For the last few weeks, the world was witnessing the convention proceedings of the two rivals where “politics of fear” and “American Exceptionalism,” captured the attention of the packed crowd at Cleveland and Philadelphia. The Republican Convention highlighted a mood of fear and rage in the country that was potent and deeply felt.
Trump’s supporters believe the spirit of anxious fury is capable of forging a “silent majority” that could carry Trump, like Richard Nixon before him, to the White House. The use of the phrase “law and order” made several appearances; and the phrase carried a racial connotation since Nixon started using it in his 1968 presidential campaign.
Trump was the eventual nominee, but lacked support of many influential Republicans in the convention. Ted Cruz, the former presidential candidate from the Republican Party, who made himself the martyr to the Never Trump cause by brazenly withholding his endorsement in a speech whose climax was drowned out by, boos. Ohio Gov. John Kasich refused to attend the convention and also rejected to endorse Trump. Neoconservatives such as Bill Kristol (or Robert Kagan, who says he will vote for Hillary Clinton) oppose Trump too, as do foreign policy realists such as Brent Scowcroft.
On the other side of American border, the Canadians had earlier rejected Harper’ s Conservative agenda against anti-immigration messages, which had become strong motivators among right-leaning voters. It is through politics of fear; Harper was sending a message to the ordinary Canadians that jihad and the terrorist threat are the most dangerous issue of concern of this land. In the Republican camp, the tide of Islamophobia and other face of xenophobia are in resonance with ex- Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper’s political diction of Trump. Trump like Harper feels attacking Latinos and Muslims will attract the white voters and carry him to the Oval Office in 2017. He fails to understand that America needs leadership that brings people together instead of dividing them.
It is this political misadventure of Trump, which will leave the American nation in a state of despair and the wounds inflicted by him, will take a long time to heal. Trump should read the fate of Canadian elections when Canadians rejected Harper’s politics of fear and hatred. It may be true that Putin is on record as hating Hillary Clinton and blaming her for much of what pains Russia. It may also be true that Russians were involved in hacking the DNC emails, which leaves little reason to doubt that he would prefer to see Trump win the election, and become the next US president. For this to happen, Trump will have to begin destroying the institutions of American democracy.
Democratic convention, on the other hand stressed on the importance of democracy, civil rights and respect for people of color and all faiths. It was the First Lady Michelle Obama whose 15-minute speech drew cheers and created an atmosphere where large numbers of delegates were weeping. She became the new voice for “audacity of hope,” when her passionate speech ignited the crowd and laid the foundation of unity in diversity. President Barack Obama, appreciating her speech, tweeted, “incredible speech by an incredible woman.” The same night, Sen. Bernie Sanders tried to heal the Democratic division thanking his supporters and urging them to support his primary rival, presumptive nominee Clinton. Sanders declared that together they have begun a political revolution. Sanders stressed on the importance of the struggle of the people to create a government, which represents all of us and not just the 1 percent — a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice. Sanders and Michelle spelled American exceptionalism to its fullest, thus establishing a new trait of Democratic agenda.
Obama, endorsing Hillary Clinton at the convention, said, “No matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never ever quits.”
The most powerful speech came from Khizr Khan, published in Guardian on July 29th, 2016, by Mustafa Bayoumi, Guess what? You can be a Muslim American and oppose misguided wars. When the proud father of slain Army Capt. Humayun Khan, lashed out directly at Trump for his policies regarding Muslims. The audience burst into long and thunderous applause. With his slow and deliberate delivery and his repeated invocations of Muslim American patriotism, Khan’s speech was as masterly as it was memorable. He grabbed our hearts while grabbing Trump by the throat.
It may be too early to predict the outcome of the coming elections. A respected American scholar and author of several books, Andrew Cohen, in his essay, “ Americans entering unchartered waters”, states that, “this election asks American fundamental — even existential —questions about themselves, their democracy and their place in the world.”
