‘Bracing up for Trump’s presidency’

Donald Trump

Sir: “As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron.” H. L Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun. July 26, 1920

I am wondering how a Trump’s presidency will help advance the cause of people suffering from disability in America and worldwide, (the ADA act notwithstanding) especially after his infamous attack on the disabled New York Times reporter.

America is a country that prides herself on tearing the shameful walls suffered by people with disability, to promote an inclusive society.And when the government of China expelled him eventually, the United States might not have accepted him like they did.

I can’t wait to see how Trump’s team will shape his presidency to deal with Russia’s overreaching goal to conquer foreign countries having openly endorsed Putin’s grand design in Syria which has turned out to be a world menace.

I can imagine Dr. King twirling in his grave, no thanks to the threats against minorities, the Billy-clubbing antics of mobsters at campaign rallies welcomed by Trump and his allies. Those rowdies did a lot. An America under Trump can’t morally take the charge to direct affairs of the world to promote the rights of vulnerable people. Africa needs to be re-colonised, he once suggested.

How will a Trump presidency stand up to Russia which isn’t powerful as the old USSR but is determined to vanquish the United States?
I disagree with America’s choice of a President, but do not blame Trump for riding to the presidency on the sentiments of Americans.According to Adolf Hitler, “the masses will fall quickly to a big lie than to a small lie.”

But the youths in America on whose shoulders the future lie didn’t vote massively.They couldn’t differentiate between the big and small lies. The same way the youths in the UK didn’t take Brexit seriously. They were unblinking phone-texters on the day of Brexit vote.

Only 19 per cent of youths voted in America’s 2016 presidential elections. Fifty five per cent of these youths voted for Hillary and over 30 per cent for Trump and others for the independent candidates. So what happened to youth power in America as well as in Nigeria?

Where is the progressive base for the future of America without her youths? You know what I like in Trump? With him, other countries will learn to take charge of their responsibilities and not shift those responsibilities to America after which they go back hating America.
Simon Abah wrote from Port Harcourt.

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