Murray muses on trump
TONIGHT the US falls into shadow. Land of the free, home of the brave no more. It feels like Germany in 1933. And this is how freedom dies – when people choose not to vote.”
This Facebook post, by a South African leader, came after President Trump on Friday closed the borders to seven predominantly Muslim countries.
“Tonight the lights are going out all over the USA; we can only hope to see them lit again in our life. #MuslimRightsAreHumanRights #ReligiousFreedom”, she wrote.
Many South Africans would agree. But there’s a weirdness to the dismay, that “this can happen in America!” Perhaps we should blame the world’s most powerful propaganda machine, Hollywood. For it’s on the big screen that “The Big Lie” is forced down the world’s throat: that all Americans glow with a God-like status, pure from prejudice as the driven snow.
This notion was conveniently cemented when Barack Obama became “the leader of the free world” – John F Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and Michael Jordan rolled into one. For eight years this rock star president served as the face of America. And masked the other side.
Now the face has flipped, from one Greek theatrical mask to the other. This isn’t an aberration, it’s the next chapter in the battle for the soul of America.
Macklemore sings with woe: “Bad taste, bad taste in my mouth Mad world, mad world, that’s what the TV said Imagine tryna keep your head While your daughter sleeps in bed And when she wakes up, will the world be the same?
Will my girl be afraid in the home of the brave? We can’t give in When they build walls, we’ll build bridges This is resistance, we’re resilient. When they spread hate, we shine brilliant
Love everyone regardless of the God they worship. This isn’t the Apocalypse We can’t address the hate ’til we acknowledge it.
If Jesus was alive, would he let Mohamed in?
This isn’t nature, my daughter hugs strangers We teach fear and preach hatred. Put up a fence, scared to meet our neighbours
I’m not moving to Canada, not fleein’ the nation
Got my daughter in my arms and he is not gonna raise her,” went the singer’s damnation of No 45.
And while he protests, “the other half ” of America is rejoicing. Praising the Lord: “God Bless you Donald Trump. Finally!”
What’s unfolding in the west is nothing new.
The US has always been as divided, confused, two-faced and ugly as now. As capable of brutality as anywhere else.