One will not know whether American exceptionalism will triumph over politics of fear. Whoever wins this election; he or she will have to shun the politics of fear and charter a new course to undo the rising tide of religious and racial bigotry.
Trump’s supporters believe the spirit of anxious fury is capable of forging a “silent majority” that could carry Trump, like Richard Nixon before him, to the White House. The use of the phrase “law and order” made several appearances; and the phrase carried a racial connotation since Nixon started using it in his 1968 presidential campaign.
Trump was the eventual nominee, but lacked support of many influential Republicans in the convention. Ted Cruz, the former presidential candidate from the Republican Party, who made himself the martyr to the Never Trump cause by brazenly withholding his endorsement in a speech whose climax was drowned out by, boos. Ohio Gov. John Kasich refused to attend the convention and also rejected to endorse Trump. Neoconservatives such as Bill Kristol (or Robert Kagan, who says he will vote for Hillary Clinton) oppose Trump too, as do foreign policy realists such as Brent Scowcroft.
On the other side of American border, the Canadians had earlier rejected Harper’ s Conservative agenda against anti-immigration messages, which had become strong motivators among right-leaning voters. It is through politics of fear; Harper was sending a message to the ordinary Canadians that jihad and the terrorist threat are the most dangerous issue of concern of this land. In the Republican camp, the tide of Islamophobia and other face of xenophobia are in resonance with ex- Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper’s political diction of Trump. Trump like Harper feels attacking Latinos and Muslims will attract the white voters and carry him to the Oval Office in 2017. He fails to understand that America needs leadership that brings people together instead of dividing them.
It is this political misadventure of Trump, which will leave the American nation in a state of despair and the wounds inflicted by him, will take a long time to heal. Trump should read the fate of Canadian elections when Canadians rejected Harper’s politics of fear and hatred. It may be true that Putin is on record as hating Hillary Clinton and blaming her for much of what pains Russia. It may also be true that Russians were involved in hacking the DNC emails, which leaves little reason to doubt that he would prefer to see Trump win the election, and become the next US president. For this to happen, Trump will have to begin destroying the institutions of American democracy.
Democratic convention, on the other hand stressed on the importance of democracy, civil rights and respect for people of color and all faiths. It was the First Lady Michelle Obama whose 15-minute speech drew cheers and created an atmosphere where large numbers of delegates were weeping. She became the new voice for “audacity of hope,” when her passionate speech ignited the crowd and laid the foundation of unity in diversity. President Barack Obama, appreciating her speech, tweeted, “incredible speech by an incredible woman.” The same night, Sen. Bernie Sanders tried to heal the Democratic division thanking his supporters and urging them to support his primary rival, presumptive nominee Clinton. Sanders declared that together they have begun a political revolution. Sanders stressed on the importance of the struggle of the people to create a government, which represents all of us and not just the 1 percent — a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice. Sanders and Michelle spelled American exceptionalism to its fullest, thus establishing a new trait of Democratic agenda.
Obama, endorsing Hillary Clinton at the convention, said, “No matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never ever quits.”
The most powerful speech came from Khizr Khan, published in Guardian on July 29th, 2016, by Mustafa Bayoumi, Guess what? You can be a Muslim American and oppose misguided wars. When the proud father of slain Army Capt. Humayun Khan, lashed out directly at Trump for his policies regarding Muslims. The audience burst into long and thunderous applause. With his slow and deliberate delivery and his repeated invocations of Muslim American patriotism, Khan’s speech was as masterly as it was memorable. He grabbed our hearts while grabbing Trump by the throat.
It may be too early to predict the outcome of the coming elections. A respected American scholar and author of several books, Andrew Cohen, in his essay, “ Americans entering unchartered waters”, states that, “this election asks American fundamental — even existential —questions about themselves, their democracy and their place in the world.”
One will not know whether American exceptionalism will triumph over politics of fear. Whoever wins this election; he or she will have to shun the politics of fear and charter a new course to undo the rising tide of religious and racial bigotry.
