Huge strength of feeling against Trump’s actions
Having watched the events of the US presidential election campaign, and heard the many unsupportable comments made by Donald Trump, it is no real surprise that, after just a few days in office, he is setting about turning his unpleasant rhetoric into action.
Of the many dangers associated with the approach he has taken, a real risk is that people resign themselves to the fact that he is only implementing what he said he would. That for me is a dangerous approach.
The ban on travel into the United States for people defined by country and religion is a deeply disturbing and divisive agenda. It symbolises a hostile and unwelcome approach and represents a fundamentally intolerant approach to others.
The fact this is emanating from the United States, a country that has been built by drawing people together from all parts of the globe, makes the approach all the more absurd.
One glance at the history of the 20th century tell us of the grotesque implications of intolerance towards people based on religion, race or nationality. It is appalling that an approach like this is being taken and it is vital that we make clear our opposition to it.
It has been breathtaking how the UK Government has been caught up in the events of the last few days and has badly served our interests. The swift visit of the Prime Minister to Washington looked to all observers like a desperate dash to curry favour.
The fact that it took the UK Government so long to work out what to do about the travel ban proposed by President Trump showed a flat-footed inability to distinguish between right and wrong. And the embarrassing offer of a state visit to the UK when this travel ban is in place indicates the UK Government is exercising poor judgment of this critical issue.
The fact that thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest about the proposed state visit, and over 1.5 million people have asked for it not to proceed in an online petition, demonstrates the strength of feeling in this country.
The reasons are not difficult to work out. Our values are welcoming and tolerant values. Those values have shaped our democracy and our society. And the enthusiastic association of the UK Government with the presidential actions of Donald Trump undermine those values.
We are just working our way to the end of the Burns season. Over the last few weeks I have quoted some of the finest words of Burns, written hundreds of years ago but of precise relevance to what we face today. On these issues, his words get no better than these: “For a’ that, an’ a’ that, It’s comin yet for a’ that, That Man to Man the warld o’er Shall brithers be for a’ that.” I hope in paying tribute to his Scottish roots, Donald Trump will remember these words and think again about the divisive agenda he has chosen to pursue.