The Age of Nations is past, the task before us
now,
If we would not perish, is to build the earth.
Teilhard de Chardin
It is not easy to see
and acknowledge that we are one world, interconnected and interdependent, but
that IS the reality: earth is one tiny unit in this vast universe that will
survive or perish by the human choices made.
To say we live in a global world is somehow threatening because it has
political connotations which can be used divisively to make people want to
retreat to ‘their own corner’ and protect themselves against ‘other’.
That protectionism is
the strategy that was used successfully by Donald Trump to win the election. His slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ has a
subtly implied anti-world view, a nationalism that sets us apart at the ‘top of
the heap’. Throughout the campaign he
carried a slightly different message to each group, bringing their fears and
prejudices forward invoking a ‘them’ as enemy, saying he alone held the
answer. There was no message of unity or
hope, no strategic plan, just fabricated lies about the opposition (the
‘enemy’, “lock her up”) and the fantasy that, given the power and authority, he
could/would ‘fix it’.
There are reasons for
the alarm being felt by many in this country and around the world—Trump has
duped the American public. While
claiming to be for the average working citizen he was primarily in it for his
own aggrandizement. He is now building
his cabinet with billionaires and planning to tear down the advances made for
improvements in our country’s health care system and reverse the steps taken to
improve the environment of the planet. Without
providing an alternate plan, Trump’s expressed intent is to repeal Obama care,
and consider privatizing Medicare. His
choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is Scott Pruitt a
fierce EPA critic, climate change denier, and is closely linked to the oil
industry.
Trump’s multiple
real-estate holdings all over the world makes conflict of interest unavoidable
and that is not amended by appointing his children to run the business. He has been openly disdainful of: government
(“the system is broken”), our voting system (“its rigged”), studied
intelligence (“I know more than the generals”)—undermining the public’s faith
in our democracy. Beyond that he is also
disdainful of verbal restraint, diplomacy and protocol, as well as facts and honesty. As president, Trump’s cavalier attitude
toward truth weakens the moral fiber of our country. His arrogance is astounding! His expressed admiration for Putin as a
“strong leader” gives evidence to his penchant for authoritarianism.
Everything about
Trump’s approach is a step backwards to less enlightened times. All scientific evidence confirms Global
Warming and warns of the advancing unprecedented crisis that can only be
averted by unified action; yet he claims climate change is a hoax and plans to
curtail green energy development while expanding reliance upon fossil fuel.
The human species has
developed the ability to destroy our world in many ways, the most catastrophic
way being with atomic weapons . . . those weapons have already been produced
and awaiting the finger willing to push the button—that specter makes working
toward cooperation between nations a necessity.
These are perilous times. Cooperative interaction used to be optional, but daunting though it may
be, in the 21st Century it is mandatory.
Earth, the common
home to us all is the only world we’ve got, protecting it is paramount for
continuation of the human species. To
ignore the perils facing it is blasphemy.
Stirring divisive nationalism and shamelessly promoting exclusive
self-interest above global concerns while justifying withdrawal of support from
international globally conscious organizations is heresy!
It may not be easy to
accept that planet earth is one interconnected, interacting, interdepended
world, but that is the reality . . . and its survival as a habitable planet
depends upon our recognition of that.
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