s conversation with Trump ‘‘remained friendly even after English raised New Zealand’s opposition to Trump’s Muslim ban’’.
English has already been on the receiving end of criticism over a perceived ‘‘weak’’ reaction to the ban. And of course, bullies are usually pretty expert manipulators and they have a nose for weakness second to none. Let’s hope a perceived weakness isn’t the subtext behind Trump’s apparent warming to Bill.
Diplomacy is important, but it generally hinges on a bit of give and take. How much of ourselves are we willing to give in order to take the inevitably small offerings that will come our way through a close friendship with Trump’s America. It’s an important question for English to answer and one he should answer honestly. Perhaps, through his actions, the renowned conservative already has.
Not everyone will disapprove of aligning our country alongside Trump. Anyone who is honest will know that the same divisions now in full view in America also exist right here in New Zealand. But the weeks since Trump’s election have made one thing abundantly clear: The division between the two sides is wide, very wide. There’s not much grey in the middle.
The leader of the party that has rather made a feast out of ‘‘middle New Zealand’’ may quickly find that with Trump there’s no middle ground to sit on. If that happens, what side will our country find itself on? What side will we want to find ourselves on? And will there be enough time to change?