Trump’s UN Speech: World-Wide Balkanisation
Trump’s UN Speech: World-Wide Balkanisation
Speaking at the UN, yesterday, President Donald Trump urged countries to pursue self-interest and patriotism. He also condemned countries and individuals who champion global interests, such as the rights of refugees.
This smacks of Gordon Gekko’s, ‘greed is good’ speech in ‘Wall Street’. It also reminds us of the worst of US-style materialism, accompanied by isolation from and ignorance of the outside world. Remember George W, who is said not to have held a passport prior to becoming President. Many Americans are shocked to discover that much of the world hates their government’s policies (many more since Trump came to power). Having grown up being told that they are special and God’s chosen people, American tourists also learn how self-centred and disdainful the ‘God bless America’ slogan sounds to the rest of the world.
Why be concerned about the rights of the world’s dispossessed when you can focus on growing your economy (even at the expense of your own dispossessed)? This is a message that caters to primitive and perhaps the lowest of human traits. ‘Let’s arm ourselves and keep the world at bay.’
The most galling aspect of this encouragement of jingoism and fragmentation of the world community is that our very own Prime Minister Morrison is a cheerleader if not a co-conspirator. Since dumping our despicable ‘white Australia’ policy when has an Australian government, apart from populist-racist groups such as Pauline Hanson’s ‘One nation’ party, and sadly, the current government, urged us to put global issues last. Our great leaders, including, Robert Menzies, Bob Hawke, Malcolm Fraser, and Gough Whitlam, championed global interests. In so doing they helped transform Australia from a poor imitation of Britain, into a middle power with actual worldwide influence.
It is so encouraging to see young people once again expressing their disapproval of their governments’ selfish greed and disowning of global issues. Let’s throw our weight behind them, to avoid slipping back to the cringeworthy days of Harold Holt’s ‘All the way with LBJ’.