It wasn’t really supposed to be easy either for America or for a world order that has evolved over time.
The signs had been there right from the time the new sheriff in town bared his fangs on the campaign trail.
Now America and a bewildered world are stuck with a situation that is
unclear, an international system likely to be under siege soon, and a
future that appears uncertain. Isolationism and protectionism had long
taken a strong bashing as the world, secure in its dream for the
emergence of a global village, marched in the direction of
globalisation.
Of course, there has always been the threat posed to world peace by the
cold war between the east and west, between the United States and Russia
if you like. But skillful diplomacy as well as the cautious optimism of
world leaders have helped to reduce the risk of a global war.
Side by side, the world has witnessed the spirited expansion of
frontiers of trade through carefully documented treaties and agreements.
On the home front, America has been a country of immigrants built on a
liberal philosophy which allows anyone who meets the rigorous
requirements for citizenship to pursue what has come to be seen as the
American dream.
The flexibility of such a system anchored on basic freedoms which say
all men are born equal basically created the opportunity for the
forebears of Donald Trump whose home country, Germany, went to war with
the rest of the world, including the United States, to migrate into
America.
America in turn has benefitted from immigration, transforming into one
of the greatest countries in the world, and holding such a promise for
all who seek to escape persecution; who wishes to make a new home from
home; and who desire to exploit the bountiful and latent energy life
offers without any limitations.
In so many ways, the tale of America and a changing world have become
intertwined, with America providing the moral fibre and leadership for
most of the change that has characterised the notion of a free world.
So the promise of a United States has impacted positively on the concept
of an European Union which now enjoys a common currency and engages in
joint collaborative action in most areas, including free movement and
immigration.
The birth of the African Union was ideally tailored along these lines as
well. The fact that in order to bond closely, create huge markets,
develop science, technology and infrastructure. And enhance cooperation
essentially among African countries; Africa had to take advantage of
some of the finest principles that are driving human progress.
Somehow, under the Trump administration, the world stares in unbelief as
what some people are beginning to tag a new world order makes its
forced entry.
The fight to evolve a new psyche, a new world view, a new pecking order
and new national perspectives for the world or for the people of the
United States by the Trump government isn’t coming without a strong
challenge.
Outside of America world leaders are raising indignant voices as they
try to make sense of the orders that are rolling out of Washington like
German panzers.
It is as if nazism which strives on a culture of superiority, race, hate
and extreme rightist ideals has been reborn. It is rather strange that
it has chosen America described as the land of freedom to reincarnate
under the watch of a German American. When Hitler realized his
aspiration to be German Chancellor, he unleashed a wave of German
nationalism just as Trump seeks to do now by pretending to reawaken
American consciousness.
Hitler, the records show, followed up the demonstration of a
nationalistic leadership with the repudiation of international
agreements, including that which had committed Germany to paying
reparations for its role in World War I.
In no time Germany was overrun by the nazi culture. Not even the German
army known for its prowess and discipline was spared the control of the
nazi movement.
The rest is history and not many nations, especially Israel and the Jews can forget what happened during World War II.
Although it is early in the life of the Trump administration, I can see
some parallels between Trump and Hitler whose coming Nastrodamus
foretold.
Nastrodamus had predicted a third global war. Is it possible that the
actions and reactions of President Trump have the capacity to create
room for the advent of the Prince of the house of Mohammed?
In his predictions that have never failed to come true, America’s
defence systems which Nastrodamus saw, failed to intercept what may be
today’s nuclear warheads fired by the Arabian Prince described as the
third anti-Christ.
Trump denies targeting Islam, but the arguments flowing back and forth
doesn’t suggest that the world is struck by the truth of what he says.
Trump has spoken favourably about torture, a veritable tool that Hitler
and his henchmen promoted to an art. He has spoken in derogatory terms
with leaders of countries with which America has friendly ties like
Mexico and Australia. He has ordered soldiers into action and began to
cultivate the worst kind of propaganda that the American people have
never seen like the Germans did under Goebels and Hitler.
I wish my heart could trust Trump, wish that Trump would have the wish
to make the world a more peaceful and habitable place. But the signs
aren’t in any way near here.
Dreams of an indomitable Germany under Hitler spiralled out of control
and led to the death of millions of men, women and children. Will the
dream to make America great again turn out to be another smokescreen for
dealing a deadly blow on humanity?
Trump didn’t catch my fancy from the outset. Even now, his remarks as
the strongest president on earth make me ill at ease. I followed his
campaign speeches, his remarks about President Barak Obama the first
black to occupy the White House, his proven track record for
discriminating against blacks, and the snubbishness conveyed by the way
he spoke while soliciting for votes. And I came off with a great feeling
of trepidation that unrest in America and war abroad might be the
ultimate outcome of a Trump presidency.
How I wish I would be wrong. How I wish that this President would help
lay the foundation for a thousand years of peace as predicted by
Nastrodamus. How I really wish.
There is no doubt that America has what it needs, going by Trump’s
victory via the Electoral College. But the vast majority who cast more
popular votes for the protection of rights that are coming under threat
early in the Trump era cannot stand it.
Right from inauguration day, they have been on the streets protesting
the new face of America and the entry of a rawhide cowboy with a smoking
gun who appears determined to reinvent Red Indian territory that ought
to be conquered.
More Americans, worried by the turn of events,are joining the ongoing
debate. Not many agree that in targeting Muslims, Trump would succeed in
keeping America safe.The American court system hasn’t demonstrated any
understanding for the presidential order which securely shut the door in
the face of citizens of some Muslim nations or those from such
countries who are already carrying valid US visas.
It is doubtful US courts ever will, given the uproar in America and the
fear that the presidential orders may indeed be at variance with the
tenets of their Constitution.
In the court of public opinion, among experienced diplomats and world
leaders, Trump doesn’t seem to have secured mainstream support for
cancelling trade agreements entered into by the United States and other
countries.
Many Americans are beginning to think about the consequential effects of
the decisions of a president who appears to be unduly ego driven. I am
not a pyschologist but I have a strong feeling that this president might
be held hostage by a kind of dogma inherited from the formative stages
of his life.
Office, the decorum and protocols that go with it are supposed to shape
the attitude of leaders or the position of leadership on a wide range of
issues and interests. Somehow, these do not appear to have any
moderating influence on a President who continues to taunt perceived
enemies and opponents even in a manner that no president before him has
done.
The trouble is, Trump carries a huge responsibility. He needs to find a
way out of the deepening cleavage that threatens America and the
established world order in which Washington is a prominent player.
He needs to wake up to the reality that America cannot afford to act
irresponsibly in a changing world that is faced with so many challenges.
Above all, he needs to come to terms with the fact that running a
country cannot be the same as operating a business where one can easily
say to an employee, “you are fired!”
Can Trump settle down to the reality of these facts in time to lead the free world?
Only time will tell.
Ogbonna Nwuke
