Taking a step back in time with Trump’s US

IT was very sad to read of the clash es in America over confederate statues. The ‘ Unite the Right’ movement organised a rally in Charlottesville Virginia against the removal of the statue of Southern Civil War hero Robert E Lee.

The event was organised by white supremacists, white nationalists new confederates and neo-Nazis.

One young woman lost her life when a car drove into the anti-racist and anti-fascist protestors.

Also, two state troopers were killed when their helicopter crashed en route to the event. Needless deaths over an old feud.

But what was more worrying was the ‘ leader of the free world’s’ reaction to it. Confederate statues represent southern heroes of the United States Civil War. ‘Heroes’ who fought for southern independence, which brought with it slavery.

So in 2017 it is only right and just that these statues should be taken down.

However, on learning of the clashes President Trump said that both sides were to blame. There cannot be two sides when it comes to White Supremacy

I think it is a very worrying step backwards. I’m sure Barack Obama would have been very quick to criticise this action, not because he is a black man, but because he is forward thinking.

His reaction to the event became the most retweeted tweet ever. Quoting Nelson Mandela he said “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion,” and he coupled this quote with a picture of himself with a diverse group of children.

Even President Trump’s press conference on the matter showed that with all his hiring and firing he obviously does not have the correct speech writer in place as my eight year old’s comments on the matter would have made more sense.

But it is not only America taking the “look after our own” stance. The progression of Brexit is a sad thing too. Where once nations were clamouring to be united, it now seems the welcome mat is being taken in.

ISIS is also making the world a smaller place. The adventurous spirit of many has been cooled by recent events such as the terror attacks in Spain.

I had a friend in a holiday camp just five kilometres from the village of Cambrils.

Here was an Irish family enjoying a saved for holiday, confined to the camp with extra security.

And dare I say it how long before this horror reaches our own shores?

It appears that the freedom of the 21st century seems to be falling away somewhat.

And, of course if President Trump succeeds in his mission of bringing American companies based in Ireland back to the motherland then we will definitely be taking a step back in time.

It’s sad to think that when we should be taking a step forward, thanks to the negativity of others we are now taking two steps back.