Responses to my 'Trump' post of 10th September - 1 of 5

Dear Sir,  

Steve Britt’s article in the ‘Free Press’, 10 September, assesses the prospects of President Trump and Senator Biden in the coming U.S. election. His verdict is that Trump ‘edges it’. Why do I disagree ?

 Trump holds the prevailing American, misguided and dangerous world-view, namely, that U.S.A. is exceptional. If it wills, it can defy international law, and it is destined to lead the rest of the world, acting as its ‘policeman’. Such a stance is selfish, immature and perilous for us all. Maturity grows as we learn that we cannot always have our own way. We must care for and cooperate with others as equals, not as superior. Yet, Trump in his immaturity rips up treaties, for example, on climate-control, nuclear deals, Israel/Palestine accords. He also degrades the United Nations and its agencies, and tries to ignore reality, playing-down the seriousness of the virus pandemic, and of the global-warming threat to life on earth.

 All-in-all, whilst the heads of China and Russia pose danger to the world, Trump outdoes them. He may withdraw U.S. troops from war-zones, but he still spends a fortune on military forces and bases around the world. U.S.A. is also the chief arms-trader, enabling brutal regimes to wage their civil and total wars in the Middle East and Latin America. Moreover, Trump’s whole demeanour is belligerent and offensive (prisoners-of-war are ‘losers’). Whilst the destructive riots in Wisconsin have been reprehensible, police harassment of and brutality toward coloured people have been outrageous on Trump’s watch, and many of his speeches incite division and violence at home and abroad.

 But, finally, to be constructive, the world needs a U.S. President, who will uphold  the United Nations, but reform it. So, in a reformed UN  there will be no veto given to ‘exceptional’ nations, but all nations will belong as equals. Then, the UN will be able to reject war, vote by majority for justice and peace. and  divert earth’s resources from military use to the building of civilization. Such a President would ‘edge it’ for anyone, who longs for a better world !

Yours sincerely,  

(Rev.) Malcolm Hill

Sudbury, Suffolk

(Sent to the Editor on 22nd September 2020)

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