Over many decades, I have participated in public protests against injustices committed by governments across the world including those perpetuated by the Soviets in Afghanistan, the Chinese in Tibet, the British in Northern Ireland, the Turks in Syria, the apartheid regime in South Africa, the Russians in Ukraine, the Israelis in Lebanon and Palestine, and the US government in Iraq, Central America and Afghanistan.
But the actions of Trump far exceeds the evil of many of these regimes as his administration has armed the forces of genocide and has put all forms of life on planet Earth at risk.All ages, All creeds, All professions together against Trump.
So I proudly took part earlier this month in a 10,000 strong crowd of all ages marching through the streets of Dublin against the presence of Trump in our country. Their banners signified their presence as Christians, as medical professionals, as legal professionals, as environmentalists, as academics, as community workers, as scientists... who are all opposed to a political leader that enables Israel to openly commit genocide, befriends politicians such as Netanyahu and Putin who are wanted by international courts for war crimes, threatens to obliterate one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is weaponizing Outer Space, has started to attack and take control of countries in order to steal their national resources, wants to stop any regulation on a technology that its own creators warn could destroy humanity if left unchecked and threatens those countries that bring in such regulations, who has been found by US courts to have sexually abused a female, and who has been convicted as a felon as a result of his business dealings.
The False Prophet
Trump often portrays himself as Christ-like figure and “the chosen one” anointed by God, promotes a AI video of himself sunning on a beach in Gaza alongside Netanyahu with a golden statue (shades of the biblical 'Golden Calf') of himself on a nearby street whilst in the real world tens of thousands of its population were been murdered with high tech US weaponry. He breaks most of the Ten Commandants (Thou shalt not kill, commit adultery, steal, covet, bear false witness against thy neighbour...) whilst professing to be a righteous Christian. Trump deliberately overlooks a key trait of Jesus Christ, namely that he was a pacifist, who preached that one should “love thy neighbour as thyself.”
“L'État, c'est moi” (“I am the state”)
Surrounding himself with a court full of sycophants, Trump is encouraged to become even more narcissistic, nasty, greedy, a serial liar and allowed to act as if he is above the law. He deliberately insults women, the disabled, people of different religion and ethnicity, and who like the autocratic emperors of old wants to tear down and rebuild in imperial grandeur public places that are then named in his honour. Out of fear, his threats and bullying are too often placated with expensive luxurious gifts, resources and treaties that enrich his family, humiliates the giver and translates as loss of sovereignty to so many countries.
Burn, Baby, Burn!
This year's summer has been the hottest on record in Ireland and on continental Europe. Across the globe, the weather patterns have gone awry with wildfires, droughts, flooding, glacier meltdown caused by the rise in airborne greenhouse gases.
Earth is the only planet in the Universe we know that sustains life, made possible by a delicate equilibrium of gases that make up its atmosphere and which took billions of years to form. Now this fragile balance is being undermined by a dramatic rise in carbon dioxide and methane due to the burning of fossil fuels that are being promoted by Trump's policy of “Drill, Baby, Drill” which translates as “Burn, Baby, Burn.” His roll-back of environmental regulations in order to expand U.S. fossil fuel production, increase its fuel exports to other countries and make global energy deals is putting all of humanity and all forms of life at risk.
Anti-Life
Trump's contempt of biodiversity is well known as shown by his family's pleasure in the killing for fun of wild animals in America, Africa and Asia such as bear, elephant, leopard, buffalo, crocodile; the opening up of marine and land habitats to oil drilling and his move to dismantle key protections for US endangered species which is putting the survival of over 1500 species of American flora and fauna such as wolves, whales and ancient forests at risk.
An Enemy of the Law
Trump's regime has declared war against those genuine humanitarians who are trying to enforce international human rights legislation designed to protect victims of oppression. His political and financial undermining of the United Nations, whilst simultaneously arming the oppressors, has devastated communities in many of the countries across Africa and the Middle East that I have worked with. His political and environmental actions and those of his allies are designed to force millions of peoples from their homelands and create an unprecedented refugee crisis that will destabilise the whole world
Making America Weak
As someone who loves so much about the United States and what it has given to the world over the decades in the arts, in environmental protection, in human rights and in science and technology, I can honestly say that Trump's personal greed and insatiable appetite for power as he tries to create an imperial Americana is weakening the respect of many for his country. His wars are causing misery across all continents. As with its staunchest ally Israel, the USA is becoming a pariah nation under his watch.
To use Oscar Wilde's words: “Trump is a man that knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing.”
It was great to listen to an inspiring speech on stage from our very own Michelle Clarke on behalf of Tonn na Clé and to be part of a strong Galway contingent in Dublin.
But it was a particular joyous feeling to protest alongside Jackie O'Dowd and Grainne McMorrow (see photo left), we first started protesting together in 1979 during our radical Galway student days! And we are still at it!
