APPEAL TO ‘DARK SIDE’
TRUMP is either incredibly stupid or incredibly evil – possibly both.
He came to power by appealing to the darker, nastier side of human nature and using crude propaganda.
If he thinks he can keep the USA safe by building big walls and banning refugees – and even whole countries – he really takes the biscuit for stupidity.
Has it not occurred to him that this is an ideal ‘recruiting sergeant’ for terrorists?.
There are millions of Muslims living in the States now feeling increasingly scared and alienated.
How can he guarantee that some of them will not be seduced by the Isis brand of propaganda? How safe will the country be then? If he is deliberately stirring up fear, prejudice and hatred to help realise his ‘Make America – and ONLY America – great again’ vision, he is truly evil because that will lead to social breakdown and even war.
In fact his chief adviser Steve Bannon appears to view all-out war as the key to reforging a dominant America.
(And there’s us thinking George Bush was the absolute pits...).
Trump’s own actions so far reveal a self-pitying, self-glorifying, shambolic personality who scorns the institutions which guard democracy and revels in trying to destroy them.
And the real horror is that millions still support him.
In the face of this ridiculous but dangerous phenomenon we dare not give up the fight to maintain a diverse society and reinforce values of kindness, tolerance, compassion etc without which we are a miserable and sorry lot.
To arm ourselves with the detailed information we need, and build solidarity, we need to act together – by joining human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Christian Aid etc. If all else fails we can use the weapon of humour.
Apparently there is a new Twitter account called ‘Donald The Unready’ which casts him as the famously nutty medieval King Canute.
So if you’re feeling depressed at all the above why not have a go at copying his unique delivery – not forgetting the spooky hand gestures – and practise saying: “Canute. What a loser.
“Can’t even hold back the sea. It’s just water! We’re gonna be so tough on the sea. Canute was too soft. Sad.” ●