Donald Trump’s values add up to classic sociopathy
Ian O’Doherty insists Donald Trump was right to question our will to fight for Western values
(Irish Independent, July 11). A proper response could quite easily be the bones of a PhD thesis. As I am not capable of such heights, I would consider these two issues.
Firstly, what are Donald Trump’s values that he trumpets: misogyny, racism, exploitation of working people. He appears to take an anti-social delight in not paying his dues in taxation.
In my view it all adds up to classic sociopathy. Downgrading political theory to tweets as an excuse for not having the faintest idea or concern for what is happening outside of his, and I use this word advisedly, mind. Mowing down anyone who stands in his way without recourse to morality or reason.
Secondly, Mr O’Doherty decries our criticism of our own society in his question of whether we have the will to survive. Survival is dependent on our understanding that to do so we must have the knowledge that we must evolve and change. To stand still is our death-knell. We must constantly examine and criticise ourselves and society and move forwards to a more equal and better world.
We must struggle always against that which is iniquitous. It has always been thus since the extinction of the dinosaurs, animals or reactionaries.
Mr O’Doherty quotes Gandhi when asked his opinion of Western civilisation that “it would be a good idea”. I would counter-balance Mr O’Doherty’s premises with a quote by former French prime minister Georges Clémenceau that “America is the only country I know that has gone from barbarism to decadence without the normal intervening period of civilisation”.
I hasten to add that this does not include New Yorkers. Harry Charalambou Muswell Hill, London