The elephant in the world stage
There’s an Indian folktale about six blind men who encountered an elephant for the first time. The first touched the side of the huge animal, and concluded that it’s a “wall.” The second put his hand on the animal’s trunk, and declared that it’s a “giant snake.” The third felt the animal’s pointed tusk and claimed that it’s “a sharp spear.” The fourth touched the animal’s leg and pronounced that it’s a “large cow.” The fifth felt the animal’s giant ear and professed that it’s a “huge fan.” The sixth tugged the animal’s coarse tail, and concluded that it’s “a piece of rope.” When they began to noisily argue, a wise man counseled them that “(t)he elephant is a very large animal. Each man touched only one part. If you put the parts together, you will see the truth.”
Reading the polarized views between supporters and detractors of United States President Donald Trump feels like listening to the six blind men describing an elephant. Trump supporters cite his positions on the economy, illegal immigrants, gender issues, corruption, among others. His detractors cite his criminal convictions, racism, sexism, anti-immigrant stance, his opposition to climate change initiatives, among others.
Before we give our two cents worth on the matter, we need to address the complaint of some Americans who begrudge non-Americans for meddling in American political affairs by voicing their opinion in the hypercharged societal debate now going on in the US. Non-Americans are accused of having “no skin in the game” because we don’t pay US taxes. We concede that we are not US citizens and, therefore, we don’t have the right to vote and the right of choice in the US presidency. However, as citizens of the world, we have every right to loudly voice out our protest and condemnation against a US president who’s plunging the only planet we live in, into a very dangerous place for all humanity.
If Trump’s actions only affect the price of eggs in the US, then Americans can engage in egg-throwing among themselves, for all we care. But the American president has his fingers on the nuclear codes that can annihilate humanity; he can make the American economy sneeze, causing the rest of the world to catch a cold or even contract pneumonia, resulting in plunging more people into poverty; and he presides over a country that’s contributing immensely to climate change.
Most importantly, the current US president is causing a seismic shift in the international order, by abdicating America’s leadership of the free world, and instead aligning the US with fascist and despotic countries. The free world constitutes countries that adhere to democratic elections, freedom of expression, fundamental human rights, respect of national sovereignties, renunciation of war, and all fundamental United Nations principles. In contrast, the group of authoritarian countries that Trump has cozied up to, are signatories to the UN principles in mere cosmetic disguise but, in reality, they are tyrannical regimes that brutalize their citizens and terrorize their neighbors with wars of aggression. In simplified terms and if only to drive home the point, Trump has abandoned the group of good guys and has joined the bad guys, in the community of nations.
Ironically for Trump supporters, Trump has allied his country with nations that do not respect the issues that are dear to his supporters. This shows the transactional nature of Mr. Trump and the lack of a principled stand in his character. Trump supporters should consider the likelihood that Trump may be patronizing the issues that are dear to them, but only as a scheme to throw morsels or crumbs to them, or “cards” in Trump-speak, and merely for purposes of securing their support and loyalty. In reality, however, Trump is pursuing a myopic, reckless, and careless agenda that will bring about America’s downfall, instead of making it “great again.”
There are so many sulfur vents that betray the real nature of Trump as a destructive volcano. Under Trump, the US has been made to do the following: voted with Russia and North Korea in opposing a UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine; mouthed imperialist rhetoric of annexing Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal, and Gaza; dismissed high-ranking black and women officials without being justified on any wrongdoing; massively dismissed federal employees based entirely on the despotic decision of an unelected businessman, without transparency and due process; promoted media outfits that purvey disinformation; hastily discontinued humanitarian aid worldwide on mere suspicion but unsubstantiated claims of corruption; supported racist movements; among others.
All the issues held dear by Trump supporters and detractors are mere parts of the elephant, compared to the gigantic problems that will be caused by Trump’s alignment with rogue countries. All the contentious issues will be rendered inconsequential if Trump transforms the US into a fascist, racist, and nondemocratic country. Americans should look at the big picture of what Trump is doing on the world stage. By doing so, they will see, hear, and feel the entire elephant.
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